Newtown Ambulance Hosts First-Ever Open House At Fairfield Hills HQ
After responding 24/7 for nearly a decade to the community’s emergency medical calls from their new headquarters on the Fairfield Hills campus, the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps and its Association board invited community members in to their first open house at that location on a rainy July 16.
The weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of visitors who stopped in to sample food and treats from 900 Degrees Pizza, the Brazilian Boys BBQ, and Ice Cream Emergency, learn about volunteer opportunities, and how to possibly save lives themselves.
Many guests young and old were oriented to some of the life-saving gear on board one of the Corps’ ambulances, while others including First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, Legislative Councilman and first selectman candidate Matt Mihalcik chatted with medical volunteers and guests. A number of medical responders also popped in from neighboring ambulance organizations.
The event also served as an opportunity to educate more than a dozen interested attendees with a Family & Friends CPR Course, led by past NVAC Chief Liz Cain. A similar activity was help when the NVAC celebrated its new headquarters grand opening at Fairfield Hills in 2014.
Founded in 1941, the NVAC is administered by the Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Association — a private nonprofit organization comprised of approximately 15 volunteer trustees who manage the administrative/financial side of running Newtown Ambulance.
The Corps is made up of approximately 60 trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs), who volunteer their time to help others in their community. These members range in age from high school to retirees.
These volunteers cover an area of over 60 square miles. The NVAC is one of the most active volunteer EMS providers in the region with a volume of over 2,500 calls and 20,000 volunteer hours logged per year.
The NVAC is also one of the last all-volunteer community volunteer ambulance companies in Connecticut. The organization is planning a fall EMT training class to boost the corps of responders, and also offers numerous volunteer opportunities that do not involve emergency response or rendering medical care.
Learn more by visiting newtown-ambulance.org — or following the NVAC on Facebook.