The Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance service was started in 1969 by a small group of civic minded citizens who felt the community of Rensselaer should have an ambulance service of their own, instead of a paid Albany ambulance. This group received their training from a Red Cross Instructor. Three of the original members continued their training and became instructors.
On March 2, 1970 a meeting was held at the Broadway Methodist Church and Ambulance Committee was formed to provide a non-profit ambulance service to the people of the City of Rensselaer. Lester Jeffries was elected President. It was chartered on June 30, 1971.
First Aid classes were held at the Broadway Church with 14 original members. By October 31, 1971 fifteen members completed these courses with a doctor training them. Additional training was held at the Franciscan Monastery with Brothers Andre Picotte and Steven Merrigan assisting since they had completed the professional courses.
Before an ambulance was purchased these members of the squad operated out of six cars equipped with First Aid equipment and would assist by touring the streets such as on election night and on an emergency stand-by basis.
In the spring of 1972 members and friends helped renovate a building at 660 East Street. After many hours of volunteered labor and donations they completed the ambulance headquarters.
On February 22, 1972 the first fund drive to get an ambulance was put into motion. Besides going door to door, donations were received from many businesses and organizations in the city.
A second hand 1966 Pontiac ambulance was purchased along with necessary up-to-date equipment and supplies.
On March 4, 1973, 24 hour Service was started with 37 trained members, 15 of these members were licensed by New York State as EMT's and 11 more entered the course.
Original dispatching of the ambulance was handled by six members from their homes with special telephone lines and also by members sitting at the ambulance garage.
Rensselaer was the first city in the area that was being served by a volunteer ambulance service. Many towns and villages had volunteer ambulance service but this was the first for a city.
With the demand so great by 1975 we purchased another second hand ambulance, a 1971 Cadillac. In 1977 a pager alert system was put in use.
Not long after that Rensselaer was the first in the County with Emergency Medical Service Radios. (Ambulance to hospital hook up)
May 1, 1979 a brand new ambulance was purchased. Shortly after another second hand ambulance was put into service replacing the original ambulances that were badly worn out after giving us many years of service.
In May of 1985, we were fortunate to purchase another new ambulance replacing our last old ambulance. In May of 1987 ground breaking for the new ambulance garage at 901 Third Street was held.
The amazing thing is that this was all done for FREE!!! at no charge to the City of Rensselaer. In order to do all of the above, many kinds of activities had to be held such as car washes, tag days, bazaars, variety shows, raffles, dinners, and fund drives etc. to help raise money for the expenses incurred in operating an ambulance service.
Without the dedication by the members of the Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance, and the dedication of the Citizens of the City of Rensselaer, which made the members know they were appreciated these things would not have happened.
Did you know that we were one of the first Ambulance Services in Rensselaer County to be selected to study to be paramedics. We were the first in the county with EMS Radio. We were second in Rensselaer County to be certified by the State of New York, meaning we met all the qualifications as to equipment and personnel.
Never having closed our doors in 35 years should mean as much to the people we serve as it does to our volunteers. Although at times it has been difficult to continue, for instance, three years ago we were doing so poorly financially it was decided to sell one ambulance, leaving only one vehicle to serve the city for over three years.
But even with only one ambulance, RVA still managed to answer over 1100 calls out of the nearly 1300 put out by the city and our mutual aid neighbors last year.
This year, because of the finical crisis in the City of Rensselaer, our funding from the city was cut in half to $25,000. We, as dedicated volunteers have accepted this, but we also have little hope of receiving any funding at all from the city next year.
We are happy to say, that in our 35th anniversary year we have purchased a second ambulance and things are again looking up for our service. We have started an Explorer Post geared for teens 14-18 who have completed 8th Grade to recruit young people to be volunteers. Explorer meeting are held every 2nd Thursday of the month at the squad building at 7pm. We appreciate the support we receive from the community but we need everyone to realize that we cannot do it all alone, we need more volunteers to get involved. We realize that it takes a special kind of person to devote time to an ambulance service as an EMT or Driver; there are very few people dedicated and caring enough to get up from a warm bed in the middle of winter to go help a stranger in need. For the past 35 years we have always been here for the community when they counted on us. If you would like to help the ambulance, the city and your neighbors won't you please consider volunteering some of your time? Driver and EMT training is available. We will be offering CME classes at our squad building beginning January 2007.
Please stop at the ambulance garage at 901 Third Street and fill out an application or call 427-8515 for more information. If you'd like to send donations please address it to: Rensselaer Volunteer Ambulance
P.O. Box 330
Rensselaer, N.Y. 12144
We are very proud of this Volunteer Ambulance Service and want it to always serve the fine people of the City of Rensselaer.