The New Canaan Volunteer Ambulance Corps (NCVAC) provides emergency medical care and transportation to sick and injured residents and visitors on a 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week basis in the town of New Canaan, as well as mutual aid to neighboring communities. Patients are transported to Norwalk Hospital and Stamford Hospital. The NCVAC does not take patients to doctors’ offices, immediate care centers, clinics, or HMOs. For life threatening cases, transport is to the nearest hospital.

The Corps maintains three ambulances in service. If the "on duty crew" is out on a call and if the need for another ambulance materializes, a "back-up crew" will be dispatched to respond. All NCVAC members carry radio pagers or two-way radios, enabling them to respond to back-up calls and to emergencies in their neighborhoods. The Ambulance Corps volunteers are supported by a professional paramedic on duty at all times.

The Corps conducts monthly drills that serve as an in-service refresher training program for the state-certified Emergency Medical Technicians, who are required to recertify every two years.

Since 1996, the Town of New Canaan has contracted with Norwalk Hospital to provide twenty-four hour paramedic service in conjunction with the NCVAC.

• Emergency Medical Services
• Frequently Asked Questions
• NCVAC Website
  

Main Number: 911 (emergency)
Patients should not come to NCVAC headquarters for treatment, but should call 911.

When Should I call an ambulance?
Call an ambulance for any sudden or rapidly changing illness or injury, such as:

• Difficulty in breathing
• Chest pain
• Loss of consciousness
• Head injury
• Abdominal pain
• Severe wounds or bleeding
• Falls
• Change of mental status
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Sports accidents
• Drug or alcohol overdose

Do not underestimate the severity of an illness or injury. Let the ambulance crew assess the patient.

When in doubt, telephone 911 for the ambulance.

All 911 calls go to the New Canaan Police Department, who dispatch the ambulance crew and/or New Canaan Fire Department as appropriate. The Police Department also dispatches police on all calls in case they are needed. The police are able to view a computer display of the name and location of all calls.

What can I do to help?

• Insure that the house is clearly marked with large reflective street numbers on the building or mailbox
• Turn on the outside house lights (day or night)
• If possible, have someone outside to direct the ambulance
• Keep the patient calm and warm
• Do not move the patient unless necessary for safety reasons
• Install blinking light (available at Lapham Community Center) in socket visible from the street and turn on for emergency
• Have the patient’s medications ready to show Emergency Technicians. Give them a concise medical history of past illnesses, surgery or injury
• Remember that the ambulance cannot provide return transportation from the hospital for the patient or the patient’s family
• Keep an updated File of Life

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