Formal policy or not, practically speaking in Brighton Beach, Coney Island and neighborhoods not covered by regular members they will call 911 after trying 4 or 5 times to get a first responder or units for a bus. Once the system is activated they will ask for a first responder to go until the system gets there. I have never heard them call 911 for any calls in Queens. Everything is covered in Queens no matter the ETA.
As far as mutual aid goes in the Catskills they will respond to calls for mutual aid, mainly medic calls, but I have yet to hear them ask for mutual aid other than the chopper. There was just a call in Kerhonkson yesterday and they dispatched a medic from Fallsburg, a 40 minute drive without lights and sirens, instead of calling for mutual aid mobile medic.
yup, different neighborhoods, different rules, different coverage. Though the Q has been rolling some jobs, and having someone respond from 20/30 mins out is basically rolling it:)
40 minutes, that's insane. Mobile medic can respond much quicker (usually) unless they didn't have a medic truck anywhere near (doubtful) or Hatzolah felt medics weren't really needed for the job. Because if mobile medic comes it's a nice big hard bill.