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CVAC

FALL PROGRAMMING AT THE NEW CASTLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

September 15, 2019 by The Inside Press

This Fall, there are programs for everyone at the New Castle Historical Society!
Check out the full slate of programs below:

Oct. 4th & 5th: Tag Sale and Purse Party

Oct. 19th: Ambulance Tours & Exhibition Opening at the Museum

Nov. 3rd: Film Screening at the Bedford Playhouse Theater (collaboration with other historical societies & the playhouse)

Nov. 11th: Meet our Local Veterans Public Program at the Millwood Fire House.

Detailed Descriptions:

Friday/Saturday October 4th-5th, Tag Sale and Purse Party

10 am – 4 pm
at the Horace Greeley House (100 King St. Chappaqua NY)

The New Castle Historical Society will host a tag sale at the Horace Greeley House, come either rain or shine. Visitors are welcome to come shop for purses, antiques, jewelry, art, decorative pieces, vintage treasures, and more! Do you have any items you would like to donate? Donations in good condition will be accepted, to be dropped off on October 1st. Please note: we will not accept media items, books, electronics, sports equipment, children’s toys or large furniture.

Saturday, October 19th, Ambulance Tours & Exhibition Opening
Stop by the Horace Greeley House on Saturday, October 19th for two free events celebrating the opening on the NCHS’s latest exhibition, A History of EMS in America, featuring the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Daytime Family Program (1 pm – 4 pm)

Bring your family and learn about CVAC through guided ambulance tours and equipment demonstrations.

Evening Program supporting CVAC

(6 pm – 9 pm) 

Celebrate the opening of the exhibit A History of EMS in America, featuring the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps! Wine and nibbles provided, plus terrific raffle items! All raffle proceeds go towards raising funds for a new ambulance.

Sunday, November 3rd, Film Screening: “All Things Bakelite: The Age of Plastic”

at the Bedford Playhouse Theater (633 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY 10506)

On November 3rd, 2019, the Bedford Playhouse Theater, in collaboration with the New Castle, Bedford, and Mount Kisco Historical Societies, will show the award-winning 2018 documentary “All Things Bakelite: The Age of Plastic.” Following the screening, Executive Producer, Hugh Karraker, will discuss the making of the film and answer questions.

This joyous and provocative film tells the story of Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland, the “father of modern plastics.” In 1907, he made one of the most transformative discoveries of the 20th century in his Yonkers-based lab: Bakelite, the world’s first wholly synthetic plastic.

While 2019 marks the 110th anniversary year of the Bakelite patent, the influence of Baekeland’s discovery can still be observed in our daily lives. The film captures both the wonder and the curse of Baekeland’s biggest invention and its impact on our lives today.

The event will be held at the Bedford Playhouse Theater, 633 Old Post Rd, Bedford, NY, on Sunday, November 3, 2019 (final showtime will be released closer to the event date). Tickets will be available on the Bedford Playhouse Theater website: https://bedfordplayhouse.org/.

Monday, November 11th, Meet our Local Veterans

2 pm

at the Millwood Fire House (100 Millwood Rd, Millwood, NY 10546)

On November 11, 2019, the New Castle Historical Society will host a “Meet our Local Veterans” program at the Millwood Fire House.

2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the first celebration of Armistice (Veterans) Day. During the interval of interwar peace between WWI and WWII, “Armistice Day” was declared a federal holiday to commemorate the official end of WWI on November 11th, 1918. American society is currently more socially disconnected to the military than at any time since that interval between the two world wars.

Although we now celebrate Veterans Day each November, American society lacks an understanding of veterans and their experiences, causing veterans to be viewed in the abstract rather than as the community members that they are.

Veterans Day honors the courage and sacrifice of all the men and women who honorably served in the military during times of war or peace. This day is a special reminder to show our appreciation of these brave members of our community.

During this public program, local veterans will share their stories in a space in which they can be heard by our local community. This public program encourages our local community to gain a better understanding of the experiences of the veterans in our community. Following the stories, a brief reception will be held to allow veterans and audience members to meet and further discuss their experiences.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Millwood Fire House at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 11, 2019. For further information, please visit www.newcastlehs.org or call (914) 238-4666.

Filed Under: Not for Profit News Tagged With: Bedford Playhouse Theater, Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps., Chappauq, CVAC, Fall Program, Fall Programming, New Castle Historical Society, Veterans

One Extraordinary Evening On a Call with the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps

October 21, 2016 by Audrey Brooks

Editor’s Note: To protect privacy of injured parties, the footage in this video is a simulated call to depict everyday actions of the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

In the middle of my tour of the Ambulance building, the 911 alarm rings and five on-duty members of the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps quietly go into action. The Driver gets behind the wheel, the Crew Chief hops in next to him. Into the belly of the truck go the EMT, the Aider, a member of the Youth Corps and me. I feel very privileged to have been invited to go out on a call.

The crew has been trained to load and leave within five minutes of the sound of an alarm. As usual, 911 has not been able to tell them much. They know that a car has hit a bicyclist at Gedney Park–the dearth of details will be filled in at the scene, often by the Police who usually arrive first.

The Driver turns on the siren and hopes cars pull over to let him pass so that he can get to the scene as fast as possible. (Reader, do you pull over? If not: Note to self!)

As the ambulance races toward Gedney Park, the Crew Chief rapidly prepares the crew. “Put your gloves on. Bring out a backboard and a collar.”

Arriving at the park, the crew goes into action. Every member knows their role and gets right to it. The Crew Chief attends the bicyclist and the EMT heads to the woman slumped over in the car.

Each exudes calmness and competence as they begin to ask the questions necessary to determine the next steps to take for each patient.

PHOTO BY BILL BRAMSWIG
PHOTO BY BILL BRAMSWIG

“Did you hit your head?” the Crew Chief asks the bicyclist as she crouches down next to her. “No.” is the response. “Good.” The Crew Chief turns to the Youth Corps volunteer, “She appears alert and oriented.” “Is it to ok if I check you out?” the Crew Chief asks. The bicyclist agrees.  “Do you feel pain?” “My arm!” “OK. I’m going to continue checking.” “Does this hurt?,”

she asks as she continues the examination. “On a scale on 1 to 10, what is your pain level–with 10 being the highest?”

“10 for my arm, the rest is ok. Can I call my husband?” “Of course,” the Crew Chief says. She takes out gauze and begins to wrap the arm to restrict movement and reduce the pain in preparation for the move to the ambulance.

The Crew Chief keeps talking, and as she does, the bicyclist becomes visibly calmer. Keeping conversation going is a key component to the assessment because the crew member is doing a couple of things at once. If the patient is talking, she/he often doesn’t realize that the crew member is taking their vital signs and gathering other important information.

With the bicyclist’s arm immobilized and the examination complete, members of the crew bring a “scoop, attach the straps and then lift the bicyclist to the stretcher and head for the ambulance.

“When our son was very young he needed emergency medical attention. I felt helpless and fearful on that day. The CVAC crew who responded to our call were knowledgeable, efficient, and confident but most of all very comforting to us. They knew exactly what to do and assured us that they would take very good care of him. I was so impressed with them that I later decided to join the Corp. CVAC members genuinely care about their community and take great pride in helping others in need. I am proud to be associated with this organization and hope that I am as good at my job as those who responded to my home years ago.” —Marianne Karr

At the same time, the EMT has been dealing with the driver and learned that she has diabetes. The EMT does a blood sugar check–it’s low. She offers a stick of glucose and then brain-protecting oxygen. Next, she begins the body check. No pain, no visible issues. As with the wounded bicyclist, the EMT keeps talking, offering reassurance and letting her know that she will be by her side throughout. The Aider brings the stretcher and the move to the ambulance begins.

This is the kind of call the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CVAC) answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Trained and completely staffed by volunteers, crews routinely rush to homes, traffic accidents, schools, houses of worship, bike paths and businesses.

Last year, CVAC’s 45 members, who range in age from 16 to 75, answered 500 emergency calls. When any one of New Castle’s 18,000 residents dials 911 for a medical emergency, it’s CVAC who responds.

CVAC volunteers are teachers, bus drivers, stay-at-home parents, lawyers, accountants, retired and working professionals.

Working from their headquarters on North Greeley Avenue, donated by the American Legion 80 years ago, this is where CVAC’s two ambulances and one flycar are stored, where training takes place and where volunteers gather during their shifts. Training is ongoing for all members of the corps. Volunteers are taught how to deal with contagions like Ebola, terrorism, flu outbreaks and more. How much does this life-saving service cost us as a community? Zip. CVAC is fully funded through reimbursement from insurance and donations from the community.

BILL BRAMSWIG PHOTO
BILL BRAMSWIG PHOTO

What inspires all these extraordinary volunteers to join CVAC? Leslie Jameson, who joined as an Aider and is now an EMT, says, “I drove past a recruitment banner six years ago and decided it would be a good use of my time. I called up and was told that training would be provided and a mentor would be assigned to me. When I went for my first training, everyone was so nice. It felt then–and the feeling has only grown over the years–that I was joining a very special community of men and women.”

CVAC’s Captain Joe Gentilesco was inspired by the crew that came when his father-in-law needed help. “I saw how relieved my family felt when they came and how competently everything was handled. I decided right then that I wanted to be a part of something that was there for people at their most vulnerable moments.”

Reflecting on his five years as a CVAC driver, John Cook said, “I joined to be able to give something to the community. Initially, it was beyond my capabilities but I was trained to do my job first as an Aider and then as a Driver. I find it very interesting and gratifying to be able to help people in their moment of need.”

Be A Lifesaver! The Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps is always looking for caring committed members of the community who have at least ten hours a week to give. To learn more, call 914-238-3191. Before joining a crew, you will receive training in CPR and first aid. All volunteers begin at the level of Aider and you will always go out on calls with an experienced crew. Call today!

Audrey Brooks feels fortunate to have lived in Chappaqua for 23 years with her three sons and husband Steven Cownie. She is a huge fan of CVAC and grateful for the commitment of its members. A Trustee of the Chappaqua Library and President of the Yoga Teachers Association, professionally, she is a nonprofit consultant, currently working for PowHerNY, a network working toward equal pay for women.

Filed Under: Cover Stories Tagged With: Ambulance, Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps., CVAC, volunteer

Ambulance Corps to host CPR class for New Castle Community

October 11, 2012 by The Inside Press

The Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps (CVAC) will be conducting an American Heart Association Heartsaver CPR AED class. Training is open to all New Castle residents.

Participants will learn to perform CPR and use an AED (automated external defibrillator) in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest. Relief of choking for adult, child, and infants is included.   Heartsaver CPR AED is intended for anyone with limited or no medical training who needs a course completion card for job, regulatory or other requirements.

WHEN: Saturday, October 27, 9:30 AM.  The course runs approximately 3 to 4 hours.
WHERE: CVAC Headquarters at 233 N. Greeley Ave, Chappaqua.
WHY: CPR Saves lives. Statistics show that the earlier CPR is initiated, the greater the chances for survival.
COST: $25 materials fee
INFO: For more information call (914) 238-3191 or visit www.chappaquaambulance.org
To reserve a spot email: cvaccpr@gmail.com. Class size is limited. 

Founded in 1936, the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps is a volunteer organization dedicated to providing quality emergency medical services to the residents of New Castle.  The 70+ volunteer members are a diverse group, from teachers and lawyers to entrepreneurs, students, parents and grandparents. In addition to responding to more than 500 calls annually, CVAC reaches out with programs to educate the community on First Aid and CPR.

For more information or to become a volunteer, visit www.chappaquaambulance.org.

Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps. People helping people.

Lisa Ballou, 914-522-1158, Ballou@optonline.net

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: CPR, CVAC, defibrillator, heartsaver

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