SOMAC—Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corp, is a volunteer, not-for-profit organization formed in June 1986 after the Community, Village, and Town of Hamilton were left without ambulance service.
On April 4, 1986 the local paid ambulance service suddenly, without warning, went out of business. It took almost two months to get everything in order—paperwork, equipment, etc.—until SOMAC's service started June 1, 1986. During this time, the Hamilton Fire Department rescue, a neighboring ambulance service, and active, potential SOMAC members responded to calls for the ambulance.
Volunteers were from Hamilton area community, Colgate University staff, and students. Many became EMT's (Emergency Medical Technicians) and continued their education to become Advanced Level EMT's (Intermediates, Level III Cardiac Tech's, and Level IV—Paramedics.)
Using borrowed pagers from Hamilton Hospital, SOMAC was dispatched by Madison County Control Center, through Hamilton Hospital. Telephone calls for help and an ambulance were made into the Control Center, by sharing the Hamilton Police Dept. phone lines. After a short time, the SOMAC pagers were in service and the ambulance was dispatched directly by the Control Center.
The initial ambulance and equipment were purchased from the previous provider. SOMAC started with a used 1980 Ford Van style ambulance. Eventually, a new ambulance was purchased and added as a second vehicle.
Today, SOMAC has two Advanced Life Support (ALS) ambulances.
Fund raising efforts by the SOMAC Board of Directors were responsible for the initial funding, and subsequent efforts. Through their efforts, SOMAC is able to continue to provide a quality service, with state-of-the-art equipment and ambulances.
Each ambulance carries full ALS (Advanced Life Support) equipment, defibrillators and LifePak monitors with pacing.
Certified at the Paramedic Level, SOMAC is proud to be celebrating our 22nd year of service.
If you are interested in joining the corps, please click on this link or the link above, "How to Join."
Part-Time Paramedic Positions Available
Paramedic Positions - Part Time
3 years experience preferred
Shifts Daily 7:00am to 7:00pm
Great equipment, station, and location
Now accepting applications and resumes
Requirements for Part-Time Employment
New York State Paramedic with three-years experience preferred.
Additional certifications for eligibility include:
ACLS PALS
PHTLS BTLS
EVOC, CEVO, or equivalent
BCLS (CPR) Certification
Current online Midstate Privileges
Clean, Current NYS Driver’s License (photocopy)
Current NY Paramedic Certification card (photocopy)
Shifts will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week.
Please send resume and application for employment with attached copies of certifications to:
Southern Madison County Volunteer Ambulance Corps
Attn: Dave Snyder
P.O. Box 453
Hamilton, NY 13346
You can also fax to: (315) 824-1052
SOMAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination in employment because of sex, age, race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, liability to service in the armed forces of the United States or non-job-related handicaps.
Shannon Larabee, a Colgate student volunteer was featured in the Colgate Maroon News.
"Sitting in an ambulance rushing headlong toward the hospital, a patient goes into cardiac arrest. Most people who saw a human fighting for life would stay away from hospitals and emergency rooms for good, but not senior Shannon Larabee."
The Mid-York Foundation of Hamilton has presented a grant in the amount of $4,500 to SOMAC to help cover costs of recently aquired Automated External Defibrilators (AED). The check was presented to SOMAC officials by Terry Murphy, foundation President on Saturday Jan. 19th.
Click here to download the article.
