Lewis County Search & Rescue to become county-wide EMS system? Proposal to county committee sparks debate and response from officials
LOWVILLE- The Chief of Operations for Lewis County Search & Rescue has floated an idea to county officials to join all local EMS squads together as one unit, with the ultimate goal of mitigating the emergency medical service crisis.
According to officials, Josh Levesque just recently pitched an idea to a county committee to essentially bundle all Lewis County EMS services together as one and he believes that Lewis County Search & Rescue would be the organization to help make his idea become a reality.
***See full meeting video clip here***
With that said, there has been a response to this development from the Southern Lewis County EMS Coalition.
"While we deeply appreciate the dedication and efforts of all EMS Professionals who contribute to public safety, we believe that LCSR’s current proposal would not be in the best long-term interests of Lewis County residents or the effectiveness of our emergency services system," the coalition said in a released statement.
"Furthermore, we are writing to wholeheartedly commend and support the Lewis County Legislature's insightful initiative to engage an outside, independent entity to conduct a thorough study of our county's emergency response capabilities. This proactive approach demonstrates a commitment to due diligence and fiscal responsibility, which is preciselywhat our community needs when considering significant changes to vital public services."
Declining medical first responders across the state are starting to result in slower response times, numerous sources suggest.
According to the coalition, an independent study will provide an unbiased and comprehensive analysis of several critical areas, including:
- Current operational strengths and weaknesses: A clear understanding of what is working well and where improvements are needed across all relevant agencies.
- Resource allocation and efficiency: Identifying potential areas for optimization and ensuring taxpayer dollars are utilized effectively.
- Interagency coordination and communication: Assessing the effectiveness of collaboration among all emergency service providers.
- Best practices and long-term sustainability: Identifying models that have proven successful in similar communities and ensuring the longevity of our emergency response infrastructure.
- The true needs of Lewis County: An objective assessment of what our community requires for robust and reliable search and rescue services.
As of this update, officials are reporting that LCSR has asked for $3.5 million from the county. That money would assist with covering the costs affiliated with the measure – things like training and etc.
Meanwhile, the EMS coalition is hopeful that the County Legislature will adhere to the completion of the independent study before making any major changes to the local emergency response framework.
LCSR image.
