Search, rescue, volunteer

Woodbury medics in immediate need of volunteers, By Gerard Mundy Woodbury - In the last week, Debbie Vobrodeck came to the rescue of an elderly woman who broke her ankle, helped a 2-year-old boy breathe again after his bronchial tube closed and helped stop a nose bleed that refused to stop spilling blood. All in her spare time. “We all have full-time jobs, but we make time for it anyway,” Vobroucek, an officer of the Woodbury Community Ambulance said as her two partners, Captain Ben Conques and President Anthony Maggio nodded in agreement during a recent interview. These three local residents are members of the 100-percent volunteer ambulance squad which covers the town of Woodbury. “We are the only ambulance in the area that is still all volunteer,” Conques said. “Most towns, including Monroe are taxpayer funded, which means the town has a say in operations.” “We also have no paid staff and have no health insurance whatsoever,” Maggio added. “We do fundraising,” said Vobroucek. “Those who know about us or called for us are the most supportive when it comes to fundraising.” As the town of Woodbury grows, so does the need for the Woodbury Community Ambulance, whose all-volunteer members responded to more than 600 calls in the last year. With Woodbury Common Premium Outlets as well as the New York State Thruway within its jurisdiction, the ambulance company expects to be called at on at least 100 more runs this year. What’s at issue now is having enough people - volunteers - to being able to respond when there’s a need. In 2004, the ambulance squad cost about $90,000 to maintain, but with the increase in calls in the last year that number has risen to about $113,000. But the squad’s current problem has nothing to do with finances - it’s human. The ambulance squad has 21 active EMT members and 30 members total. With a recent significant spike in calls for this year, the personnel-strained squad is having more trouble than ever keeping the squad manned during its 24/7 operations, considering New York State mandates that on every call at least one state-trained EMT be on board with the other first-aiders and driver. “We don’t want to have to go through the route with the town,” said Conques, who makes his livelihood as an electrician. “We don’t want taxes to go up. We need volunteers to avoid this - but yes, it’s very possible, although we decided we will try to avoid it by all costs.” The squad recently purchased a brand new modern ambulance funded completely by donations. The new rig sits in a back garage of the recently constructed station house on Route 32 located next door to the Woodbury police. But in order for the truck to move, there must humans to operate it - and that’s the squad’s problem. “We need people that really can commit. We don’t want people to join that put in some time and then only show up when the mood hits,” Conques added. “We have two shifts - night and day. Most calls come in during the day and I know that this is a bedroom community; people are not here during the day- this is where our real shortage is, especially with the many retirements of veterans.” Vobroucek, who works in the Rockland County Clerk’s office, said her volunteer work “gives me a true sense of satisfaction to help another person in need. It’s something I’m doing for the community - filling a great need.” Vobroucek also described the other benefits reaped from being a member of the Woodbury crew. “We are like family. We have social activities and people have developed personal friendships- outside of here,” she said. What brings many volunteers close together, she said, is the fact that schedules are assigned by “shift group.” These close-knit groups of a handful of members each are assigned to shifts together and respond together during calls. Vobroucek also stressed that when volunteers are on a shift, they are not necessarily “working” for 12 hours. “Sure, you can stay here, she said motioning around to the comfy furniture and big screen TV in the new station house which also includes a full kitchen. “What happens is we give you a beeper and if a call comes in, you come back to the station and respond. But you are free to do whatever you want, we just ask that you stay within town limits,” she said. Maggio, a retired New York City police detective, explained that the increase in calls to the squad, which transports patients to Orange Regional Medical Center’s Arden Hill campus in Goshen, both the Cornwall and Newburgh locations of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital as well as Good Samaritan Hospital in Suffern has been a result of “more people just being here.” According to the most recent statistics from April 2004-March 2005, more than 10 percent of the 608 calls came in from the Woodbury Common Outlets; more than 35 percent were motor vehicle-related. Only about 45 percent of the calls came from Woodbury residents; 71 percent of these calls came during the daytime shift from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. But Conques said that number will most likely increase, with the number of calls already soaring to more than 700, months before the next statistical report even comes out. Maggio stressed the importance of volunteering for those of all ages. “We also have a youth squad. They’re 16 or 17; they ride along with us and help us,” he said. “Volunteers are very special people- and we need them now. We need people that can give the time to help others.” “I think adults are scared of ambulances” Vobroucek said. “They know that something’s wrong if they’re ever in there.” “So they turn away and try to put it out of their heads, like it’s not important,” Conques added. “Some people don’t realize the service that we provide. Many are from the city and think that the ambulance ‘just comes.’ I think that if someone in Woodbury called one day and we didn’t come, their minds would change.” If you are interested in joining or would like more information, call the Woodbury Community Ambulance at 845-928-6464.