GOSHEN, N.Y. — The Orange County Sheriff’s Office will now be able to provide basic life support services through a new “fly car” system, supplementing existing volunteer and paid ambulance coverage across the county, Mid-Hudson News reported.
Sheriff Paul Arteta announced the initiative after receiving approval from the New York State Department of Health. The program allows certified and trained deputies to serve as emergency medical first responders during patrols, particularly in areas experiencing gaps in ambulance service.
“We’re having the number of deputies out all the time that we realized that there may be gaps in services in certain towns that may be lacking a volunteer ambulance corps,” Arteta said. “So, we are trying to fill those gaps in certain areas while we are out on regular patrol.”
Deputies participating in the program will continue performing their regular law enforcement duties while also being available to respond to emergency medical calls when needed.
The program will begin with one vehicle outfitted with the necessary equipment to handle medical emergencies.
The “fly car” will be assigned daily to a deputy who is trained and certified as a New York State Emergency Medical Technician, as a part of the program launching in July, according to a sheriff’s office news release.
The sheriff’s office was granted a Basic Life Support First Response certification on April 22.
“This code signifies the agencies’ willingness to comply with all training, certifications and protocols set forth by the State of New York Department of Health regarding patient care in an emergency setting,” according to the release.
“Obtaining this approval has been over a year of our team working hard to create a new set of policies and procedures, procuring a vehicle and spending many hours planning, training and coordinating,” Arteta stated. “I am proud of their work and look forward to better serving Orange County by getting this program up and running.”
