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http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News030712-X5-4.html

Anyone sick of looking at the same "Feature Photo" on EMTBravo.com every time they log on? I need quality Feature Photos as described above. Here are some examples of photos that made it as "Feature Photo": http://www.emtbravo.com/FeaturePhotos/index.html If you've sent me a shot in the past that I haven't posted, don't take it personally. There are several reasons why it may not have been posted, and several of those reasons have nothing to do with you. So send them in!

Looking at photos of rigs from the past, why do they have open cabs? What was the reason at the time? Especially departments in the Northeast, that experienced snow, rain, etc. Didn't they want protection from the elements?

What is to become of the life lessons passed down to us by the "Senior Guys"........the guys that didn't always have SCBA and other equipment that is now considered standard...going to real fires often......from the "Greatest" generation....the ones who won D-Day, put a man on the moon, invented the computers, etc. We have a new generation of parents raising their children as "friends" and not children, and that is starting to show. Ask a youth nowdays to do something, they ask why? Ask a "Greatest Generation" guy at the same point in their lives and they will ask nothing and do. They would be afraid of their parents. And, who will be the new "Senior Guys"?

I'm wondering how many departments consider "life experience" when making hiring decisions? This is the way I'm looking at it. Those of you that are 30, how do you look at how you were when you were 20? Life experience teaches us many things that are required for our jobs. Take the Cop hired at 23 years old. Lived a sheltered life. Went to college and got a degree. Got hired right after graduation. It was his first job ever. Is he going to be able to be as effective a Cop as a 28 year old who has held other jobs since he was 16, been through some of the trials of lives, has been in relationships, etc?

Funny, I was thinking the same thing dwc. Ardsley Quint 1 was Ardsley Quint 1 from the day it was delivered in 1988. Elmsford operated Quint 2, and Quad 2. It was under Pat Kelly sometime around 2002, when trying to "simplify" things, the terms "Quint", "Brush", and other valid terms were removed from the valid apparatus listings. We were told as 60 Control dispatchers to ignore any department that doesn't refer to their apparatus definitions. I also think there was some CAD component to it to make it eaqsier for us dispatchers, but can't remember. When my department got the letter, I really wanted to keep it Quint 1. But I suggested "Ladder 50" for some reason I can't remember at the time, and that's why that is. Many people on this forum have debated about Quints, what they are, how they are staffed and equipped, and training issues. One big concern among career departments is using a Quint to combine an Engine and Ladder company in order to lay off firefighters. In a majority of departments here in Texas, they call them Quints. They are not an engine. The are not a truck.And sometimes they are a Quint, but called an Engine or Truck. They are defined by the fire department's operations.

This aerial was replcaed about a year ago with a Spartan/Smeal 105' Quint. Sort of sentimental about this truck. First aerial I've ever climbed. Spent many years maintaing and responding on calls with it. Got to pick the "Ladder 50" when the county decided that a Quint wasn't a valid piece of apparatus. Wish I had the money, time, and space to aqquire it.

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Interesting document. Many of these projects have been in the pipeline and talked about for years. I'll believe it when I see it, and when it actually built and works properly. I'm not trashing DES, I'm just saying that whenever they start getting ahead of the curve, they get beaten back. 60 Control and the equipment they have now is only what it is now because of leadership changes, such as the promotions. They still need a bigger facility and better pay, since they truly are the flagship of DES. That needs to be first and foremost. As far as training, it's great because of the dedicated and experienced instructors.

I'm aware. I've been. They are still nothing like the EMS Today conference.

My views start in 1993, when I first started training at the facility. Do you remember when Westchester County Fire Control, with only Gordon and Marilyn as full time staff? Do you remember when the new addition was built? The disaster that was? Do you remember when a warehouse in a nearby executive park was purchased for DES, and the County decided to use it as a surplus warehouse? Do you remember when they had to use the old Anthrax mail trailer and convert it into the the REMAC office? Do you remember when Dep Chief Gerardi had to build temporary partions in the old large classroom to accomodate new staff? Do you remember when the County planned a new Support Services facility that was already past capacity when it was planned? Do you remember the oil leak from the oil pit that it took to really get the propane props? Do you remember when instructors slowly lost any proper prep or meeting areas in the facility? Does the training center have the capability to hold a large conference which was one of the purposes of building the SS building? Have Dutchess and Rockland's facilities ALWAYS been way ahead of Westchester? Do you remember all the leadership changes that have pushed DES in all different directions? Do you remember the summers where 60 Control didn't have air conditioning? Do you remember when 60 Control went down, compelty, because a redundant power system wasn't properly planned, maintained, or spec'd? Do you remember the security gate which never worked right? Or configured right so large apparatus could get in or out easily? Did you note any real bathroom, rest, or instructional areas near the area where the training was taking place? Do you remember how the SCBA bottles used to have to be lugged all the way back to the main building to be refilled, and all the time that took

Well, technically ARES donated the old Field Com when it used to be operated through WCPD. I thought the Red Cross had a Field Com operated by ARES. I mean no offense to HAM operarators, but what level NIMS are they trained to? Is there a deployment plan for them that requires DES provide them with a vehicle? Is HAM radio still as big a hobby as it once was? I know, at one time, it was an incredible way to communicate. But nowadays, there is much technology that has made HAM radio in emergency operations like they were set up for in the past, for the most part, obsolete. I realize most HAM Radio operators are radio geniuses and know many intircate details about radios. I hope this unit is used for details such as radio repair and setting up temproary repeater sites, etc, instead of just parelleling what already exists. And, HAM radio can interfere with some of this new technology. I also respect all the other activites HAM radio operators do for the community, just to note.

I wish they would hold EMS Today in different parts of the country. When I went several years ago, it was in Philidelphia. Maybe one year it could be in San Diego, Dallas, Las Vegas, Orlando, etc. Airfare is getting quite expensive, and I know people around the country who would love to go. But, the Baltimore area hits a majority of their target market in a driveable range. Or, Amtrak.

Maybe it's chronic poor planning, but has DES outgrown it's new facilities? It seems the Support Services building and "warehouse" are already too small, as I've heard a lot of expensive equipment is still housed outside in the elements. And, 60 Control HAS to be getting pretty cramped with the higher call volume, increased staffing, and additional technologies......any word on a new facility for them? I don't know the current economic situation in Westchester's political scene, nor do I know what the priorities are, but it seems to be as far as I remember and have been told, that they (DES) has never been ahead of the curve with plenty of space to expand into. By the time they plan to put the shovel in the ground, the facility is already obsolete, or overtaken over by another DES division.

I've been told that Westchester County DES Communications has received either a "mini" Field Comm or Communications Support Unit on a Ford E-450 chasis? Anyone have further?

I see postings on Facebook about people referencing work, going to work, or the facilities they work at, in "humourous" ways. I've also seen people going to work referencing those who they work for (the citizens) or the way their department does things. While we all agree that, conversationally, some things can be funny and "observations" about what citizens get into is also funny, I just find it unprofessional. I just ask myself "Is this really how they feel about their jobs?". If I see a bunch of people making jokes about where they work and the activities that go at any department, I wonder what type of research an attorney could do if there was ever a delay or critical mistake in a response? Is their Facebook page going to show they take their jobs seriously, or they take their as a joke? And, lastly, what kind of pride do these people really have in their jobs? And is the job about them, or the job that they do?

Glad to see you are feeling better and the shutter back firing away, Joe!!

It will keep the rodents away, lol!

I really loved that Rescue (Freightliner/Pierce Contender). It had a TON of space at a great price. The Mini-Attack was also very capable for simple responses.

It will stay nicely here in Texas. Rust is not a problem. Also, pre-fab steel buildings are quite inexpensive, even an RV storage tent. Would the city lend you some land at the training academy? AndyC3Jeeper would know more about the facility in Orange County.

Thanks. Like EMTBravoWest.com which is for California-Arizona-Nevada, EMTBravoSouth.comshows great potential.

Hopefully, they don't turn it into an office for the WMC nursing staff like the original crew room in the new ER. Also, I wonder if they will keep any beverages or snacks on hand?

Great find of photos, George. Very telling. I wonder how the same incident would go down today, with all the lessons that history has taught us, as well as tools such as the SCBA.

I don't either, but DES has invested heavily in it. Personally, I see mass pandomonium, and I hope to never see that proven. A lot of the money for the Fire-EMS Radio system was earmarked for Bee-Line, and I know they've put a lot of time, effort, and money into getting all the radios installed, drivers trained, and making them functional. This was for "interoperability" between Bee-Line and Fire-EMS during an emergency. Also, are any firefighters or other emergency staff trained to drive the buses, or are Bee-Line drivers trained for emergency situations such as this?

Absolutely!