The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (BVAC) has been awarded $47,000 from Dutchess County’s Municipal Investment Grant (MIG) Program, as was announced today. Said Said Nick Scarchilli, Chief of Operations: "BVAC will use the investment to locate, treat and transport lost and/or injured hikers along the Hudson Highlands and Mount Beacon trails, as well as at large-scale public events, which will help to expedite response times for emergency medical calls.”

Photo Credit: Deborah Cortes, EMT-B, for Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

BVAC will purchase a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and accessories for mountain rescue operations and large-scale community events. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B and head of Public Relations for BVAC told A Little Beacon Blog: “It is the intention that we will purchase the unit as soon as possible. The UTV is a resourceful unit to assist in the extraction of injured hikers off of Mount Beacon by allowing our crews to safety navigate through the rough terrain of the mountain. Future plans include continuing to respond to mountain calls, standbys, and training personnel for efficient operations.”

BVAC has had to make rescues on Mount Beacon before, like the one pictured here in 2019. Deborah Cortes, EMT-B for BVAC remembers the scene like this: “This rescue started in the dark hours of the evening, ending in the early morning hours. We do go up in the daytime and continue to train but, we need better. ESPECIALLY when we go up the mountains this late at night lasting hours long.”

At that time, BVAC described the situation as this: “At around 20:40 p.m last night The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Mobile Life Ambulance was dispatched to a call on Mt. Beacon for a lost and injured hiker experiencing shortness of breath. The BVAC ATV rode up with 2 BVAC EMT's, Mobile life paramedic and NYS Park Police as far as possible near the fire tower. 1 crew member remained with the polaris while the rest of the crew departed on foot to meet up with lost & injured. The hikers were safely brought down to an awaiting ambulance on the bottom of the mountain where the injured was reassessed. All equipment was back in service shortly before midnight. ** BVAC EMT's & Mobile Life Medic were in touch with the hikers via cell phone the whole time while attempting to make contact closely monitoring the injured hikers condition.”

Antony Tseng, Program Director with BVAC, recalls these situations where the UTV was needed:

We have deployed the UTV for a search of a patient at University Settlement where there was no access road for vehicles.
During one of the ice storms, where we could not climb up a sloped driveway, we were able to use the UTV gain access to the patient.
We used the UTV to support the marathon on the Walkway Over The Hudson (Poughkeepsie) in 2015.
We helped bring up tools to the Mt. Beacon Fire Tower with the UTV when it was being restored before its grand reopening in 2013.

BVAC is its own entity. The City of Beacon only started funding it in recent years, after the City Of Beacon hired a for-profit ambulance service to service the city. During that time, BVAC advocated very vocally to Beacon’s City Council and City Administrator Chris White for funding after years of volunteering to serve the city and making their own investments through fundraisers.

Donate to the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps. at any time by clicking here. According to their website: “BVAC is the only volunteer ambulance service operating in Dutchess County. Seven BVAC employees and 35 volunteers respond to approximately 247 calls per month. BVAC depends on fundraisers and contributions of any size at any time. BVAC is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and all contributions are tax deductible.”

Through the hustle and bustle of busy Beacon traffic, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BVAC) is easy to spot among the cyclists and array of vehicles. Celebrating their 60th anniversary this year, Mayor Randy Casale praised the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps during City Council meeting in May for their dedication and efficiency, with service at no cost to the City of Beacon. For #GivingTuesday, we wanted to extend his message by highlighting the service they provide to us, which is one that other cities pay for.

The Start Of The Beacon Ambulance Corps

BVAC was incorporated in 1959 by Walter Detwiller, a Beacon police officer and member of the Beacon Engine Company. Comprising both volunteer and career emergency services personnel, BVAC has drastically improved survival and recovery rates through their work to combat sudden injuries and illnesses. BVAC earned New York State Certification in 1990, and became Defibrillation-Certified in 1991. In October 1996, they began providing complete advanced life support by way of contract providers.

Busy Busy BVAC & Their Useful Vehicles

Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps rescuing a hiker from Mount Beacon on September 8, 2019. Photo Credit: BVAC — Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps rescuing a hiker from Mount Beacon on September 8, 2019.
*Photo Credit:* *BVAC*

Despite the humble connotation to the “volunteer” title, the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps is one of the busiest volunteer services in the county. Approximately 2,500 calls are run per year, an average of six to seven calls per day.

They currently run a fleet of three modern, fully equipped, New York State-certified ambulances, a first-response vehicle, and a mass-casualty incident trailer. A utility terrain vehicle is also maintained for rescues within the mountainous terrain of Mount Beacon, and has been used this year to rescue lost and injured hikers from Mount Beacon. Most recently:

September 8, 2019: “Lost and Injured Hikers Rescued From Mount Beacon” (94.3 The Wolf)
November 17, 2019: “Injured Hiker Rescued On Mount Beacon” (101.5 WPDH)
March 16, 2019: “9 Hikers Rescued From Snow-Covered Mountain In Hudson Valley” (Hudson Valley Post)

According to the Mayor, as he spoke during the City Council meeting, volunteer and paid providers are threatened by the lack of volunteer and workers in the emergency and medical field, due to the closure of local hospitals. There is a struggle to supply an ambulance across the country; workers in the emergency field are typically paid minimum wage, not enough to compensate for the efforts of the job.

As explained by Mayor Casale, the first 911 call is not what adds strain to emergency responders, it is the third and fourth call that puts pressure on both paid and volunteer services. It takes about two hours for an ambulance to be available after a call. Before the closure of local hospitals it only took an ambulance a half-hour to get back on the road for another call. BVAC alleviates this pressure while providing financial relief for the city.

What BVAC Means Financially To The City Of Beacon

Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps is completely free of charge to the City of Beacon. For the 60 years this service has been available, not once has BVAC used a single tax dollar, according to Mayor Casale. Other communities pay upwards of $300,000 for a single ambulance. The City certainly feels the efforts of BVAC. Outside of City Hall, Beacon residents are aware and appreciative of their service.

Personal Experience With The Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps

A Little Beacon Blog’s publisher Katie was helped by the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps upon first moving to Beacon. “I was having what we later learned was unofficial chronic appendicitis. It hadn’t ruptured yet, but during our first backyard party, I had an episode where I was in pain and put myself to bed. My husband called 911 and the Ambulance Corps. came and could not have been nicer. Talk about embarrassing when they carried me down the stairs out of the house in front of our new neighbors! But I felt so safe.”

Volunteer & Donation Information

If you are interested in joining the Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corps, you can click here to find out how to apply. Membership application forms are attached on that page.

Donations can be mailed to:
1 Arquilla Drive
PO Box 54
Beacon, NY 12508

Call (845) 831-4540 with questions.

See their Facebook page for updates on emergency calls, and fundraising opportunities.

BVAC’s #GivingTuesday Fundraiser is going on now! But you can donate at any time if you see this article later.