Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department

Hello all!

Please like our facebook page!

Even though we have had very little snow this year, we have been installing hydrants flags in the Old Section, and it was all possible through an anonymous donation, specifically for this project.

By installing the Hydrant Flags, if and when, we do get a significant snowfall, our Engine 1 and FDNY units will be able to locate hydrants quickly. The fiber glass rods run about $15 each and was placed on the main avenues of the Old Section as a pilot program.

You can sponsor hydrants on your block by dropping off a check at the firehouse. Just label the check for hydrant flags and your block and we will get one there asap.

By you clearing your “friendly neighborhood fire hydrant,” firefighters can connect to a water supply quicker without having to shovel out the hydrant. This puts an additional firefighter “on the line” quicker to protect life and property.

If you already do this, thank you very much! If you don’t, please consider doing it; it may be your emergency we respond to!

Do you know when to Make the Call to the Vollies? You should.

Knowing when to call could help save a life and your property. The vollies are available 24/7 with emergency and non-emergency resources.

Call The Vollies FIRST.

WHEN TO CALL 718-332-3333 FOR THE VOLLIES:

• When you smell smoke or gas.
• When your home or someones home has a fire.
• You see a brush fire.
• You see or are involved in a car accident.
• A water main break.
• Power or Utility lines down.
• When your home Carbon Monoxide detector goes off.
• When your basement floods.
• You hear a house alarm going off.
• When you think someone’s life is threatened.
• When someone faints or collapses.
• When someone has persistent chest pains or difficulty breathing.
• When you think someone is badly injured.
• When in doubt!

CALL YOUR VOLLIES IN EMERGENCIES
The Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department is on call for the community 24/7, we know this community. We respond to most emergencies within 4 minutes which is quicker than other New York City services as our ambulance and fire engine do not leave our area. We also have  a Mutual Aid agreement with New York City FDNY services. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are available by dialing 718-332-3333. All calls made will go directly to one of our 24/7 dispatchers.

CLOSE CALLS
Sometimes it’s hard to decide whether to call for an ambulance instead of driving to an emergency room yourself. The basic rule is: When in doubt, call the Vollies at 718-332-3333. If you are not sure what to do, you can make a better decision by asking yourself the following questions:

• Does the victim’s condition seem to be life-threatening?
• Could moving the victim on your own cause further injury?
• Does the victim need the skills or equipment of a paramedic or an emergency medical technician?
• Would the distance or traffic conditions cause a significant delay in getting the victim to an emergency room?
• Could the victim’s condition worsen and become life-threatening on your way to the emergency room?

WHEN YOU CALL, KNOW WHAT TO SAY
The information you give the emergency dispatch operator helps us help you:

• Stay calm, speak clearly, and stay on the phone until the emergency operator tells you to hang up.
• Tell the emergency dispatch operator WHERE to find the person needing emergency care. Give the exact location: use an address or nearby landmarks like intersections or buildings that will help the ambulance driver find you.
• Make sure your house numbers are visible from the street, both day and night, BEFORE there is an emergency.
• Tell the emergency dispatch operator WHO is hurt or sick and WHAT happened. The operator will also need to know the current condition of the victim and if any assistance is being given.

WHAT TO DO UNTIL HELP ARRIVES

• Follow any instructions you have been given by the emergency dispatch operator.
• Do NOT try to move someone who is injured unless they are in danger.
• DO try to keep a victim as warm as possible.
• If someone else is with you, send them to meet the ambulance.
• Make it easy for the ambulance driver to spot you by turning on a porch light or marking your location with a flare or bright cloth.

Our Boundaries
West – Beginning at the south side of Whitney and  Knapp to Gerritsen.
East side of Gerritsen including Resurrection to Stuart and Burnett St.

WHEN NOT TO CALL

Do NOT call The Vollies if:

• You need a hospital to hospital transport or hospital to home transport. We cannot do transports at this time because we have only one ambulance that must be saved for emergencies.
• You need transportation to a doctor’s appointment.
• To get a prescription filled.
• To seek treatment for minor cuts or abrasions.
• To get quicker attention in the emergency room. Emergency room patients are treated in the order of the severity of their illness or injury, therefor, arriving via ambulance may not afford you faster medical treatment.
• Calling The Vollies activates an entire network of highly-trained emergency medical workers that are New York State Certified By the Department of Health. Their time and expertise are valuable and are equal to the New York City Emergency Medical Technicians.

We would like to thank you for all of your support!

Dear Gerritsen Beach Residents

Halloween is a time for ghouls, goblins, and witches. It is one night of the year where kids can dress in their favorite costume and journey around their neighborhood for candy. Let’s avoid the occurrences of villains in neighborhoods – not the villains in costume, but the individuals who take advantage of the Halloween celebration to commit mischief and vandalism.

This year, we encourage all residents to have a safe and fun Halloween. Neighborhoods that have used the following recommended actions have reported a drastic decline in incidents of mischief and vandalism:

1. Halloween is for Children in Costumes
   To minimize the security risks that occur when older kids go door-to-door until late at night, a cut-off time of 8:00 PM for trick-or-treating is recommended.
2. Do Not Turn Off Your Lights and Pretend You Are Not Home
   This is an open invitation for vandalism and mischief. Instead, keep your house well lit and post a sign that you are out of candy.
3. A Strong Adult Presence Will Serve as a Deterrent to Potential Mischief
   Work with your block club or neighbors to have some adults patrol your neighborhood with flashlights in “strolling neighborhood watch teams,” while other adults sit outside on their porches. Should you see any suspicious activity, call 911. Do not attempt to handle the situation yourself.

We wish you and your family a safe and fun Halloween.