Data shows New York City rescue crews taking longer to respond to emergencies, fire deaths rising
new york first responders Fires and other emergencies take longer to deal withAlthough more people died in fires at the start of this financial year than last year, the trend remains disturbing. City Hall data shows.
The combined average response time of ambulance and fire companies to “life-threatening medical emergencies” jumped 9 seconds, or 1.5%, from 9 minutes and 43 seconds in the first four months of the 2023-24 financial year. Four months will be 9 minutes and 52 seconds for the same period in 2022-23, according to a preliminary management report released by Mayor Eric Adams last month.
Fire deaths involving civilians also increased by 12.5%, from 16 to 18, compared to the same period last year (July to October).
“The fire was caused by Lithium Ion Battery “These viruses are particularly deadly and increased during the reporting period,” the FDNY said.
Rechargeable batteries are widely used in e-bikes and scooters as well as in cars, laptops, tablets, cell phones and common household devices.
“The FDNY is providing advice to the government and is working with legislators at the city, state and federal levels to implement regulatory requirements designed to reduce the supply of defective lithium-ion batteries,” the FDNY said in the report.
Statistics show the latest response time and fire fatality figures reflect worrying growth trends over the past two full financial years (2021-22 and 2022-23).
Between July and October of this year, fire companies’ response times to life-threatening medical emergencies were an average of 25 seconds, or 4.5 percent, slower than the same period last fiscal year, jumping from 9 minutes and 8 seconds to 9 minutes and 10 seconds. 33 seconds.
For ambulances, response time improved by an average of three seconds, from 10 minutes and 40 seconds to 10 minutes and 37 seconds.
Reported life-threatening incidents increased by 2,148 over the same period, from 209,502 to 211,650, an increase of 1%.
“The increase in response times may be due to increased traffic volume, an increase in the overall incidence of life-threatening medical emergencies, a decrease in the number of ambulances served each day, and an increase in ambulance emergency room turnaround times,” the FDNY said of the data.
The fire department noted that it extended the life of existing ambulances and leased additional vehicles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But those older ambulances will be retired starting in fiscal 2023, reducing peak ambulance numbers and fewer traveling units during peak 911 call volumes.
Additionally, the agency said there has been a “significant increase” in the time it takes ambulances to transport patients to emergency rooms and then return to service.
The head of the union representing paramedics and emergency technicians said the slower response times were not surprising because the FDNY is not spending enough on emergency services and the number of ambulances has dropped 11% as the department has been cut off due to COVID-19. Low staff turnover has led to a continued decline in staff turnover. Pay.
“We are the busiest emergency medical response agency in the world and are busier than ever saving the lives of our fellow New Yorkers, yet our requests for help continue to be ignored,” said Oren Barzilay, President of FDNY EMS Local 2507.
“For years, EMS spending has been flat, including poverty wages, coupled with a lack of resources, which has caused significant distress to our members. The FDNY is a more than $2.35 billion agency, but its committed funding for EMS spending is It’s only 1/6 of that, which is ridiculously low,” Barzilay said.
His union is one of the few that has No new labor contract has been signed yet with the Adams administration.
