TESTIMONY
Oren Barzilay, President of EMS Local 2507, on FDNY EMT and Paramedic Safety and Resource Challenges
2:11:39
·
6 min
Oren Barzilay, President of EMS Local 2507, highlights the significant safety and resource challenges faced by FDNY EMTs, paramedics, and fire inspectors, including record-setting emergency response calls and escalating assaults.
- Barzilay reports a record 1.62 million medical emergencies responded to by FDNY EMS in 2023, marking a nearly 40,000 call increase from 2022.
- Assaults on EMTs have reached all-time highs, with numerous attacks unreported due to inaction by departments and judicial systems.
- Barzilay advocates for mandatory three-person ambulance crews and yearly de-escalation and self-defense training for EMTs to improve workplace safety.
- He calls for EMTs and paramedics to be designated as peace officers and stresses the need for a guaranteed five-year replacement policy for body armor.
- Despite being a multi-billion dollar funded agency, FDNY EMS has not seen an increase in funding, impacting resource provision and safety measures.
Oren Barzilay
2:11:39
Good afternoon.
2:11:42
First, I would like to thank the meningling of FTNY EMS, IMTs, paramedics, and fire inspectors.
2:11:51
I also want to thank our firefighters for the heroic work during between towers.
2:11:57
Tragedy.
2:12:00
Thank you, Committee, chairperson, and honorable council members.
2:12:04
My name is Owen Bartolay.
2:12:06
I'm a 29 year veteran of FTNY EMS.
2:12:10
I am also the president of EMS local 2507.
2:12:15
I am here today to speak on behalf of more than 41100 uniformed FTNYEMTs, paramedics, and fire inspectors.
2:12:23
New York EMTs serving the most renowned fire department in the country, perhaps one of the most renowned in the world.
2:12:34
We are tasked with responding to an incredible number of emergencies each year.
2:12:40
In 2023, EMS responded to 1.62000000 medical emergencies, another record setting year for the department and nearly 40,000 call increase from 2022.
2:12:58
Since the start of COVID, 19 pandemic in 2020.
2:13:02
Responses by New York City Medical First Responders are up roughly 15%.
2:13:11
FDNY.
2:13:14
EMS has responded to over 28,000,000 medical emergencies since 2003.
2:13:20
I am here today to spotlight very considerable issues for city's EMTs, who despite their pivotal role in serving and protecting New Yorkers, we are horrifically supported with resources from our city government.
2:13:36
EMT assaults are at an all time high within the past 2 years where FDNYMTs and paramedic were attacked or threatened 386 times in 2021 and 363 times in 2022.
2:13:52
Many hundreds of our members are not even reporting them due to a lack of any action at all by both the department, the city, and the judicial system.
2:14:00
When we arrive at the scene of an emergency, we don't carry guns like our NYPD colleagues do.
2:14:06
We don't have axes like our FDNY firefighters do.
2:14:10
We roll up from the scene of an emergency with a doctor's back to provide medical care.
2:14:16
And in return, our members are being punched kicked, spat on, bit stabbed, and one was actually murdered last year.
2:14:25
What is the city going to fig going to do to fix this prices.
2:14:30
I urge this committee to pass the legislation that all EMTs or paramedics are not left alone in back of that ambulance.
2:14:38
It must be mandated for the FDNY to require a 3 man crew in an ambulance.
2:14:44
This way no one has ever left alone.
2:14:48
Furthermore, all our supervisors respond on their own without any additional resources.
2:14:55
They need to have a second person with them as well.
2:14:59
If you're faced with such high chance of getting assaulted in your workplace, it's an employer's responsibility to keep the work the workforce safe.
2:15:08
That protection is nonexistent.
2:15:11
Perhaps it's time to city designated EMTs and paramedics as peace officers.
2:15:16
EMS is being totally starved of necessary resources to allow us to work safely and protect the city's citizens at the same time.
2:15:25
Right now, the FDNY is providing body armor and ballistic this on a voluntary basis.
2:15:33
This tragic uptick in stories about EMTs are being brutally assaulted is warring.
2:15:40
That is why we need guaranteed permanent 5 year replacement policy.
2:15:48
Only about keeping our members prepared for any situational or scenario, even in the case they are faced with danger.
2:15:55
The FDNY's de escalation and self defense training for emergency risk first responded is a good step for our members.
2:16:03
However, it is clear to us that given the frequency of assault on our members, this training needs to be more than just one and done.
2:16:12
It needs to be mandatory yearly training.
2:16:15
If the expectation is to keep EMTs within the FDNY, while also attracting new members, there must be a feasible investment, the city that demonstrates commitment to this department.
2:16:28
The alarming trend of surging assaults is causing members to leave the department altogether to find work that is safer, and also pays more.
2:16:38
The dedicated woman and men of the EMS and the citizens we are sworn to protect deserve better attention and protection.
2:16:46
Thank you for your time.
Joann Ariola
2:16:47
Thank you for your testimony.
Oren Barzilay
2:16:54
Can I just add something to what the department spoke of?
2:17:00
We do not have a replacement policy.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
2:17:02
I'm sorry.
2:17:03
Could you repeat that?
Kasimir Caesar
2:17:03
We
Oren Barzilay
2:17:03
do not have a replacement policy for a ballistic vest.
2:17:06
Some members carry fifteen, twenty year old vest.
2:17:10
They're currently 1200 members who did not have an updated vest.
2:17:15
Our inspectors are not civilians.
2:17:17
They are uniform personnel by law.
2:17:23
In the Bronx, last month, the FDNY shut down an entire EMS station and relocated those resources to the borough of Manhattan.
2:17:33
While they are 2.3 funded agent $2,300,000,000 funded agency.
2:17:40
There has been no increase in funding to EMS.