To the Editor of Monsey Scoop,
I am writing this as an emergency responder who was personally on scene Sunday morning at Reeves Meadow Visitor Center in Sloatsburg. This is not written to bash EMS, fire, police, or park police. I am one of them. We are all heroes who show up with the same goal: to save lives.
But the truth matters — especially when a life is lost.
An approximately 65-year-old Asian man was hiking when he collapsed, became unconscious, and fell into the snow. What followed was a very long delay before patient contact was made and CPR was initiated. Access to the victim was extremely difficult due to snow-covered terrain, and lifesaving care could not begin immediately.
Standing there, one thought kept repeating in my mind:
Why was Chaverim of Rockland not called right away?
Rockland County is privileged to have Chaverim of Rockland — highly trained search-and-rescue volunteers who train in these exact trails and conditions multiple times a week. Snow, ice, rain, darkness — none of it stops them. With or without ATVs or UTVs, they hike in quickly. They know this terrain. They move with urgency. And in situations like this, every minute matters.
Chaverim members were already training in nearby trails when they heard what was happening and immediately responded. By the time they arrived, it was approximately an hour after the initial call. A New York State Park Police officer was on scene performing CPR, and Chaverim members quickly assisted and continued lifesaving efforts.
Tragically, this incident ended in the worst possible way.
The victim was pronounced deceased. Members of Chaverim of Rockland along with Spring Hill EMS then carried the victim down the trail with dignity and care, where the medical examiner and law enforcement took over.
Here is the hard question we need to be willing to ask:
In New Jersey, volunteer search-and-rescue organizations are officially dispatched alongside police and EMS for incidents like this — hikers down, wooded terrain, remote rescues. It is built into the system. It is understood that specialized responders save time, and time saves lives.
So why is it different here in New York — and specifically in Rockland County?
Maybe this is something that needs to be looked into.
Let me be absolutely clear once again:
This is NOT an attack on EMS, fire departments, police, or park police.
Every responder involved acted with professionalism and heart. But we must be honest enough to say this:
This could have ended differently.
We cannot allow protocol, hesitation, or internal politics to prevent us from calling in specialized help. Trained search-and-rescue volunteers like Chaverim of Rockland exist for exactly these moments. They train nearly daily — in rain, snow, ice, heat, and extreme cold — so that when others cannot reach a patient quickly, they can.
If there is one lesson to be learned from this tragedy, it is this:
When a call comes in from trails, wooded areas, or remote terrain — call Chaverim immediately.
Lives may depend on it.
With pain, respect, and hope for better outcomes next time,
A Fellow Emergency Responder
The views expressed in this letter do not necessarily represent those of Monsey Scoop. Have an opinion you’d like to share? Send it to us for review.
He was a doa, no matter how fast chaverim would have gotten there he was a cardiac arrest, they would need a under 4 min response 1.5 miles into the woods, physically impossible but I agree with this.
As a Emergency Trained Medical care giver , The medical research is as follows, a pt, Going into cardiac Arrest in a cold climate has a greater chance than a patient in cardiac arrest In a warm or not a cold climate, therefore In situations like this, this patient definitely had a chance of survival and the down time is not a factor as a usual Cardiac Arrest,
Thanks for all the responders that responded to this incident, God bless you and your family and the entire team, Forest Rangers Police Dpt, and Fire Department and Search and the Rescue team and Rockland Chaverim
The question goes to other Organizations like Chavirim as well, why don’t they call the proper agency at the same time when they dispatch for their members for calls that “NEED” the proper agencies.
Rather call them and when they arrive the situation should be resolved then only call them after 5-6 minutes after not being able to resolve it on their own.
We should all do better.
I’m in EMS and I fully agree with the responder who wrote this. I was there. Chaverim reached the patient far quicker than we could. The terrain made it nearly impossible for standard response. They absolutely should be dispatched alongside us in these situations.
Why would I call an agency that was designed to fix flat tires to an emergency situation. Do you call AAA to deliver a baby?
Chavirim of Rockland is far more than a “Flat Tire” agency.
They have a very well highly trained SAR team with sophisticated equipment for such situations.
Dumb response 😂😂
Clearly you didn’t understand the point of this article/message
As a long time Monsey Resident, I would like to thank Chaverim our family had countless of help in time of need, on different occasions, starting out with our very first time we called them we where in need when where on the way back home on a late cold winter night and we where a packed car of kids our car had a flat tire we reached out to Chaverim and we had a memeber that came out of bed to help us, just last year our heat went out on Ice cold winter night , we couldn’t reach any plumber to come to repair our boiler and we tried our luck and called Chaverim
they where extremely helpful the dispatcher offered us if we wanna have heater’s dropped off to our house or he should try to get a memeber to try to get the heat working, the first member reached out for a back up unit and after 20 min they got our heat to work, and many other occasions that they assisted our family, I am sure countless of people can say similar stories about the help they received,
What’s your point of saying a statement like this , it’s extremely disrespectful this comment, this discussion is about how to do things correctly and being productive, it’s all about helping others and public assistance,
It seems you are about criticizing, bashing, and hate remember credit is due for all the Paid and non Paid responders
First thing first. Thank you for your service.
Thank you to all first responders, paid or volunteer. You are all heroes. End of story.
Chaverim of rockland has indeed turned into a powerhouse with amazingly skilled, trained selfless individuals that will do anything to hero a fellow human. As has been tested and proven 56,000 times last year alone.
Not for nothing did the Town of Ramapo made them a priority partner in all things emergency.
Politics aside, all available responding agencies MUST be dispatched when lives are at risk.
We don’t need any convincing that Chaverim has done and continues to do heroic work.
God bless you all. Heroes!
Former EMS and COR member.
M.A.
It would be very nice if Chaverim with practice what you are preaching, I called the proper agencies when needed. When there is a fire in Monsey, who does Chaverim call? Or are they busy with internal politics, thereby wasting precious time.
I was on scene too. Watching the delay was heartbreaking. Chaverim moved through that terrain with ease, something that would’ve taken us hours. We owe it to future patients to learn from this.
Calling Chaverim a “flat tire agency” shows a lack of understanding of what actually happens in winter terrain.
I’ve hiked these trails for years, including in snow and ice. This isn’t something you just walk into. You have to train. You have to know how to move, how to handle footing, weather, and fatigue. In winter conditions, access alone can be the biggest challenge.
Yes, Chaverim helps with flat tires. That doesn’t define them. Fire departments pump out basements. EMS does lift assists. Those tasks don’t erase the rest of what they’re trained to do.
Chaverim of Rockland has a trained search-and-rescue team that operates regularly in wooded, remote, snow- and ice-covered terrain. They train consistently, know these trails, and have proven it many times.
This isn’t about replacing EMS. It’s about getting to the patient faster when access is the problem.
When minutes matter, training and access matter. Labels don’t.
Chaverim of Rockland is an amazing agency. As a County First Responder I can attest to that. All things aside, and in order we should be able to accommodate them and incorporate response with IC, Chaverim needs to coordinate and cooperate with law enforcement, fire service, and respect EMS.
Chaverim of Rockland is a professional, trained search-and-rescue organization that works alongside police, EMS, and park authorities. When notified, they respond immediately and prioritize public safety above all else. I would also think they should be integrated directly into the 911 dispatch system to ensure the fastest possible response in emergencies.
The audacity of this letter is stunning. The Park Rangers / Forest Rangers and law enforcement are trained, professional, and licensed and do this everyday. Chaverim does great work with flat tires and lockouts, but they are not an emergency agency not are they licenses. Bashing the professionals who were on the scene doing their jobs is disgusting. Just my two cents…
No one is bashing the professionals. Look again that his post before you comment!
Chaverim needs to stop pretending. What do they actually bring to the table besides pictures? these guys are just playing dress up in the woods. Chaverim should stick to it’s original mission and the people will respect them again
Don’t know the backstory but this story screams that there is an agenda. Plus many of the breathtaking comments praising Chaverim don’t seem to be authentic or real. Just my opinion🤣🤣 maybe I’m wrong
All new jersey sar teams are actually certified and do real trainings. Walking around kakiat park in shabbos shoes and taking some nice pictures does not count as training. I’m sure, had chaveirim (a phenomenal organization which I myself am part of) done proper training and get properly certified in wilderness search and rescue, there would be a very different conversation to be had. Chaveirim has absolutely no real credentials or recognized training or certificates in wilderness search and rescue so who are they to ask 911 to dispatch them? That is an enormous liability.
In New York, volunteer groups need a formal MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) with the AHJ which in this particular case would be the State Park Police or the Forest Rangers. Without it they are nothing more than bystanders. While I don’t know much about this volunteer group, NYS forest rangers go through 26 weeks paramilitary training and are all trained in technical wilderness medicine, high angle rope rescue (NFPA certification) among other things. Frankly this group is nothing more than a group of friendly bystanders who are willing to help which is always appreciated.
1) You live in Rockland and you don’t know much about Chaverim that’s 99.99% false it can’t be true
2) Chaverim of Rockland is part of the Rockland County OEP and is recognized as an official emergency response service in Rockland county and just because some political disagreements you don’t delay highly trained resources to rescue or save a life
I hope this changes soon enough
I believe you’re mistaken. They are not part or Rockland OEM. They are part of Town of Ramapo OEM.
Looks like some stupid comments before,
Chaverim of Rockland does incredible work. Their volunteers train tirelessly in all conditions to help people in remote and dangerous situations. It’s important to recognize their dedication and the lifesaving role they play in our community.
There are essentially no NYS Forest Rangers down there. That is the lead professional agency for backcountry SAR. They are found in the Adirondack and Catskills parks.
You are right that Cheverim should be call .
However there a few step like speak to rockland county Shrieff Louis Flacco III about joining rockand county offical respond for emergancy responds .
If not mistaken Shrieff flacco call up the authority in Arizona last summer to let them know what Chaverim all about
Hopefully Chaverim join the rockland county offical response
They work together with everyone when need
Hopefully that they are never needed .
Thank you
Km