User:NYCEMT6662/Bellmore Merrick Emergency Medical Services

Bellmore Merrick Emergency Medical Services (BMEMS)

Introduction
Bellmore Merrick Emergency Medical Services is a Volunteer Ambulance Company Based in Bellmore N.Y. and covering the Communities of Bellmore, Merrick, North Bellmore, and North Merrick (within the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, Long Island, New York). Emergency ambulance service has been provided by the department continuously since the 1970's. The Department currently runs Three Advanced Life Support Ambulances, Two Rapid Response Vehicles, and a Mass Casualty Incident Response Trailer

History
Bellmore Merrick EMS began operation in 197- as Bellmore Merrick Volunteer Ambulance Corp. It was started by a group of community residents who felt their communities needed additional ambulance coverage to supplement what was already in place. Operation was out of a former automotive service station at 2108 Bellmore Avenue on the corner Wilson Avenue with one Cadillac Ambulance. as call volume increased the department then aquired a Dodge Van type II ambulance. after outgrowing the Building at 2108 Bellmore Avenue the department purchased the house located behind the building at 2748 Wilson Avenue, it was converted into a crew lounge, Offices, bunk rooms for duty crews and crew lounge, as well as training. Dispatching and the vehicles remained in the original building. the Department Continued to grow, with the fleet expanding to 3 ambulances, a chiefs response vehicle, and a members rapid response vehicle. the department also changed its name to better suit the changing tides of the services provided, this is when the name changed from Bellmore Merrick Volunteer Ambulance Corp. (BMVAC) to Bellmore Merrick Emergency Medical Services (BMEMS). and soon it was decided to find a new home for the company. the new home for the department was found at 2434 Grand Avenue on the corner of Newbridge Road. BMEMS still resides at 2434 Grand Avenue and operates 3 advanced life support ambulances, a cheifs car, and rapid response vehicle/light rescue truck, and a mass casualty incident trailer. the facilities at that location are in the process of renovation to reflect the needs of the department.

Dates of Importance
TO BE ADDED

Notable Department Responses

 * May 24th 1988 - Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway (Route 135) Propane truck fire (Seaford, NY)(awaiting Reference)
 * January 25th 1990 - Avianca Flight 52 (Cove Neck,NY) (awaiting reference)
 * September 11th 2001 - World Trade Center Terrorist Attack(New York City, NY) (awaiting Reference)
 * November 12th 2001 - American Airlines Flight 587 (Belle Harbor, NY) (awaiting reference)

Chiefs

 * Chief of Department - Christopher Benes, EMT-Critical Care
 * 1st Assistant Chief - Scott Resnik, EMT-Critical Care
 * 2nd Assistant Chief - Robert Barr, EMT-Critical Care

Squad One

 * Captain - Vacant
 * Lieutenant - Rebecca Reilly, EMT-Basic

Squad Two

 * Captain - Vacant
 * Lieutenant - Todd Haiken, EMT-Basic

Squad Three

 * Captain - Vacant
 * Lieutenant - Vacant

Special Operations Division

 * Captain - John Heide, EMT-Basic
 * Lieutenant - James Shimer, EMT-Basic

Junior Squad

 * Coordinator - Claudette Heide, EMT-Basic

Command Structure
The Department has two command structures, one is the Chiefs Office for department operations, and the other is the Board of Directors for Department business.

Operations
Elected Officers
 * Chief Of Department - Responsible for overall department operations, Public and interdepartmental relations
 * Assistant Chief Of Department - Assist Chief in above responsibilities
 * Squad Captain - Responsible For Squad to which assigned, Crew Staffing and Training
 * Squad Lieutenant - Responsible for Vehicle assigned to squad, and assist captain as needed
 * Squad 2nd Lieutenant - Assist 1st Lieutenant as needed (this office only filled when no members eligible for captains Position)

Appointed Positions - Filled by the Chiefs office as deemed Necessary
 * Chiefs Aide - Assist the Chief and Asst. Chief in an administrative capacity
 * Quartermaster - Issue Uniforms, Effect orders for new uniforms, maintain logs of uniform issuance
 * Vehicle Engineer - (one per squad) assigned to perform basic vehicle mechanical checks (oils and other fluids)
 * Special Operation Officers - Appointed By the Chiefs Office
 * Junior Squad Coordinator - Maintain the Junior Squad, act as the supervisor and "go to person" for the Junior Squad.

Board Of Directors

 * President - Schedule, Run, and maintain Board meetings
 * Vice-President - Run and Maintain Board Meetings in the absence of the President
 * Treasurer - Maintain the Financial records and check book for the department
 * Secretary - Maintain Accurate Records of board meetings
 * Board Members - 2 additional members with voting rights on board matters
 * Chief of department - The Chief of department also has voting rights with the board of directors

Squad One

 * All members with duty shifts between 0700hrs Saturday Morning and 0700hrs Monday Morning are members of squad 1
 * Color Coded Green
 * Assigned to Ambulance 1 (281)
 * Overseen by Squad 1 Captain and Lieutenant(s)

Squad Two

 * All members with duty shifts between 0700hrs and 1900hrs Monday thru Friday are members of squad 2
 * Color Coded Red
 * Assigned to Ambulance 2 (282)
 * Overseen by Squad 2 Captain and Lieutenant(s)

Squad Three

 * All members with duty shifts between 1900hrs and 0700hrs Monday through Friday are members of squad 3
 * Color Coded Blue
 * Assigned to Ambulance 3 (283)
 * Overseen by Squad 3 Captain and Lieutenant(s)

Special Operation Division

 * Any member of the department may be a member of Special Operations in addition to the own squad
 * Color Coded Yellow
 * Special Training With the Light Rescue Truck, M.C.I. Trailer, Mini-Ambulance, and Bike Units
 * Overseen by Special Operations Captain and Lieutenant

Junior Squad

 * Members of the Department who are at least 15 Years old and not over 18 years old
 * Wear Grey Colored Uniform Shirts, with "junior Squad" Rocker Patch under the department patch
 * Train with and post duty shifts along side senior members
 * Learn Skills making them valuable assets to the Department and there community
 * Lead by squad elected junior members (captain 1st Lieutenant and 2nd Lieutenant)
 * overseen by a 'Junior Squad Advisor, who is appointed by, and reports directly to the Chief of Department

Rescue Squad

 * ''DEFUNCT - ABSORBED INTO SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION

Bike Squad

 * ''DEFUNCT - ABSORBED INTO SPECIAL OPERATIONS DIVISION

Radio Frequencies
- - - TO BE ADDED - - -

Radio Identifiers

 * 280 - Headquarters
 * 2800 - Chief of Department
 * 2800 CAR - Chiefs Vehicle (no chief on board)
 * 2801 - 1st Assistant Chief of Department
 * 2801 CAR - 1st Assistant Chiefs Vehicle (no chief on board)
 * 2802 - 2nd Assistant Chief of Department
 * 2802 CAR - 2nd Assistant Chiefs Vehicle (no chief on board)
 * 2803-2809 - UNASSIGNED
 * 281 - Ambulance 1
 * 282 - Ambulance 2
 * 283 - Ambulance 3
 * 284 - UNASSIGNED
 * 285 - UNASSIGNED
 * 286 - UNASSIGNED
 * 287 - Special Operations Group (Trailer, Mini-Ambulance, Bikes)
 * 288 - Rapid Response Vehicle / Light Rescue Truck
 * 289 - Rapid response Vehicle
 * 2810 - Chiefs Aide
 * 2811 - Squad 1 Captain
 * 2812 - Squad 1 Lieutenant
 * 2813-2819 - Ex-Chiefs of Department
 * 2820 - Member
 * 2821 - Squad 2 Captain
 * 2822 - Squad 2 Lieutenant
 * 2823-2830 - Members
 * 2831 - Squad 3 Capitan
 * 2832 - Squad 3 Lieutenant
 * 2833-2840 - Members
 * 2841 - Special Operations Captain
 * 2842 - Special Operations Lieutenant
 * 2843-2898 - Members
 * 2899 - Dispatch Trainee (only used when dispatching)
 * "BELLMORE MERRICK COMMAND" or "BELLMORE MERRICK FIELD COMMAND" - any unit currently being utilized as a command post

Current Apparatus
2008 Dodge Charger
 * Purchased New, Places In Service as Chiefs Response Vehicle (Designated 2800-Car)
 * First Vehicle Purchased With Full "low-profile" aerodynamic L.E.D. lighting package including interior mount lightbar.
 * Originally completely unmarked (with exception of New York State Dept. of Health Certification Stickers)
 * Grey "BELLMORE MERRICK EMS" added later to both sides and rear of vehicle
 * Replaced 2003 Ford Crown Victoria Chiefs Vehicle

2006 Chevrolet Silverado, Utility Body
 * Purchased New, Placed In Service as Rapid Response Vehicle and Light Duty Rescue Truck (designated as 288)
 * First Vehicle of this type owned by the Department
 * Equipped with a Snow Plow
 * Equipped With "Hurst" vehicle extrication equiptment (Jaws of Life)
 * Replaced 1972 Ford Heavy Rescue Truck

2007 Ford E-450 Type III Ambulance
 * Purchased New, Placed In Service as Ambulance 1 (designated 281)
 * Ambulance Manufactured by P.L. Custom Emergency Vehicles
 * First Ambulance Purchased with a Full L.E.D. emergency lighting package
 * First Ambulance Purchased with Backup warning system installed
 * Replaced 1998 Ford E-450 type III Ambulance (1998 ford E-450 re-designated 282)

1998 Ford E-450 Type III Ambulance
 * Purchased New, Placed In Service as Ambulance 1 (designated 281)
 * Ambulance Manufactured by P.L. Custom Emergency Vehicles
 * Vehicle was an exact match to 1997 Ford Ambulance Designated 282
 * Vehicle Re-Designated Ambulance 2 (282) when replaced by 2007 Ford as Ambulance 1 (281)
 * Currently the Oldest vehicle in the Fleet
 * Replaced 1997 Ford ambulance

2002 Ford E-450 Type III Ambulance
 * Purchased used from the Town of Esopus Volunteer Ambulance Squad (Designated 699), Placed in service as ambulance 3 (designated 283)
 * Ambulance Manufactured by American Lafrance
 * First Ambulance in the department with "air-ride" suspension
 * Vehicle equipped with Computerized multiplex system
 * Replaced 2000 Ford ambulance

200- Pace Trailer
 * Purchased New, Placed in service as M.C.I./Incident Command unit (designated 287)
 * Custom Built by Pace Trailers to fit needs of the department
 * Part of Special Operations Division
 * First of its kind in the Fleet
 * Houses both the "mini-ambulance" and the Bike Squad

Decommissioned Apparatus
2003 Ford Crown Victoria
 * Purchased New in 2003
 * Emergency vehicle conversion by Odessey Emergency Vehicles
 * Placed in service as cheifs Responce Vehicle (Designated 2800CAR)
 * Alternated Designations between 2800CAR and 2801CAR as needed for Cheifs
 * Re-assigned as Officers Response Vehicle Following Being Replaced by 2007 Dodge Charger (Designated 289)
 * Briefly designated 2825 and assigned to the department medical director
 * Decommissioned and Removed From Service in May of 2011

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe LS
 * Purchased new in 2001
 * Emergency Vehicle conversion by Odyssey Emergency Vehicles
 * Placed In Service as Cheifs Response Vehicle (Designated 2801CAR)
 * Alternated Designations between 2800CAR and 2801CAR as needed for Cheifs
 * Decommissioned and Removed from service in 2005 following Motor Vehicle Accident (Declared Total Loss)

1995 GMC Suburban
 * Purchased Used in 2000 from Syosset Volunteer Fire Department
 * Placed in service as the Rapid Responce Unit (Designated 289)
 * First Vehicle in the Fleet to Be equipped with McDermott Highway Lightbars (and only vehicle to date)
 * Capible of functioning as a command post
 * Decommissioned and removed from service following Motor Vehicle Accident, (Vehicle Declared Total Loss)

1995 Ford Crown Victoria
 * Purchased new in 1995
 * Placed in Service as Chiefs response vehicle (designated 2800CAR)
 * Alternated Designations between 2800CAR and 2801CAR as needed for Cheifs
 * Decommissioned and Removed From Service when Replaced by 2003 Crown Victoria
 * Donated to Wantagh Levittown Volunteer Ambulance Corp.

1989 Dodge Ram Charger
 * Donated to the department by a member
 * Emergency lights and radios added by the department
 * Designated as the Chiefs Response Vehicle (designated 2800CAR)
 * Re-assigned as Rapid Response Vehicle when 1995 Crown Victoria placed in service (re-designated 289)
 * Decomissioned and Removed from service when replaced by 1995 GMC Suburban
 * Sold to ex-chief of department, and a maintained as a response vehicle with lights, siren, and badging (designated 2816)
 * Unknown as to when vehicle fully removed from service

1972 Ford Heavy Rescue Truck
 * Purchased used by the department in 1997 from Rockville Centre Volunteer Fire Department
 * Placed In service as Heavy Rescue Truck (Designated 288)
 * Equipped with Vehicle Extrication Equiptment (Jaws of Life)
 * Equipped with equiptment to function as a command post
 * Decommissioned and Removed from service when replaced by 2006 Chevrolet Silverado