Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Encyclopedia
The Bedford-Stuyvesant Volunteer Ambulance Corps (BSVAC) is the world's first non-profit, minority- run, volunteer ambulance corps
, founded in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
, New York
in 1988 by James Robinson. BSVAC- (pron. Beesvac) was established organically in response to the lack of city wide first aid services coming to the area. In 1988 James "Rocky" Robinson and col. Victor Perez started the corps in response to lackluster services in the area. Although the majority of all homicides in New York City occur within the confines of this neighborhood, BSVAC remains the dominant ambulance service.
BSVAC has established a neighborhood first aid
center.
BSVAC has a Youth Corps program that provides CPR, first aid and basic emergency medical training to teens and young adults. A program for younger children, called the Trauma Troopers, has also been developed by BSVAC.
BSVAC has reached out to other minority communities, from Harlem
, New York
to Los Angeles
, California
, providing emergency medical training and assistance in setting up programs.
Hero of the Year Award, New York City Hero Award, American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award, Thousand Points of Light Award (awarded by President George H.W. Bush), and the Maxwell House Hero Search Award.
Emergency medical services
Emergency medical services are a type of emergency service dedicated to providing out-of-hospital acute medical care and/or transport to definitive care, to patients with illnesses and injuries which the patient, or the medical practitioner, believes constitutes a medical emergency...
, founded in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Bedford-Stuyvesant is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Formed in 1930, the neighborhood is part of Brooklyn Community Board 3, Brooklyn Community Board 8 and Brooklyn Community Board 16. The neighborhood is patrolled by the NYPD's 79th and 81st...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1988 by James Robinson. BSVAC- (pron. Beesvac) was established organically in response to the lack of city wide first aid services coming to the area. In 1988 James "Rocky" Robinson and col. Victor Perez started the corps in response to lackluster services in the area. Although the majority of all homicides in New York City occur within the confines of this neighborhood, BSVAC remains the dominant ambulance service.
Programs
BSVAC is reported to respond to emergency calls with an average response time of less than four minutes.BSVAC has established a neighborhood first aid
First aid
First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury. It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care...
center.
BSVAC has a Youth Corps program that provides CPR, first aid and basic emergency medical training to teens and young adults. A program for younger children, called the Trauma Troopers, has also been developed by BSVAC.
BSVAC has reached out to other minority communities, from Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, providing emergency medical training and assistance in setting up programs.
Awards
BSVAC has received the Robin Hood FoundationRobin Hood Foundation
The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization, which attempts to alleviate problems caused by poverty in New York, United States.-History:Founded in 1988, Robin Hood was the brainchild of hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones...
Hero of the Year Award, New York City Hero Award, American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award, Thousand Points of Light Award (awarded by President George H.W. Bush), and the Maxwell House Hero Search Award.