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Emergency Medical Services System |
| The Southern Tier Emergency Medical Services System is a coordinated system of medically trained personnel who work: | |
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Together to give optimal care in an emergency medical situation 24 hours a day, seven days a week. |
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Under physician control by direct radio communications | |
Through medically approved guidelines and protocols with minimum standards established by the New York State Department of Health. |
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1966 - Publication of "Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease," a shocking account of the lack of emergency medical care. |
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1970 - Erway's Shockmobile began operation in Chemung County. This was one of the first advanced life support (ALS) units in the country staffed by trained EMTs rather then MDs. Corning Ambulance initiated ALS service in 1975, and Schuyler Ambulance began in 1976. |
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1973 - United States Congress passed the EMS Act that made available federal grants for regional EMS Systems development. |
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1975 - The Southern Tier Regional EMS Council was formed. |
For any sudden or rapidly changing illness and/or injury. For example:
Difficulty breathing
Loss of consciousness
Chest pain
Drug or alcohol overdose
Severe wounds or bleeding
Community marketplace Motor vehicle accidents
Falls
Sports accidents
Do not underestimate the severity of an illness or injury.
"When in doubt, call EMS"
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Know and call your emergency number: if you are not in a 911 area, post the number next to your telephone | |
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What to Say: Give exact location of the sick/injured Briefly describe the emergency Your name and the phone number from which you are calling Name and age of the patient if possible Answer all questions |
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Stay on the line, do not hang up until the dispatcher does. | |
While Waiting
If you are alone with the patient:
Keep calm
Do not move the patient
Stay with the patient and keep him/her warm.
Ask patient for medical history, name of doctor, and name(s) of medication.
If possible:
Turn on outside lights
Ask someone to stand outside to direct emergency personnel
When Help Arrives
Direct EMS personnel to patient; they will evaluate and begin proper treatment
Give EMS personnel any information you have obtained
Follow directions of EMS personnel
Be prepared for an emergency:
Make sure house number is visible from the road both day and night
Post emergency number(s) near phone
Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other self-help life-saving skills.
Know what EMS resources are available in your community.
When you call for EMS, depending on your area and your description of the emergency, the Dispatcher may send
law enforcement
fire department
basic life support
advanced life support
Many of the firefighters in the Southern Tier region are trained in Basic Life Support. And in many areas, the fire department first response unit may arrive on the scene prior to the ambulance. While the first response unit cannot transport a patient to a hospital, they may provide oxygen, defibrillation, and other emergency treatment for injuries.
Advanced Life Support (ALS) personnel are dispatched when the patient may need additional life-saving care. ALS personnel may provide airways, IV medications, or other emergency treatments, sometimes many minutes prior to arrival at a hospital, thus increasing the patient's chances for recovery. Basic Life Support providers and Advanced Life Support providers work together within the tiered response system. Both may arrive at the scene of an emergency, or ALS may meet a BLS ambulance en route to a hospital. This occurs to optimize care for the patient in the out of hospital setting.
EMS in the Southern Tier is a system, with various levels of training and response. Each level of care is designed to increase the patient's chances of survival and recovery.
If you have questions about the Southern Tier EMS system, please contact the Southern Tier Regional EMS Council:
315 West Water Street
Elmira NY 14901
(607) 732-2354
Fax 607-732-2661
E-mail us at strems@stny.rr.com
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