Communication dispute arises in wake of emergency response to Western area MVA
WESTERN- Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. is responding to claims made by the Western Fire Department that revolve around communication.
This all has boiled over since a two car motor vehicle accident on State Route 46 shortly after 2:00 p.m. last Friday near Delta Lake State Park that required the use of a medical helicopter (see full press release below).
In a press release posted to social media from Western Fire Department, officials cited “Poor or no pager reception/notifications, radio communication issues, programmed radios since February, Cellular Equipped radios promised but not distributed,” among other issues, too.
Specifically, for when it comes to this motor vehicle accident in question, the fire department is citing issues with getting a helicopter.
In an update posted to WSYR, County Executive Picente Jr. says the radio system emergency responders are using is working and that the issue is in the hands of Western Fire Department.
“Chief Anania continues to refuse to abide by Oneida County’s radio policy,” the County Executive claimed.
“We have spent millions of dollars to upgrade the emergency radio system to cutting-edge technology that integrates public safety cell phone coverage. This has resulted in vastly improved coverage for first responders. We have received zero complaints from any other agency that has this enhanced feature in their radios. All of his complaints have been determined to be the result of user error.”
Meanwhile, Western Fire Chief says radios for his crew have yet to be programed by the county, who apparently promised to do so days ago.
“This is an ongoing issue, and it kind of feels like it fell on deaf ears because we haven’t heard anything previous of our incidents that we had put in, and since this one is publicly posted, I guess it didn’t fall on deaf ears and they’re commenting on it,” Chief Anania said.
See the full press release via Western Fire Department:
"At 14:05 this afternoon, the Oneida County 911 Center received a report of a motor vehicle accident in the Town of Western. At 14:09 Lee Center Fire Department and AmCare Ambulance were dispatched to 8797 State Route 46 (Delta Lake State Park Entrance) in the Town of Western for a 2 car mva with possible entrapment. You read that right Lee Center was dispatched not because the Western Fire Department was not available, but due to a dispatching error. At 14:12 the Western Fire Department was then dispatched and Lee Center was told to disregard. Western’s Rescue 1, Rescue 2, Rescue 3 and Engine 2 responded with 11 members under the command of Western Chief 650. While en-route, the fire department requested LifeNet Air Ambulance to be placed on standby. Upon arrival the Fire Department found a 1 car mva with a vehicle that left the roadway and continued down the old Black River canal bed and struck a tree head-on, with two occupants trapped in the vehicle. At 14:21 a second ambulance requested to the scene. After extrication using the Jaws of Life was completed, the crew from AmCare Ambulance requested the helicopter to be cancelled. A short time later, while the patient was being treated in the ambulance, the crew from AmCare Ambulance requested the helicopter to be recalled to the scene. At 14:37 Western Chief 650 requested LifeNet again and at 14:40 the county dispatcher stated that the helicopter would be Mercy Flight out of Rome, even though LifeNet’s Helipad is only 2.7 miles down the road and 3 minutes away under normal driving conditions. The Fire Department again asked if LifeNet was available and the dispatcher said the helicopter was available and it would be Mercy Flight. The Fire Department confirmed LifeNet was available and could accept the mission and AmCare Ambulance transported the patient directly to the helipad for the best and most efficient patient care. The county helicopter policy delayed patient care when there was a helicopter closer and available as well as deliberately ignoring a request from the Fire Chief. This action is not at fault with the dispatcher but with the Oneida County policy on helicopters. Many do not know that Oneida County tax dollars subsidize Mercy Flight nearly $100,00 per year between waived hanger fees, utility costs and free facility upgrades. But this is put above patient care by Oneida County. LifeNet on the other hand receives no subsidies from Oneida County. We should be using the closest available air assets to provide the best and most efficient patient care to those who need it. We should not choose to use the helicopter you subsidize first no matter the location of the call. We know if it were our family members who needed this care our choice would be the closest helicopter, not the one we necessarily pay for. “When seconds count” it is not about pinning one air ambulance over the other…it is about patient care. The closest available service should always be the right thing to choose when no one is looking. The patient was airlifted to a Syracuse hospital. The second patient was transported by AmCare Ambulance to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. All Western Units were back in service at 15:07. The Western Fire Department was assisted on scene by AmCare Ambulance, the New York State Police and North Country Towing. Issues continue to compound with our unresolved Emergency Services Communications. Poor or no pager reception/notifications, radio communication issues, un-programmed radios since February, Cellular Equipped radios promised but not distributed, and now I am Responding notifications not being received since the new county cad system upgrade on July 15. More life safety issues for responders and the public that are not due to 'operator error!'”
Image via the Western Fire Department.
