An overhead shot of Montgomeryville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center shows the emergency services assisting in relocating many of the Center's patients due to a water main break. Photo by James Short.
The Friday night incident occurred shortly before 6 p.m. and lasted until the early morning Saturday hours.
Multiple EMS agencies from Montgomery County and New Jersey helped to transport more than 140 patients Friday night during a major water main break at Montgomeryville Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Montgomery Township.
VMSC Emergency Medical Services responded to the fire alarm activation with other emergency services at 5:49 p.m. Friday, caused by the break.
Following the discovery, the Montgomery County Public Safety Department, Fire Department of Montgomery Township and VMSC EMS jointly led a large-scale operation to evacuate 142 patients from the facility, according to a news release by VMSC EMS Executive Assistant Regina Vinnytska.
“Working in unison, all organizations ensured that every patient was transferred to healthcare facilities throughout Southeast Pennsylvania. Additionally, VMSC provided an ambulance on standby to support patient movement, requiring the transport of two patients for medical care while also covering a multitude of calls throughout the VMSC coverage area,” per the release.
VMSC was assisted at the scene by Acutecare, Advanced Nurse, Ambulnz, Bryn Athyn Fire/EMS, Cheltenham Township Emergency Medical Services, Friendship Royersford, HealthFleet, Horsham Fire and Ambulance, Keystone Quality, Montgomery Township Police Department, New Jersey EMS Task Force, Plymouth Ambulance (covering VMSC and providing a second unit for evacuation), Rodan, Romed, Second Alarmer’s Association and Rescue Squad, Tower Direct Bus & Wheelchair, Upper Merion, and VMSC Narberth.
(Credit: NJEMSTF)New Jersey EMS Task Force members worked throughout the night and into early Saturday morning to help local authorities to evacuate patients, per a news release.
The NJEMSTF deployed four Medical Ambulance Buses, support staff, and planners to the facility shortly after 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The Montgomery County EMS coordinator requested help from the NJEMSTF.
“The facility needed to move 144 patients to regional skilled nursing and hospital locations, so it requested the NJ EMS Task Force’s fleet of Medical Ambulance Buses, which can transport and care for multiple patients in wheelchairs simultaneously. NJ EMS Task Force MABs stationed in Keyport, AtlantiCare, North Brunswick, and Ewing responded to the incident. Additional units in the NJEMSTF MAB response were available if needed. The NJ EMS Task Force Medical Ambulance Buses transported 29 people to five facilities,” per the news release.
“We’re glad that we were able to help our colleagues in Pennsylvania,” said Lou Sasso, NJ EMS Task Force leader. “We’re also proud of our team that rose to the challenge to respond in the bitter cold to help those in need. Our teams came from throughout New Jersey to help. Our MABs are a true force multiplier, allowing for the care of many patients at once. This is why they are essential parts of every emergency plan in New Jersey.”
The NJ EMS Task Force is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit that has operated for over two decades. The NJ EMS Task Force unites more than 200 career and volunteer emergency medical professionals across New Jersey to respond to regional crises ranging from wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and major events such as the Super Bowl.
Today, through partnerships with local agencies, the NJ EMS Task Force has specialized equipment and EMS providers strategically stationed throughout the state and ready to respond to any emergency. The NJ EMS Task Force is responsible for developing all statewide pre-hospital emergency preparedness plans for such events as hurricanes, floods, incidents on our rail lines, ferries, cruise lines, and more.
The NJ EMS Task Force is vital in acting as a surge capacity for local EMS host agencies responding to emergencies, disasters, and public health crises. The NJ EMS Task Force, which operates on grants and donations, also provides critical medical services and community support through its partnerships with the New Jersey Department of Health, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, and other state agencies.
