WHEN TO CALL
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 someone’s 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 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 much quicker than the New York City service, as our ambulance and fire engine do not leave our area. In 2011, the average response time for the NYC EMS system was 8 minutes and 46 seconds, plus the time it takes to speak with the 911 operator. 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 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.
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