Click on a link to view a description of the bookmarked item:

• NAVAC Contact Information

• NAVAC Officers & Directors

• NAVAC History

• NAVAC Operational Positions

• NAVAC Non-Operational Positions

North Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NAVAC)

P.O. Box 215

603 North Main St.

North Syracuse, NY 13212

Phone: (315) 458-7514

Fax: (315) 458-3567

NAVAC Officers & Directors

• Executive Director - Christopher Bitner

• Deputy Director - Jeff Sikora

• President - Michael Moore

• Vice President - Dorothy Champney

• Treasurer - Julie Koagel

• Secretary - Paul Collier

• Board Member at Large - Bill Cifaratta

• Board Member at Large - Jim Cullen

• Community Board Member - Jack Pollicino

• Community Board Member - Joe Ruscitto

• Community Board Member - Vince Hollopeter

• Community Board Member - Leigh Hunt

• Assistant Director of Operations - Paul Smyth

• Assistant Director of Operations - Jay Jelliff

• Director of Administration - Kathryn Taddeo

• Director of Community Relations - Jennifer Nichols

• Development Coordinator - Dede VanAllen

• Director of Membership - Maureen Butterfield

• Director of Training - Christopher Dunham

• Director of Quality - Jessica Thomas

• Director of Support Services - John Roziock

• Aeromedical Coordinator - Mark Rauscher

• Aeromedical Training - Chris Logue

To Contact NAVAC Individuals Please Click Contact Us To The Left

NAVAC History 

     NAVAC was born in October 1970 when 50 community minded volunteers with a common vision, purchased one new ambulance and one used ambulance and delivered emergency medical services to their neighbors from a small room across from the village jail.  North Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps was to become the largest volunteer ambulance organization in Central New York covering a service territory of 25,000 homes.

     Today, answering over 6,000 calls per year, NAVAC's team of 80 volunteers is supplemented by a compensated staff of 26 paramedics, 2 administrative assistants, and an executive director.

     NAVAC provides 24-hour emergency medical care and transportation to the residents of the North Syracuse Central School District.  NAVAC paramedics also staff the New York State Police medevac helicopter from 07:00-23:00 daily.

     NAVAC continues to serve the community by offering CPR training, walk-in first aid treatment, a community first aid program, youth programs, mutual aid for other communities, and a stand-by emergency service for school athletic events and other community functions.  NAVAC has trained or recertified more than 7000 residents in life-saving CPR alone.

     While maintaining the personal touch, NAVAC looks forward to the future in continuing to be a professional volunteer ambulance service, and to provide the highest quality Emergency Medical Services available anywhere.

NAVAC Operational Positions

• Driver: Responsible for the safety of the crew when responding to a call and for safety of the crew and patient during transport to the hospital.   Requirements for this role are certification in First Aid and CPR and successful complete NAVAC's driver training program.  This  program is designed to familiarize the driver with driving under extreme conditions.

• EMT: an Emergency Medical Technician.  The E.M.T. is trained in many forms of basic life support and first aid skills.  The NAVAC  E.M.T.  must successfully complete the NYS DOT  E.M.T training course consisting of 108 hours of classroom instruction and 12 hours of clinical experience in the hospital Emergency Dept.

• AEMT-I: an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate.  The A.E.M.T-I is trained in basic life support and some advanced skills, such as definitive airway management and IV therapy to adult patients.  The NAVAC  A.E.M.T.- I must be an EMT and successfully complete the NYS DOT training course consisting of 96 hours of classroom instruction, 48 hours of clinical experience in the hospital E.D. and 48 hours of field experience with an ambulance.

• AEMT-CC: an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician-Critical Care.  The A.E.M.T.-CC is trained in basic life support and many advanced life support skills, including definitive airway management, IV therapy and administration of medication to adult patients.  The NAVAC  A.E.M.T.-CC must be an EMT and successfully complete the NYS DOT training course consisting of 165 hours of classroom instruction, 72 hours of clinical experience in the hospital E.D. and 60 hours of field experience with an ambulance.

• Paramedic: the highest trained prehospital care provider. The NAVAC Paramedic is trained in basic life support and all advanced life support skills to adult and pediatric patients.  The NAVAC  Paramedic must be an EMT and successfully complete the NYS DOT training course consisting of 600 hours of classroom instruction, 250 hours of clinical experience in a hospital emergency department and 350 hours of field experience.

NAVAC Non-Operational Positions

• CPR Instructor: an American Heart Association BLS Instructor who teaches Healthcare Providor and Community CPR classes.

• Administrative Positions: NAVAC has a number of administrative personnel who volunteer their time "behind-the-scenes" to keep NAVAC's operations running smoothly.  There is always a need for help in this area.