Story and Photos by ACACIA RODRIGUEZ

When the unthinkable happens and an emergency requires medical support, Uniformed Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Paramedics of Local 2507 in the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) are often the first to arrive on the scene.

Armed with medical equipment and ready for action, these first responders aim to stabilize and transport patients needing pre-hospital care. Vehicles prepared to handle unique emergencies are a must.

Enter the Medical Evacuation Transportation Unit (METU) and the Bariatric Ambulance.

At the scene of an emergency, EMTs triage patients and determine if they should be treated, stabilized, or transported to a hospital via ambulance. Patients who can be treated and released are tended to aboard the METU.

With only 30 workers qualified to drive the 44-foot behemoth, the METU is rolled out mainly during large-scale disasters and incidents like major fires, hurricanes, flooding, or plane crashes. Recently, the METU was used to evacuate Woodhull Hospital when it flooded in September 2023. During COVID, the METU transported patients as far as Syracuse and Albany.

“Driving the METU is an important role in the fire department; I love to drive it,” said Catrese Preston, EMT Specialist. “It’s a challenging vehicle to drive on New York City streets because you must be aware of your surroundings at all times. I take pride in all of my training when assisting our crews and patients on emergency calls.”

For bariatric patients, or those weighing 500+ pounds, the METU and Bariatric Ambulance offer accommodations in the form of extended-size wheeled ambulance cots. A pulley system is used to smoothly roll patients onboard via a rear ramp.

The Bariatric Ambulance may look like a typical ambulance, but it has several additional features that assist with safe transport and a high standard of care for bariatric patients. Without access to these vehicles, larger patients cannot be safely administered to during emergencies or transported for routine care.

Both emergency vehicles are designed to provide maximum safety to paramedics and patients alike. Whether responding to patients at the scene of a crisis or carefully transporting patients to the hospital, Local 2507’s Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics of the FDNY make every second count.