Ambulances in North Bergen have always emerged from the EMS department’s headquarters on Granton Street, but a new location in the former fire station on 43rd Street will allow emergency medical technicians to reach patients faster, according to officials.
North Bergen EMS Chief Frank Trevisano said that prior to having the new 43rd Street and Tonnelle Avenue location, they faced several problems. Their 6222 Granton Ave. site could only hold two smaller ambulances in its bays. Their other three ambulances didn’t have a place to park, and most of their apparatuses could not fit. The downtown location also made responding to uptown North Bergen a challenge.
Trevisano said that a snowstorm could increase their difficulties, since they would either have to leave ambulances out in the snow or search for parking garages to store them in. On top of that, they had no place to store more specialized pieces of equipment that could be put into use to deal with North Bergen’s steep hills during a storm.
“We’ve probably cut at least three to four minutes off.” – Frank Trevisano
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North Bergen, which contributes $1 million a year for the Regional to lease approximately 20 buildings, decided to convert the firehouse to an EMS location.
The EMS department is funded through the city budget since changing from a volunteer department around seven years ago.
Faster response
The 43rd Street location has two EMTs and a supervisor stationed there on every shift.
“Our response time is greatly improved in the southern area,” Trevisano said. “Whatever unit is the closest now responds to the job. We’ve probably cut at least three to four minutes off.”
The design of the building also allows for vehicles to be dispatched from both ends.
“The whole idea of being able to dispatch out of either side of the building was tremendous,” said Township Administrator Christopher Pianese at the grand opening for the location on March 28.
“North Bergen is a very long township,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco. “Now we are able to service people in this area much more quickly, having ambulances here.”
First winter
Several new pieces of equipment can also fit into the new headquarters.
Trevisano said that a $70,000 Polaris ASAP MEDSTAT six-wheel drive vehicle, and a $100,000 staging trailer, were given to the township through a Federal Homeland Security grant last year.
The ASAP vehicle can reach patients on snowy streets that ambulances can’t access. EMTs can then transfer a patient to an ambulance. The staging trailer was given to each county in the state, with North Bergen chosen as the host agency for Hudson County. It can facilitate an emergency response, with computers, a generator, and a triage area.
Also, the town’s two four-wheel drive ambulances are now split between the two locations.
“This is more efficient and better for the people of North Bergen,” said Mayor Nicholas Sacco.
Tricia Tirella may be reached at TriciaT@hudsonreporter.com.