emp305

Units staged on Northbroadway prior to Drill.

Not really training, but a good shot of the SMRT and the Zumro. From Fleet Day..

Empress EMS and our Sister Emergacare staging during the Drill

Empress EMS, Yonkers Fire, YPD. YPD ESU, MTA Police, MTA ESU, Yonkers OEM, Various NYS DOH and Fire Officials, and others

Saftey Officer assisting with PPE and a shot of the back of the MMC / Special Medical Response Team vehicle

Treatment and Triage officers working together at RAD drill.

Donning PPE at JFK marina.

I don't know if there is any kind of special exemption. Most of our units have Ez-passes mounted on the roof, but if there is a unit transporting in emergency mode we will call ahead to the tolls and have them clear a lane. It has been done only a handful of times but it has been done. As for the FD I don't think they have any ezpasses if fact I don't think they even slow down for the a toll. lol But it is a rare occurence that they need to go through a toll at all.

Date:2-19-09 Time:1800hrs Location:Mount Vernon (Fulton & E. 3rd) Frequency: Units Operating: Empress, MVPD ESU, Transcare Weather Conditions: dry Description Of Incident: Child Struck and Killed - Child was struck and apparently run over by vehicle. BLS unit began treating, Empress Medics arrived, treated and transported to SSMC, shortly after their arrival the child was pronounced. Reporters: Writer: EMP305

Date:1-31-09 Time:Approx. 0500hrs Location: St. Casmir Pl. X Elm St. Frequency: 462.950 (Empress) Units Operating: YPD 4th PCT; Empress Paramedic Supervisors unit 305, 309, BLS A18, Medic 38, YPD ESU Truck 2,4, YPD CSU, YPD Capt, Sgt, Lt. Description Of Incident: Young male with stab would to the leg causing massive hemmorage, Subject in Traumatic arrest transported to St. Josephs Writer:

OK, A county wide mutual aid plan exists and there are ambulances on the road constantly, so why are people still waiting for help. How does your EMS agency, VAC, or FD ambulance deal with the problem?

Well I'm not quite with you on the start from scratch part. But yes agencies must come clean, should there be hearings? The fact that 1 job overwhelms the majority of EMS agencies in this county is beyond insane, its criminal.

As for EMS in Westchester being in dire straits, well it depends on where in Westchester you live. I suppose that statement alone actually supports your assertion. As for the volunteer issue, all VAC's irrespective of being a Vol. ambulance or a VFD should be required to maintain an established ability to respond. If a VAC or VFD ambulance can not respond in a timely manner that VFD or VAC should be required to either to pay personnel to staff their units or contract with a provider that will guarantee a certain aver. response time. The people of this county deserve an ambulance the same way they deserve a response by the PD or FD. This problem is fixable!! People will have to stop saying "let’s do whats good for the patients" and start actually doing it! Even if they don't like how it’s getting done.

Well said.... Along the preparedness line, which goes hand in hand with staffing and MA issues, what happens when something big happens? I have asked this question before but I've seen a very small response, why? Could it be that most EMS agencies in Westchester would need to call for assistance? What happens when that assistance doesn't come? Nobody is requiered to send personnel, equipment, ambulances, MCI trailers, ETC. So then what becomes of the municipality? Is it ok to just shrung thier shoulders and say oops?????? Every agency big or small must may a resonable attempt to respond to forseeable incidents, if they don't they should be held liable.

This takes me back to part of my original question, what happens when something big happens??? How does a small agency deal with a big problem? Why aren't they held accountable for not have the equipment or supplies they need?

It seems that some people get a little confused about how MA works, especially when it come to EMS. It is true no agency can handle everyting, we all agree on this. Where do you think any potential MA would come from? How long do you think it would have taken?

But just notice how Empress was compared to coke and not that awfull Pepsi stuff...LOL

Gee Thanks....

There has been a lot of good discussion here, thanks to all of you. Some mentioned the picking and choosing of who a given agency might request mutual aid from, in my mind this is a major impediment to the provision of care. It should not matter what it says on the side of the ambulance, one would be nuts to argue that point, right? So why then are agency bosses still picking and choosing? Why is this tolerated? If a call for service can't be covered by the agency with primary responsibility, then the county should be made aware ASAP! Being that a significant amount of time will have passed by this point, the county should quickly contact all of the bordering agencies until they find someone who will go right now!! Not just another agency that will page out, but one with an available unit that will put their lights and sirens on and get to the job.

How would your agency manage a larger scale incident? Does the job fall right to the county?