East Hudson Valley News

Poughkeepsie, NY – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino, with the support of the Dutchess County Legislature, is working to establish a new partnership with local fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps to enhance Emergency Medical Services (EMS) recruitment. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address the EMS crisis that has led to longer ambulance response times.

County Executive Serino proposes a program to provide life-saving equipment to fire departments' ‘fly car’ vehicles in exchange for unified EMS recruitment messaging on these vehicles. The messaging aims to inform the public about volunteer and career opportunities for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics.

“This new Fly Car partnership is part of the outside-the-box thinking we are doing to tackle the EMS challenges,” said Serino. “Putting targeted EMS recruitment messaging on the outside of Fly Car, and adding new life-saving equipment inside, we are working to incentivize neighbors to join this vital line of work and make a career of saving lives.”

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Will Truitt emphasized the importance of recognizing EMS as an essential service. “While New York State may not recognize EMS as an essential service, we do here in Dutchess County. We are focused on trying new, innovative approaches like this Fly Car recruitment initiative,” Truitt stated.

The primary challenge facing EMS services is staffing shortages. According to a 2023 EMS Sustainability report from the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical and Trauma Services, fewer volunteers and declining numbers entering or recertifying in the field have strained services. This shortage negatively impacts response times; nearly 50% of Priority 1 calls in Dutchess County take nine minutes or more, compared to an industry standard of under nine minutes 90% of the time.

Fly cars are non-transporting EMS vehicles that often arrive first at emergency scenes. They transport first responders who can stabilize patients before ambulance transport if necessary. Regional meetings hosted by County Executive Serino and the Dutchess County Department of Emergency Response have highlighted local leaders' need for specialized life-saving equipment on fly cars.

Under Serino’s proposed initiative, all Dutchess County fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps will be eligible for up to $20,000 grants for life-saving equipment for their fly car vehicles. In return, these vehicles will feature branded recruitment messaging with centralized web addresses promoting career and volunteer opportunities in EMS.

New Hamburg Fire District Chief Jeff Renihan supports the program: “It is so important for our EMS responders to have the right equipment when they are first on the scene... This new Fly Car program will enable our district to get critical life-saving equipment without burdening our taxpayers while also getting out the message to help recruit new EMS first responders.”

This initiative is part of a comprehensive approach by Dutchess County to bolster its EMS capabilities. Additional efforts include seeking supplemental coverage for areas with long response times and providing public education on appropriate ambulance use. The county also prioritizes supporting current first responders through mental health training and resiliency programs tailored for high-stress roles.

The Dutchess County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee will consider Serino's resolution this evening at 5:30 pm in Legislature Chambers.

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