TOH builds boat ramp for South Nassau Emergency Care center

The Town of Hempstead built a new emergency boat ramp for the new South Nassau Communities Hospital Emergency Care Center in Long Beach.

Noting that having a boat ramp could save lives in the wake of boating accidents and other emergencies on the water, Supervisor Anthony San-tino said, “The new floating dock will help reduce response and transport time during marine rescues. Quicker transports to the emergency room could spell the difference between life and death.”

The new dock, mooring piles, pier and railings comprise a well-engineered system that will allow boating accident victims to be transported directly to the emergency room by water, saving precious time. The new structure features two new floating dock sections, where the emergency rescue boats from the various jurisdictions can tie up. Additionally, the boat rescue access dock includes an aluminum ramp with handrails, an elevated platform, and four pilings. South Nassau also has installed lighting and an intercom system to facilitate communication between Emergency Department staff and first responders. South Nassau staff also is undergoing training on dock transfers of patients to ensure safety of patients and personnel.

The new marine structure is more weather resistant, and is durable enough to be available year-round. The town used in-house labor from the department of Conservation and Waterways to perform the installation. All of the equipment used is commercial grade, and was delivered via a town tug and push boat. Construction of the structure was completed within a week. The total cost of the project was $58,992.

Richard J. Murphy, South Nassau’s President and CEO said, “The new dock will allow us to see patients more quickly and provide an important new point of water access for the Long Beach Emergency Department.

Hurricane Sandy destroyed the previous dock, which was used by the now defunct Long Beach Medical Center.

On Aug. 7, Joann Scully of Island Park was seriously injured when a “cigarette” type boat ran up and over the 18-foot boat she and her family were riding in, causing her injuries. The accident happened near the Emergency Care Center. Her husband, Matthew Scully, wanted to dock his boat at the Emergency Center to get his wife treatment, but there was no dock. He had to drive his boat back to Island Park to dock before the Island Park Fire Department could take Joann to a local hospital.