BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y. — A volunteer ambulance company is without narcotics to treat patients after its control substance agent resigned.
Bridgehampton Fire Rescue, operated by the Bridgehampton Fire District, will now be required to call a neighboring ambulance company if controlled substances, such as pain or seizure medication, need to be administered, 27east.com reports.
Philip Cammann, who led the department’s narcotics division and was working to set up a $300,000 Advanced Life Support provider program to hire paid paramedics and EMTs, said he no longer had time for the volunteer position. He stepped down, citing differences with the Board of Fire Commissioners.
Cammann, along with an employee who quit soon after she was hired, created a proposal to have the paid ALS program up and running by May 15, but he noted the board could have easily had it set up by January.
The Bridgehampton Fire District is looking for a certified ALS provider to take over the volunteer control substance agent position.
Bridgehampton Fire Rescue will still move forward with plans for a paid ALS program, saying it’s not at risk of losing its credentials.
“Bridgehampton will remain an ALS agency in Suffolk County,” said Tom Lateulere, chief of education and training for the Suffolk County Department of Health Emergency Medical Services division. “We definitely will encourage them to start looking for another agent.”
Cammann said it’s important for the ambulance company to have narcotics available, and calling neighboring agencies for assistance could delay care by as much as 10 minutes.