Our very own Assistant Chief Robbie MacCue recently sat down with host Rob Lawrence on the nationally recognized EMS One-Stop podcast to discuss a monumental step forward for our agency and the community we serve. In this episode, Chief MacCue details how Colonie EMS, in collaboration with neighboring police and EMS agencies, successfully secured a $2.4 million grant through the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program.
Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the SS4A program aims to prevent roadway fatalities and enhance crucial post-crash care. During the podcast, Chief MacCue highlighted a sobering statistic that drove this initiative: of those who succumbed to roadway injuries approximately 42% of patients were alive when EMS arrives at a crash scene. This grant empowers our department to go upstream to the source of the problem and drastically improve those outcomes.
The $2.4 million regional award will fund groundbreaking, life-saving initiatives right here in our community. Key projects include the implementation of innovative vehicle alert systems, a comprehensive prehospital health information exchange, and laying the vital groundwork for whole blood deployment in the field.
Whether you are a community member interested in how we are improving local safety, or a fellow EMS professional looking to understand how regional collaboration can unlock federal funding, this conversation offers an inside look at turning complex policy into real-world impact.
Listen to the full episode and learn more about our upcoming initiatives here: Safe streets for all: MVC care funding in action.