Calling 911 is not a cure-all; burdens EMS system (VIDEO)

HUDSON VALLEY – The EMS (Emergency Medical Service) in the Hudson Valley region and throughout the country is facing a crisis due to the increasing number of calls to 911 for non-life-threatening injuries or illnesses that can be treated by a general practitioner or an urgent care facility. This is causing a huge burden on the ambulance service and hospital emergency departments. Officials are urging the public to avoid calling 911 for such cases and seek medical attention from their doctor or urgent care facility.

Calling 911 is not a cure-all.

In response to the situation, Dutchess County officials are taking steps to address the issue of ambulance coverage. County Executive Sue Serino has announced plans for a multi-faceted approach to improve EMS coverage and reduce ambulance response time to 911 calls. This will involve prioritizing ambulance coverage, collaborating with Dutchess County Emergency Response (DCER) staff, and addressing gaps in EMS coverage.

Mid-Hudson News recently interviewed several veteran members of the EMS field to learn about the common calls they respond to that should have been directed to doctors or urgent care facilities.  The top ten reasons were compiled and can found in the video below.

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