Info

The New Paltz Rescue Squad provides a public education program to the residents and businesses of New Paltz. If you are interested, we will be glad to come to your organization. We provide this program free to community members of all ages from day care to senior citizens. Please contact us at our business phone (845) 255-1719. If transported by the ambulance, will I be billed? Yes, if the New Paltz Rescue Squad transports you to a hospital, you will be billed for service. Your bill will diverge depending on the level of care you receive. The New Paltz Rescue Squad accepts payment from all insurance companies. In the event you feel you are unable to pay your ambulance bill, please phone our billing office at 1-800-473-2278. At no time will the New Paltz Rescue Squad deny treating or transporting any person based on their financial status. What is the Difference between BLS and ALS? Basic Life Support (BLS) services are provided by Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) members of the squad. EMTs attend a 160 hour New York State Training program in a variety of topics, including bleeding control, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), fracture management, shock, child birth, oxygen therapy and administration, burn management, and airway control. The program encompasses classroom hours, skills training and clinical observation. EMTs are part of the crew that responds to your call for help. The EMT is a vital link in the chain from the emergency scene to the hospital. All patients are treated with BLS skills upon initial patient contact. Advanced Life Support (ALS) services are provided by Paramedic members of the squad. Paramedics attend a training program for one year, which involves approximately 1000 to 1200 hours and includes classroom hours, with skills and clinical training in a hospital setting. Paramedic students spend hundreds of hours in the hospital emergency room, riding on an ALS/Paramedic Ambulance, observing in the operating room and on intravenous teams, participating in childbirth and pediatrics, and working with psychiatric emergencies. All Paramedics have received EMT training prior to becoming a Paramedic student and provide BLS treatment upon initial patient contact. Paramedics are capable of providing advanced treatment modalities, including endotracheal intubation, defibrillation, intravenous therapy, and medication administration. Paramedics are better able to treat life-threatening conditions, such as cardiac disease, breathing difficulties (COPD and asthma), allergic reactions, diabetic emergencies and shock. The New Paltz Rescue Squad is one of only two volunteer ambulance services in Ulster County providing Advanced Life Support services. Why are we different than other volunteer ambulance services in the area? Since the Rescue Squad began, we have recognized the need for a rapid response time when EMS is needed for a sick or injured person. Our Duty Crews generally consist of three members, each with clearly defined roles: driver, squad leader and technician. While a part of the Duty Crew, all members remain with each other for the duration of their tour. This means that the members must spend a great deal of time with each other and with whom they share an equal interest. Our Squad House is just that- a house with a kitchen, living room, three bedrooms and a study room. Members have the option of using our cooking facilities for meals or eating at one of our local restaurants. As the entire crew is already assembled in house, our response time from the time we get a call for service is only 1 - 2 minutes. This drastically reduces the time it takes for us to reach you. No other volunteer ambulance service in the area provides Duty Crews in Quarters. Whether on a call or unavailable for any reason, our backup system consists of members responding from their homes, work, or while in town. Members respond to the Squad House to assemble in the ambulance, then respond to the call. As our response time is not as fast as it would be with the Duty Crew, we always send a mutual aid ambulance to ensure that one arrives for you. We'd like to hear from our patients. The members of the New Paltz Rescue Squad like to hear from our patients. Please write to: New Paltz Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 594, New Paltz, NY 12561-0594. Main Phone # 845.255.1719Tax deductible charitable contributions can also be sent to this address.