Meet Ramsey: Volunteer Ambulance Squad President

Two years ago, when Jim Incorvaia joined the Ramsey Ambulance squad, he said he was looking for a way to give back. “I was an EMT at my old job, and I heard that Ramsey had a really good ambulance corps. I had a lot of friends from [Ramsey], and a lot of interest in the town, so it seemed like a good opportunity to get more involved."

Now, the 23-year-old who lives in Hawthorne is the elected President of the Ramsey Ambulance Squad for 2012. “When our previous president stepped down, I thought I’d try to help out the squad.” Eight months into holding the office, Incorvaia says he is really enjoying it. He handles administrative tasks for the squad, and is stationed at the borough’s ambulance building when he is on duty.

When he is not volunteering for Ramsey, Incorvaia works for Valley Hospital’s ambulance unit. “I really enjoy what I do,” he said.

According to Incorvaia, the Ramsey squad has about 30 members, 15-20 of which are active riders. In their two Ford E-450 Type III ambulances, the squad answers an average of 1,300 calls a year.

“We are always looking for new members,” the first-year president said.

The work involved, Incorvaia said, may not be as time consuming as potential volunteers think. “We require 16 hours a month,” he said. “We actually had nine new members sign up this year, which was great.”

Locals as young as 16-years-old can join, but are probationary until they turn 18. “We have a nice mix of ages and personalities who volunteer with us,” the president said. “You get to be really close with the other volunteers. You go out as a crew, and it’s a good bond.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the squad can get more information on the Ambulance Corps website, by emailing membership@ramseyambulance.org, or by calling (201) 327-1777.

--

Follow Patch on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your email inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.