When to Call for an East Meadow Fire Department Ambulance

One of the busiest companies in the East Meadow Volunteer Fire Department is Rescue Company #5, which provides emergency medical services (EMS) for nearly 50,000 people residing in East Meadow, parts of Levittown and Westbury (Salisbury).

Rescue Company #5 operates two ambulances from headquarters on East Meadow Avenue and one from Station 4, off Carman Avenue, in the district’s Salisbury (northern) section. The fire department dispatches the ambulances when it receives a direct call for medical aid or to assist the Nassau County Police Department’s Emergency Ambulance Bureau through the county’s 911 system.

An increase in the volume of ambulance requests in East Meadow is part of a growing national concern that is putting increased stress on the local fire department’s ambulances and hospital emergency rooms. The demands for ambulance service continue to rise due to several factors, including an aging population, the development of many new housing units throughout the community that is restricted to older adults, generally age 55 and other factors. In many cases, requests for an ambulance involve non-life-threatening medical conditions.

A survey cited by WebMD found that one in three people don’t understand the type of medical conditions that warrant a call for an ambulance. For example, certain non-life-threatening medical conditions noted in the study that did not require emergency ambulance transportation included an individual with chronic back pain who had run out of painkillers, a woman in the early stages of giving birth, and a toddler with a Lego piece stuck in his nose. Emergency ambulance crews have also reported that patients with a planned hospital stay were waiting for an ambulance with their suitcase already packed. While these situations may concern the patient, they are most often the type of medical issues treated in a hospital emergency room, doctor’s office or emergency walk-in clinic commonly found in many communities and can be reached by private automobile, taxi, or public transportation—and not an ambulance. Misusing ambulances and emergency rooms places significant stress on emergency medical services, which, in turn, may jeopardize patient care in the event of an actual life-threatening medical emergency.

East Meadow Fire Department’s emergency medical services are performed by highly trained, New York State-certified emergency medical technicians or EMTs. Recently, the fire department announced the creation of a dedicated EMS Squad to supplement Rescue Company #5’s response by providing drivers, emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics from the current ranks of the department’s firefighting companies, the goal of which is to dispatch first responders in advance of an ambulance, as a means to assess and treat patients and determine if an ambulance is warranted. In addition, the fire district contracted with Northwell Health Center for Emergency Medical Services, the largest hospital-based ambulance service in the New York Metropolitan area, for additional ambulance and emergency medical services to back up the fire department when the volunteer ambulance company is delayed, or out on another call for assistance.

An ambulance and trained EMS crew attending to non-life-threatening situations like the examples cited previously may not be available in a life-threatening medical emergency — one in which prompt medical intervention may mean the difference between life and death. Medical experts advise that if you’re unsure whether an ambulance is genuinely needed, it’s better to call 911 or the EMFD dispatcher (516-542-0576) and let them decide on the appropriate response.

An ambulance is most likely necessary when:

• A person’s condition is potentially life-threatening, experiencing chest pains, difficulty breathing, sudden confusion or an altered mental status. These symptoms may indicate a heart attack, stroke, or related conditions requiring immediate medical attention.
• An individual is choking and needs abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver), back blows, or if their heart has stopped, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is required.
• If moving someone who is injured patient may cause further harm or injury. Examples include injuries from a motor vehicle accident, a fall or other types of trauma.
• If you cannot get the patient (or yourself if you are the patient) to the emergency room due to a fall, injury, or weakness if you’re too weak to get up on your own, or if you are unsteady on your feet. In these instances, getting behind the wheel of an automobile is dangerous.

The East Meadow Fire Department, which covers East Meadow and parts of Levittown and Westbury (Salisbury), is always looking for new members to join their ranks as firefighters or emergency medical personnel; no experience is necessary. The fire department provides the training required. There are numerous benefits associated with volunteering, including tax breaks, college scholarships, annual health checkups, life insurance, and a service award pension program, all at no cost. For more information on volunteering with the East Meadow Fire Department, visit www.eastmeadowfd.com, or call 516-542-4565.