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About The Department The Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department (NVAD) is the City's primary Emergency Medical Service responder, with professional staff operating two modern 4-wheel-drive ambulances that carry state-of-the-art equipment. NVAD is on-call 24 hours a day, every day. The department is state certified as a Basic Life Support service with part-time Advanced Life Support Service. The Department is staffed with more than 20 volunteers, all of whom are expected to sign up for eight twelve hour "on call" shifts per month. Most are state-certified Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), and some have earned optional national accreditation. Many NVAD volunteers also have advanced EMT-II, EMT-III, and paramedic ratings. NVAD is recognized for excellence. The State Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Board named NVAD the "Department of the Year" in 1987 and again in 2002. NVAD won the annual state EMS skills competition in 2002 and has earned top-five honors four times since 1999. NVAD is busy - and fast. NVAD averages around 500 calls per year, and volunteers are usually on-scene within 5 minutes of a call to 911. NVAD also provides "medevac" transportation service between local airlines and Norton Sound Regional Hospital. Depending on road conditions, NVAD can also respond to emergencies outside the city limits. On certain calls involving cardiac and respiratory emergencies, vehicle and aircraft accidents, marine emergencies and fires, NVAD responds simultaneously with the Nome Volunteer Fire Department (NVFD). NVAD also provides assistance to NVFD on most search and rescue operations. Community Service To celebrate the Christmas spirit each year, NVAD members, dressed as Santa and his Elves, drive ambulances around Nome to deliver candy and gifts to dozens of good girls and boys. The Department has also distributed free ATV helmets to promote injury prevention. NVAD also has a seat on the Local Emergency Planning Commission (LEPC). History In 1980, Norton Sound Health Corporation created the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Service (NVAS) to meet a demand for a professional, state-certified emergency medical service. NVAS became an independent, non-profit agency in the mid-1980's. After several years of successful partnership between NVAS and the City of Nome, the City absorbed the Service in 1996 and created the Nome Volunteer Ambulance Department. Join Us NVAD service is demanding, exciting and necessary. The department is always looking for new members, but in order to serve with NVAD, volunteers must first obtain, at the minimum, state Emergency Trauma Technician (ETT) certification. Certification classes are offered in Nome through Norton Sound Health Corporation and the City of Nome. Click here to view a schedule of upcoming classes (pdf). If you would like to gain a better perspective on the service NVAD provides, watch the five minute video from the link below, check out the photo album, or join us during a regular meeting. NVAD meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Ambulance Garage. If you have additional questions or would like more information, please call the Emergency Services Administrator at 443-7824 or send an e-mail to pubsafe@ci.nome.ak.us.
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Government Departments City of Nome - General Links
Photo Credit: Musk-ox ©2001 Richard Harris |
