A Message from
Town Supervisor Philip H. Herrington

Emergency Services

It's the phone call you most dread. The one that comes in the wee hours of the morning, from a loved one, or maybe a law enforcement officer, telling you that there's been an accident. I got a call like that a month or so ago, and I've got to tell you, it's an experience you’ll never forget. Let me tell you about it.

It was April 6, at about 1:00 am, when the phone rang. It was my wife of 35 years, Cathy. She was in her car, alone, on Tamarac Road, on her way home from attending a concert with her sister. About a mile away from our home, Cathy swerved to avoid a deer, went off the road, and struck a tree. Although injured and trapped in the car, which was totaled, she managed to reach her cell phone and call home. I immediately called 911 and then left to go to Cathy. Again, I was only a mile away, and I wasn't thinking about the speed limit, but I didn't get there first. It seems that Chief Elwood Dalaba, of the Center Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company, was also in the area, on his way home, in his Fire Chief's vehicle, when he heard the 911 alert. Fortunately, Chief Dalaba is also an EMT and had oxygen and first aid supplies in his vehicle.

Also present when I arrived, was Sergeant D’Agostino of the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Department, who was on routine patrol when he received the call.

I want to tell you, the scene was horrific. The car was badly damaged. Cathy was trapped inside, and it was difficult to tell how badly she was hurt. The underside of the car was partially torn away. Within four minutes, Mohawk Ambulance arrived, with two more EMTs. A few minutes later, First Assistant Chief Mike Lewis and Second Assistant Chief Larry Funk, of the Center Brunswick Volunteer Fire Company, also both EMTs, arrived at the scene. Very shortly later, a Center Brunswick fire truck, equipped with the "jaws of life", arrived, carrying Firefighters Meaghan Alber, Rob Alber III, Brett Blank, Dan Bruns, Jr. and Bill Miller. The car door had to be cut off to get her out, but Cathy was finally extricated from the vehicle, and the EMTs at the scene were able to properly attend to her. She was transported to Samaritan Hospital by Mohawk Ambulance. Fortunately, and somewhat inexplicably given what happened, Cathy was not badly hurt, suffering only some bumps, bruises and a broken foot. Thankfully, she will fully recover.

Cathy was extremely fortunate. I dread to think what might have happened if she was rendered immediately unconscious, or if she did not have a cell phone. But was it just plain luck that she was so well and quickly attended to by professional rescue, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel? I don't think so.

We in Brunswick are very proud of our volunteer fire companies. Being a volunteer firefighter is a thankless, and often dangerous, job. Sometimes we grumble when we see our taxes go up to support the volunteer fire companies, and pay for the vehicles and equipment they need, but they're there when we need them. Many of them are EMTs, which requires a great deal of training and commitment of time.

We are also very fortunate to have Mohawk Ambulance stationed right here in Town. A few years ago, we struck a deal with Mohawk whereby they stationed an ambulance and crew in Brunswick on an "around the clock" basis, in return for our arranging for suitable garage space at our expense. This has been an unqualified success. Mohawk's response time has been phenomenal.

I can't begin to tell you how much it would cost us all, as taxpayers, if the Town tried to buy ambulances and hire EMTs to provide this type of service. And last, but not least, we appreciate the efforts of our Sheriff's Department Highway Patrol which, even though spread thin, seem to be there when we need them. Standing there at the scene of the accident, not knowing what to expect, or how seriously my wife was hurt, it was very comforting to have all of these trained professionals there, attending to her.Without them there, things may have gone much differently.

I hope you find it a comfort, also, to know that these types of services are available in our community in the unfortunate event that you ever need them.

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336 Town Office Road, Troy, New York 12180
Telephone: 518/279-3461 FAX : 518/279-4352
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