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Hudson - Mohawk Volunteer Firefighter's Association   -     http://hmvfa.org/

Hudson Valley Firemen's Association  -   

FASNY (Firemen's Association of the State of New York  -      https://fasny.com/

ALBANY, NY (WRGB) Governor Cuomo has signed into law, allowing emergency and first responders to rescue animals in distress inside of unattended vehicles.  The laws takes effect immediately. 

 

 

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/cuomo-signs-bill-allowing-first-responders-to-remove-distressed-animals-from-vehicles

50 Year Members

Did you know that if you have a member that is being recognized for his/her years of service - and has reached the FIFTY year point, you may request a certificate of recognition for 50 years service from FASNY.   Here is how you do it;

 

Please forward information to Harrison Breuer at hbreuer@fasny.com, fax or mail it to Harrison Breuer at our address

FASNY, 107 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12210.

50 Year Certificate Request

 

All requests must be received no later than 3 weeks prior to the presentation.

Today’s Date:________________   Requester’s Information:  (Name /Address / City/State/Zip)

Fire Company Phone #

Recipient’s Information:  (Name / Address /City/State/Zip)   

Fire Company Year of Service Presentation Date/Time Location

Would you like FASNY to try to have a representative attend your event?   Yes/No

NYSAFC - 2022 Scholarship Awards

NYSAFC established this scholarship program to enhance, through academic achievement at the college level, the quality of leadership in the fire and emergency services, life safety field, and public safety field and to assist association Individual Members (and their spouses and children) in their efforts to pursue academic advancement. Scholarships will be awarded in memory of Executive Director Emeritus Ward A. Bohner and his wife, Janice R. Bohner, and in memory of Past President Anthony J. “Andy” Messina for their many years of dedicated service to the association. Tuition assistance is offered based upon merit to Individual Members of NYSAFC (and their spouses and children) pursuing degrees (full or part time) at an accredited institution of higher education. The Messina Scholarship is awarded to students working toward an emergency services degree (fire science, EMS, emergency management, etc.) and the Bohner Scholarship is awarded to those pursuing a general course of study in any other field.

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Application to sponsor a member   -------------->   

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2021-2022 NYSAFC Officer Candidates

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The New York State Association of Fire Chiefs Governance Committee announces the following slate of candidates for 2021-2022 and voting guidelines in the event of an election.

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President: 1-Year Term
Chief Robert R. Kloepfer Jr. – Floral Park Fire Department

1st Vice President: 1-Year Term
Chief James R. Comstock – Henrietta Fire District

2nd Vice President: 1-Year Term
Chief R. Scott Ewing – Plattsburgh District #3 Fire Department

Director – Paid: 3-Year Terms
• Chief Kenneth M. Almy – Scotia Fire Department
• Chief Dale G. Lingenfelter – Niskayuna Fire District #1
• Chief Richard L. Lyman – White Plains Fire Department

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NYSAFC Voting and Election Guidelines
If necessary, voting for the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs election will be held during the 115th Annual Conference & FIRE 2021 Expo at The Oncenter (lower level – Room 8) in Syracuse, NY on Friday, July 16, 2021, from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 17, 2021, from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. You must be an Individual Active Member (dues paid 30 days prior to the Annual Meeting), have joined the association 90 days prior to the Annual Meeting, and have government photo identification with you in order to vote in the election and on association matters.

*** Safety Alert ***

The Office of Fire Prevention and Control’s Investigation Branch recently investigated a fire that originated within the cargo area of a law enforcement vehicle. The investigation concluded that road flares, stored within that area, were ignited the result of inadvertent contact between the striker (red phosphorous) and ignition button of separate flares. Those flares had been stored within an installed tray.

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Fore more details and recommendations, click on the link  

    http://www.dhses.ny.gov/ofpc/alerts-bulletins/information/documents/2019/flares.pdf

Spectrum - The state of EMS in New York

By Breanna Fuss Sanborn

PUBLISHED 7:24 AM ET Jun. 09, 2022

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SANBORN, N.Y. — Legislation was passed this session that allows volunteer fire companies to bill insurance companies for EMS services rendered. It’s set to help companies recoup millions.

 

While celebration has been underway, there’s also concern this new law is just a Band-Aid to a much larger issue. That would be staffing issues.

 

What You Need To Know

Funding and subsequently staffing are major issues for both volunteer and paid EMS

 

In 2021, 15% of available EMS personnel didn’t renew their cards

 

Emergency Medical Services is not considered an essential service

 

Recently passed EMS Cost Recovery Act isn't seen as viable solution to funding gaps

Tri Community Ambulance is all settled into its new home.

 

“With this, we are able to offer the community an outlet for education, for CPR training, first aid training, we are able to open up not like weren’t able to before,” said Raymond Hubert, 2nd assistant chief with Tri-Community Ambulance Service, Inc.

 

Hubert provided a firsthand look at the 6,000-square-foot facility. It is in addition to the main hall located just about two miles away.

 

“We run over 2,100 calls a year,” Hubert said.

 

That’s with 150 volunteers, covering 75 square miles of service area. Hubert says it’s a great number, and a staff list that big is uncommon.

 

“There are organizations nationwide closing down because they don’t have the staff to respond to calls,” Hubert said.

 

In fact, in 2021, 15% of available EMS personnel didn’t renew their cards. More from Syed Ahmed Mustafa, president and CEO, as well as a paramedic at North East Quadrant Advanced Life Support out of Webster.

 

“Less than 50% of those with a valid card, less than 50% took a call in 2021,” Mustafa said.

 

Mustafa is also part of a 12-member state senate-appointed task force, called the Rural EMS Task Force, to find a solution to staffing and funding.

 

“For many years, emergency medical services have been trying to explain to local, county, state levels that the financial practices are not adequate,” Mustafa said. “We are not able to survive this model.”

 

His concern is soon it will be realized the EMS Cost Recovery Act is simply not enough to keep this life-saving service going.

 

“Third-party billing is not going to work,” Mustafa said. “The Medicaid reimbursement in the state is actually less than the cost of running an ambulance call.”

 

Those calls range from $800 to $1,200. That payment isn’t a guarantee, either.

 

“You only get paid when the ambulance rolls,” Mustafa said. “And, when the person pays. So if you roll and the call gets canceled, nobody pays for the staff, the fuel.”

 

Mustafa says last year they were called 7,960 times, and they only transported for half of those calls.

 

“The biggest challenge in EMS is the unpredictability of our income,” Mustafa said.

 

Companies need that money to train and retain staff. Hubert says Tri-Community is doing its part to ensure reimbursements are adequate. They are part of a federal study with the Office for Medicare Reimbursement. They are keeping track of their expenses and reporting them back to the office so it can update the next fee schedule.

 

“If the reimbursement rates are so low that we cannot cover the costs, there is no way we can grow,” Hubert said.

 

Ultimately hurting the growing communities they serve.

 

Here’s the other issue at hand, EMS is not considered an essential service. It's kind of mind-boggling. There’s also a lack of funding to support EMS students through school. They aren’t paid while training like police officers or firefighters. Mustafa hopes to have results from the task force ASAP. They only have two years to figure out a plan addressing all these issues.

 

Spectrum News 1 reached out to state Sen. Pam Helming who spearheaded the task force for an update. She provided the following statement:

 

"The Rural Ambulance Services Task Force was formed as a result of a bill I co-sponsored (S3503C) in a bipartisan effort to address the need for greater access to quality ambulatory services for our rural areas. My nominee for the Task Force, Mr. Syed Ahmed Mustafa, was appointed by the Senate Minority. It is my understanding the Senate Majority has neglected to make their appointments and has yet to convene the Task Force. This lack of action suggests they do not consider rural ambulance service a priority. I continue to advocate for the important work that has yet to be done. I am calling on my Senate Majority colleagues, especially those in Upstate where the shortage of service is critical, to take immediate action."

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