| Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. | |
|---|---|
Hackensack VAC Logo |
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| Abbreviation | HVAC |
| Formation | May 1948 |
| Purpose/focus | City EMS |
| Headquarters | Rear of City Complex, 225 State Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 |
| Region served | Hackensack and nearby towns |
| Membership | All Volunteer |
| Chief | John Knapp |
| Main organ | Board of Trustees |
| Volunteers | 47 |
| Website | www.hackensackvac.org |
The Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. is a not-for-profit EMS organization in Hackensack, New Jersey. The Corps serves the City of Hackensack, and nearby towns via mutual aid agreements. Its primary hours are 6pm to 6am Monday through Friday, and 24 hours on Saturday and Sunday. The Corps is available at any time for special events, emergency recall, or to assist the Hackensack University Medical Center's EMS[1] during daytime hours.
Both the Hackensack University Medical Center and Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps are dispatched by MICCOM,[2] the Northern New Jersey Mobile Intensive Care Communications. MICCOM provides dispatch and emergency medical call taking with pre-arrival instructions and updates.
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The Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. was incorporated with nine charter members and one ambulance in May, 1948. The ambulances and members were housed in a small building located at the corner of The Esplanade and Central Avenue on the location of the current Nellie K. Parker Elementary School.
By the mid 1960s, the amount of emergency calls increased so much that the Corps had to buy three ambulances and recruit more volunteers so that they could serve the city effectively.
Originally, the Corps operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. As time progressed, the number of emergency calls increased, and the Corps found it more and more difficult to recruit volunteers for the daytime shifts. The Hackensack Fire Department supplemented the ambulance service during daytime hours, Monday through Friday 6:00am to 6:00pm.
On February 14, 1974, the Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. joined forces with Hackensack Hospital to form a cardiac unit, which was composed of a nurse, doctor, and a volunteer EMT. The Corps transported the nurse and doctor to the scene of life threatening emergencies to initiate pre-hospital advanced life support procedures. This was the beginning of the Hackensack University Medical Center’s Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic Unit.
In 1976, after two years stationed behind the firehouse on South Summit Avenue, the Corps relocated to its present location behind the City Hall complex.
In September 2008, Hackensack's emergency medical communications operations became the responsibility of MICCOM (Northern New Jersey Mobile Intensive Care Communications).[3] Improvements to the Corps and its fleet included the implementing of Global Positioning System (GPS), allowing MICCOM to dispatch the nearest unit.
As of January, 2010, the Corps is led by a Chief, Deputy Chief and two Captains.
The Corps currently operates four ambulances: two 2011 Frazer type-1 ambulances, a 1999 Wheeled Coach type-3 ambulance, and a 2005 Horton type-1, as well as a 2004 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.[4] Standard equipment on each ambulance includes: an automated external defibrillator (AED); epinephrine auto-injectors (Epi-Pen); oxygen administered via nasal cannulas; non rebreathing masks and bag valve masks; various length splints; oral glucose; sterile gauze bandages and medical tape; blood pressure cuffs; oral suction device. The city-designated fleet numbers are 190, 191, 192, 193 and 194 and are painted on the front and rear of each ambulance.
The Corps' uniform consists of blue long-sleeve shirts, with the Corps' patch on the upper left arm and the NJ EMT patch on the upper right arm. Above the left breast pocket is a silver patch identifying the wearer as a Hackensack EMT. The uniform also includes matching pants and a belt. EMTs provide their own black shoes/boots.