The value of joining a volunteer ambulance service cannot be understated. It is a way of giving back to the community. EMS is an important part of the health care system. Volunteers can help save lives and make communities safer. These services can be a huge help when disaster strikes and the government's staff is overwhelmed.
Often, an ambulance service has many more calls than it has available staff. It can cost up to $200,000 to maintain a single ambulance. While these costs may be lower in many regions, they are still significant compared to the revenue streams of an ambulance service. Although ambulances can't make a profit, they are still a valuable resource for public safety, public policy, and public service.
Volunteer EMS services offer benefits such as ongoing education. Some volunteer services also provide workers' compensation style insurance to their volunteers. Volunteer EMS services can also offer flu vaccines and tuberculosis testing to their volunteers. As a volunteer, you can learn more about EMS and volunteer work from the Hackensack Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
If you become ill or injured while volunteering for an ambulance service, you may be eligible for weekly cash benefits. These benefits apply if you are temporarily or permanently disabled. A permanent disability is defined as a schedule loss of use and includes loss of sight, hearing, or a portion of the body. If your disability is permanent, you can qualify for compensation up to a certain amount. For instance, a 25 percent loss of use of an arm translates to 78 weeks of compensation.
Joining a volunteer ambulance service is an opportunity for life-saving and challenging work. As a volunteer, you'll receive training to respond to emergency calls. In addition, you'll attend monthly meetings and training exercises. This job allows you to provide a vital emergency service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This opportunity can make a huge impact on the lives of those you help.
Volunteer ambulances respond to calls in more areas than one city. The HBVEMS ambulance covers approximately 30% of the entire ambulance workload, making it an invaluable addition to a community's health care system. This service is reliant on the generosity of community members and donations from local businesses.