News & Announcements

The Creighton Manning Engineering firm unveiled plans for reconstruction of the Church and Myrtle Street intersection near the ED Entrance to Saratoga Hospital at the February EMS Council meeting. They are soliciting feedback from EMS services regarding alternatives presently consisting of a roundabout or a new traffic signal with a left turn lane for traffic turning north on Myrtle towards the hospital. From a traffic operations standpoint either option (signal or roundabout) would work equally well. Roundabouts provide safety benefits and have been proven to reduce the number of injury and fatality accidents at intersections (see NYS DOT site: https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/main/roundabouts). A public information session on the project is scheduled for Monday, March 10th at 7pm at Saratoga Springs City Hall in the Council Chambers. Plans for the signal option can be viewed by clicking here. Plans for the roundabout option can be viewed by clicking here. A comment form can be downloaded by clicking here. Questions or requests for additional information can be addressed to Project Engineer Steve Godlewski at sgodlewski@cmellp.com.

In an effort to resolve confusion over deadlines and transition issues to the 2005 AHA Resuscitation Guidelines, DOH issued 2 documents on January 19, 2007 clarifying the obligations of agencies and providers to get up to speed. The first is a revised EMT-Basic Cardiac Arrest Protocol and the second a summary of Frequently Asked Questions. Click on either or both titles to download them here.

Saratoga County Public Health and Saratoga Hospital will conduct a Pandemic Preparedness Drill at the Wilton Medical Arts (Staples Building) on Route 50 in Wilton Monday, December 18th from 2 pm until 7 pm. To test Public Health ability to rapidly vaccinate a population, the County is offering flu vaccines to all Saratoga County EMS, Fire, and Law Enforcement personnel at no cost. Agencies and departments should call the hospital at 583-8436 or email to tbrooks@saratogacare.org with a head count to assist in preparations for the drill.

EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy plans to distribute Burn Kits provided by the New York State Department of Health at the December 11th meeting of the Saratoga County EMS Council. One kit for each ambulance will be provided to each agency submitting a listing of NIMS training completed by their personnel (see NIMS information below). A list of member names, job title, and NIMS course numbers completed can be emailed to McEvoy at mcevoymike@aol.com or brought to the December 11th meeting at the Fire Training Center in Ballston Spa.

Four additional sessions have been added to the EMT Core Pilot Refresher Program: Geriatrics on 11/28, and Bariatrics on 12/12. In addition, Saratoga County EMS will host a 6-hour WMD Awareness Course (FEMA Course # AWR-160) taught by DOH on Tuesday, 12/5/06 and Thursday, 12/7/06 from 7-10 PM at the Saratoga County Fire Training Center (6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa NY 12020). There is no cost to attend the WMD program and pre-registration is not required. DOH approved pilot refresher credit will be awarded. Further information can be obtained by calling the Course Coordinator, Joyce Eichorst at (518) 581-9409. For additional information on the Core Pilot program schedule additions, click here.