Senator Stec Sponsors Legislation to Create Local EMS Districts in Adirondacks
January 7, 2022
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ISSUE:
- rural ems
Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) today announced he’s introduced legislation that would allow municipalities in the Adirondacks to pool resources and share services to more efficiently deliver critical EMS coverage to residents and visitors alike. Many small north country communities have experienced difficulty recruiting and retaining volunteers, the creation of a larger multi-town district will go a long way to address this issue. By allowing municipalities to authorize their own services, volunteer crews will have an easier time with recruitment efforts, cover a wider swath of terrain and more quickly respond to emergency situations.
“Due to its size and the difficulties in traveling, county emergency services for the Adirondacks face lengthier response times and more challenges providing essential services than in other parts of the state,” Stec noted. “By allowing Adirondack municipalities to create their own multi-town EMS districts, emergency medical services will be able to delivered more reliably and rapidly. Permitting collaboration between our towns, counties and villages just makes sense."