By EMS1 Staff
NEW YORK — EMTs are now stationed in New York subway stations to decrease both response time and incident delays when a passenger needs treatment.
NY Post reported that the onsite EMTs are now at 12 stations in the city during rush hour. Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials said having them on location means they reach passengers who need treatment three minutes faster. Delay times are also two-and –a-half minutes shorter.
Officials said that sick passengers delay rush hour traffic around 28 times a month, with each incident lasting about 12 minutes.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Tony Utano said having the EMTs onsite is a “step in the right direction.”
“Our train operators and conductors want to provide service as efficiently as possible, but they face several hurdles, including riders who become sick and need medical assistance,” he said.