COURIER LIFE, MAY 7-13, 2021 9
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The volunteers at
BRAVO Volunteer Ambulance
have been serving the
community since 1974, providing
ambulance transportation
for people who
reside in the areas of Bay
Ridge, Ft. Hamilton, and
Dyker Heights.
As a result, countless
lives have been saved because
emergency medical
care was provided when
timing was crucial.
No one was sent a bill
for these services, as they
are provided free of charge,
thanks to funding from the
city and the fundraising efforts
of its members.
The organization was
formed because in the
1970’s, ambulance response
times in the community
could sometimes exceed
one hour, and that was unacceptable.
Hank Vogt,
the Community Board 10
Chairperson at that time,
decided to recruit Emergency
Medical Service
Technicians and other volunteers
who were willing
to do something about it.
The current president,
Antony Napoli, remembers
those early years, as he
joined in 1975, right after
his 18th birthday. While
BRAVO helps the sick, he
also notes that it has empowered
the community in
another way –by launching
careers. Newbies could
ride with experienced EMS
workers, and gain the certifications
that were needed
to be hired by the city. It
was the path he followed,
and he went on to become
Chief of the New York Fire
Department Emergency
Services.
Requirements have
since changed, and as a result,
BRAVO has undergone
changes as well, says Napoli.
“In 1997, the NYC Fire
Department merged with
EMS, and made a decision
not to require new hires to
come in with experience.
This was a devastating
blow to BRAVO.” It meant
less people were volunteering.
While the service was
once available 24/7, without
the necessary staff, it is no
longer possible. The organization
owns three ambulances,
and one or two are
usually in service at any
given time, depending upon
the volunteer’s schedules.
Napoli says volunteerism
in general is on the
decline, so they are always
looking for medical technicians
and dispatchers. Although
many who volunteer
do work in the emergency
service field in some capacity,
a medical background
is not a requirement. “Anyone
can volunteer,” he says.
“Anyone can be trained to
answer the phone and radio,
or to do administrative
work.”
There is certainly no
shortage of volunteers in
the Napoli family. He met
his wife, Diane, at BRAVO.
Their two adult children,
Christina and David, are
also BRAVO Emergency
Medical Technicians.
There are currently
about 80 members, as well
as a youth squad comprised
of 14 – 17-year-olds who are
trained in CPR. Many hope
to eventually become Emergency
Medical Technicians,
says Napoli. They also help
with fund-raising efforts.
John DiVeglio, Chairperson
of the Board, joined
BRAVO in 2013, after a career
with the School Construction
Authority. While
Napoli handles operations,
DiVeglio, together with
other members of the Board,
make decisions about the
welfare of the organization.
They are also involved in
fundraising, which is vital
to BRAVO’s success.
BRAVO operates within
certain borders - below
14th Avenue and above 60th
Street.
BRAVO 8507 7th Ave. between
85th and 86th streets
in Bay Ridge. Email: President@
BravoAmbulance.
org. Emergency Service
number: 718-680-1111.
BUS INES S , B ROOKLYN S T Y LE
BRAVO for those who serve