What kinds of calls should be made to 911?
Only emergencies, such as injuries, accidents, crimes in progress, fires, and medical emergencies, should be reported to 911. Information questions and calls that are not emergencies only tie up the lines and real emergencies cannot be reported. For routine calls, dial the town police department directly at 763-8903 or state police, Somers barracks, 277-3651.
Who answers the 911 line?
Calls from Lewisboro are answered by the state police in Somers.
Where is the nearest emergency room?
Northern Westchester Hospital Center at 400 East Main Street in Mount Kisco is the nearest; call 666-1254. However, some people in parts of Lewisboro find it closer to go to Danbury Hospital on Locust Street, Danbury, Conn.; call 203-739-7100. Those living near Vista may find Norwalk Hospital, 16 Stevens Street, Norwalk, Conn., 203-852-2000 the closest.
Is there an ambulance service?
The Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Route 35 in Cross River serves South Salem, Cross River, Waccabuc and Goldens Bridge. For non-emergency calls, the phone number is 763-9633. The Web site is www.lewisborovac.org.
The Vista Fire Department on Route 123 runs an ambulance service through its department. For routine calls, dial 533-2727.
For tips on what to do in case of a heart attack, visit online at www.lewisborogov.com and click on Emergency Services.
What happens when the ambulance is dispatched?
Each time the LVAC ambulance goes out, it is staffed by a crew chief who is a New York State certified emergency medical technician (EMT), and a driver who may or may not be an EMT. The crew chief is in charge of all patient care decisions, including which hospital the patient is taken to.
Each time LVAC answers a call, the town’s paramedic service, Westchester EMS, is paged. If needed, the paramedic will ride with the patient in the ambulance. If a patient’s condition warrants it, the ambulance corps also has the ability to call for the STAT-Flight helicopter at the Westchester Medical Center.
Where will the ambulance take me?
On emergency calls in Lewisboro, the ambulance will take you to Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco or sometimes to Danbury Hospital or Norwalk Hospital in Connecticut, Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, or Putnam Community Hospital in Carmel, N.Y.
How much does an ambulance call cost me?
Since all ambulance corps in our area are run by volunteers, their services are free. However, in some cases, a paramedic will accompany a patient to the hospital. In this case, the paramedic service, which is separate from the ambulance corps, will send a bill.
How can I volunteer for the ambulance corps?
In Lewisboro, call Kathy Peterson, president of the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps; or Karen Barber, its captain at 763-9633 or 763-3574.
To volunteer for the Vista Ambulance Corps, call 533-2727 or stop by the fire house for an application.
Where do the ambulance services get their funding?
The Vista ambulance is covered by the district fire taxes.
The Lewisboro Ambulance Corps receives no money from the town or through a taxing district and relies entirely on donations and grants. The organization’s main fund-raising event is a goods and services auction each November. To donate an item for the auction, call 763-9633. Cash donations, in the form of a check, may be sent to: LVAC, P.O. Box 41, South Salem, N.Y. 10590.
Where is the police department?
The town police department is at 81 Spring Street in South Salem. For routine calls, dial 763-8903 or e-mail chieflpd@lewisborogov.com. The department Web site is at www.lewisborogov.com.
How many policemen does the town have?
The town’s police department is a part-time force of 17 officers, headed by Drew Marchiano, Lewisboro police chief.
The state police barracks on Route 100 in Somers has approximately 20 troopers for the towns it covers. It is the primary police agency for the town of Lewisboro. The phone number is 277-3651.
How many calls did the town police respond to last year?
In 2005, the Lewisboro police reported 3,028 incidents including 250 automobile accidents, 3 burglaries, 120 larcenies, 29 cases of criminal activity, 58 domestic incidents, and 147 cases of mischief/vandalism.
Police also made 14 drunk driving arrests, issued 976 tickets, and installed 144 car seats.
Is there a town youth officer?
Yes, Lewisboro’s full-time police officer, Frank Secret, serves as youth officer. He has an office at John Jay High School and is available to anyone in the school district. Officer Secret has DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) training and teaches DARE programs at the elementary and middle schools and Lewisboro summer day camps. He may be reached at 763-7326 or youthlpd@lewisborogov.com. You may leave a message for him at 763-8903.
I need to be fingerprinted for an application. Will the police do it for me?
Yes, the police can do that at the station on Spring Street, but you must supply the proper fingerprint card and at least one form of picture identification. Call 763-8903 to make an appointment.
How do I obtain an accident report?
Accident reports are available at the town clerk’s office, usually five business days after the accident. The fee is 25 cents per page. For information, call 763-3511.
Will police install child restraint seats?
Yes. Call 763-8903 for an appointment.
Where are the fire departments?
Lewisboro has three non-paid fire departments. The Goldens Bridge Fire Department (routine calls, 232-1769), on Route 138, offers emergency medical service as well as answers fire calls. The department’s Web site is www.goldensbridgefd.com, e-mail gbfd@optonline.net.
South Salem Fire Department (763-3706) is on Route 35. The department’s Web site is www.ssfd-ny.org, e-mail chief@ssfd-ny.org.
Vista Fire Department (533-2727) is on Route 123 and has its own ambulance service. The Web site is www.vistafd.org, e-mail info@vistafd.org.
For tips on how to prevent a fire, visit online at www.lewisborogov.com and click on Emergency Services.
Who runs the fire departments?
Fire commissions manage their fire districts, which are special tax districts empowered to collect tax dollars to support the fire protection programs. Commissioners are elected, but do not receive a salary. The commissions own the firehouses, the fire trucks and all equipment.
In contrast, the fire departments are non-taxing groups, also composed of volunteers who are in charge of firefighting and related duties. They have their own officers and chiefs, elections for which are within the department.
Daniel Dreyer is chief of the Goldens Bridge Fire Department; Joseph Posadas is chief of the South Salem Fire Department; and Dave Andronaco is chief of the Vista Fire Department.
How many firemen are there?
The Goldens Bridge Fire Department has about 70 members. The South Salem Fire Department has about 60 active volunteers. The Vista Department has about 45 volunteers.
How can I become a volunteer fireman?
Stop by your local firehouse and fill out an application. All volunteers must go through a physical and firefighting training, paid for by the department. For information, call your local firehouse (numbers above).
If I call the fire department, will I get billed for services?
No.
Will the fire department inspect my fireplace chimney to see if it’s safe?
No. Your best bet is to contact a chimney sweep for this service.
Do the fire departments check businesses, schools and other public places for safety?
In Lewisboro, this is the responsibility of the building inspector.
What should I do if my carbon monoxide detector goes off?
Call 911.
How can I be prepared for a severe storm?
Keep flashlights, a battery-operated radio and fresh batteries on hand. Store adequate supplies of non-perishable food and drinking water. For safety, do not talk on a phone or watch TV during a lightning storm. Consider unplugging expensive items such as computers, refrigerators, televisions and VCRs or stereos to avoid power surge damage even if they are plugged into surge protectors. Also disconnect the phone line from any modem or fax machine. Have at least one telephone available that is not dependent upon electricity. Remember, cordless phones don’t work during a power interruption.
If anyone in your home uses life-sustaining equipment powered by electricity, call NYSEG (New York State Electric and Gas) at 1-800-572-1111. The utility can advise you on how to prepare for power interruptions.
By all means, stay away from downed power lines and anything the lines are touching. Call NYSEG at 1-800-572-1131. For more storm safety tips, visit www.nyseg.com.
What about larger emergencies?
The Lewisboro Emergency Task Force is looking at a variety of emergency situations that may arise. For information, call Town Clerk Kathy Cory at 763-3511.
Westchester County is recruiting medical and healthcare professionals and non-medical professionals for the Westchester Medical Reserve Corps. Volunteers receive free in-class and on-line training and may be called on to assist the county during a large-scale disaster or public health emergency. The program is sponsored by the county Department of Emergency Services and The Volunteer Center of United Way.
The county health department offers considerable information on preparing for a possible bioterrorism attack including fact sheets on chemical and biological agents. Visit www.westchestergov.com/health online.
For information on regional alert status, you may check online at ready.gov and the Department of Homeland Security Web site www.dhs.gov. Information is also available at www.redcross.org.
Is there an emergency alert system?
Westchester’s County Emergency Notification System disseminates information by e-mail and/or text messaging to mobile phones and devices before, during, or after a major storm or other disaster. Residents can get immediate updates on what’s happening and find out what they should do or where they should go.
To sign up for the service, log onto www.westchestergov.com and click on the emergency banner at the top of the page.
The service is also used to notify local officials, county legislators, county commissioners, and emergency responders.
How do I call poison control?
A national number - 1-800-222-1222- will link callers from anywhere in the country to medical experts at local poison control centers. The number is funded by the federal government.
When fast medical assistance is needed in an emergency, call 911 and describe the problem to the dispatcher.
