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Today's Corps |
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 Today, Greenwood Lake Ambulance is a New York State Certified
Ambulance Corps, supporting a 40 square mile district which includes
the Village of Greenwood Lake, The Town of Warwick from Mount Peter
to Tuxedo Mountain, and to the Chester Town line, from the East and
West shore lines to the State border, and from the Appalachian Trail
to the Lake itself. We average over 500 calls per year. Our current
Corps physician is Dr. Reveredo. |
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History |
The Early Years…
(Compiled from
the notes of the late Edna Ehlig, Charter Member and long time Corps
Secretary) |
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In the
winter months of 1953, progress was begun for the formation of an
ambulance squad in Greenwood Lake, New York through the combined
efforts of two men who felt the need of such a service. These two
pioneers, Harry Ehlig and Wilbur Christman, with the help of the
Greenwood Lake Lions club and the Red Cross training provided by
Irene Keogh, culminated in the formation of the Greenwood Lake
Ambulance, Inc. |
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Corporate Papers were signed and the Corps went into actual
operation on the first of April 1954. The first call was a transport
to a nearby hospital on April 5, 1954. Doris Finnegan had the honor
of being our first patient. Charter members, including the board of
directors included: Harry Ehlig, Wilbur Christman, Herbert Dickert,
Irene Keogh, Steve Nagy, Edna Ehlig, Hugh Morris, Barbara Morris,
Mary Andresen, Kay Ball, Harold Conklin, Jr., Helmut Eckhoff, Kay
Eckhoff, Kenneth Fredricks, William Vogel, Robert Harrington, Hans
Christman, Sidney I. Laitman, Margaret Viola, and Marge Miller. |
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The
first organizational meeting was held at the Linden House on
February 6, 1954 and the following individuals were elected as the
first slate of officers:
President-Harry
Ehlig
Vice President-Marjorie Miller
Captain of Squad-Wilbur Christman
Treasurer-Harold Conklin
Secretary-Sidney I. Laitman |
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The
directors included Thomas R. Weeks, Max Shuster, and Margaret Viola.
“The first ambulance was purchased by the Greenwood Lake Lions Club,
a used 1947 S & S Cadillac. The next ambulance to follow was a brand
new one purchased through the contributions of the community, a 1957
Miller Meteor Cadillac, at a cost of $10,000!”
“The first few years were hard ones to live through, but the Corps
managed to live through it and as each year passed, it was
gratifying to see how many people in the community rallied to
support us. We developed many friends and supporters and we averaged
about $5,000 dollars per year in contributions, which was our sole
support.” In
1961, it was with great pride and appreciation that the Greenwood
Lake Ambulance Corps received the generous gift of the Edgemere
Avenue property and new building to house our Corps from Mr. and
Mrs. L. Gustam Moses. During that same year, we retired the 1947 S &
S Cadillac and replaced it with a used 1955 Miller Meteor Ambulance.
Our original Corps
doctor was Andrew Hicks of Warwick, who helped us organize and
trained us at the start of our existence. After his untimely death,
Dr. William A. Sommerville, Jr. of Hewitt, New Jersey, became our
Corps doctor. Also providing assistance to the Corps was Dr. H.A.
Robbins, Greenwood Lake’s first full-time resident physician.
In 1961, the rigs were
outfitted with two-way radios to the dispatcher. It was claimed at
the time, that Greenwood Lake Ambulance was the first Volunteer
Ambulance Corps to own its own two-way radio station. The Corps
consisted of 35 active members with almost all of them holding EMT
certification. The Corps averaged about 160 calls per year. |
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During the 1990’s, the Greenwood Lake Ambulance Corps becomes one
of the first Ambulance Corps in the County to carry semiautomatic
cardiac defibrillators. We became a tax district and begin to
receive much needed funding under the Town of Warwick. The Corps
purchases the former Night Owl Restaurant property on the corner of
Windermere Avenue and Waterstone Road and the foundation of our new
headquarters building is erected.
Jump to the year 2000, fund raising efforts still continued with
annual fund drives, tricky tray events, Christmas Tree sales, all
helping to offset the rising cost of running the Corps. The new
building, which was sorely needed to accommodate the new larger rigs
is completed and a dedication ceremony was held. The new building is
furnished with three bays, general meeting room, training library,
storage room, oxygen filling station, and a storage room for our
free loaner equipment program. A natural gas generator is installed
to ensure full accessibility and service to the community in event
of power outages. |
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The
Greenwood Lake Ambulance Corps was named Orange County’s EMS Agency
of the Year in 2001. The Corps responds with our neighboring
agencies to support the World Trade Center disaster on 9-11 and days
to follow. The three duty rigs are outfitted with new portable,
rechargeable suction machines and with state of the art Stryker
stair chairs. In an effort to generate interest in the Corps and to
expand membership, the Corps rejuvenates its Junior Corps program
under the direction of Lt. Bob Ackerson. This program focuses on
youth ages 16 and 17. As each Jr. Corps member turns 18 years of
age, they are voted into full membership status.
One past spring, with
the help of Past President Pete DeVries and Vice President Ray
Milazzo, the Corps entered into a long term CME training program for
the EMTs that also included special training modules appropriate for
the entire membership. |
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This program is flexible
in terms of work-life balancing and ensures our members have the
latest and highest level of ongoing training available. |
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Over one summer, with the support of generous grant cosponsored by
Assemblyman Howard Mills and Governor George Pataki, the Greenwood
Lake Ambulance Corps was able to upgrade its defibrillator
equipment. The semiautomatic defibrillators were replaced with state
of the art, bi-phasic defibrillators capable of providing both adult
and pediatric defibrillation, based on the newly released NYS
protocols. This grant not only provided for the upgrade of all the
defibrillator units, but covered the expense of the hard carrying
cases, long life batteries, adult and pediatric pads, educational
material, event card readers, trainer modules/pads/batteries, and a
monitoring trainer mannequin among other accessories. Dr. Yacoub was
our Corps physician and has provided years of excellent support and
guidance to us. |
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The
fall of 2004 we retired our oldest ambulance, a 1986 Ford Econoline
which was nearing the 20 year mark. With the help of donations,
Corps fundraising efforts, tireless support and dedication of Helen
Kelly, and with a generous grant form Senator Thomas Morahan, we
took delivery of a new ambulance. Wetdown photos of the new
ambulance can be seen in our photo gallery. |
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Our Future |
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While
we strive to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary
to support the advances the future holds for us in the EMS field, we
look back on the progress we have made over the last 50+ years and
recognize that it could not be possible without the support of our
fine Community and our Dedicated Members. We have established a firm
foundation upon which to build and to address the needs of the
future here in Greenwood Lake.
Thank you for sharing in a part of our EMS family and for helping us
to provide the best level of care to our Community. Thank you for
helping us to help you! |
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Contact Information |
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We hope you find the website a resource that is
informative and easy to use. Whether you’re a resident or spending
your vacation here at Greenwood Lake, we wish you a very safe and
enjoyable summer.
Sincerely, Michael J. King, NYS EMT President
GLVAC
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We
currently have over 45 members with a combined experience of over 408
years. Approximately 45 percent of our members are New York State
Certified Emergency Medical Technicians.
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 The
first building was put up by the eager volunteers and friends on
Church Street behind the Fire House on Village property, the use of
which had been given for many years. The old building was built
almost entirely with volunteer labor and largely with donated
materials from business people in and around this locale. On one
Sunday in particular, twenty-three men worked on this building and
we have never seen a building go up as a fast as it did that day.” During
the 70’s, the Corps continues to evolve and grow, as did the
responsibilities of the EMTs, and the size of our community. By the
early 1980’s, electronic pagers and Police dispatching have come on
board and as the 1990’s approach, advances in emergency medical care
continue to bring new protocols and equipment to the field.
Greenwood Lake becomes a New York State Certified Corps, larger
ambulances become standard, and the Emergency Medical Service (EMS)
response system goes into full swing. The EMS chain brings our Basic
Life Support (BLS) EMT crews together with Paramedics, at the scene
of critical medical emergencies. With the Medic’s valuable Advanced
Life Support (ALS) training and working as a team with the BLS
crews, a high level of care is brought to our patients and to our
community. |
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