Ambulances responded to a record 566,210 life-threatening calls in the five boroughs last year — a 17 percent increase over 2014, officials said Tuesday.
The total number of calls for all types of medical assistance also set a new record, 1,435,315, a 6 percent jump.
“Each of these figures represents the highest number of calls that we’ve ever received in a year,” FDNY Chief of Department James Leonard testified at a City Council hearing on ambulance response times.
Officials attributed the increases to a growing and aging population, and said it’s part of a years-long trend.
Council member Elizabeth Crowley (D-Queens), who presided over Tuesday’s hearing, called on the administration to devote more resources to EMS to reduce the average citywide response time of 9 minutes and 22 seconds, up from 9 minutes and 13 seconds in 2014.
“I am representing my constituents. Now they have to wait longer for help,” she said.
“The mayor, although you’re getting more money from him and more resources, clearly isn’t giving enough resources if it’s taking longer.”