1971: In a November "Letter to the Editor" in the Albany Student Press, Sandy Lutfi expresses concern for prolonged wait time for an injured athlete to receive emergency care. [17.1.1]

• Barry Bashkoff responds in a December "Letter to the Editor" requesting assistance in taking action to establish a campus-based ambulance [17.1.2]

1972: 105 Students (mostly undergraduates) take the American Red Cross standard and advanced first aid courses, followed by EMT course in Spring 1973 [17.1.5]

• Service was almost named "SUNYAVAC"! [17.1.4]

• Student Association Central Council endorses Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service [17.1.7]

• By December 1972, the group had a roster of 119 students (54 of which certified "medical emergency technicians") waiting for university approval to begin operation [17.1.8]

1973: Five Quad is founded by Barry Bashkoff, first in service October 1, 1973. Volunteers answered 18 calls in the first month.

• Student Affairs Dean Neil C. Brown presented proposal for terms of agreement for ambulance operation. 

  • • "I am delighted to see this proposal accepted in this fashion. Many students have worked hard to get it to this point. I am sure they will be gratified." [17.1.9]

• Dr Janet Hood, Director of the Student Health Center, has skepticism about establishing a student-operated ambulance service on campus

  • • Called FQAS (sic) "an awkward and costly partial replication of better services already available in the area" and sees round-the-clock service as a "waste of student volunteer time". She stated there is "absolutely no demonstrable need" on campus for it. [17.1.11]

    • "To the editor, You still indicate...that you, like a lot of others, do not understand the definition of an ambulance service. This is why have persistently objected to the use of the word. At the same time you do demonstrate some recognition of our true need, which is for routine transportation of ill and injured students." -J. Hood M.D. [17.1.12a]

    • "[Doctor Hood] seems to feel that the task will be too big for students to handle. It should be noted that Dr. Hood holds the records for writing letters to the ASP. In her letters, she consistently calls upon students to show a concern for each other or to assume responsibility." - M. Igoe, ASP [17.1.12b]

• Bashkoff bought a 1964 Dodge van from N.Y. Telephone Co. for $35 [17.1.11]

• A local commercial ambulance service donated a 1963 Cadillac ambulance (in need of repairs) [17.1.11]

• A federally supported ambulance emergency kit ($816 value) donated by NYS Health Dept [17.1.11]

• FQ Headquarters is located in the basement of Melville Hall on State Quad [2]

1974: FQVAS funded from student tax through indirect group "Friends of Five Quad". Central Council appropriated budget of $12,840 from a loan through the Athletic Advisory Board and a grant through Student Association. [17.1.13a]

• 85 Active members involved

• Purchased "new" ambulance ('61 Cadillac) to replace the old ambulance "Sea Biscuit"

• "Dr. Hood is of the opinion that Five Quad isn't needed. She feels that too much money is being spent for the service and would rather monies be allocated to help the handicapped." [17.1.13c]

1975: Budget of $9,500

1976: NYS Governor Hugh L. Carey proclaims October 24-30, 1976 as "Volunteer Ambulance Week" in New York State

• At this time in history, FQVAS is 1 of only 5 student-operated volunteer ambulance services in NYS

1977: Bob Elling heads the ambulance purchase committee

• New vehicle from Wayne Transportation Products Corp: Medicruiser Van 1977 Dodge ($17,300)

1978:

1979:

1980:

1981: Budget: $12,625

1982: Five Quad purchased a new ambulance for $28,000 [17.2.8]

• Membership ~90 volunteers

• FQVAS receives appx 600 calls per year

1983: Five Quad provides Emergency Medical Services for the Special Olympics hosted at the University at Albany

• 10th Anniversary

• FQ Office is located at Delancey Hall, Colonial Quad

1984: Five Quad provides Emergency Medical Services for the Special Olympics hosted at the University at Albany

• "Five Quad volunteer ambulance service has settled into a permanent home in the Student Health Services building." [17.2.17]

1985: Purchased a $38,000 unfurnished Horton Ambulance

• UA President O'Leary makes $10,000 pledge in support of building new Five Quad base

1986: Purchased new ambulance [17.2.25]

1987:

1988:

1989:

1990: New volunteers start out as dispatchers who match crews to ambulances and send them on calls [17.3.1]

• 60% of members are CPR Instructors, 30% are Standard First Aid instructors, and 50% are EMT trained [17.3.1]

1991: Five Quad compares free services to what private ambulance companies in the area charge [17.3.4]

• Mohawk: $155

• Capital District Ambulance Service: $115

• Doctors Ambulance Service: $125

1992: FQVAS purchases new ambulance (1992 Ford) for appx $50,000 [17.3.7]

1993: 20th Anniversary

• Budget: $38,117

1994:

1995: Board of Directors authorized purchase of 1995 Wheeled Coach Moduvan ($59,603), 2 stretchers, 2 Motorola GP300 Portable Radios

1996:

1997: David Brinkerhoff helped initiate the first defibrillator program

1998: First time defibrillator used (Sept 1) [1]

• Budget: $72,000

1999: Budget: $74,276

2000: FQVAS provides stand-by coverage at Giants Training Camp hosted at UAlbany

2001: 9/11 Terrorist Attack on the Twin Towers

• FQVAS Mobilized 9/13 to aid in rescue efforts, setting up a staging area 50ft away from Ground Zero [18.1, 18.1a, 18.1b, 18.2]

• Responding Crew: Abbas Gokal, Dan Banks, Andrew Pavone, Matthew Field, Randall Grant, Robert Carpenter

2002:

2003: 30th Anniversary

• Budget: $84,000 [18.4]

2004:

2005: FQVAS Wins 2005 NCEMSF Trauma Skills Competition in Philadelphia

• FQ participated in Interagency hazardous materials drill

2006: Equipped to use medication "Albuterol" for asthma emergencies

2007:

2008: FQVAS receive the NCEMSF "Striving for Excellence in Campus EMS" award

• Five Quad Memorial Service, held outside the University Health Center

• First annual David C. Brinkerhoff 5K Run/Walk

• UAlbany Class of 2008- Class Gift of over $16,000 in donations helps fund a new ambulance

• UAlbany starts installing Publicly Accessible Defibrillators around campuses

2009:

2010:

2011: Budget $106,000

2012: Five Quad transports Egyptian mummies from Albany Institute of History & Art to Albany Medical Center to undergo x-rays and CT scans

2013: 40th Anniversary

• First David C. Brinkerhoff Memorial Scholarship to a Five Quad member at the annual Brink 5K

2014: UPD and Five Quad trained and equipped to use naloxone for opioid overdoses

• Budget $166,000

• Current ambulance is a 2003 Ford E-350 Super Duty Diesel Moduvan

• Membership voted approval for purchase of new ambulance ($124,000)

• Ebola precautions

2015: Five Quad named "EMS Organization of the Year" at NCEMSF

• Five Quad one of the winners of the 2015 President's Award for Exemplary Public Engagement

• New ambulance, New AEDs, New Bleeding Control Protocols

2016: New ambulance obtained October 2016 ($140,765)

• FQVAS transports donated "survival kits" at the We Care Event with Albany Medical Center

• Obtained new "power stretchers"

• Implemented "EMSCharts" software for electronic charting

• Budget $128,300

2017: FQVAS Hosts NYS Collegiate EMS Conference at UAlbany

• 3 members attend EMS World Conference in Las Vegas with Medical Director Dr. Michael Dailey

• Equipped with new "Check and Inject" Vial and syringe kits for epinephrine administration

2018:

2019: FQVAS, CEHS, UPD participate in joint Active Shooter Response Drill

2020: Five Quad assists Rockland County with Nanuet Ambulance Corps during COVID-19 pandemic

• More than 2,500 UAlbany Face Shields donated to frontline medical workers by CEHC and CEAS

2021:

2022: Purchased a Fly Car

• FQVAS Collaboration with Harpurs Ferry VAS MCI Drill

2023: Five Quad hosts Intercollegiate EMS Conference at UAlbany

• 50th Anniversary