In a memo sent out to his members, Chief of EMS Operations Paul Miano <\/a>said emergency medical technicians and paramedics should \u201cconduct a scene size-up\u201d and \u201cremain aware of changing conditions\u201d when they respond to emergency calls throughout the five boroughs.<\/p>\n | MORE: Paramedic and EMT protection: How to avoid violent attacks<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWe came dangerously close to tragedy when one of our units arrived on scene of an assignment and gunfire erupted,\u201d Miano said about the early-morning shooting outside the Butler Houses<\/a> on Webster Ave. near E. 170th St. in Mott Haven Thursday.<\/p>\n Two EMTs were responding to a call about an elderly patient when gunfire erupted and an 18-year-old was shot in the stomach nearby. A stray bullet hit the ambulance.<\/p>\n \u201cA bullet struck the ambulance and traveled through both the cab and the patient compartment,\u201d Miano wrote. \u201cThankfully, our members were not struck.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis incident is a powerful reminder of the danger you face every day while responding to and operating at assignments throughout the city,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Miano said, \u201cwhen appropriate,\u201d EMTs and paramedics should wear their department-issued Personal Protective Equipment, which includes ballistic protective gear.<\/p>\n \u201cThat equipment exists for a reason, and incidents like this remind us why it must remain available, and used when conditions warrant,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Another EMS crew rushed the wounded teen to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he was expected to survive.<\/p>\n No arrests have been made.<\/p>\n The EMTs were near the ambulance but not inside it when the 12:15 a.m. shooting occurred, cops said. Both EMTs were unharmed but were taken to a local hospital for evaluation, cops said.<\/p>\n Local 2507, the union representing city EMTs and paramedics, said Thursday that the two street medics were \u201cjust inches away from death.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are blessed that the two FDNY EMS responders involved were not hurt, but how many incidents like this are necessary before action is taken on behalf of our city\u2019s brave and highly skilled medical first responders?\u201d asked the union, which has repeatedly called for safer working conditions, plus pay parity<\/a> with other first responders, like firefighters and police officers.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery day, the women and men of FDNY EMS walk into the unknown with the hopes of helping their fellow New Yorkers in medical peril,\u201d the union added. \u201cHowever, the dangers our crews experience on the streets of New York City are unfortunately becoming far too routine.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is absolutely clear that the members of EMS deserve more and better support, and respect for the extremely dangerous work we do as New York City\u2019s frontline, medical first responders,\u201d the union said.<\/p>\n Miano said EMTs and paramedics should remain vigilant, even if they\u2019re responding to an address they\u2019ve responded to before.<\/p>\n \u201cNo assignment is routine simply because it reads that way in the (computer system), or because you have been to the same location a hundred times before,\u201d Miano wrote. \u201cConditions can change quickly and your safety must remain a priority through every response. Please continue to look out for yourselves, your partners and each other.\u201d<\/p>\n When reached for comment, an FDNY spokeswoman said Miano\u2019s memo \u201cspeaks for itself.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \n Acadian Ambulance recognized top EMS clinicians across its four-state service area\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n The Minnesota Air Rescue Team carried out its first helicopter hoist rescue to save two canoeists stranded overnight in the Boundary Waters after their canoe capsized\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Santa Fe\u2019s proposed restructuring would replace paramedics with EMTs and ARU technicians as city officials debate the future of the behavioral health response program\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n \n Authorities say fentanyl and methamphetamine were discovered inside a Mountainair home where three people died and multiple first responders became sick\n <\/p>\n \u00a92026 New York Daily News.![\"Bill](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779805118_589_.jpeg\")
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