NYC EMS as it once was

[nfd2004 750]

Prior to the merger of the NYC EMS into the FDNY, this is the way it was. These EMTs and Paramedics were the HEROS and DOCTORS of the streets in the LARGEST city in America, New York City.

 

Throughout the five boros, it was these trained and skilled workers that kept so many people alive. People alive today who might not have been if not for them.

 

They very seldom received credit for the work they did. Yet they were out there every single day, 24/7, working for basically low to moderate salaries.

 

As a FDNY buff, I watched these people work under some very difficult conditions. This was NOT a job for everybody, but for those who did it, "I have the HIGHEST RESPECT FOR". THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE of the CITY of NEW YORK.

 

 Here is Part 1 of a Five Parts series produced by the A & E History Channel. It's called: "Emergency - EMS to the Rescue".

 

 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXQfuwbUtk4

[soboss34 54]

Thanks for posting that.  I was a NYCEMS "Blacksheep" in the mid to late '80s and watching that brought back memories

[calhobs 110]

Alumni 1990 to 1995!!

[x635 4,066]

Part of me will wonder what the agency would be like nowadays if it wasn't for the merger.

[calhobs 110]

I still would be the basterd child of Emergency Service. The agency that no body really wanted. 

[nfd2004 750]

1 hour ago, x635 said:

Part of me will wonder what the agency would be like nowadays if it wasn't for the merger.

 

 My guess would be that it might be better managed today, just for the fact that there are more people involved in it. The same as the merger of the Transit police and Housing police into the NYPD. Before that they were three separate organizations.

 

 The FDNY/EMS faces the same challenges today as they did back then. A totally overwhelmed system abused by so many. Yet the life savors of so many others. I continue to have the highest amount of respect for this very dedicated group of people. Those who continue to provide a vital service to the citizens, the commuters, as well as the many tourist throughout that huge city we know of as New York City.

 

 Two incidents I recall while buffing the FDNY in NYC. Both with a 2 hour delay before being able to get an ambulance assigned - premerger days. This was NOT the fault of those out there working as a medic or EMT in the streets. But just a totally over loaded system. This was also pre cellphone days.

 

 The first was when somebody called from a store for an ambulance for an elderly lady who fell on the ice. Freezing weather while this poor old woman laid on the ground waiting for an ambulance. No fire truck either because they were just too busy fighting the staggering numbers of fires at that time. Maybe she had a broken hip. All we could do is cover her with our coats.

 

 The second was a guy having a seizure. We had stopped to help him. Just as we did, a police car passed by. They radioed for an ambulance but they too were told it was a two hour delay before the first ambulance could get there. So we put him in the back of the police car and they took him to the hospital. No vitals taken etc.

 

 There were even times when injured firefighters were transported on the hose beds of fire trucks rather than wait for an ambulance.

 

 At times it was just impossible to get an ambulance.

 

 There's four more parts to the original video posted. If anybody needs them posted here, let us know.

[SOUSGT 357]

lets pray we never go back to those days. 

[AFS1970 504]

I think we will see those days again. For a variety of reasons society is much more dependent on EMS than other healthcare options. This has been going on for many years, I remember hearing an insurance agent speak at a union meeting once about what he called questionable E/R visits. This has extended to EMS calls. Which leads to a thinning of resources and thus response delays.

 

Just thinking about how often we and neighboring towns call on each other for EMS resources compared to the relative rarity of exchanging police or fire resources from those same towns paints a picture of what is going on. Although I don't think who manages the department has much effect on it in the long term, I am not in favor of mergers that cross different services. I think EMS would work far better as a separate service but it will still face the same battle that police and fire face when competing for tax dollars.