NEW YORK—After the city’s Fire Department (FDNY) removed neighborhood volunteer ambulances from its 911 system, local officials and volunteer ambulance leaders urged the FDNY on Tuesday to rethink its decision.
Funded by residents and a government grant, the 36 community-based volunteer ambulances respond to about 10,000 to 15,000 emergency calls annually throughout the city.
FDNY’s booting of the ambulances in January due to a financial shortfall was seen as another step toward eradicating them completely from the emergency medical response system.
“We must support our lifesaving volunteers, not shut them out,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) in a press release. “Today’s economic challenges have forced the city to make crippling cuts to our emergency medical services citywide. In the last year alone, three hospitals in Queens have closed and ambulance tours have been cut.
“That is why we must move quickly on a solution that utilizes our volunteer ambulance services so they can continue saving New Yorker’s lives.” added Crowley.
FDNY released in January that it canceled a 2001 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Command Order that allowed the volunteer ambulances to log onto the 911 system in order to maximize available resources. Since the ambulances were not tracked in the EMS system, their units were not being utilized for daily incidents.
FDNY said that the policy change was for defining resource capabilities and personnel qualifications.
Yet the representatives of volunteer ambulances argued that the policy change limits their role and prevents them from sending and receiving critical information from EMS.
“Especially in these times of economic uncertainty, volunteer resources stand ready, willing, and able to help and assist the city of New York, yet they’re not being utilized,” said Ryan Gunning, head of the New York State Volunteer Ambulance Regional Association.
“Why? This decision and action by the FDNY of ignoring the volunteer resources is counterproductive, dangerous, and may result in the loss of life.”
According to FDNY, its use of the volunteer ambulances should be limited to special city events, large-scale disaster drills, and training exercises.
Funded by residents and a government grant, the 36 community-based volunteer ambulances respond to about 10,000 to 15,000 emergency calls annually throughout the city.
FDNY’s booting of the ambulances in January due to a financial shortfall was seen as another step toward eradicating them completely from the emergency medical response system.
“We must support our lifesaving volunteers, not shut them out,” said Council Member Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens) in a press release. “Today’s economic challenges have forced the city to make crippling cuts to our emergency medical services citywide. In the last year alone, three hospitals in Queens have closed and ambulance tours have been cut.
“That is why we must move quickly on a solution that utilizes our volunteer ambulance services so they can continue saving New Yorker’s lives.” added Crowley.
FDNY released in January that it canceled a 2001 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Command Order that allowed the volunteer ambulances to log onto the 911 system in order to maximize available resources. Since the ambulances were not tracked in the EMS system, their units were not being utilized for daily incidents.
FDNY said that the policy change was for defining resource capabilities and personnel qualifications.
Yet the representatives of volunteer ambulances argued that the policy change limits their role and prevents them from sending and receiving critical information from EMS.
“Especially in these times of economic uncertainty, volunteer resources stand ready, willing, and able to help and assist the city of New York, yet they’re not being utilized,” said Ryan Gunning, head of the New York State Volunteer Ambulance Regional Association.
“Why? This decision and action by the FDNY of ignoring the volunteer resources is counterproductive, dangerous, and may result in the loss of life.”
According to FDNY, its use of the volunteer ambulances should be limited to special city events, large-scale disaster drills, and training exercises.
