Established March 17, 1996 Strength 3,800 (as of 12/31/15) Daily average dcheduled ALS tours 212 | Staffing Career Field divisions 5 Daily average scheduled BLS tours 412 | |
The New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, also known as the FDNY EMS Command, or FDNY EMS, was established on March 17, 1996, following the merger of the New York City Fire Department and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation's EMS division. FDNY EMS covers all five boroughs of New York City with EMT-B and Paramedic staffed ambulances.
Contents
History
Prior to March 17, 1996, municipal ambulances were operated by NYC*EMS under the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, a public benefit corporation, which dispatched both its own ambulances and hospital ambulances. On March 17, 1996, NYC*EMS merged with the New York City Fire Department, forming the Bureau of EMS. Employees of the newly formed bureau were considered FDNY employees and became eligible for promotion to firefighter within the department. As a result of the merger, the FDNY-Bureau of EMS became the largest fire department-based EMS system in the country. Under the NYC HHC, EMS members were classified as "uniformed service". When FDNY took over in 1996, they demoted the department to "civil service", in order to pay EMS workers less and give them less benefits, and made employees surrender the badges worn on their uniform shirts. Under the HHC, EMS workers had an option of going to school for a higher medical profession, such as nursing, for free, while receiving their normal salary. After the completion of schooling, there was a forgivable loan; if the employee completed three3 years of service to HHC in their new position (RN, PA, etc.), they would not be responsible for the costs. The FDNY did away with that program in 1996 in an effort to push people to become Firefighter rather than higher medical professionals.
Responsibilities
FDNY EMS is responsible for the operation of all ambulances deployed in the New York City "911 System". 67% of the units in the 911 system are FDNY EMS ambulance crews while the remaining 33% of the 911 units are hospital-based ambulance crews known as Voluntary hospitals/Voluntary ambulances, which should not be confused with neighborhood Volunteer Ambulance Corps/Volunteers who operate independently as well as within the 911 system via a mutual aid program. FDNY EMS maintains and controls Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), and telemetry (online medical control). FDNY EMS is also responsible for managing emergency medical care for all mass casualty incidents (MCI) in New York City.
Leadership
FDNY EMS divisions
The FDNY Bureau of EMS is broken down into five divisions. Each division has a chief, a Major Emergency Response Vehicle (MERV), and a Logistical Support Unit (LSU). Each division is then broken down further into stations which have supervisors utilizing Conditions Cars, as well as ALS and BLS ambulances. Original NYC EMS Station numbers are in parentheses.
EMS Division 3 – Brooklyn
EMS Division 4 – Queens
Unit types
Livery
Immediately after the takeover of NYC EMS the FDNY changed the livery of the existing ambulances by changing the color of the striping on the vehicles to blue and red. The initials FDNY were placed on the vehicle with two letters on both sides of an existing Star of Life, with the word ambulance underneath. The driver's side and passenger side doors were also adorned with the new command patch. Subsequent vehicles were ordered in the traditional FDNY livery of white over red with a set of three stripes (yellow, white, yellow) running down the side. All other markings were kept in place.
Vehicles
The FDNY Bureau of EMS utilizes Type I Ambulances, which are based on the chassis-cabs of light duty pickup-trucks, This type was chosen over the Type II ambulance that are based on a passenger/cargo van chassis and the Type III which are based on chassis-cabs of light duty vans due to the ability to fully customize the passenger compartment. Type I ambulances also offer a higher load-capacity and additional compartment space when compared to the two other types. These ambulances are also more resilient to the stresses placed on them in a high volume EMS system in an inner city environment.
In 2011, the FDNY began ordering ambulances from Wheeled Coach which are based on a Dodge Ram 4500 Crew Cab Chassis. The shift to a four-door ambulance was due to the tremendous call volume and harsh 24/7 cycle that the FDNY operates in. the additional cab space provided for crew comfort, additional storage, and the opportunity to have more than two people riding in the forward-facing configuration thus increasing safety if a third crew member is assigned. The department discontinued orders due to issues with the dodge chassis.
In 2014, the FDNY began ordering a custom Ford F-450 Super Cab/Wheeled Coach Type I ambulance.
In 2016, the FDNY began ordering a new version of the F-450/Wheeled Coach ambulances which are labeled "FDNY Green". These use a technology to reduce harmful emissions caused by the necessary idling of ambulances. Northwell Health's Lenox Hill Hospital deployed the first "Green" ambulance.
In 2016 the FDNY Bureau of EMS ordered and received new International Terra-Star/Wheeled Coach Medium Duty Ambulances for use as "Rescue Medic" vehicles.