Organizations That Make a Difference Our Lifesaving, All-Pro Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook EMS

– By Nancy Reddington –

Imagine this: your 2-year-old has a high fever and begins shaking vigorously with spasms. You are home alone with your other young child. What do you do?

Your elderly father is visiting from another state. He has not been feeling well for a day or two, and has developed chest pain, seems short of breath, and complains of dizziness and abdominal pain. Who do you call?

Your wife of 52 years bumped her head and has a large lump. She is disoriented and irritable. She has a history of heart problems and high blood pressure. Who can help?

Easy answer: call 911, request an ambulance and describe the situation. You will undoubtedly see PCRRB EMS, and we’ll reach you in an average of five minutes. The Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook EMS respond to scenarios just like those above about 10-15 times a day. Some calls are serious, potentially life-threatening. Luckily, many are not. The professionals at PCRRB EMS have the expertise to help no matter what.

When I decided to get an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) certificate and volunteer, I assumed if I called 911 for an ambulance, I’d see it pull up within minutes. I assumed whoever arrived could provide me or a loved one with the necessary medical treatment while en route to the hospital, and with no delay.
One day, classmates and I were practicing techniques in EMS lab at a college in another EMS jurisdiction.

A professor from a classroom nearby stumbled by our room. He was clearly very ill. His skin was grey and he told us of his history of significant heart problems. Someone called 911; we waited and waited. Where was the ambulance, we wondered? They arrived 40 minutes later. A delay like that can be potentially devastating. I was honestly astounded to learn that the type of EMS system and the response time varies dramatically depending on where you live in the county.

We have three ambulances on call during the day, two at night. And with supervisors who are all paramedics, a fourth crew is available during the day. So, when multiple calls come in at the same time, you will rarely have to wait for an ambulance from another district — mutual aid in EMS lingo. PCRRB’s requisite 8-minute response time – from the time a call is received in headquarters to the time the ambulance must be on scene — meets the national standard. And we’re usually there a lot faster.

This year, we were awarded Westchester County “EMS Agency of the Year.” But it took riding with the crew for me to discover firsthand why we are so lucky to have Port Chester, Rye, Rye Brook EMS working for our community. This is an experienced staff, some with 15-20 years working in the field. This experience and professionalism is crucial in determining if a call needs life-saving, immediate medical attention.

I’ve seen an elderly patient collapse with a heart attack, and the medic insert an endotracheal tube into his airway so we could give him oxygen. Once we got him into the ambulance, he inserted an IV, which he used to administer atropine and lidocane, and we rushed the patient to the hospital. Later, a very grateful family called to express their appreciation.

Lana Palmese, a very dedicated volunteer EMT, told me about transporting a baby girl to the hospital after a choking incident. The child seemed lethargic, but not under real duress. While en route, the medic, Pablo, observed a slight change in the baby’s condition. Her breathing then stopped. Immediately, he applied a BVM to breathe for her, and the baby wailed — a very good sign. That attention to the child’s condition was crucial.

Our ambulances are all Advanced Life Support, staffed with a Paramedic in addition to an EMT. Paramedics can give potentially life-saving medications such as albuterol for asthma or difficulty breathing, morphine for severe pain, cardizem for heart dysrythmias, and furosemide for congestive heart failure. Many other systems use ambulances providing Basic Life Support. So when they get a very serious call and a patient needs these essential drugs, they must call for a backup — a Paramedic in a ‘fly car’ who can administer the medicine upon arrival. Since all our ambulances are staffed with a Paramedic, we have no need to call for backup with its inherent delay. We can treat the patient immediately on scene or en route to the hospital, and patient survivability is enhanced.

PCRRB staff takes advantage of ongoing medical training and courses provided by physicians. This is essential to keep up with the changing protocols and skills needed for the newest equipment. PCRRB EMS has been in the forefront in providing new equipment and supplies to the staff. A recent grant will provide funds for a device that assists with patients in cardiac arrest. The device performs chest compressions, freeing up the medic to provide other crucial medical responsibilities.

We were the first EMS agency in the area to acquire an EZ-IO drill, a device used to administer fluids or medicines directly to the bone marrow when a patient’s vasculature system is compromised. Excellent patient care is our single goal, and we do whatever we can to provide it.

Competency and professionalism are essential. But what warms me each day I work at the EMS is the evident concern and empathy from even the toughest-looking guys. I’ve seen an erratic, emotionally disturbed patient calm down and develop a sense of trust on the short ride to the psychiatric hospital because of some comforting conversation with Paul. A dangerously drunken patient sobbed with despair, and Marcos held his hand, consoled him and provided support, guidance and encouragement.

When a very sick woman refused to go to the hospital, I saw Bobby put his hand on her shoulder, and look her in the face. He knew from 20 years experience that this woman needed serious medical attention, but his gentle manner, confident tone and genuine concern were evident, and she agreed to go. This is what can save a life.
How well compensated are the EMT’s and medics who have such responsibility? I was stunned to learn of a real EMS injustice in NY State, including Westchester County: the pay is low and the benefits minimal. PCRRB EMS is a non-profit organization all of whose proceeds go to pay personnel and purchase needed equipment. Unlike Fire and Police, EMS has no retirement benefits and few paid holidays.

EMTs work three or four 12-hour shifts per week, almost all have a second or even a third job. This is the only way for many of them to be able to afford living in the New York area. Some are medics or EMTs at other agencies and some are firefighters. Many have told me that PCRRB is better than any EMS agency they have ever worked for: most experienced and professional staff, finest equipment, access to well-staffed ambulances. So, despite the small compensation, the staff is proud of their work, proud of their dedication to our community, and proud of the special recognition received this year.

Luckily, most community leaders support us and appreciate our work. They understand the work of this EMS agency, the professionalism of the staff, the leadership of our Administrator and the guiding mission set by our board. The Twig of Westchester, the Port Chester-Rye Brook Rotary and the Rye Rotary Club are very generous in their support. But I’d like everybody to know — even before you need us — just how valuable our EMS agency is.