YWN was the first media outlet to report that the FDNY EMS system was backlogged, and that patients were waiting for hours for an ambulance to arrive. We even questioned why the mainstream media didn’t report this.
Now, 12 hours later, it’s hit the news. Below is a report by WCBSTV:
There was bickering between the city and some unions over whether a snow emergency should have been called, CBS 2’s Marcia Kramer reported.
There were also questions about whether a potentially dangerous situation could have been headed off.
As residents were being asked not to call 911 unless there was an emergency, sources said the city was having difficulty responding to many of those high-priority calls.
Monday afternoon, there was a three-hour wait to get an ambulance to critical calls, like cardiac arrests and traumas, sources told CBS 2. In addition, lower priority EMS calls were said to have been held up for nearly 12 hours before an ambulance could get to the scene.
At one point there were 120 ambulances stuck in the snow, Kramer reported.
The combination of snow problems and the need to respond to health emergencies gave the FDNY about a 60 percent availability to respond to fires, sourced said.
A dramatic example of the chaos was what happened to a Queens’ woman suffering an asthmatic attack. Engine 289 got to her house and spent 10 hours with her waiting for an EMS ambulance to show up. They kept running out of oxygen, eventually using up 26 bottles. The woman was finally taken to Elmhurst Hospital when the 46 Battalion Chief arrived.
EMS and fire sources questioned why the city didn’t call a snow emergency to keep cars off streets, which would have made it easier for emergency vehicles and snow plows to get around.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg blamed the fast pace of snowfall. He said it fell at 2 to 3 inches per hour during some periods overnight, and many main roadways had to be plowed repeatedly.
Bloomberg quipped back when asked about the long delays by Kramer.
“We are always concerned about any backlog. You can rest assured that is our number one priority,” Bloomberg said.
(Source: WCBSTV)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
Is he concerned about the backlog as much as he is about the bike lanes, ped islands, crime?
LIAR
The city can’t call one (snow emergency), only the state. It wasn’t that the city didn’t want to call one.
#2: The City can declare a snow emergency to keep the snow routes clear: nothing to do with the state. However, I don’t think a snow emergency has been declared since 1996. Sanitation is usually able to clear the snow without declaring a snow emergency.
NJ called one, and their roads were cleared up today. It is inexcusable that people’s lives have been jeopardized and worse. If I did my job the way the mayor did his today, I’d be out the door.
This is pathetic!! He always uses every excuse in the book and blames whoever he can!! This is his job his problem he was supposed to solve it! If the snow is falling fast well figure out a way to deal with it! Its not an excuse!! If someone wld die today because they cld not get the treatment they needed what would he say then?? The snow again!! Its ur duty as mayor to overcome every obstacle for the people u r in charge of!!