Croton Village Contracts to Hire Paid EMT

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. – The Croton Volunteer Ambulance Corps received approval from the village to have 24 hour a day, seven day a week coverage by one paid EMT. The previous temporary contract paid for an EMT to be present at the Harmon Fire House 12 hours per day, Monday through Friday.

“Croton EMS has seen the short term benefits of having the paid staffing during the daytime,” said First Acting Lieutenant, Mark Dickey, “The reason that we cannot decrease the number of shifts on a dynamic basis, is that it would be an unfair condition for a bidder to compete with.” In other words, it would be most expensive and time consuming for the bidder to staff the position. 

Dickey said that the ambulance corps has had new members join, but it could take months before the members can volunteer as drivers or trained EMTs.

The EMT will be contracted by the Mid-Hudson Ambulance District, at a rate of $17.26 per hour, the lowest rate offered by any of the bidding organizations. The contract will last for one full year.

The Croton Volunteer Ambulance Corps has been under scrutiny since village officials were made aware of the agency’s long response times, nearly a year ago. Mutual aid was frequently being called to Croton dispatch calls, and response times were frequently running over 10 minutes.

The new 24 hours a day EMT is hoped to reduce response times, as the current weekday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. paid EMT has, because only one volunteer will need to respond to the Harmon Engine House, where the ambulance is stored, at a time.

The village hopes to will some of these costs by billing private insurance companies for service.

The Croton Volunteer Ambulance Corps is currently recruit members of all backgrounds, including professionals who may not wish to be EMTs. Contact Mark Dickey, at membership@crotonems.org.

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