NYC:EMS Research

NikFDNY

NikFDNY

Joined
May 25, 2022
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I've been doing some research on NYC:EMS prior to the merger and im still looking for the following from the late 1980s - early 1990s.

Rank Structure & Organization
Unit Designations over the Radio (dont need a list but an explanation of what they were would be appreciated)
What were some of the different Units/Divisions..etc, I understand that there was Special Operations..etc, what were their tasks.

If anyone has any knowledge, even about some of the stuff not listed above it would be greatly appreciated.
 
Circa 1983 the rank structure was: Emergency Medical Specialist Level 1 (EMSS1) aka - EMT - Formerly known as Corpsman and before Health & Hospitals Corporation it was Ambulance Technician under the Department of Hospitals.

Emergency Medical Specialist Level 2 (EMSS2) aka - Paramedic created in 1974.
Supervising Emergency Medical Specialist Level 1 (SEMSS1) aka Lieutenant.
Supervising Emergency Medical Specialist Level 2 (SEMSS2) aka - Captain.

Above that we had Deputy Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs (Borough Commanders) and an array of one and two star Chief Officers that were in charge of things like Training, Motor Transport Division, Field Services, Special Operations and some Headquarters staff that I never really interacted with.

We had 5 Divisions Manhattan was 1 , The Bronx was 2, Brooklyn was 3, Queens was 4, Staten Island was 5. Everyone was on their own radio frequency with the exception of Staten Island and Brooklyn South if I recall correctly. The might have shared the frequency.

Supervision at the station level on paper was similar to today with 1 Captain as Commanding Officer and 9 Lieutenants. That could vary depending on fluctuations in available bodies. We had three tours in a 24 hour period with Tour 1 effectively being 0001 x 0800, Tour 2 being 0800 x 1600 and Tour 3 being 1600 x 2400. Those hours were just a framework because we often had oddball start times that fit the historical call volume of a specific neighborhood. We also were ran the most units on days and evenings and effectively dropped down almost 1/3 of units in service on the midnights because call volume (presumably) dropped off.

Tour staffing was Captain worked Monday to Friday day tours, Lieutenants, worked all three tours on a platoon chart (fixed hours of 5 days on 2 days off 5 days on 3 days off) one Lieutenant for the station operations (Desk) and one for the field (patrol) but you very rarely if ever saw a field supervisor back then. Ambulances were staffed with Either two EMT's or Paramedics same platoon chart as the Lieutenants, Very infrequently till 1984 ish ? you worked with an MVO- Motor Vehicle Operator and not an EMT Partner and it was only BLS units. Medics always rode with a Medic partner. The Stations were Huge as far as numbers of units they turned out each tour. The numbers of stations is not nearly what is is today. Bronx had 3 stations now has 10 ! I have to check on radio designations because they have changed over the years so stay tuned.
 
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Who was incharge of the whole thing? I remember seeing somthing about a Medical Director and a Chief of Operations?
 
Medical Director in 1983 was Alexander Kuehl MD
Chief of EMS (4 Star ? ) Uniform position at the time was Robert M. Becker.

The very early eighties is when EMS started to transform into a more organized agency and started to grow. Slowly but steadily growing. One of the most useful things I remember was the introduction of the Emergency Medical Action Plan which was a very early version of the Incident Command System. Spelled out what each individuals responsibilities were at an MCI. I actually used the core components of EMAP throughout my entire career. While dated, EMAP, in my opinion is still a really good document.

Also had Increased Officer training upon promotion (stuff you could actually use) and some other stuff I am starting to remember.
 
Elmerj said:
The very early eighties is when EMS started to transform into a more organized agency and started to grow. Slowly but steadily growing. One of the most useful things I remember was the introduction of the Emergency Medical Action Plan which was a very early version of the Incident Command System. Spelled out what each individuals responsibilities were at an MCI. I actually used the core components of EMAP throughout my entire career. While dated, EMAP, in my opinion is still a really good document.
Click to expand...
Any additional info about EMAP?
 
Also went through some pictures with unknown dates, one photo has a Class A with the Silver Eagle (Colonel) Insignia on the shoulders while others have two stars.
 
Chief Fred Becker was CO of Motor Transport Division, Chief Gus Pappas was CO of Communications Division around 1985. William Leask (sic) was the head of Labor Relations and I can't think of who was the boss of ISU (Inspectional Services Unit) It'll come to me, maybe lol
 
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