By Carol Frank
The Great Neck Record
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — An independent study of ambulance services in the Town of North Hempstead that was funded through a $180,000 grant from New York State in 2007 has concluded that “the current system works.” In fact, local ambulance providers, affiliated with volunteer fire departments, beat the average response time in New York State by two minutes.
Further, local providers have major resources, such as well-trained committed volunteers and up-to-date equipment, because revenues for fire and ambulance services go directly toward enhancing those services. Great Neck’s local ambulance services, provided by the Vigilants, Manhasset-Lakeville and the Alerts, also have the advantage of knowing the community intimately.
They are aware of the idiosyncrasies of local traffic patterns, one-way streets, poorly marked street numbers and the like; they know the shortcuts to take if traffic is blocked. Drivers know that even GPS devices can lead one astray and in life threatening emergencies, minutes lost can make a difference in outcomes.
Full Story: Ambulance Study for Town of North Hempstead Concludes: “In Spite of Complexities, the System Works”