EMS bicycle team debuts in Lancaster

LANCASTER, N.Y. (WIVB) - First responders in Lancaster are preparing for a busy Independence Day weekend.

More than 10,000 thousand people a day will be heading to the Village of Lancaster over the weekend for the annual Independence Day celebration.

Unfortunately any kind of medical emergency can happen at one of these events, and packed crowds make it challenging for first responders to get to the victims.

But this year, that problem has lessened with the Lancaster Volunteer Ambulance Corps EMS bicycle team.

Don Butlak said, "I think it's a great idea if they're willing to do that because they're able to get to somebody who trips, falls, or gets hurt much faster than having to go through a crowd."

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Every second counts during an emergency situation. The bikes allow paramedics to easily work through crowds in order to get to the person. Something that has been challenging in the past. The big ambulances make it difficult to work through the crowds, and on foot, response time is much slower.

Besides the Indepence Day Celebration this weekend, the bike team will also be riding through Lancaster's parks and bike paths throughout the summer.

Jim Snyder said, "My wife and I use the bike path all the time and you can see how way out there, and it's something that would be extremely valuable because cars don't get out there as quickly. To be on that bike path, now that I know that, I'm real happy."

On board each bike in everything a paramedic could need in an emergency situation from gauze, bandages and ice packs,to oxygen tanks and automated defibrillators.

"To come to a place like this where you've got food and drink and young kids and older people, I think it's a great idea because you never really know what could happen and they'd be here immediately and it could be life saving," added Snyder.