The Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance Service is an all volunteer emergency ambulance service that serves the Whitestone, Queens, NY area. Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance is looking for community minded individuals to volunteer as Dispatchers, Drivers and Attendants. Members who volunteer as attendants have the opportunity to become certified (training provided) as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) which will enable them to work in the EMS field in the public/private sector. A great opportunity for a young person starting out or a career change to the health field. Ideal for students studying medicine or for those needing community service credit. We are certified by the NYS Health Department as a Basic Life Support ambulance service, staffed by NYS certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

Description:
The Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance Service is an all volunteer emergency ambulance service that serves the Whitestone, Queens, NY area. Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance is looking for community minded individuals to volunteer as Dispatchers, Drivers and Attendants. Members who volunteer as attendants have the opportunity to become certified (training provided) as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) which will enable them to work in the EMS field in the public/private sector. A great opportunity for a young person starting out or a career change to the health field. Ideal for students studying medicine or for those needing community service credit. We are certified by the NYS Health Department as a Basic Life Support ambulance service, staffed by NYS certified Emergency Medical Technicians. We respond to calls in a modern, fully equipped ambulance complimented with a defibrillator for the sudden cardiac arrest patient and Albuterol for the asthmatic in distress.
We provide wheelchairs, walkers, crutches and canes free of charge to the Whitestone Community.
Blood Pressure Screening is also available free of charge to the community. Just come to our building and any of our volunteers would be happy to assist you.
With prior notice, the Corps will have its ambulance standby at your community event in Whitestone (sporting events,parades, block-party,etc.).

History:
Back in 1947 after several incidents when injured people waited an unreasonable amount of time for the city ambulance, the humanitarian idea of providing ambulance service, by volunteer members of the community was germinated in the Whitestone Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The VFW started the ball rolling, by forming a committee, including all civic, fraternal and veteran organizations.

A corporation was formed to later be known as the Whitestone Community Volunteer Ambulance Service Inc. All members of this organization were residents of the town of Whitestone including the communities of Beechurst, Malba, Robinswood and Clearview and were volunteers. These members began an intensive fund raising campaign both to businesses and door to door. This resulted in the the purchase of a brand new 1948 Cadillac Ambulance. The first aid training was conducted under the auspices of the American Red Cross and Mr. Ralph Gode, our first honorary member, was the instructor. The first ambulances were garaged at Gleason's Funeral Home, and Mr. Gleason very generously gave us twenty-four hour use of his telephone. Above the garage a "ready room" was built so that the members could sleep close to the ambulances. The wheelchairs, crutches, and hospital beds were stored at the Herold's garage, including a station wagon, purchased in 1953, that was used to transport this equipment. Eventually it was traded in for a second ambulance.

In 1955,the building on 150th Street was purchased. In 1993 this building was named in honor of Grace Herold on her 90th birthday, for the 45 years of active service to out organization. Through many donations, and with many hours of freely donated labor from the members a garage was built. Finally we were under one roof. As time went on addition property was purchased. Meeting rooms and an additional garage, used to house the third ambulance, was constructed again through the generosity of the community and the labor of our members. Even this was proving to be to small to house the organization, an extension, including a second floor provided more space for meetings, first aid instruction and offices.

The trophies, displayed in our main meeting room, received from first aid and ambulance competition attest to our first aid proficiency. Our training, vehicles and equipment are always state-of-the-art to offer the residents of our community the finest emergency service in keeping with the standards that were set in 1947. For additional information- WVAC11357@aol.com

Contact person: Ralph Cefalo, Program Director, (718) 767-1000, (email)
Office fax number: (718) 357-9776

Address:

12-15 150th St. Whitestone, NY 11357 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the CROSS ISLAND PKWY NORTH exit- exit number 30N- toward WHITESTONE BR. Take the CROSS ISL PKWY NORTH ramp toward WHITESTONE BR Merge onto CROSS ISLAND PKWY N. Take the UTOPIA PKWY exit- exit number 34. Take. . . (more)   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: 7,   Walk distance (in minutes): 35   Nearest Bus Stop: 14, 1 minute walk