Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $14,012 in federal funding for the North Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NAVAC) to upgrade their operations and safety measures to respond to emergencies more effectively. The funding was allocated through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
“This is an important investment for the North Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps,” Senator Gillibrand said. “This federal grant will help improve their equipment, and give them the new training they need to save more lives. I will continue working to ensure our first responders have the tools and resources they need to keep our communities safe.”
NAVAC Executive Director Debra L. Gallagher said, “NAVAC has been training EMS providers and our firefighting partners for almost 30 years. We are very excited to receive this grant as it will provide state-of-the-art equipment to enhance and expand our training programs such as ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support).”
NAVAC will use the federal funding to upgrade their equipment to make their operations more streamlined and efficient. NAVAC employs 35 staff members and is supported by over 140 volunteers that serve the communities of Bridgeport, Cicero, Clay, Hinsdale, Mattydale, North Syracuse and South Bay. NAVAC responds to nearly 7,000 calls annually.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, established by FEMA within the Department of Homeland Security, is part of an effort to increase the nation’s emergency response preparation. This program provides federal funding to first responder organizations for the acquisition of personal protective equipment, firefighting vehicles, and emergency response equipment. The funds also help provide emergency response trainings.