Assemblymember Steck Heralds Federal Grant to Improve EMS Care, Road Safety Across the Region
Assemblymember Phil Steck (D-Colonie) announced that the Town of Colonie, in partnership with emergency medical services (EMS) agencies of the towns of Colonie, Guilderland, and Clifton Park, has been awarded a $2.4 million federal grant to pilot a safety initiative focused on preventing avoidable crashes and improving post-crash care.
“This federal grant is pivotal for advancing EMS care that our communities rely on,” said Steck. “Every day, preventable deaths and serious injuries take place on our roads. This funding will allow local EMS agencies to research and identify our area's most significant roadway safety concerns and develop comprehensive safety action plans to prevent deaths and injuries on our roadways. Funding will also be used to enhance the efficiency of post-crash care.”
The regional EMS agencies will develop an emergency vehicle transponder system that informs other drivers of their proximity to an emergency vehicle responding to a crash. The grant also supports piloting a platform that interfaces with specialty care registries to give responders critical health information about who was impacted by a crash, enabling crews to provide the necessary care more efficiently. The multifaceted proposal also included studying systems to provide safety reporting while traveling to an emergency call and data analysis to create a Prehospital Health and Safety Information Exchange and Structured Data Warehouse.
The funds are being provided through the federal Infrastructure Law for 385 Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant program, which supports the development of comprehensive safety action plans to prevent roadway fatalities and implementation of projects to address roadway safety problems.[1]
Earlier this year, Assemblymember Steck helped secure $50,000 for Guilderland to purchase an EMS power stretcher and a power load system for an ambulance through the state Assembly Priority Project Grant program.[2] In 2019, Steck secured Colonie $250,000 to purchase a new vehicle to replace the 40-year-old command center the town’s public safety departments used during certain emergencies.[3] Additionally, he helped secure funding in 2016 for additional upgrades to the Town of Colonie Municipal Training Center, including $250,000 for capital improvements and $50,000 for streetscape enhancements.[4]
[1] www.transportation.gov/grants/SS4A
[2] ems1.com/ems-grants/50k-grant-helps-n-y-ems-with-patient-lifting
[3] spotlightnews.com/towns/colonie/2019/11/06/state-grants-to-fund-new-command-center-for-colonie