Evan Simko-Bednarski
New York Daily News
(TNS)

In their most dire moments — waiting for an ambulance, a fire truck or the police — Manhattanites are caught in a literal jam.

That’s the conclusion of a report expected Friday from State Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal and former city Traffic Commissioner “Gridlock” Sam Schwartz, who found that vehicle speeds in Midtown and lower Manhattan are slower than they’ve ever been — and that’s causing emergency response times across all agencies to rise to record levels.

• Can AI Help Fire Trucks Show Up Sooner?

Using GPS data from taxicabs and other for-hire vehicles, Schwartz estimates the average speed of vehicular traffic in Midtown to be just 4.8 mph. The average speed of traffic in all of Manhattan south of 60th St. is slightly faster, but not by much — vehicles average 6.9 mph.

“Since 1971 we started regularly collecting [traffic speed] data,” Schwartz told the Daily News. “These are astoundingly low speeds — and they’re dangerous.”

Hoylman-Sigal — who represents Manhattan’s West Side — told the News that he became concerned about emergency response time after he happened upon a man “writhing in pain” on W. 28th St. on June 25.

“We dialed 911 repeatedly,” he said of himself and a group of bystanders. “We tried to flag down a private vehicle, and ran to different corners of the block hoping to see an emergency vehicle appear.

“And one didn’t until 37 minutes later,” he said. “I just find it unacceptable.”

Hoylman-Sigal said he’s since checked up on the man, who has recovered.

Citywide, crawling traffic has crippled response times over the past decade, Schwartz and Hoylman-Sigal said.

EMS average response times to life-threatening situations has climbed from roughly 9 minutes and 40 seconds in 2014 to 12 minutes and 26 seconds this year, a 29 percent increase, according to the report. City data show increased travel time is responsible for a minute and a half of the added delay.

The NYPD’s responses to so-called “critical” incidents — like shootings, robberies or burglaries — has gone up 23 percent over the same period, from just under 8 minutes in 2014 to 9 minutes and 41 seconds in 2024. Most of that difference — 1 minute and 23 seconds — can be ascribed to increased travel time.

The FDNY’s medical emergency response time has soared in 10 years, up from 8 minutes and 19 seconds to 14 minutes and 16 seconds — a 72 percent climb. Increased travel time due to traffic accounts for 2 minutes of that 6-minute delay.

It was not immediately clear what other factors have contributed to the dramatic increase in the FDNY’s medical response time, but the mayor’s yearly management report said the department was currently working to reduce turnaround times while dropping patients off at local hospitals.

In emergencies, minutes matter, Schwartz and Hoylman-Sigal contend, citing multiple studies indicating that an extra minute or two in travel can be the difference between survival or recovery in strokes or cardiac arrest incidents.

“New Yorkers and visitors are at an increased risk every day due to worsening traffic congestion,” the report s

Andrea Klick
The Orange County Register
(TNS)

Eight Orange County firefighters returning from a long shift fighting the Airport fire on Thursday were injured after a fire utility truck rolled over on a toll road, officials said

Six of the Orange County Fire Authority firefighters were seriously hurt after their truck crashed and overturned, said Fire Chief Brian Fennessy. The crash was reported around 6:50 p.m. on the northbound 241 Toll Road just north of Portola Avenue.

A crew from OCFA arrived minutes after the crash and began medical treatment before requesting additional support. Nine paramedics units, 12 ambulances and three helicopters responded.

Seven firefighters were transported to several area hospitals by ambulance, and one was transported by an OCFA helicopter, officials said

Six firefighters were seriously hurt, and two had minor injuries, KCAL reported. CHP investigators told KCAL that the fire utility truck and a vehicle in front of it swerved because of a ladder in the road. The fire truck then collided with a nearby guard rail and overturned, KCAL reported.

The firefighters had just finished a 12-hour shift fighting the Airport fire, which has charred thousands of acres of wildland in Orange and Riverside counties over the last several days, when the crash occurred on the toll road, Fennessy said.

Fire crews who responded to the crash were participating in a critical incident stress debriefing at OCFA headquarters Thursday night, Fennessy said.

“You can only imagine how traumatic it is,” Fennessy said, “for their brother and sister firefighters to see them injured like that on the freeway.”

Fennessy asked that the public pray for the injured firefighters and their families.

Traffic on northbound State Route 133 was being diverted to exit to Irvine Boulevard, and onramps for northbound State Route 133 were  closed at Irvine Boulevard, the Irvine Police Department said.

The 241 also was closed in both directions Thursday night, KCAL reported.

©2024 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit ocregister.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

PRESS RELEASE

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin announced $566,481.89 in federal funding for three Eastern Shore fire departments to upgrade personal protective equipment. The funding will enhance emergency response capabilities and ensure better protection for the public and the firefighters.

“Our firefighters commit to putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. This federal funding will provide local Shore fire departments with the tools they need to better protect themselves and our communities,” said Senator Van Hollen.

“Firefighting is a selfless job that requires brave Marylanders to run toward danger. These federal awards reflect our commitment to the men and women who are there for us during our most trying times,” said Senator Cardin. “It is crucial that firefighters on the Eastern Shore and throughout our state have the resources they need to handle any situation they encounter.”

The federal grants have been awarded as follows:

1. $265,339.04 to the Ocean City Fire Department to acquire additional personal protective equipment, including 63 structural firefighting helmets, 70 hoods, 40 turnout coats, 35 pairs of turnout pants, 48 pairs of structural firefighting boots, 192 pairs of gloves, 14 complete sets of gear, and 115 equipment bags
2. $257,142.85 to the Marion Volunteer Fire Department in Somerset County to replace 25 sets of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)
3. $44,000 to the Betterton Volunteer Fire Company in Kent County to purchase 12 sets of personal protective equipment

The awards are provided through the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program with funds from FY2023 annual appropriations, which the lawmakers fought to secure. The Senators additionally worked to reauthorize the AFG program through FY2028 within the Fire Grants and Safety Act of 2023, which passed Congress and was signed into law earlier this year.

Ocean City Fire Department Hosts Ribbon Cutting for Fire Station 3

• Time/Date: 1 p.m. Oct. 27
• Location: Parade from old Station 3 to the new station before the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Be sure to arrive early for the brief apparatus parade and stay for the hors d’oeuvres. Reception after the ceremony. Come witness the future of fire and EMS protection for Ocean City.

Read more

• 15
• 0
• Article rating: No rating