By Thomas Tracy
New York Daily News
NEW YORK — The head of the city’s Emergency Medical Service told his members to “take every reasonable safety precaution while on duty” in light of the harrowing incident where a stray bullet hit an ambulance outside a Bronx apartment building, the Daily News has learned.
In a memo sent out to his members, Chief of EMS Operations Paul Miano said emergency medical technicians and paramedics should “conduct a scene size-up” and “remain aware of changing conditions” when they respond to emergency calls throughout the five boroughs.
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“We came dangerously close to tragedy when one of our units arrived on scene of an assignment and gunfire erupted,” Miano said about the early-morning shooting outside the Butler Houses on Webster Ave. near E. 170th St. in Mott Haven Thursday.
Two EMTs were responding to a call about an elderly patient when gunfire erupted and an 18-year-old was shot in the stomach nearby. A stray bullet hit the ambulance.
“A bullet struck the ambulance and traveled through both the cab and the patient compartment,” Miano wrote. “Thankfully, our members were not struck.”
“This incident is a powerful reminder of the danger you face every day while responding to and operating at assignments throughout the city,” he added.
Miano said, “when appropriate,” EMTs and paramedics should wear their department-issued Personal Protective Equipment, which includes ballistic protective gear.
“That equipment exists for a reason, and incidents like this remind us why it must remain available, and used when conditions warrant,” he said.
Another EMS crew rushed the wounded teen to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was expected to survive.
No arrests have been made.
The EMTs were near the ambulance but not inside it when the 12:15 a.m. shooting occurred, cops said. Both EMTs were unharmed but were taken to a local hospital for evaluation, cops said.
Local 2507, the union representing city EMTs and paramedics, said Thursday that the two street medics were “just inches away from death.”
“We are blessed that the two FDNY EMS responders involved were not hurt, but how many incidents like this are necessary before action is taken on behalf of our city’s brave and highly skilled medical first responders?” asked the union, which has repeatedly called for safer working conditions, plus pay parity with other first responders, like firefighters and police officers.
“Every day, the women and men of FDNY EMS walk into the unknown with the hopes of helping their fellow New Yorkers in medical peril,” the union added. “However, the dangers our crews experience on the streets of New York City are unfortunately becoming far too routine.”
“It is absolutely clear that the members of EMS deserve more and better support, and respect for the extremely dangerous work we do as New York City’s frontline, medical first responders,” the union said.
Miano said EMTs and paramedics should remain vigilant, even if they’re responding to an address they’ve responded to before.
“No assignment is routine simply because it reads that way in the (computer system), or because you have been to the same location a hundred times before,” Miano wrote. “Conditions can change quickly and your safety must remain a priority through every response. Please continue to look out for yourselves, your partners and each other.”
When reached for comment, an FDNY spokeswoman said Miano’s memo “speaks for itself.”
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