Organization Details:

The Central Park Medical Unit (CPMU) is a unique, all volunteer ambulance corps that provides free emergency medical service in New York City's world famous Central Park.

Description and/or History:
For almost 35 years, CPMU has been the Central Park community's very own ambulance service. As a premier Emergency Medical Service, CPMU exists to provide life-saving medical assistance and psychological first aid to those in need.

An Unusual Ambulance Corps
--Unlike any other EMS squad in the country. The Central Park Medical Unit is the front-line emergency medical response team for some of the largest and most prestigious events in the world-including the New York City Marathon, the Goodwill Games, Disney Movie premiers in the Park, and the visits of such renowned dignitaries as Pope John Paul II, the Dalai Lama, and Former President Jimmy Carter, just to name a few.

Community Safety
--CPMU is also the medical safety net for the sons and daughters of New York City who play and train in the Park. From Pee Wee Soccer to corporate softball teams, runners and skaters, thousands of New Yorkers compete in sports events every weekend. Whether its a sprained ankle sustained in a game of touch football or a serious head injury when a cyclist and rollerblader collide, our dedicated volunteers are there in usually less than 3 minutes to provide expert care and rapid transport to the hospital when needed.

A Critical Service That Is Completely FREE
--The Central Park Medical Unit is a non-profit organization. We do not charge fees to our patients for medical treatment or transport, services that would routinely cost $840 or more with a typical ambulance service. With CPMU transporting more than 1,200 patients per year -- not to mention the 2,000 plus patients we treat and release on scene -- that represents well in excess of two and one half million dollars in FREE care to the people of New York City.

On call to the larger community in times of crisis
--Occasionally our medical teams are called upon in times of crisis to respond outside the Park. The September 11th World Trade Center attack, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the AA 587 and TWA 800 plane crashes, the 2003 summer black-out, all times when CPMU has answered the call for mutual aid.
--Whenever a major crisis occurs in the region we respond. When the city's emergency medical service is in backlog, CPMU picks up the slack, responding throughout the city to everything from serious motor vehicle accidents and fires to overdoses and seizures.

Praise from city agencies
--CPMU has been rewarded repeatedly and recognized by New York City Mayors, the Central Park Community Council, the NYPD and key organizations that oversee the Park, for its life saving efforts, and for being a keystone in making Central Park such a secure and enjoyable experience for New Yorkers and tourists alike.



In 1975, a group of regular park-goers realized that there was a specific need for emergency medical assistance within Central Park. They were concerned about the fact that many New York City ambulance crews had insufficient knowledge of Central Park's complex geography. New York's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) system was already stretched to the limit, often resulting in long waits (45 to 90 minutes) for an ambulance to arrive at the scene of an accident or injury within the Park. They decided Central Park needed its own emergency medical service with Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) who had an intimate knowledge of the Park and its surrounding areas. These concerned New Yorkers took their idea to the Central Park Precinct Community Council and with the council's sponsorship, formed the "Central Park Medical Rescue Squad."
The Central Park Medical Rescue Squad was primarily a first response unit that consisted of approximately twenty volunteers, a few personal bicycles and a retrofitted Ford van used to transport crews and equipment. Later a stretcher was added to the van to allow for transport of patients when city EMS was not available. In 1976, the Central Park Medical Rescue Squad purchased a used type II ambulance from Lenox Hill Hospital. This allowed them to become a full fledged, transporting emergency medical unit. In 1979, the rescue squad incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation and was renamed the "Central Park Medical Unit."

Chase Manhattan Bank donated a new Type II ambulance in 1983 which was replace in 1993 by a larger, Horton Type III ambulance donated by Pfizer Corporation and American Home Products. In 1995, a permanent First Aid Station was established at the Wollman Skating Rink in the south end of the park. CPMU leased and then purchased a second Horton Type III ambulance in 1996 to meet the increasing need for emergency medical services resulting from the rise in popularity of in-line skating, ice skating and more frequent special events held in Central Park.

The Central Park Medical Unit now boasts a volunteer staff of approximately 150 members and continues to provide swift and expert care in Central Park with one of the fastest response times in New York State. Every weekend the crews of CPMU's three ambulances, six bicycles and Wollman Rink aid station treat minor and major injuries with the same care and compassion that led our founding members to come to the aid of the Central Park community almost 35 years ago.

Since CPMU's inception, the volunteers have come from all walks of life. We are actors, medical students, office workers, lawyers, journalists, accountants and many other everyday New Yorkers who want to give something back to our community.

Please visit our website to volunteer. In addition to skilled medical volunteers we always have a need for administrative and fund raising volunteers. We have no paid staff.

Contact person: Rafael Castellanos, President, (212) 585-0911, (email)

Address:

Post Office Box 440 New York, NY 10028 (See a map)