Jacob Brown
The FDNY EMS union is sounding the alarm over a concerning trend: an increase in life-threatening medical emergency calls citywide over the last two years, a reduction in resources and no budgetary increments for EMS operations.
Diminishing Resources Amidst Growing Demand:
FDNY Local 2507 reports a surge in critical medical emergency calls while facing a reduction in the ambulance fleet by 11% without any budgetary increases for EMS services in the city’s 2024 fiscal year. This strain on resources contrasts with a budget increase for the Fire Department.
The union highlights a significant consequence: the average response time has lengthened by over a minute in the past two years, a trend attributed to the combination of stagnant budgets and a diminishing fleet.
Escalating Demand for Emergency Services:
Union statistics reveal a staggering 8.33% increase in Segment 1-3 calls—denoting life-threatening medical emergencies such as cardiac arrests, strokes, and traumatic injuries—amounting to 611,443 calls in total. This escalating demand for emergency medical assistance underscores the critical need for robust EMS resources.
Historic Demand on FDNY EMS:
The demand for FDNY EMS services has consistently escalated since the department merged with the FDNY. Since 2003, FDNY EMS has responded to over 28 million medical emergencies, solidifying its status as the global busiest medical first responder agency.
Urgent Call for Resource Allocation:
With a 2.5% increase in total medical emergencies in 2023 compared to 2022 and an 8.2% increase compared to 2021, the FDNY EMS union stresses the urgency of adequately funding and resourcing EMS operations to meet the escalating demands of New York City’s population.
