On this FDNY Memorial Day, we honor the FDNY members lost in the past year, with more 50% of the names memorialized today coming from EMS. It also serves as a reminder of the reality that EMS workers put their health and safety on the line every day yet are paid 50% less.

In calendar year 2025, EMS members managed 1,613,282 medical emergencies. That means approximately 19% of our city’s 8.5 million residents require their medical skills and lifesaving services each year.

Our city’s fire protection inspectors are critical for keeping fire deaths at record lows conducting regular safety inspections, constantly putting themselves at risk to protect New Yorkers and prevent fires.

Today’s FDNY EMS workforce is mandated to respond to half a million more medical emergencies as they did 20 years ago. Yet, they are doing so with no increase in ambulance crews on the street, because the city’s economic investment in EMS is consistently flat.

The........

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