S.A.V.A.C. History

In the fall of 1971, state budget cuts forced the Mary Walker Health Center of SUNY Oswego to reduce their hours of operation. Students found that their needs could not be met in the case of emergency assistance when the health center was not open after 4PM or on weekends. On December 31, 1971 a group of SUNY Oswego students made history, forming the first student run ambulance service in the nation, S.A.V.A.C. The Student Association of SUNY Oswego granted the new organization money to begin operations. This money was applied to the purchase of a Ford van which was converted to an ambulance. Training was provided free to the students in first aid and emergency medical care. When the insurance and legal work was sorted through, S.A.V.A.C. became fully operational and in the second year of operation responded to 112 emergency calls on campus.

Through the years S.A.V.A.C. was able to purchase communications equipment and newer ambulances. S.A.V.A.C. has made headlines, saved lives, and carried on a tradition of quality emergency care free of charge to SUNY Oswego Students.

Presently, S.A.V.A.C. operates with a named, in-house crew from 7PM to 8AM Monday through Thursday and from 4PM Friday evening to 8AM Monday morning.  In addition, crews are often found around the corps room for daytime shift coverage.  Between our Chiefs' Flycars and members available during the daytime, we are able to keep the ambulance available to take calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week while school is in session. 

S.A.V.A.C. has managed to keep tradition while still meeting the dynamics of emergency medical care. S.A.V.A.C.'s seventh ambulance is now a New York State Certified Basic Life Support 2005 Ford McCoy Miller ambulance which responds to calls with at least one New York State Certified Emergency Medical Technician - Basic on board. Annually, S.A.V.A.C. responds to about 250 calls during the academic year.  For more information about our call statistics, see our Call Stats page.

S.A.V.A.C. provides not only to the campus community, but has mutual aid agreements with surrounding areas to provide emergency medical care if needed. Active agreements are kept with both the City of Oswego and the Town of Oswego.

The corps room is currently located in the Mackin Complex on the East side of the SUNY Oswego campus. All the luxuries of home and office including a bunk room, a living room, kitchen, bathroom, Corps office, and a Chief's office are in the S.A.V.A.C. base, and it has become like another home to many of our members.

Members of S.A.V.A.C. include Oswego students and former Oswego students with various medical backgrounds.  Some have experience in fire fighting or EMS, some have no prior experience at all.  S.A.V.A.C. provides the training necessary to the members so that they can perform various necessary duties, including driving the ambulance, attending to patients, or assisting the attending EMT.  No background in EMS is needed. S.A.V.A.C. is dispatched through Oswego County E-911.

The Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corps has continued to provide quality emergency medical care to the campus community since 1972. The ongoing support and volunteered time of this fully student operated organization keeps us going strong. As long as there are medical needs, as long as there are concerned and dedicated students, there will always be S.A.V.A.C.