During a recent Vital Signs Conference, The NYS EMS Council awarded RRFD (the first non-transport agency ever to be awarded) "EMS AGENCY OF THE YEAR"
EMS LEADERSHIP AWARD
The Council also awarded RRFD Captain Richard Russotti the "HARRIET C. WEBBER EMS LEADERSHIP AWARD"
Greece Ridge has been a leader in the Local EMS community since the early 1970's. In the mid to late 1980's, GRFD was the first in the NYS region to pilot the use of Automatic External Difibrillators (AED) at the basic level. Three Defibrillators were placed in service during this period, thrusting GRFD into the EMS community spotlight. As the EMS program progressed throughout the 1990's Greece Ridge had an AED unit on each of the front line response vehicles, and officer's vehicles. Late in the 90's GRFD sponsored a Community Defibrillation Training and Placement Program throughout the community, resulting in a cardiac arrest save in a local mall soon after.
Continuing onward, Battalion Chief Rick Russotti, administered and implemented two programs that have greatly improved the way we provide EMS. The first, an in-service EMT refresher program, which provides certified employees an alternative method to refresh their knowledge and skills. This program was one of the first of its kind in the state. The second, an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) service. This enhanced of emrgency medical service (also one of the first in the state) certifies Career Fire Fighter/EMT's to render IV treatment, Endotracial Intubation and other advanced treatments to the community.
The ILS service helps speed needed medications to critically sick patients, or provide fluid replacement in severe trauma cases. Early intubations provides an airway in critically sick or injured patients. Early intubation may make the difference between life and death.
RRFD currently provides ILS from all front line apparatus, including the only NYS certified Quint in NYS.
Fore more information regarding our EMS program and services, contact the RRFD Office of EMS
