Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County’s fifth flycar joined the system April 6, amidst the ongoing coronavirus emergency. The paramedic vehicle is used to prepare patients for transport before an ambulance arrives. The addition of this particular vehicle was a matter hotly debated in the Greene County Legislature in 2019. At the time, Catskill representatives Michael Bulich and Matthew Luvera opposed the decision because they disagreed with the county footing the bill instead of the individual towns. Catskill has its own Advanced Life Support ambulance system. The flycar was added into the budget before the spending plan was approved in November. “The most important asset is not the truck, but our highly trained and skilled paramedics led by Chief Steve Brucato,” Greene County EMS Paramedics President Mark Evans said in a statement. “Our medics are among the highest trained in the region; only the flight medics have more training.” Evans also commended the paramedics for continuing to work and provide life-saving care to residents during the pandemic. The new truck, "Medic 8,” is based at the Prattsville Firehouse. The vehicle is a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe, which costs $45,000 equipped with lights, siren and striping, as well as an additional $50,000 in equipment. The truck carries a cardiac monitor and defibrillator, and airway and intubation kit, IV kit, CPR machine and drug bag with a significant number of emergency drugs. The total cost of the new flyer is $403,000. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.