Almojera details mental health toll and demands accountability
Almojera says 47 members have reached out since 2020 saying they want to commit suicide and 14 members have died by suicide among those who reached out. He says EMS is not asking for applause but for resources and accountability when patients wait hours or die.
Councilwoman Narcisse mentioned mental health.
47 members have reached out to me since 2020 saying they want to commit suicide.
We have had 14 members commit suicide.
That's only the people who reached out.
We are not here asking for applause.
We are not asking to be called heroes.
We are asking for the resources.
We need accountability.
When a patient waits three hours for an open fracture, someone needs to answer for that.
When a woman waits three hours for an ambulance and dies, someone needs to answer for that.
Because the next person waiting for the ambulance could be your mother.
Your father, your spouse, your child, as the woman who testified from your district, Councilwoman Areola.
We cannot keep calling this a crisis as though it is something that might happen in the future.
It is happening right now.
People are waiting right now.
People are suffering right now.
I began by thanking you for your time.
I will end by reminding you that time is one thing our patients do not have, and New York City EMS has run out of it.
Thank you.
I believe Councilmember Ressler has a question for this panel.