News & Announcements

Interstate 90 between Exits 2 (Washington Ave) and 5 (Everett Rd) will be shut down for resurfacing during nights and weekends beginning June 10th, 2005 and continuing through at least August 27th. Both East and Westward directions are scheduled for closure at different times. This will affect Albany bound ambulances coming off of the Northway. For a brochure on the closings click here.

In a press conference at the Clifton Park Firehouse on August 9th, representative of Saratoga County Fire and EMS organizations highlighted ongoing problems with the emergency radio communications in the County. Clifton Park Fire Chief Art Hunsinger, Saratoga County Fire Advisory Board Chair John Mazur, and EMS Council Secretary Henry Propst told reporters that the present radio system is unreliable. On August 10th, Fire Advisory Board Chair John Mazur and County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy addressed the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors at their monthly agenda meeting, bringing concerns from Fire and EMS agencies about the radio system. Recognizing continued work by the Supervisors to build a new emergency radio system, Mazur and McEvoy recommended more immediate action be taken while development of a new system continues. Immediate needs are to implement redundant paging using a method such as text messaging through alphanumeric pagers or cellular devices so that more than just the present system is used to alert responders. Obtaining a radio engineering consultation on the current system to optimize performance and suggest components for upgrade or replacement to assure availability of parts or replacements when breakdowns occur was recommended. Also, increased involvement of Fire and EMS leaders in radio system planning and implementation was recommended. For a copy of the EMS talking points developed between the EMS Council and Fire Advisory Board, click here.

EMS Leaders in Saratoga County are strongly encouraged to subscribe to the confidential Alerts Listserv started in November 2004 by the EMS Council. The Alerts Listserv will be used exclusively to disseminate confidential information in the event of a Regional, Statewide, or National emergency involving emergency services or public health. “There presently is no other means of quickly and privately distributing confidential information to EMS agency leaders in Saratoga County. I appreciate the Council putting this communication link into place for our use,” said Saratoga County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy . Available under the Subscribe button at the top of this page are an EMS News Listserv, a Courses Listserv, and a confidential Alerts Listserv for EMS Leaders.

As presented during the MCI Train the Trainer class and the last EMS Council meeting, WMD First Responder Escape Packs will be distributed by the County Fire Coordinator on Tuesday, July 26th at the Fire Training Center. A brief inservice on use of the packs will be given to start at 7 PM. Preregistration is required by calling the Fire Coordinator’s Office at 884-4702.

Effective 7:00 AM on February 25, 2005 Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department will implement a 6 month trial of a multi-agency Paramedic Mutual Aid program involving Corinth, Moreau, Wilton, and General Schuyler. For situations requiring either “Paramedic Assistance” or “Advanced Airway Management” (under a REMO approved trial program), a “Signal 41” will be activated on the EMS Dispatch frequency. Response is limited to ALS personnel who have been issued pagers that activate with the Signal 41 tone following standard Saratoga County EMS Radio and Mutual Aid procedures. Any questions regarding the Signal 41 trial should be referred to County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy.