From 1970 until 1996, when it was merged into the FDNY, most of the city’s Emergency Medical Services needs were performed by New York City Emergency Medical Service (NYC EMS). It was part of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation for all of its existence starting as a “scoop and run” operation and eventually incorporating paramedics who were able to render aid in the field. This ten minute video from the early......

The Fire Department revealed statistics showing that response times have decreased for the third year in a row. The 2007 average response time, based on 490,767 calls, was 4 minutes and 49 seconds (for FDNY & EMS services). In 2006, the average response time was 4 minutes, 54 seconds and in 2005 it was 5 minutes, 9 seconds. Response time is a general term for any sort of vehicle to come on the scene, not......