Harrison EMS operational costs and call volume have increased during each of the last four years,
Harrison Emergency Medical Services' (EMS) funding has remained the same, leaving department Chief Joseph Bilotto concerned that he will have to make some difficult spending cuts 2013.
Harrison is looking at a reduction in EMS staffing and even taking one of department's two emergency trucks of the road. The cuts will be necessary because the costs of insurance, equipment and training continue to increase.
Harrison EMS provides emergency response at fires, car accidents and medical emergencies on a daily basis, providing aid to those in need in Harrison, West Harrison and Purchase. Because of the widespread territory, Bilotto fears that taking a truck out of 24-hour operation will force them to rely more on mutual aid, which could hurt response times.
Bilotto has approached the town board every year since 2008 to request additional funding. Harrison EMS is a third-party to the town of Harrison, but the town pays a $500,000 stipend to the department to help fund operating costs. The remainder of EMS' $2.2 million budget is paid through billing and donations.
Bilotto said the following at a Harrison public meeting....
"I think that if we start stressing White Plains and Port Chester it's going to be a lot longer than nine minutes to get an ambulance, If you're having a heart attack and you're supposed to get treatment within four to six minutes, waiting longer than 10 minutes for an ambulance is going to be detrimental to people's lives."
But no one is talking about how Port Chester heart attack victim could be waiting more than nine minutes to get a Port Chester ambulance that is responding to emergencies in Harrison.
Also other Rye Town residents in Rye and Rye Brook Could be put in danger, because Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont is not properly funding Harrison's Emergency Medical services.
