By Michael V. Cusenza
Several members of the City Council, including Councilwoman Joann Ariola (R-Ozone Park), are ardently supporting two bills that would help City emergency medics protect themselves from physical assaults.
The first proposed law would “amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring provision of body armor to Fire Department employees providing emergency medical services.” According to the language of the bill, the City Fire commissioner “shall provide body armor to all employees of the department who provide emergency medical services. Such body armor shall be of the type that the commissioner determines would be most suitable for the protection of such employees and shall meet a ballistic resistance or stab resistance standard of the national institute of justice or any successor standards. No employee of the department shall be permitted to retain or use the body armor…after leaving the employment of the department or moving to a position that does not involve the provision of emergency medical services.”
Photo Courtesy of Emil Cohen/NYC Council Media Unit
Councilwoman Ariola said the proposed pieces of legislation “will go a long way toward keeping our EMS workers safe on the job.”
The tendered bill would take effect immediately.
The other proposed piece of legislation would provide de-escalation and self-defense training to members of the FDNY Bureau of Emergency Medical Services. According to the bill, “Such training shall be designed to address the unique characteristics and operations of emergency medical services, with a particular focus on violent situations in the context of patient care. Such training shall include, but need not be limited to, recognition and understanding of mental illness and distress, effective communication skills, conflict de-escalation techniques, and self-defense techniques. The department shall offer such training no less frequently than once per calendar year.”
This proposed law also would take effect immediately.
The bills were first brought forward last year. In November, the president of the emergency medical technician and paramedic union testified before the council, noting that assaults on his constituents “are at an all-time high,” according to a New York Post report.
In 2017, EMT Yadira Arroyo was killed when a mentally-ill man stole her ambulance and ran over her. In 2022, EMS Capt. Alison Russo was stabbed to death in the line of duty in Astoria.
“I’m proud to co-prime sponsor these bills, which will go a long way toward keeping our EMS workers safe on the job,” said Ariola, chairwoman of the Committee on Fire and Emergency Management. “Our first responders should never have to worry about whether or not they will make it home after a tour.”
