Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) had a remarkable year fielding emergency service calls to help someone in need in Suffolk County.
In 2024, Suffolk County FRES Dispatchers were busier than ever, answering emergency calls, providing life-saving instructions, coordinating resources, and supporting first responders across Suffolk County 24/7/365.
Rudy Sunderman, Commissioner of Suffolk County FRES says, “There were 297,000 fire and EMS-related emergency service calls dispatched by our dispatchers here in Yapank. However, there was 420,000 emergency phone calls answered.”
The disparity in number of calls is primarily due to the fact that many people often call to report the same car accident, fire, or downed pole or that the question/concern can be addressed over the phone.
Emergency Services Dispatchers work tirelessly around the clock every day of the year and every hour of the day. They are the first line of defense and make sure the residents of Suffolk County get the help they need when they need it.
“I've worked with them for many years and they do an excellent job,” says Bill Biondi, Commissioner of the Mastic Beach Fire Department. “Dispatch doesn’t just take your call and hang up. They stay on the phone with you until the ambulance gets there. They will walk you through what you need to do until the EMTs arrive.”
Suffolk County FRES wrote, “The voices behind the headset truly make a difference.”
Sunderman recounted how recently two dispatchers were recognized for walking local residents that called in through what to do when someone went into cardiac arrest. “In that moment, our residents rely on our dispatchers to know what to do. Every call is an emergency for someone.”
Becoming an Emergency Services Dispatcher requires a lot of training and dedication. Sunderman said, “First, you have to be EMT Certified. Then, they do approximately 1100 hours of dispatch training before they can dispatch on their own. It's six months of training that they get prior to coming off their training as a new employee.”
“Dispatchers help provide CPR instructions, we provide NARCAN administration, sometimes it's EMS related, sometimes it's fire related, advising the residents to please get out of their home and stay out late until the fire department arrives,” said Sunderman. “The dispatchers have to be trained to give proper instructions to our residents to ensure that public safety is first.”
Here is just a glimpse at the incredible impact they made last year:
- 297,740 Fire & EMS Alarms
- 28,332 Police Responses
- 5,173 Structure Fires
- 13,659 Motor Vehicle Accidents with Injury
- 1,394 Utility Emergencies
- 928 Water Related Emergencies
- 729 Fire Coordinator Responses
- 601 CPR instructions were given
- Aspirin was administered 1,966 Times
- An Epipen was administered 69 Times.
- 93 Narcan instructions given