Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps

By Jaxyn Boyce

Building on the legacy of the original Marathon Emergency Squad that was established in 1948, the Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. (MAVAC) was launched in January 2000 as a separate not-for-profit organization ambulance service, dedicated to providing emergency medical care within Marathon and the surrounding communities. As a not-for-profit ambulance corps, MAVAC is separated from the Marathon Fire Department, but maintains a close affiliation with many members active in both organizations. MAVAC provides advanced life support ambulance service, but is a first response system dedicated to serving; Marathon, Lapeer, Freetown, Willet, Virgil, and Lisle, and provides other neighboring EMS agencies  mutual aid when requested.

The Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Association Corps receives approximately 800 emergency calls each  year, with most calls being within their primary coverage district. However, around 20 percent of their responses are for emergencies outside their own district. During a crisis, the MAVAC Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics can provide Basic and Advanced Life Support care. Recently, the MAVAC organization was awarded the 2023 Lipinski Rural Initiatives Award for their dedication to saving lives. With this award, it is going to further expand its location. MAVAC is moving forward with plans to construct a new ambulance station and potentially a retail space that will be leased to a possible pharmacy. The new station will provide much-needed space for MAVAC’s expansion and allow them to provide additional services to local residents. To learn more about this award it can be viewed at youtube.com/watch?v=OKc6mUvLeZ4.

Each member of the MAVAC team has been thoroughly trained  and the providers have lots of practical experience. For example, the EMTs have completed 130 hours of classes, and hospital or ride-a-long training. However, the Paramedic complete’s training that spans between one to two years with significant clinical training hours and rigorous skills exams. Paramedics also have the skills authorized to administer medications and to perform advanced medical procedures. MAVAC’s ambulance drivers workers are all first responders who are certified, including  CPR/AED. Open to the public through MAVAC are CPR, AED, and certified in the future babysitter training classes for young adults. 

Community involvement is just another way they get involved to bridge a connection to the locals. Each year, MAVAC provides ambulance coverage for the CNY Maple Festival, has been on standby coverage for the Marathon Scholars race as well as high school athletic events, and has offered blood pressure checks to the public. Community residents in the region can listen to Marathon Area Volunteer Ambulance Corps, Inc. live feeds of emergency calls placed in Marathon and other Cortland County areas by visiting MAVAC’s website at marathonambulance.org, and keep up to date as well.

It is listed on the website along with their current MAVAC news tab that keeps locals up to date on what MAVAC does for the community. Anyone interested in joining can fill out an employee application on their website or by the submission form on their Contact Us page. Located on 2 Peck Street, these hard working members can be reached by phone at (607) 849-6157, or by email at MarathonAmbulance@gmail.com.

Photo (L-R): EMT Cassie Chalon, EMT John Tillotson, Medic Tiffani Kern