Hatzolah EMS

[EpiEMS]

Here's how Hatzolah differs from other volunteer in the city. They don't receive jobs from 911 at all, totally independent. If they get a phone call, they'll respond. Also, they don't work with "on shift" volunteer, it's everyone on call at all times. If a call comes in and your in the neighborhood, head over. Therefore, when they get a call for a ped struck, they just respond. If additional is needed (as in FDNY for extrication, or PD for scene safety or when a crime was committed) the unit on scene will request it.
The dispatcher will sometimes advise a caller to call 911 as well, if he believes that he won't get a unit to be in scene quicker than the system. Hope that explains it

Makes sense, thanks. I figure for many places, Hatzolah is going to be faster than FDNY or voluntaries. And certainly going to deal with the specific community better...

As crazy as it might seem, Hatzolah is considered a prestigious organization to volunteer for. And they won't accept members until they do a thorough character investigation (remember, this is a community that more or less everyone knows everything about everyone). So they have a division of "service members" that take care of the buses, and in return get the status of being a member.

I've heard that Hatzolah has some serious vetting. (I think their members have to be married and employed, for some reason...)

 

[Tigger]

Actually they have a very low rate of member involved collision. FDNY has nothing on them

Perhaps so, but that was a poor display of driving.

 

[B2chn]

Perhaps so, but that was a poor display of driving.

I agree, they tend to get overzealous sometimes. But don't forget an average member goes on maybe 4-5 runs A WEEK, so when a potentially serious call comes in they can get a little carried away. Point number 2: they run mostly in a tight nit community so there really is the attitude of "I'm going to help my family in need". Not saying it's right to drive like that, but they get a worse rap than deserved

 

[EpiEMS]

I agree, they tend to get overzealous sometimes. But don't forget an average member goes on maybe 4-5 runs A WEEK, so when a potentially serious call comes in they can get a little carried away. Point number 2: they run mostly in a tight nit community so there really is the attitude of "I'm going to help my family in need". Not saying it's right to drive like that, but they get a worse rap than deserved

4-5 runs a week is actually better than many small town agencies, I'd wager.

 

[gonefishing]

Hatzolah is a 100% volunteer EMS service that serves only certain cities in the US and Israel(maybe other countries too). They are allowed to have lights and sirens, their members are trained at the minimum EMT-Basic level(some are even paramedics and Doctors too with the same equipment any ALS provider would have) and they respond to most calls within a couple of minutes, due to the fact that most of their members are always in the area. The cool thing about them is they do not charge you for their services ever whether they transport you or not. They can be a vital resource to FD and PD especially in New York and LA where they arrive often minutes before the authorities do. I have never used their services but I have personally spoken with some people who live in their "service" area of LA who said that they are very nice people. I remember years ago an LAFD Deputy Chief was talking to the news at a major structure fire and actually complemented Hatzolah for treating the victims while FD dedicated most of their resources to the fire.

they are NOT allowed lights and sirens in LA and are NOT legally allowed to transport or respond to any emergency calls or non emergent calls in the city or county of Los Angeles. They only just recently got permission for NY. They hide their ambulance on purpose. They use to park it at the Mobile station in the Labrea/Fairfax area until they came close to getting towed. They now store it occasionally at a local funeral home behind a locked fence. If they were legal they would be listed as a provider. If they were legal they wouldn't be getting towed if they were legal they wouldn't have to hide. Yes I understand they offer a great service to the Jewish Orthodox community BUT the law is the law. Also in LA County/City your are NOT allowed to legaly respond to an emergency unless dispatched or asked from said covering agency to respond AND must do so with 2 paramedics at minimum.

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[B2chn]

they are NOT allowed lights and sirens in LA and are NOT legally allowed to transport or respond to any emergency calls or non emergent calls in the city or county of Los Angeles. They only just recently got permission for NY. They hide their ambulance on purpose. They use to park it at the Mobile station in the Labrea/Fairfax area until they came close to getting towed. They now store it occasionally at a local funeral home behind a locked fence. If they were legal they would be listed as a provider. If they were legal they wouldn't be getting towed if they were legal they wouldn't have to hide. Yes I understand they offer a great service to the Jewish Orthodox community BUT the law is the law. Also in LA County/City your are NOT allowed to legaly respond to an emergency unless dispatched or asked from said covering agency to respond AND must do so with 2 paramedics at minimum.

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I'm unfamiliar with the LA division. In NY they are most definitely allowed for years. There are three active members that I know of on the NY REMSCO board. And they've given mutual aid to the city system in upstate NY for longer than I can remember. Also in NJ had issues with ALS, but have partnered with MONOC so as far as I know fully legal.