Monticello, NY – Sullivan County has been awarded a $500,000 grant to bolster its emergency medical services system. The funding, the maximum allowable under the County Emergency Medical Services Support Grant Program, will support four key initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes, response times, and EMS provider capabilities.
The grant application, prepared by Deputy Commissioner of 911 and EMS Alex Rau, identified critical gaps in the local EMS system, particularly during the busy summer months. The influx of visitors leads to a tripling of 911 calls, straining the system’s resources.
“Both our volunteer and career EMS providers need more personnel,” explained Rau. However, the high cost of EMT certification can hinder recruitment efforts.
To address this issue, one of the grant initiatives will provide free EMT training, including advanced certification, and supplies. Additionally, an EMS recruitment and retention campaign, modeled after the successful “Join Sullivan Fire” program, will be launched.
The grant will also facilitate the standardization of care across all EMS agencies at the highest possible level of Basic Life Support and provide additional resources during the summer months. This includes equipping agencies with equipment to enhance heart attack detection and increasing the number of EMS units on the road from June to August.
“Winning this huge grant is testament to Sullivan County’s commitment to supporting and improving emergency services in ways that really matter,” stated District 6 Legislator Luis Alvarez, chair of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. “In addition to our already successful introduction of four fly cars to more quickly reach medical calls, these new initiatives promise to make a lifesaving difference throughout the County.”
“This was one of the most detailed grants I’ve ever written, so I’m very happy the NYS Department of Health saw the value in our proposals and that the County achieved this award,” Rau noted. “I’m also grateful to our Grants Administration team for their critical collaboration.”