SERINO ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF NEW FLY CAR GRANT AWARDS TO SUPPORT EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino today announced the recipients of the County’s new Fly Car Grant Awards, which provide critical funding for life-saving equipment to fire departments, rescue squads, and ambulance corps for their ‘fly car’ vehicles.

“Fly cars are an essential component of our EMS system, providing rapid care when every second matters,” said Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino. “These vehicles are often the first on the scene, equipped with the tools and expertise needed to stabilize patients in life-threatening situations. By supporting our first responders with these grants, we’re not only enhancing emergency response capabilities but also reinforcing our commitment to the health and safety of Dutchess County residents.”

The following organizations have been awarded up to $20,000 in funding for life-saving equipment for their fly car vehicles:

• Arlington Fire District - $20,000 for a LUCAS 3.1 Chest Compression System by Physio-Control;
• Beacon Volunteer Ambulance Corp - $15,688 for a Lifeline ARM Chest Compression System;
• Beekman Fire District - $20,000 for a Stryker LUCAS device;
• Fairview Fire District - $19,980 for equipment to enhance critical response efficiency;
• Hughsonville Fire Department - $20,000 for equipment to enhance basic life support capabilities;
• Hyde Park Fire Department - $12,000 to replace defibrillators and other equipment;
• J. H. Ketcham Hose Co., Inc. - $7,172 to provide automated external defibrillators and Trauma/O2 Backpacks;
• LaGrange Fire District - $5,700 to purchase an automated external defibrillator;
• New Hamburg Fire District - $19,981 to purchase an automatic chest compression device; and
• Union Vale Fire Department - $20,000 for resources to restructure response of a rescue squad.

As part of the program, the fly cars will display branded, unified recruitment messaging encouraging residents to explore career and volunteer opportunities in EMS. The messaging will direct individuals to a centralized web address that provides information on EMS opportunities, including details about local paramedic programs.

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Will Truitt said, “The health and safety of the people we represent must remain a top priority for Dutchess County. This grant program is an essential piece to ensuring that those that we ask to confront the challenging landscape of emergency response are properly equipped when they arrive on scene.”

Paul Rogers, Jr., Chief of the Hughsonville Fire Department, said, “This Fly Car grant provides life-saving equipment to help us provide critical, immediate help at the scene of an emergency. We are grateful to County Executive Serino for her support in tackling the challenges we face with EMS and we look forward to working together with Dutchess County on this initiative and other endeavors.”

This initiative is part of Dutchess County’s continued investment in addressing the EMS crisis through innovative programs and partnerships. Serino previously announced a $2 million historic investment in EMS in her 2025 Executive Budget Proposal, which includes the launch of supplemental ambulance coverage, as well as workforce development initiatives and a public education campaign. The Dutchess County Legislature is scheduled to vote on the 2025 Budget at their Board Meeting on Monday, December 9th, 2024, with the full 2025 Budget process to be completed by December 18th, 2024 with the adoption of the tax levy.