JERSEY CITY EMT BIKE TEAM HELP AVOID TRAFFIC DELAYS IN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

By Dr. Sapna Parikh
Wednesday, August 20, 2014

JERSEY CITY (WABC) -- In an emergency scenario, there is always the danger that an ambulance gets stuck in traffic and can't get to the location in a timely manner.

Now, a group of local paramedics have come up with a creative way to get around the gridlock.

Michael Felix and Jemell Clark are both members of the Jersey City EMT Bike Team. Instead of an ambulance, they respond to emergencies on bicycles.

For years, the cycle responders were deployed only during crowded concerts and events. But for the first time, they are now a regular part of Jersey City's emergency response.

"If there's a tightly-congested area, they can get right there," Jersey City Medical Center EMS operations coordinator Rick Sposa said. "If there's an emergency near them, they can start care, wait for paramedics to come with a regular ambulance to transport the patient."

The new program is in response to increased traffic in Jersey City.

"Evenings and weekends, it's a little hectic," Jersey City resident David Collazo said.

"You don't have to worry about the lights and people double parking, getting around them," Jersey City resident CJ Vilardo said. "It's Jersey. People drive a little crazy."

For the first time, part of Newark Avenue will be closed every weekend and weekday evening to become a pedestrian plaza. That could mean more traffic and another area where an ambulance can not reach.

The bike medics work in pairs, Thursday through Sunday, in downtown Jersey City and Liberty State Park.

They are also well equipped, with oxygen tanks, a defibrillator for someone in cardiac arrest, a tourniquet in case of partial amputations, eppipens for allergic reactions and narcan for overdoses.

In total, they're lugging 50 pounds of equipment.

They are fit and specially trained to navigate cars and crowds.

"You're definitely not in a metal vehicle," Clark said. "You don't have a lot of protection. You have to be more aware, conscious of the people around and other vehicles."

So what's the toughest part of their job? Clark and Felix both agree it's fatigue.

"But when the call comes in and the adrenaline gets going, you kind of forget about it," Felix said.


http://7online.com/health/jersey-city ... d-response-delays/273031/