COCVAC provides a 24-hour emergency medical service and its members are expected to spend 24 hours a month at the corps, divided into weekly six-hour shifts. Members must go through an initial screening and interview process and a six-month probation period after which the corps will vote on the candidate's competency and ability. At this point an applicant is either accepted into the corps or rejected, keeping high standards for members. In addition to the six-hour weekly shifts, members are also expected to respond to calls if there are not enough members on call to cover it. Kaitlin Polak, Matt Pabis and Gill Chapman (currently on leave) all volunteer at COCVAC and have dealt with everything from simple transports to car accidents and heart attacks, as well as assistance needed by the college, which is in their coverage area.
CFD is the entirely volunteer fire and medical service for the town of Clinton. Members handle both medical emergencies (about two-thirds of the calls handled per year) and car accidents or fires. Members are usually trained in both fire fighting and advanced life support. Mike Stahl joined CFD on September 11, 2002, less than a month after arriving on campus as a first-year student. He has been training every Monday evening since that time, learning to use the Jaws of Life and training in a live burning tower. Stahl is planning to become EMT certified this summer and will join the Hamilton College EMTs next fall. For Stahl, the most exciting area of training was atop the fully extended 110 foot later at a 70 degree incline.
Steve Larson, an EMT and former Hamilton College EMT officer, joined CFD in September looking for more experience than the weekend night campus calls often provide. Larson has been thrilled with the experience in emergency medicine and the fire fighter training and has enjoyed having the ability to give back to the greater community. Larson explained, "I feel that I owe Hamilton my service because I am a student here, just as I owe Clinton my service because I live here."
Mark Breitinger has been working in the CFD since October of 2000. He is certified in Advanced Life Support and Interior Fire Fighting and has responded to more than 200 calls in the past two years. He has encouraged other Hamilton students to become involved in the department, and helped Larson join the department last year.
Frank Valone has been involved with the CFD for the past three years as an EMT fire fighter. Valone goes on about 160 of the average 800 calls CFD receives per year. He noted, "It is very rewarding to help out the community this way… it is a great way to meet some very nice and caring people."
Other Hamilton student members of CFD include: Kaitlin Polak, Bill Haley, Lindsey Martin and Amanda Fix.
