What sorts of volunteers are needed?

HFMVA needs medics, drivers and support members.

• Medics are certified as New York State emergency medical technicians, and provide patient care throughout every call.

• Drivers provide a safe, comfortable ride for patients and medics, and assist medics with equipment and communication at the scene of a call. At least one driver and medic are needed for each call to which HFMVA responds.

• Support members volunteer their time for various “non-road” functions, such as assisting with the HFMVA treasury, helping to maintain the building and grounds, supporting on-duty crews or helping with administrative tasks. If you have a skill that you believe could help HFMVA or its members, please consider applying as a support member.

What are volunteers required to do? 

HFMVA requires that medics and drivers provide a minimum of 22 service hours per month. Since a typical overnight shift runs from 6PM until 6AM, members who elect to work overnights meet their hourly requirement after only two shifts.

When, where and with whom will I work? 

HFMVA covers daytime shifts Monday through Saturday with career or per-diem personnel. Volunteers cover overnights and Sunday days, and are welcome to take daytime shifts with the paid staff at any time.

• Most HFMVA personnel stay at the ambulance base for the duration of each shift. The crew quarters at the base includes a full kitchen, bedrooms and showers.

• Those members that live within a few minutes’ drive of the base sometimes “run from home” during the overnight hours.

• As a new HFMVA member, you may be assigned to an overnight crew if your schedule allows. Crews work the same night each week, and are headed by a crew chief who will assist you throughout your training. Often, crews “drill” (or train on a specific topic or piece of equipment) each shift in order to keep everyone’s skills sharp.

What training is provided? Is it free?

HFMVA provides all required training free of charge. The minimum required training at HFMVA is a current CPR certification, and HFMVA provides CPR training in-house to any member that needs an original or refresher course.

• Drivers must complete the New York State emergency vehicle operation course, an eight-hour seminar on the legal, safety and operational aspects of driving ambulances and other emergency vehicles.

• Medics may obtain any New York State Department of Health certification, but training to the EMT-basic level is required in order to act as the medic-in-charge aboard an ambulance. This certification takes about 4 months to complete, and classes are offered frequently throughout Monroe, Livingston and Ontario counties.

• In addition to completing the required classroom training for medics and drivers, HFMVA maintains a “clearance” (or precepting) process whereby new trainees in each position work with experienced personnel to gain the street-smarts necessary to handle calls without supervision. The length of this process varies for each individual, but most people need 8-12 calls to “clear” in a particular position (depending on their confidence level).

I already work for another ambulance or fire company – can my previous experience be counted?

HFMVA is happy to recognize the experience and skills of those who already serve (or have served in the past) with other agencies. We ask that new members obtain a letter from their previous agency’s chief or training officer, describing their responsibilities and experience in the field.

What happens when a call comes in?

Requests for HFMVA service are dispatched through the Monroe County 911 center. Using radio and computer links, the county dispatcher alerts the HFMVA on-duty crew to the nature, location and severity of the call.

• As soon as a full crew is available, they respond in one of HFMVA’s two ambulances.

• If a full crew is not available, the dispatcher automatically re-routes the call to the next closest agency.

• HFMVA also has two first-response “fly cars” to allow medics to respond to calls when no driver is available, or to provide a medic-only response to nearby agencies. In these situations, a full ambulance is provided by another agency, or a HFMVA driver responds from home to bring our ambulance to the scene.

How does HFMVA work with other area responders? 

Frequently, HFMVA works hand-in-hand with local fire and police services. In some situations HFMVA assists these responders with their duties, and at other times HFMVA receives their help.

• For instance, a HFMVA crew might request a fire department response to help lift a heavy patient.

• Alternately, fire and police services frequently utilize HFMVA’s services when a suspect experiences a medical problem or when firefighters need rehabilitation during a long fire call.

• HFMVA and other responders are often dispatched together automatically – for instance, all three major services respond to most motor vehicle accidents, house fires or cardiac arrest calls.

• In addition, HFMVA works closely with the Mendon Fire Department on every call that comes in from the hamlet of Mendon due to the time required to get to locations in Mendon from our quarters on East Street in Honeoye Falls. Honeoye Falls Fire Department is also automatically-dispatched with HFMVA for high-priority EMS calls within the HFFD district.

How can I join?

Those wishing to learn more about joining HFMVA can contact us at HFMVABOD@yahoo.com. You can also print and submit a PDF application by clicking the button below.

• Once you submit a membership application, you will be contacted by a HFMVA officer to schedule an interview.

• This is an informal “get-to-know-you” type interview during a HFMVA officers meeting. Following this interview, your application will be submitted to the agency’s members for acceptance.

• Membership meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month.