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Q: How is Allendale Ambulance Corps, Inc. structured?
Allendale Ambulance Corps, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization (501.3c). The Corps is led by an elected Captain and Assistant Captain, and a team of line officers. The Corps is overseen by the elected Association Officers, President, Vice President, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.
Q: Does Allendale Ambulance Corps (AVAC) charge patients for their services?
No. We do not charge for our services, and never have, since our inception in 1937
Q: My neighbor needed an ambulance. Why did two (2) ambulances arrive to his house?
What you probably saw was an Allendale Ambulance Corps Ambulance and Paramedic Unit. In New Jersey, Paramedics, who are hospital based, sometimes use SUVs or ambulances to respond to emergency calls. Sometimes referred to as MICU (Mobile Intensive Care Units), these vehicles and the Paramedics who operate them are an extension of the hospitals emergency room.
Q: Who makes the determination for whether or not Paramedics are needed?
There are very specific protocols that spell out the need for Paramedics. When someone calls 911 or your local police dispatcher, they can quickly determine the need for Paramedics, based upon the nature of the injury /illness / event. Additionally, the ambulance crew can also request to have Paramedics dispatched, should the crew determine there is a need.
Q: I got a bill for my ambulance trip to the hospital. I thought AVAC doesn't charge. Can you explain?
You are correct, Allendale Ambulance Corps does not charge for their service. However, there is a charge for the hospital based Paramedics if they were there to assist in the medical care that you received.
Q: What happens if I need an ambulance and the ambulance or the crew is not available?
At present, Allendale Ambulance Corps relies on long standing mutual aid agreements with other volunteer ambulance squads from a number of surrounding towns. These agreements are reciprocal. It is also understood and agreed that these mutual aid volunteer ambulance squads will never charge patients that are treated and / or transported from Allendale.
Q: Are your members all volunteers? Are any of your members paid?
Yes, all of the members of Allendale Ambulance Corps are unpaid volunteers. Most of our members are otherwise employed and / or are students.
Q: What hospitals do you take your patients to?
Our primary hospitals are The Valley Hospital, in Ridgewood, NJ and Hackensack University Medical Center, in Hackensack, NJ. But we do transport patients to Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ, Englewood Hospital in Englewood, NJ, Chilton Hospital, NJ, and Good Samaritan in Suffern, NY
Q: What is the level of training of your typical member?
All of the members providing direct patient care are certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). At present, the curriculum for the EMT program is approximately 225 hours. EMTs are also required to re-certify every three (3) years. Our drivers of AVAC are specifically trained in Ambulance Operations, Defensive Driving and CEVO (Coaching Emergency Vehicle Operations). Additionally all of the EMTs and drivers are trained in CPR, which includes the use of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) response to hazardous material incidents, and response to large scale incidents among other training.
Q: Besides answering ambulance calls, what other activities does Allendale Ambulance Corps do?
There are lots of activities over and above answering ambulance calls. The members of Allendale Ambulance Corps are members of your community. Look for us in town parades, Allendale Day, high school football games, fireworks on the 4th of July, Boy Scout and Girl Scout events, just to name a few.
Q: My elderly parents live in Allendale and I do not, is there anything I can do to help you in the event they need an ambulance?
Thats a great question. Even if you're not elderly, everyone should have written down on a piece of paper you own information, such as your medical history (conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, etc.). Also include the names of any and all medications you are presently taking and any allergies that you might have.
Q: What if I have an “Advanced Directive” or a “LIVING WILL”? Should I have these documents available for the ambulance crew?
A “LIVING WILL” is a type of “Advanced Directive”. It is somewhat limited in its scope. Some people have a specific type of “Advanced Directive” called a “Do Not Resuscitate”(DNR) order. This written document, when presented and authenticated is honored by ambulance crew members as well as other first responders. If you have a DNR, for yourself or another family member who you are caring for, please allow the first responders to see this document.
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