The Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WVAC), located in Wellsville, New York, is an Advanced Life Support – Critical Care Level – volunteer service. WVAC proud to be the largest provider of Emergency Medical Services in Allegany County.

We are funded by third party insurance billing, an annual fund drive and through contracts with five townships.

HISTORY

On the morning of January 1, 1967 (at 10:00am), two of Wellsville’s newest volunteer’s – Rod Sherwood and Claude Jones – contended with an ambulance stretcher somewhere in the Town of Alma for the very first time. Not only was it their first time, it was the first time for all of us. This trip to Alma was the first ambulance run for the newly organized Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corps (WVAC).

In 1966, New York State passed a law that made it illegal for funeral directors to furnish ambulance service. A subcommittee of the Emergency Ambulance Committee formed by then Mayor Robert Gardner met at the Municipal Building on the evening of November 30th, 1966. Attending this meeting were William Scarince, Preston Lucas, Walter Martelle and sixteen eager community members. They fought an uphill battle, but their efforts paid off. In 1967, the WVAC responded to 439 calls. Today, we average more than 1,400 calls a year, totaling more than 35,000 runs since that first winter morning in Alma. In 1998, we handled 1,505 calls and in 1999 were responded 1,406 times.

The WVAC has progressed from a load and go first aid unit, to a highly trained group of professional volunteers who provide advanced life support at the critical care level.

The first ambulance building was Howard Bergeson’s service station. From there we moved to Chamberlain Street until Hurricane Agnes wiped us out inn 1972. Then, through the dedication of the Lions Club, we moved to our current location in the Emergency Services Corridor on South Main Street.

The WVAC has traditionally been supported by donations and contracts with the five towns we serve (Alma, Scio, Ward, Wellsville and Willing). In the late 1990’s, we began third party insurance billing. By doing so, we reduced the burden on the taxpayers by more than 25%.

Several years ago, we also incorporated into our organization the (former) Allegany County Office of Emergency Services Rescue Squad. This squad has expertise in vehicle extrication, water and high angle rescue as well as communications command and search and rescue. We are now recognized by Forrest Rangers as part of their search and rescue details.

From band aids to iv's. From a hope and a pray to advanced cardiac drugs. We’ve had a century worth of changes in just 30 or so years. We can only imagine what the next 30 will bring.