x635

WOW! Very cool vintage photos......thanks for sharing them with us!

Today, members of the White Plains Fire Department were training on a new Shell Hydrogen Fueling station, located at the City shops complex. White Plains is involved in a pilot program using hydrogen prototype cars, and Shell built and operates this facility. I was wondering if any of the guys from White Plains could tell us more?

Happy 24th birthday to Anthony, AKA Putnam 911 Dispatcher 420 (PC_420 as his EMTBravo username), who was nice enough yesterday to make the arrangments to invite and give me the grand tour of Putnam 911. (Photo feature will be posted soon) (Photo By x635 10-19-07 for http://www.emtbravo.com )

Intersting video about a wrecker trying to recover and overturned truck, and a subsequent "mishap". Being a wrecker operator isn't always that easy, there's a lot of technical things that go into a recovery. http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b36_1181671405

WAKE AND FUNERAL INFORMATION WAKE: Cargain Funeral Home Fowler Ave. and Route 301 Carmel NY Google Map & Driving Directions: Cargain Funeral Home Saturday November 10th 2007 7PM-9PM (FAMILY ONLY) Sunday November 11th 2007 2PM-4PM and 7PM-9PM (For The Emergency Services Community, Full Dress Uniform Requested ) FUNERAL(FULL FIRE DEPARTMENT HONORS): Monday November 12th 10AM St. James Church 14 Gleneida Ave (AKA) Route 52 Across From Lake Gleneida Ave. Google Map & Driving Directions St. James The Apostle Church Emergency Service Agencies participating are requested to assemble at Carmel VFD Headquarters 94 Gleneida Ave at 0830 on Monday for the funeral service. After the funeral, the procession will then go north on Route 52 to the Raymond Hill Cemetery in Carmel for burial Click here to sign the online condolence card IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK ON THIS THREAD AND I WILL TRY TO GET THEM ANSWERED! (All information is confirmed at time of writing. This thread will be updated if anything changes or is added. Contact x635@EMTBravo.com if you have any further information)

Well, it happens, and I really didn't have a choice. There's more to the story then I care to share, and can't give more details without revealing which agency it was. The agency I worked for had a relatively low call volume, and I did have chances to catch naps in quarters, but I was still at work. I know many fellow medics and EMT's that get forced into working double, even triple shifts....and it's especially enticing when you need money with the low pay of EMS. I know medics that routinely work 36-56 hours in a row at different agencies. We have some responsibilty for our health and welfare. But, I'm sure if you looked into many EMS health and safety related issues, I'm sure you could identify a few things that the employer could have done diffently to enhance the employee's quality of life. But unlike Police and Fire, EMS is generally not a union job, and when it is, it's generally a weak union. I mean, some FDNY*EMS personel work harder in worse conditions then most FDNY FF's, but get paid much less. Many EMS personel are employed by for-profit companies, some of whom really don't have much incentive or money to improve things. The people who say "Just Deal With It" are the ones holding us back. Yes, we expect these things when we work EMS and it should be expected, BUT, it doesn't have to be that way. EMS should be a challenging, rewarding, safe, and healthy CAREER and be on the same level as Police And Fire. (Dispatchers should be too)

I'd be curious to know, let's say there was an emergency vehicle fatal MOS accident, and it was due to a defect in the apparatus. There were similar vehicles in the fleet that could be prone to the same thing happening. Do we wait on taking action until a few weeks after the funeral, or do we correct the issue as soon as possible so it doesn't happen again. I know not all the facts are out on Wednesday's incident, and I am in no way speculating or quarterbacking that incident. This has been something on my mind for a long time, and Wednesday's incident did spark some thoughts, regardless of what happened. I know when people die, my immediate reaction, besides mourning, is to do something to fix it ASAP so it doesn't happen again. EMS goes on, and doesn't stop, and neither should our quest to make EMS better....at least those of us who actually care about our coworkers and the EMS profession in general. Maybe if EMS was compensated/paid what they should be paid, then they wouldn't have to work so many hours, or second and third jobs. Why do many police agencies have caps on the amount of time they can work in a row??

People need to calm down, everybody is so defensive. Open your minds and listen. Don't degrade this thread by bickering or throwing one liners. Everybody is entitled to their opinion, and the respect of others to listen, comprehend, and then reply. These threads exist, like it or not, because the issues exist. If people want to wimp out and keep pretending these issues don't exist, or they aren't our employers problems, then nothing is going to change.

What about when you come in for a 3P-11P, and get held over on the overnight and sometimes the following day? I worked 48 hours straight at one company because they were so short staffed, there was no one to relieve me....and if I was to go home, not only would I have been fired, but I would have cost people's lives by not giving them ALS coverage (I actually did have a CPR save that day) I've been told by a supervisor(s) to "just deal with it". Do you think firefighters would be happy if they had to stay in the engine on some streetcorner, in a confined area, or cruddy crewroom for their entire shift, or they were mandated to stay awake all night? As for driving home drowsy, I think everyone wants to go home at the end of the shift. Sure, Cops have to stay up the entire night, and so do some dispatchers. The difference is, in EMS we are often driving longer distances with sick patients in cramped ambulances. The monotony of routine transports makes it difficult to get that "adreanaline rush" that firefighters or cops have when called out on a real incident. There is a difference between the employer being responsible and the employee being responsible.....health and safety should be something addressed by the employer, but EMS personel in private companies are often disposable. You wouldn't tell a firefighter he was on his own regarding his safety, would you? And, with housing costs around here, EMS providers are living farther and farther from where they work, increasing commute times.

Well, it looks like Dobbs Ferry VAC has taken their old ambulance, and converted it into a "Fire Rehab" unit. I never even knew it existed, I thought they traded in or sold their old Ford/Lifeline. Can anyone here fill us in on how it's staffed and equipped? And any protocol? Also, what is the unit identifier?? Is it still capable of transporting, giving Dobbs Ferry a third ambulance? Definetly a cool concept. Oh yes, funny note...it is apparently being kept in the parking lot of Edwards Funeral Home.

I'm NOT "Monday Morning Quarterbacking" the Empire incident at all. Nor am I accusing anybody of anything. It just stirred some thoughts in my head, and I wrote about it. I strongly believe that private EMS providers get the short end of the stick when it comes to health and safety, and whether it's a back that's damaged for life as a result of lifting a patient with no assistance because you couldn't get any in a timely manner, or an MVA, it's critical that EMS providers get the protection they deserve, like Firefighters or Police would. The press quickly forgets or ignores EMS providers who get injured or killed, and so will many of us, until incidents repeat themselves again or hit closer to home.

And it's that complacency why nothing changes. The reason why I posted this was in no means to disrespect or speculate, it was to bring attention to a GENERAL issue (NOT COMPANY SPECIFIC) that could possibly prevent this from happening in the future. This isn't the first incident where an overnight EMS crew has fallen asleep at the wheel, but I surely hope it's the last. While it's fresh in peoples minds, as it is mine, it's my opinion that they'll feel stronger about the issue, like wanting to go after the terrorists on the evening of 9/11. Did we disrespect the deceased at the WTC by wanting to correct the situation so it doesn't happen again? My heart goes out to the EMT who was driving- and that's one of the reasons, again, why I wrote this...because I don't wan't it to happen to anyone else. BTW, STAT, excellent points.

According to the November-December edition of "Fire Apparatus Journal" ( http://www.fireappartusjournal.com), the next round of 69 Engines, 1 high-pressure engine, and eleven 75 foot midmount towers were awarded to Seagrave. FAJ is reporting that the engines and trucks will be on a Seagrave Marauder II chasis with a modified tilt-cab and 8" raised roof. As far as I know, these are both firsts for FDNY. Anyone know the reasons behind the change? And will the raised roof fit in all firehouses?

Well, I finally had the chance to shoot County Towing's Kenworth/Century Wrecker that rarely comes out of it's bay at County Towing North in Ardsley. Although it doesn't even touch Stiloski's 75-ton rotating Century wreckers in capabilities, it sure is sharp! County Towing has always had some sharp looking trucks...maybe it's the fire engine red and hand painted lettering that does it.. It was out in honor of Ted I. Knoesel, who used to own Ted's Texaco & Towing (what is now County Gulf). His funeral procession passed it, and the Nicodemus's had it out in honor of him.

(Photo, Matt Lamb's Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/matty801 At 05:00hrs this AM, EMT Matthew Lamb passed away at Westchester Medical Center after injuries sustained in an ambulance collison, while on duty with Empire State Ambulance on 11-7-07 in Garrison, NY. He was 25 years old. Matt was an EMT with Empire State Ambulance, as well at a Lt. with the Carmel Fire Department, and EMT with Carmel VAC. Among those he leaves behind, is his fiance, Jennifer, who he was to marry on February 14th, 2009. Matthew gave other's life by donating his organs, and with his death, saved other live's....a fitting, albeit tragic end. Condolences can be posted on this thread, even by non-verified members. All condolences will be printed and sent to the family, Carmel FD, Carmel VAC, and Empire State Ambulance, so please post on here. WAKE AND FUNERAL INFORMATION Cargain Funeral Home Fowler Ave. and Route 301 Carmel NY Saturday 11-10-07 7PM-9PM (FAMILY ONLY) Sunday 11-11-07 2PM-4PM and 7PM-9PM (For The Emergency Services Community, Full Dress Uniform Requested ) FUNERAL: Monday 11/12/07 10AM St. James Church 14 Gleneida Ave (AKA) Route 52 Across From Lake Gleneida Ave. Emergency Service Agencies participating are requested to assemble at Carmel VFD Headquarters 94 Gleneida Ave at 0830 on Monday for the funeral service RIP Matt.

Matthew Lamb Funeral Information and Condolence Thread http://emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=21392 Please post your condolences in the above thread. Non-verified members can post as well, and the thread will be printed and sent to his family, Empire State Ambulance, and Carmel FD.

Thanks for the back. I don't know the purpose of that post either, nor did I see one in the recent topics. I don't recall the topic being discussed. Could have just put a link to a previous discussion.

Interesting place to stay.

Well, I've been waiting for this unit to be set up for a photo op, and today was finally the day. Does anyone else find this concept wierd? I can't imagine this being a good plow vehicle????

LMAO! And here I was expecting x129k to make the funny comments!

Thoughts and prayers with all involved. Absolutely horrible twist of fate.

Date: 11-7-07 Time: 0515hrs Location: Route 9 IAO Snake Hill Rd, Garrison Frequency: Units Operating: Empire State Ambulance Medic 1, Garrison FD - 15-1-1, 15-6-1 & 15-2-2, Philipstown Amb, Peekskill Ambulance as 2nd ambulance to the scene with a Cortlandt Regional medic unit, Putnam Sherriff, New York State Police Description Of Incident: Ambulance returning to base apparently went off road and struck tree. Accident still being investigated at time of writing. 1 MOS transported in cardiac arrest to Hudson Valley Hospital, pulse regained and MOS transported via Stat Flight in critical condition to WMC. Second MOS transported to WMC with minor-moderate injuries. Writer: x635, PC415 05:00hrs 11-8-07 L.O.D.D.: EMT Matt Lamb of Empire State Ambulance passed away at Westchester Medical Center, after donating his organs. EMT Lamb was also a member of Carmel FD and Carmel VAC. R.I.P. Please see this thread for funeral information and condolences: http://emtbravo.net/index.php?showtopic=21392

Members- I'm working on the EMTBravo Agency reference. First to be added is Westchester. Please look at the page. If your department is blank, please send me the information via EMAIL to x635@EMTBravo.com so that I can cut and paste the information. http://www.emtbravo.com/info I will eventually be adding Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Fairfield, Bergen, New Haven, and Litchfield counties as well, so if you have department info, please email it to me. I'll also be adding an easy to use indexing and search system, apparatus photos, run information, as well as some other cool features as time permits. Thanks in advance for your help!