To the Editor:

Berne residents are confused between Helderberg Ambulance and Albany County ALS/BLS [Advanced Life Support/Basic Life Support] service. Apparently, some residents think I am canceling Helderberg Ambulance in Berne.

Town of Berne residents, please read the budget. 

Helderberg Ambulance funding is not being cut. See $105,132.00 on 2025 tentative budget summary page.

Repeat: Helderberg Ambulance is funded for 2025.

Albany County Sheriff Emergency Medical Services has been collecting hundreds of thousands of Berne taxpayer dollars for years when the Helderberg rescue squad is providing superior service to the Berne residents with minimal support from the sheriff’s EMS.

Essentially, we have been getting double dipped by the county as county EMS is budgeted in the county’s budget and a huge $150,000-plus line item in our towns budget.

Helderberg Ambulance has been given outstanding financial support from Berne under my administration. I support Helderberg Ambulance and always will. I want to say thank you to all volunteers at the Helderberg Ambulance and our fire departments. 

Dennis Palow

Supervisor

Berne

Editor’s note: There is no double-dipping with the county’s EM. Helderberg Ambulance provides Basic Life Support but often has to call on the county EMS for Advanced Life Support, which is billed to the municipalities that use the service.

BLS focuses on giving immediate care at the scene to stabilize and support life functions through basic techniques like cardiopulmonary resuscitation, rescue breaths, or the use of an automated external defibrillator until help arrives, according to the American Red Cross, while ALS requires a higher level of care, like advanced airway management, IV access, medication administration, and advanced cardiac life support. ALS staff require more training and use more sophisticated equipment.

See related story.