Medina FD is critical resource to strained local EMS system

Editor:

As conversations continue about potential cutbacks to the Village of Medina Fire Department—even hints at dissolving it from the ever loud minority—I urge our community to consider the real costs of such decisions.

Our county’s health data show that Orleans County consistently ranks near the bottom among New York’s 62 counties for key health measures. In the 2023 County Health Rankings, Orleans ranked 55th for overall health outcomes and 57th for health factors, reflecting challenges in length and quality of life as well as risk behaviors and clinical care access.

Our residents face higher rates of adult smoking and obesity than many parts of the state, and access to necessary medical care remains difficult. These health vulnerabilities underscore how critical timely, skilled emergency response is to our community.

Yet the local EMS system is already under strain. Response times across ambulance providers in the county have increased from 2018 to 2021, and dropped calls—that is, emergency service requests where no unit was available—have risen significantly.  The Medina Fire Department, with its 14 paid firefighters cross‑trained for EMS and fire response, serves the western end of Orleans and is the only career department in the county.

In emergencies, a few minutes can mean the difference between life and death. With major trauma hospitals at least an hour away, local response capability matters. Reducing staffing or resources at Medina FD not only weakens fire response, it directly jeopardizes EMS coverage when our neighbors are at their most vulnerable. Rather than cutting crucial services, we should be strengthening support for emergency responders who already contend with rising demand and a fragmented system.

Maintaining a fully staffed fire and EMS department is not optional—it’s essential for a county that already faces significant health disparities.

Sincerely,

Hannah Lee, MPH

Lyndonville

Lee is a firefighter’s wife and a public health professional.