Order of Malta Ambulance Corps

  The Order of Malta Ambulance Corps (OMAC) is the largest voluntary ambulance and first aid organisation in Ireland. The Order of Malta is engaged in teaching medical first aid, providing ambulance cover at large events, patient transport, community and nursing services. Some Units of the corps are also involved with providing an emergency ambulance service such as the Tramore Unit of the corps. The ambulance corps is administered by the Order of Malta.

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Senior Members

The current National Director of the Order of Malta Ambulance Corps is Commander Winnie Maye D.M. Commander Maye was elected to the position to replace Commander Peader Ward K.M. Dame Winnie Maye took office in January 2007.

The President of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Ambulance Corps is Judge Peter Smithwick K.M.

History

The first Unit was founded in Galway in 1938 to provide first aid ambulance services to the city and Connaught. Today, the ambulance corps is a national organisation with 4,000 members involved in 80 Units across the Island of Ireland. The organisation operates over 130 ambulances, mobile accident and emergency suites, support vehicles, medical bikes and command centres.

The organisations headquaters are located in the exclusive Clyde Road area of Ballsbridge Dublin. Within the building there are modern lecture halls for training and a command centre to coordinate vehicles and medical persons.

Ranks of the Ambulance Corps

• Cadet
• Cadet Corporal
• Cadet Sergeant
• Volunteer
• Corporal
• Sergeant
• Adjutant
• Second Lieutenant
• First Lieutenant
• Captain
• Commandant
• Assistant Commander
• Commander
• Assistant National Director
• Deputy National Director
• National Director

Rank markings placed on slides for shoulder epaulettes with different colour slides to denote qualification such as:

• No Colour for members trained in First Aid/Emergency First Responder/Emergency Cardiac Responder and Emergency Medical Technician
• Black for member of the Clergy
• Green for Paramedic
• Blue for Nurse
• Red for Medical Doctor

Uniform

The Uniform most commonly worn is the work uniform which consists of:

• White pilot shirt with rank displayed on epaulettes with Order of Malta Ambulance Corps logo and text displayed on left breast
• Grey tunic with rank displayed on epaulettes. Under the left epaulette a flash with unit name, under right epaulette an OMAC flash and Ireland flash.
• Grey combat style trousers
• Black safety boots
• Red cravat
• Grey beret
• Red/Yellow hi-visability jacket