Variale testifies EMS crisis is here and survival rates have fallen
Vince Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union Local 3621, says New York City faces a present crisis threatening lives. He cites the Mayor's Management Report and Comptroller report, and says cardiac arrest survival rates have fallen from a high of about 35% to 16%.
Good afternoon.
Thank you, Chairwoman Joanne Areola.
I'd like to concur with President Michael Greco.
We haven't had any collective bargaining meetings.
We had conversations, positive conversations.
And yes, we have been left at the altar many times, so take that for what we can.
So my name is Vince Barriale.
I am an EMS lieutenant and president of the Uniformed EMS Officers Union, Local 3621, District Council 37, representing more than 600 EMS sergeants, lieutenants, and captains in the New York City Fire Department.
I am here again to report that New York City is facing a crisis, not one that is coming, but one that is here now.
One that threatens the lives of all New Yorkers.
This is a warning that not only comes only from EMS unions or the fire department, both of which have repeatedly advised that inadequate staffing is hindering the delivery of timely, life-saving care.
The mayor's own management report released this month, and more recently, the New York City Comptroller's report released last week, confirms the seriousness of the problem.
These reports identify low wages and inferior benefits as major contributors to the poor recruitment and declining retention in EMS ranks.
As a result, the city cannot consistently staff enough ambulance and officer units, response times have increased, and experienced EMS members continue to leave.
What I find to be most troubling is survival rates have fallen from a high of 35% to now just a low of 16%.