| Fire Department of New York Bureau of Emergency Medical Services | |
| Motto: | "New York's Best"[1] |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Type2: | City |
| Staffing: | Career |
| Chief1 Description: | EMS Command |
| Divisions: | 9 |
| Employees: | 4,414 (as of December 31, 2016)[2] |
| Chief1 Name: | EMS Operations Chief - Michael Fields. |
| Chief2 Description: | AC of EMS Field Operations |
| Chief2 Name: | EMS Assistant Chief - Paul A. Miano. |
| Chief3 Description: | AC of EMS Administration |
| Chief3 Name: | EMS Assistant Chief - Cesar A. Escobar. |
| Alsorbls: | Advanced Life Support (ALS) and Basic Life Support (BLS) |
| Annual Calls: | 1,706,324 incidents |
| Ambulances: | 450[3] (2018) |
The New York City Fire Department Bureau of Emergency Medical Services (FDNY EMS) is a division of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) in charge of emergency medical services for New York City. It was established on March 17, 1996, following the merger of the FDNY and New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation's emergency medical services division. FDNY EMS provides coverage of all five boroughs of New York City with ambulances and a variety of specialized response vehicles.
Prior to March 17, 1996, municipal ambulances were operated by NYC EMS under the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, a public benefit corporation, which dispatched both its own ambulances and hospital ambulances. On March 17, 1996, NYC EMS merged with the FDNY, forming the Bureau of EMS. Employees of the newly formed bureau were considered FDNY employees and became eligible for transfer to firefighter within the department. As a result of the merger, the FDNY Bureau of EMS became the largest fire department-based EMS system in the United States.[4]
FDNY EMS is led by the Chief of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. It is broken down into two command areas; (Field Operations and Administration) both led by an EMS Assistant Chief. Field Operations is divided into three citywide geographical area, (Central, North & South) each led by an EMS Deputy Assistant Chief, then into nine divisions. Each division is led by a division chief, up to 5 deputy chiefs, and a division captain. Each division is then broken down further into stations which are led by captains and lieutenants.
FDNY EMS controls the operation of all ambulances in the New York City 911 System. 65% of the ambulances in the 911 system are FDNY EMS municipal units while the remaining 35% of 911 system coverage is provided by hospital-based units known as Voluntary Hospital Ambulances, which are staffed by paid hospital personnel who work in partnership with FDNY EMS. Private ambulance services and Volunteer Ambulance Corps also make their resources available to supplement the 911 system in times of high call volume or severe weather. FDNY EMS maintains and controls Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), and telemetry (online medical control). FDNY EMS is also responsible for managing emergency medical care for all mass casualty incidents (MCI's) in New York City.
Prospective FDNY EMTs and Paramedics are trained at the FDNY EMS Academy at the historic Fort Totten (Queens). EMT training is between 13 and 16 weeks with the class length dependent on if the candidate holds a current New York state EMT certification. Paramedic training is a minimum 9 months for FDNY EMTs and 10 weeks for FDNY EMTs that wish to promote and hold a current New York state paramedic certification. All probationary EMT and Paramedic training is full-time with schedules that are 8.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. The academy also hosts certified first responder training for FDNY firefighters as well as other education for EMS members such as continuing medical education; emergency vehicle operations; CFR, EMT and Paramedic recertification classes; and other training. Initial and refresher training for the Haz-Tac battalion is conducted on Randalls and Wards Islands on the FDNY Fire-Suppression Academy campus.
The FDNY EMS uses a variety of units:
Field Unit Radio Designations [6]
Ambulance radio designations include two numbers followed by a letter and then a tour designation (ex: 46y2)
Immediately after the takeover of NYC EMS from HHC the FDNY changed the livery of the existing ambulances by changing the color the vehicles from predominately white with orange and blue striping to predominately white with blue and red striping. The initials NYC EMS were replaced with the initials FDNY which were placed on the patient compartment of the vehicle with two letters on both sides of an existing Star of Life, with the word ambulance underneath. The driver's side and passenger side doors were also adorned with the new command patch. Subsequent vehicles were ordered in the traditional FDNY livery of white over red with a set of three reflective stripes (gold, white, gold) running down the side. All other markings were kept in place. Later, to improve visibility at night, the rear of the ambulances were painted with reflective red and white chevrons.
The FDNY Bureau of EMS utilizes custom specification Type I Ambulances, which are based on the chassis-cabs of light and medium duty pickup-trucks. This type was chosen over the Type II ambulance that are based on a passenger/cargo van chassis and the Type III which are based on chassis-cabs of light duty vans due to the ability to fully customize the passenger compartment. Type I ambulances also offer a higher load-capacity and additional compartment space when compared to the two other types. These ambulances are also more resilient to the stresses placed on them in a high volume EMS system in an inner city environment.
In 2011, the FDNY began ordering ambulances from Wheeled Coach which are based on a Dodge Ram 4500 Crew Cab Chassis. The shift to a four-door ambulance was due to the tremendous call volume and harsh 24/7 cycle that the FDNY operates in. Furthermore, the additional cab space provided for crew comfort, additional storage, and the opportunity to have more than two people riding in the forward-facing configuration thus increasing safety if a third crew member is assigned. The department discontinued orders due to issues with the Dodge chassis.
In 2013, the FDNY began ordering a custom Ford F-450 Super Cab/Wheeled Coach Type I ambulance.In 2016, the FDNY began ordering a new version of the F-450/Wheeled Coach ambulances which are labeled "FDNY Green". These use a technology to reduce harmful emissions caused by the necessary idling of ambulances.
In 2016, FDNY EMS ordered and received new International Terra-Star/Wheeled Coach Medium Duty Ambulances for use as "Rescue Medic" vehicles.
In 2017, FDNY EMS began using Ford F-550 Super Duty/Wheeled Coach Type I ambulances.
In 2020, FDNY EMS began to lease ambulances to augment the fleet as call volume increased dramatically. These leased ambulances are identifiable by an all white livery with a set of three reflective stripes (gold, red, gold) in place of the traditional stripes.[7] [8]