Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NVAC) will be observing National EMS Week from May 21-27.

Established in 1974 by President Gerald Ford, the annual event celebrates EMS personnel and the work they do in their communities. The 2023 theme is “EMS: Where Emergency Care Begins.”

NVAC was founded in 1941 and began providing its services to the town in 1942 with the purchase of its first ambulance. Along with providing pre-hospital care to residents of and visitors to Newtown, NVAC additionally provides mutual aid assistance to neighboring towns when possible.

The corps also partakes in many events around town including Newtown Health Fair and the Labor Day Parade. NVAC also offers EMT classes throughout the year, with sessions typically starting in January and September. Registration will open in a few weeks for the September 2023 session.

NVAC is currently comprised of 45 active members with ages ranging from 17 years old to mid-70s. Over the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of calls NVAC receives per year. In 2020, NVAC responded to 2,531 calls, which increased to 2,967 in 2021. This number increased again in 2022 to 2,973.

As of April 30, NVAC has already received 970 calls. The current top responder, who wishes to remain anonymous, has responded to 151 calls. The next three top responders are Michelle Greenspan with 106 calls, Emily Chickering with 86 calls, and Kevin Clyne with 80 calls.