EMS needs to be competitive in salary amid staffing struggles, FDNY commissioner says

New York City's EMS needs to be competitive in salary as the department faces staffing struggles, FDNY Commissioner Lillian Bonsignore says.

In an interview on "The Point with Marcia Kramer," Bonsignore said she supports pay parity between EMS and firefighters, adding that the department's current primary concern is staffing ambulances.

"Nationally, we see that there is a shortage of EMS," she said. "Sixty percent of the nation is complaining that there's just not enough people coming to the EMS profession, and New York City is not exempt."

Bonsignore says part of the problem is that a lot of people who join EMS end up leaving within their first five years because of the low pay.

"I think we're the most recognized, greatest fire department in the world," she said, "and I think we would attract the highest level of talent if they could afford to come here, work here and live here."  

While pay is important in attracting more people to the job, Bonsignore also said she thinks the department can convince people to join through example and storytelling, and by stressing that their mission is all about saving lives.

"I think there are a lot of people out there that are heroes and just don't know it yet," she said, "so we have to make sure that the department and that the profession at large is accessible to the younger generation, that they understand what it means and that they find their inner hero, and they come and save lives for a living."

Bonsignore also talked about the FDNY marking 25 years since 9/11, the unstable East Side high rise that sparked evacuations earlier this summer, and more.

Click here to watch the full episode, which also includes Kramer's interview with Ellen Hart, owner of the popular Theater District restaurant Ellen's Stardust Diner.