The mission of Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance Service is to provide high quality emergency medical care and transportation to the sick and injured of Chiloquin, Fort Klamath and the surrounding area, and to those traveling through; to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect and open communication with the community, volunteers and employees while supporting efforts to continue the personal and professional development of our valuable personnel.
he Chiloquin Volunteer Ambulance Service, known as CVAS, was established in 1956. The Service incorporated in 1983 and obtained its non-profit 501(c) 3 status from the IRS in 1991. CVAS operates 24 hours a day seven days a week to provide emergency medical services to the community via the 911 Emergency System. Our equipment is comprised of two ambulances; both are fully stocked at all times with the equipment required to provided Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS).
This is primarily a volunteer organization. and we are constantly seeking the participation of local people who would like to become part of CVAS. There is no pay. The satisfaction comes from the ability to provide a service to the community. This can be very rewarding.
About the Service Area
The Ambulance Service Area, known as ASA, is assigned by the Klamath County Board of Commissioners which assigns and monitors all ambulance services in Klamath County. The service area covers approximately 1150 square miles of Klamath County. The boundaries stretch from the west of Chiloquin east to milepost 24 on Sprague River Road, and from there run north from Sand Creek south to the old weigh station just north of Klamath Falls. CVAS averages 150 to 200 transports to Sky Lakes Medical Center in Klamath Falls each year. The service also responds to many calls that do not require transport. The service stands by at high school athletic competitions such as football and wrestling, local rodeos, elementary school show-and-tells and health screenings. In addition, the service participates in local parades and provides free blood pressure clinics for the community.
What is an EMT?
Emergency Medical Technicians are highly trained medical personnel who spent many hours in classrooms and in medical facilities to learn and perfect their skills in providing emergency medical care to the sick and injured. First Responders are also trained, to a lesser degree, in providing emergency care to the sick and injured, as well as providing assistance to more highly trained emergency medical personnel. Together, these people are the core of CVAS.
CVAS schedules continuing education sessions for the ambulance personnel to assure that the volunteers are kept current in use of equipment and methods for emergency care, which enables the service to provide the best possible emergency care for the community.
The paid staff is comprised of an EMS Chief who oversees the ambulance operations, the Administrator who oversees the day to day business operations and is also an EMT and two ambulance drivers. The five-member Board of Directors, representing the community and the ambulance personnel, make the policy and funding decisions.
Funding for CVAS
Funding for the CVAS comes primarily from billings for transports, our Sustaining Donor contributions, donations made as memorials and grants. The CVAS receives no tax dollars. An annual operating budget is developed and managed by the Board of Directors
Although we are not affiliated with any other emergency service agency, we work closely with the Chiloquin-Agency Lake Rural Fire Protection District and respond jointly to calls requiring both fire and medical assistance. You may see us out in the community at high school athletic events, rodeos or Pow-wows providing stand by medical assistance. We also provide FREE blood pressure checks at our office during business hours.