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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Adriana Rivera, EMT and Training Officer from Emergency Medical Service Public Advocacy Council (EMS PAC)
5:00:34
·
138 sec
Adriana Rivera, an EMT and training officer from EMS PAC, testifies about the challenging work conditions and inadequate compensation for EMTs in New York City. She emphasizes the need for increased wages and better mental health support for emergency medical service workers.
- EMTs face traumatic situations daily, including mass casualties, violence, and deaths, while being underpaid and lacking proper safety equipment.
- The starting pay for fire department EMT workers has only increased by $4.69 over the last twenty years, despite a significant increase in call volume.
- There's a concerning rise in suicide rates among first responders, exacerbated by the stigma associated with seeking mental health help.
Adriana Rivera
5:00:34
Thank you City Council for having us speak today.
5:00:37
My name is Lieutenant Adriana Rivera.
5:00:39
I'm an EMT and training officer.
5:00:41
I also work for an organization called Emergency Medical Service Public Advocacy Council, EMS PAC, that strives for the ideal of pay parity and proper mental health support for EMTs.
5:00:51
I'm also the mother of a 10 year old EMT junior, who I'm very proud of.
5:00:57
I am the chief of the EMS PACS peer mentor support hardship help division open to all members of service whether private or volunteer alike.
5:01:06
I come here today to speak on behalf of EMS workers in the service.
5:01:10
Over the last few years, emergency call volume has increased tremendously.
5:01:14
EMTs are expected to perform at their very best every second of their shift.
5:01:19
These individuals are exposed to the worst of what the city has to offer but are the best people in our city.
5:01:24
They deal with mass casualty incidents, severe domestic violence situations, child abuse, miscarriages, gunshot and stab victims, grandparents dead on arrival, overdoses are expected, murder and suicides are typical.
5:01:37
Dead baby today, rape victim tomorrow.
5:01:39
This is their norm.
5:01:40
I apologize if this sounds to you but I only describe what it takes to be an emergency medical service worker out in the field.
5:01:47
They arrive to the same calls that police do without proper safety equipment, willing to put themselves at risk.
5:01:53
They are assaulted, spit on and degraded.
5:01:55
This is their daily grind upward forty hours a week day in day out.
5:01:59
They do this all on minimal pay.
5:02:01
Over the last twenty years the starting pay has only increased by $4.69 for the fire department EMT workers.
5:02:08
This is certainly not a living wage.
5:02:11
These people have families to support and they're trying to pay their way through school.
5:02:16
The percentage of call volume has increased astronomically over the past few years while the pay has certainly lagged behind.
5:02:22
The rate of suicide among first responders has seen an uptick, certainly increasing during the pandemic and hasn't slowed since.
5:02:29
There's an unfortunate stigma to seeking mental health help.
5:02:32
Members are afraid that they will be put on restricted duties or feel ostracized from their cohorts.
5:02:37
I hope that you take into consideration my testimony and the testimony of my peers.
5:02:42
I pray that the city council votes yes to increase wages which will encourage neighboring EMS services to fall in line and yes to funding mental health resources for EMS workers.
5:02:52
Thank you for your