On July 1, the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corp/Bergenfield Volunteer Ambulance Corp (TVAC/BVAC) will dedicate the Shabbos to raising community awareness and support of our local ambulance squads. “The TVAC/BVAC Shabbos came about because we realize that most members of the community don’t realize what we do, and people are often eager to find out how we operate and how they can help us. Teaneck and Bergenfield have top-notch volunteer ambulance corps, largely comprising Orthodox people, who welcome any support that the Jewish community can give,” articulated BVAC Captain Ryan Shell.
In order for the ambulance corps to successfully operate, they each require an annual budget of close to $300,000. Being a not-for-profit organization, according to law, the municipal governments are very limited in the amount of money they are allowed to contribute. Government funding for the ambulance corps covers less than a third of the annual budget. It is therefore imperative that funding be raised within the communities they service. The goal of the Shabbos is to educate the community on the importance of the volunteer ambulance squads. Their work is an invaluable asset to our town, and residents are encouraged to support TVAC/BVAC at whatever level possible.
“All TVAC and BVAC ambulances are staffed by volunteer emergency medical technicians. EMTs are trained in CPR, oxygen administration, defibrillation and artificial airway insertion. We can also treat every type of physical trauma with bleeding control and bone stabilization. In life-threatening emergencies, we will also request advanced life-support paramedics, who, in accordance with state law, are based in the local hospitals. These paramedics administer advanced airway intubation and several other intravenous medications. When paramedics treat patients, the hospitals will bill the patient—but our squads do not receive any of those funds,” explained Shell.
Even though they officially service separate towns, TVAC and BVAC are very strong mutual aid partners. If, for some reason, there is not an available ambulance in Bergenfield to respond to an emergency, Teaneck will immediately dispatch one of their own and vice versa. Typically, TVAC responds to over 4,000 emergency calls each year, and BVAC to over 2,000. These range from car accidents to heart attacks to emergency childbirth.
There is a very large contingency of Orthodox volunteers on both squads. These men and women are especially proud to represent the Orthodox community. Time and again, volunteers have noted how extremely grateful the greater community is for their dedication and service. The ambulance corps provide a value to the community at large and is a great vehicle to enhance community relations. It reinforces the idea that we are all part of a large municipality and deserve the same service regardless of our background.
“It is incredibly rewarding to be able to give back to the community in a very public way, and we are fortunate that the local rabbanim have been enthusiastic supporters of our efforts,” noted Shell. “With so many Orthodox members, Jews and gentiles are working together daily to help the entire community. I remember a call recently to an orchestra concert at a local high school where a student fainted on stage. There are communities who have, unfortunately, experienced conflict between the Orthodox residents and the public schools. But here, when the volunteer ambulance crew of three men wearing yarmulkes responded to a packed concert hall at a local public school, I cannot imagine a better way for us to show that we care about our non-Jewish neighbors and contribute to the community,” he added.
Of course, for the observant community, there are many benefits to having Orthodox EMT volunteers, primarily for the sake of Shabbos observance. For example, when someone requires EMT assistance, he or she does not necessarily want to go to the hospital. If a patient is not critical and does not need to be transported to the hospital on Shabbos, he need not sign a waiver. Instead, a police officer will bear witness and dismiss the ambulance. Circumstances like this arise often and this system is quite helpful.
“TVAC and BVAC are deeply ingrained in our lives. It’s a passion that we have to serve our communities and be there for our neighbors in some of their most difficult times. We have members of all ages, some who have been part of our organizations for decades. Many of our members have gone on to careers in advanced medical fields but still continue to volunteer their time because it is a mission we believe in,” expressed TVAC medical director Dr. Eliyahu Cooper.
It is the hope of every individual not to require EMT service, but it is important to recognize the critical value these ambulance corps represent. With an average response time of less than two minutes, you should never need it, but you are in good hands if you do! Therefore, community support is integral to the continuing success of these squads.
“We know there are many people who want to volunteer but think they have too much going on in their lives and don’t have the time. That’s why we ask for fewer hours than most volunteer squads. If you can find four hours a week, you can make a difference. Even if not as an EMT, if you have a skill, whether bookkeeping, fundraising or building or vehicle maintenance, you can put it to use for us as an associate member. We strongly encourage the community to support us and our mission through volunteerism and donations,” urged Dr. Cooper.
TVAC/BVAC are accredited by the EMS Council of New Jersey. All members are volunteers who are fully trained emergency medical technicians. For more information or to donate to TVAC/BVAC, please visit their websites (www.teaneckambulance.org, [email protected]/ www.bergenfieldambulance.org/ [email protected]).
