The New York City Council has recently approved several bills aimed at improving safety measures for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) workers. These measures include the provision of body armor and self-defense training to better protect EMS workers while they are on duty.
The legislation, spearheaded by Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, mandates that the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) must equip EMS workers with additional safety measures to address the various risks they face, including assaults.
Borelli emphasized the importance of safeguarding the brave men and women who risk their lives daily to save New Yorkers. He stated, 'The least we can do is help protect them so they, too, can return safely to their families.'
One of the bills, Introduction 126-A, requires the FDNY to provide EMS workers with body armor that meets ballistic and stab-resistant standards. Another bill, Introduction 127-A, mandates that the fire department offer de-escalation and self-defense training to EMS workers, to be conducted once every third calendar year.
Borelli expressed his satisfaction in successfully advocating for these bills after years of effort, emphasizing that EMS workers deserve top-notch equipment and training. The bills will now be sent to Mayor Eric Adams for final approval.
EMS workers in New York City have faced physical attacks in the past, underscoring the need for enhanced safety measures. In a notable incident in August 2023, an EMT was brutally stabbed multiple times by a city resident, resulting in severe injuries that required extensive medical treatment.
