The Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps (PCVAC) is one of Peekskill’s greatest assets, hands down. When 9-1-1 is dialed or any emergency comes up, Peekskill residents can rest assured that the volunteers and members of the PCVAC will be there to help 24/7 365 days a year. 

In addition to the over 3,000 calls the PCVAC gets yearly, many residents are unaware that the Ambulance Corps offers monthly American Heart Association CPR training classes every first Thursday of the month to the public and healthcare providers. Occasionally, as is the case next month, they offer two CPR classes, one in English and the other in Spanish.

On Tuesday, October 1, the Peekskill VAC will offer the last Spanish language CPR Training of the year at their headquarters located at 1427 Main Street, Peekskill. Two days later on Thursday, October 3, the regularly scheduled first Thursday of the month English language CPR class will be held. Both classes are replicas of each other lasting 3 hours long, starting at 6:00 p.m. and ending at 9:00 p.m. 

Whether one attends the English or Spanish CPR class, attendees will learn how to correctly perform CPR on Adults, Children and Infants, how to use Barrier Devices, Bag Valve Masks, an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), and how to stop someone from Choking. Upon completion of the 3 hour course, participants will receive an American Heart Association CPR Certified Card. Registration is required and the $35 course fee can be found on pvac.org. If you cannot attend the October class, registration can also be found online for the future November 7, December 10 classes or 2025 classes.

The Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps is always looking for new members to join and volunteer as well. Not only can adults ages 18 and older join and become members, but so can youth ages 14-17 by joining the Youth Corps. To find out more information or become a member, visit the pcvac.org webpage, click the contact us tab, check either youth or senior corp, and fill out a short application. 

Volunteer members are required to volunteer a minimum of 6 hours a week and attend a few meetings throughout the year. Of course the PCVAC provides training for all members that join, therefore, no need to worry about skills or prerequisites. 

Volunteering not only helps the public in times of emergency, but they also have many perks and fun along the way when not attending emergency calls. Throughout the year, members attend many of the events in the City, as well as attend and march in many of the numerous Parades in and around the area. 

There are also many perks and benefits to becoming a volunteer member including EMT training and financial credits towards retirement. After being a consistent member for 6 months to a year, the Peekskill VAC will pay for schooling to become an EMT. Up front, you pay for your books, however, after passing all the necessary classes and requirements, the PCVAC will reimburse you for the cost of the books as long as receipts are provided. Essentially, making EMT schooling free. 

Other perks include financial benefits towards retirement via the NYS Length of Service Awards Program (LOSAP). This NYS incentive program provides tax-deferred income benefits to volunteers based on their years of service. After 1 year of probation, if a member gains 50 points within 4 categories each year, they can earn credits for each year of service that will be available to them when they retire. This is the same program the Peekskill Volunteer Firefighters Association participates in. 

The Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps has come a long way since its founding in 1964. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the Corps continues to serve the City of Peekskill and assist neighboring communities operating a 24/7/365 agency which primarily responds to medical emergencies within the City of Peekskill. Since its founding, “the PCVAC has significantly grown from a one ambulance operation and roughly 20 members to one of the largest Volunteer Ambulance Corps in Westchester County. The PCVAC now operate four ambulances, a Special Operations (rehab unit) vehicle, three Officer’s vehicles, and an off-road UTV. Continuing our mission to “Render aid to the sick, injured and disabled.” says their Facebook page.

For more information about the CPR classes, becoming a volunteer or joining the PCVAC, visit pvac.org and follow their Facebook account.

Take a look back in time to the and visit photos of the past of the Peekskill Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps by visiting this post the Corps shared on their 60th Birthday on July 1, 2024.

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