x635

Here's an updated shot with lettering. This one is being assigned to Car 73 as you can see. It's looking good! I hear there is going to be a new front and back console in this vehicle, along with some other new features. New 73: Current 73:

What are they building on Danbury Rd/Route 7 in New Milford, across from Wal-Mart/Stop And Shop shopping center, behind Rite Aid?? They seem to be clearing an awful lot of land...must be a big project.

Date: 8-24-07 Time: 0430hrs Location: Sprain Brook Parkway Southbound, just south of the Ardsley Road overpass. Frequency: 46.26 Units Operating: Fairview Engine 175, Rescue 3, Greenville Engine 150, Greenburgh PD*ALS, Other EMS (?), Greenburgh EMS, State Police Description Of Incident: One car MVA rollover into guardrail. One DOA w/ entrapment, two transported to WMC. DWI and speed related. Writer: x635

Fire Station 81, City Of Los Angeles FD, has the most modern and diverse training building that I've ever seen. It's brand new, and includes a whole range of features to replicate a variety of different buildings and situations. It's construction is solid, and was very well thought out. It even includes a hydration station, a place for firefighters to rinse their face and masks, and even a system to burn wood and other materials to create real smoke inside instead of the fake stuff.

I believe it was the author's intent to discuss HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, rather than throw blame at each other and make unfounded accusation and rumors. Any further posts of that nature will be deleted, and member warned accordingly, as it's not relevant to the topic at hand or this forum's purpose. So cut the nonsense NOW, so we don't have to lock the topic! Be constructive, be respectful, and if you can't be, then don't post! With that said, this problem has existed since I started in EMS in 1997, and from what I am told- long before that. This problem is not simple, as there are many different aspects involved. Most of it comes down to equipment shortages-the agencies that don't have enough end up using others to subsitute for their own when they need it, and that starts the cycle. First, there are automatic backboard washers out there nowadays. I believe every hospital should be required to have one, as these clean the board throroughly, quickly, and effectively, leaving the board sanitized for the next patient- something not always done, especially by the quick turnaround EMS crews. The reason why Career EMS personel sometimes take VAC boards are because the crew doesn't have a choice. Usually, they have to turn around at the hospital quickly, don't have a chance to get back to "base", which may not have any extra boards, and if the crew is running short a board, then they're definetly going to get a job that requires two spinal immoblizations. It should be the agency's responsiblty to keep track of their equipment- this includes working with their recieving agencies to solve this problem. One solution is when you leave equipment at the hospital, is to keep a log with dispatch, shift commander, whoever, and do a daily/weekly inventory and pickup. Barcodes help this tremendously, if your agency uses a laptop in the ambulance, there is software available to help with this. If the recieving hospital doesn't have the board when you go looking for it- send them a bill for the equipment. Although it may not get paid, it may bring attention to the fact that we need more cooperation from our recieving hospitals in securing and releasing our equipment. The days of dumping it in the ER bay is over. Another more radical solution is for all EMS agencies in the county, or the County DES, to provide spinal immobilization equipment. That way, no matter the agency, all of our equipment is interchangeable, there could be a person who's job it would be to keep track of the equipment, clean or repair it, and pickup/redistribute the equipment based on need. Could do it via an easy, internet based computer and barcode system. Kinda like a "Support Services" division or Medical Equipment divison. By working together, we could solve this problem as a whole instead of each agency findinng it's own piecemeal, bandaid solutions. If all agencies got together and chipped in, and got the hospitals and county to chip in possibly, this could be a reality, and actually end up saving us money- and time. The "It Just Won't Happen" copout annoys me so much. It's that attitude that holds us back. Everybody just being intimidated and complacent. How many people think "How can we make it happen"????????????????

Interesting article in today's "USA Today"

Wow, that's insane. Great for fleet standardization, and now they have to have one of the largest Charger fleets around that I know of. Where did Bridgeport get the money for this? Also, who outfitted the cars? Bridgeport's got a pretty beat up fleet, with outdated lettering. How are these cars painted/lettered? The only thing that concerns me is if Bridgeport will be rotating use of these cars? I don't know how many patrol cars they have in their fleet, but when replacement for these cars come up when they wear out probaly around the same time, will Bridgeport have the money to buy 70 cars at once again?

Please post wake and funeral information on this thread when it becomes available, and please post your condolences here so they can be passed along to the family. R.I.P.

VERY interesting article! With the exception of San Francisco, the West Coast isn't as traditional as out here. So their continued use of the old-school wooden ladder, in the way it's explained, is very progressive, as opposed to East Coast traditions, which tend to hold us back. Fascinating article. FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE:

With the turmoil EMS is in in the Hudson Valley region, it seems more and more elected officials want to seek out the best bargain they can when it comes to providing EMS, meanwhile, the companies that provide it continue to bleed cash and barely stay alive. So, why is it that these communities are always looking to get a bargain for such a critical, life saving service? I'm sure these same elected officials don't care about how gluttonous some fire departments are, or how much money their DPW is losing them. Although EMS is the new kid on the block, we stand shoulder to shoulder with Firefighters and Police Officers. Nobody would ever suggest contracting out for Fire or Police or even DPW, yet even get away with doing it. I blame ourselves. I don't think EMS does anything proactively, like community education as to what we do. Nor do I think EMS makes a good enough case to justify to the elected officials that we're neccasary. I really think some elected officials truly think it's just a ride to the hospital. Although there are excellent private companies that provide superior EMS, I don't feel EMS should be provided by for-profit companies. I also don't think that "BLS Interfacility Transports" should be considered Emergency Medical Services. All this does is blur the line for us. Take Yonkers for example. There's no reason why they can't provide EMS that sets an example and a standard, just like their Fire and Police Departments do (but they get EMS for free, so why would they?). Also, look at Port Chester-Rye-Rye Brook EMS. They cover 3 muncipalties with fully staffed, ALS ambulances. They've progressively grown from a volunteer agency to one of the premier, self sufficient, independent agency EMS systems in Westchester County- pehaps the only one. Also, look at other area systems like Stamford or Greenwich EMS. Boston EMS is a great example. There's a number of different ways to do things, and it's time we bring EMS to the next level NOW instead of dragging it there. Lives are at stake, yet some people think it's their egos that are. EMS needs to start coming together as a whole, demanding that EMS is provided by the muncipality directly as it's own department, staffed with either full-time civil service employees, or volunteers, or both. Although there may not be enough call volume in some muncipalities to warrant this, there's no reason why communities can't come together to form "EMS Districts", like we have sewer and fire districts. How come communties don't contract out their DPW? It would seem that it could be done better and cheaper by private contractors, right? (sarcasm) Maybe we should take a look at the pensions and benefits some of these elected officials get for only a couple of hours of work each week. Maybe we could get money from there? We live in one of the wealthiest, fastest growing areas of the nation. Compared to other similar parts of the nation, even communities inferior to us, that have EMS, looking comparitevly, EMS around here is a real shame. It's pathetic. Also, the ego-driven fragmentation of EMS in this area doesn't help things. In a future post, I'll detail how EMS is provided in some other similar parts of the country, including Los Angeles City Fire Department, where EVERY community has an ambulance, and Los Angeles County Fire Department, who's hybrid Firefighter-Paramedic ALS system, and Private Transport service collaboration makes us look pathetic. The West coast, heck, even the South and Midwest, makes us, look lights years behind.

I'm just wondering when Westchester County put into place the current numbering scheme for fire departments and apparatus, and what existed before that? Although I'm very used to it and kind of like it, I always wonder whether a more organized numbering system would be more beneficial.

I absoluetly agree, and forgot to mention that's PARTIALLY driving force behind things. Although there are EMS unions, such as the IAEP, they are no where as strong as the IAFF, etc. Also, when you consider employment in commercial EMS, you know how hard it is to get a union into place, even fearing losing your job if they catch you thinking about it. And, in a lot of places, an EMS union doesn't even help much, instead, it adds to the tensions. If EMS was to become municipal, then I'm sure that most employees would be eligible for inclusion in the CSEA, at the least. I know if EMS is a part of an FD, then the EMS employees can become part of the IAFF. In Boston, EMS is part of the Police union Even so, look at volunteer FD's, still get treated WAY better and more attention then EMS. EMS employees deserve the same benefits as FF's and Police Officers, like job security (no velcro patch syndrome!) and pensions. They shouldn't have to worry about working at three different agencies to make ends meet. And those who LIKE to work EMS shouldn't have to worry about getting on an FD or PD for a better career, they should be able to stay in EMS and not get burnt out. No offense to any of our FDNY friends, but I would have loved to see what would have become of NYC*EMS today had they not merged with FDNY in 1996. I wonder if they would be one of the premier independent EMS systems (again, like Boston EMS, also run by the H&H) ?

I should know the answer to this, but I never really got into the billing end of things..... If you need an ambulance in an emergency, and you get billed for it, do you have to pay it?? I know many communities have "soft billing", but is that true for all agencies that bill for EMS? Are there agencies that make you pay, even if you can't afford? My question pertains to agencies in NY and CT. My question originates here. A friend of mine had to use Greenwich EMS one time, and she recieved a bill for over $1000. Her insurance didn't cover it, and GEMS said she had to pay it, despite not being able to afford it at the time. They set up a payment plan with her to pay it off. So my question basically is, if you can't afford an ambulance but need one, and your insurance won't pay- you'll be forced to pay the bill?

I'm wondering what the current status of OLM*EMS is since the "affiliation" with Montefiore? I've noticed several OLM EMS vehicles at a warehouse on 233rd St. by where 39 Truck used to be. Did they move their operations over there from the "Ambulance Station" at the OLM parking garage on 233rd? Also, how many of what level of buses are they running now? Here's a bonus photo of OLM 2838, one of their newer Wheeled Coaches. Can any of the OLM guys on here comment on how they like them? A lot is talked about Wheeled Coach's quality, but the ones from Los Angeles that I have ridden in and seen are quality- but then again LAFD is obsessive with equipment maintainence, even the units that do 3,000 plus transports a year. How are they holding up on the streets of the Bronx, though?

I'm sure all of us have some unique and unusual residential common entrances in our jurisdictions, with equally unique layouts that are built on slopes. Take, for example, this home. Let's say the fire is showing upon arrival, in the area inside the orange circle. You have reports of people trapped in a bedroom. What are your concerns with this structure, and what would you have to do differently here then a normal home? If you need additional information, ask by replying to this thread, and I'll provide the requested info to the best of my knowledge.

I've just recieved word that Somers FD has taken delivery of a new brush truck tonight. Anyone have any further information, or photos? Or, better yet, want to invite x635 up for photos????

Looks GREAT! When can I come up?

I noticed that a few departments in CT have recieved new Ferrara regional HazMat response vehicles....I'm assuming these were issued by the state. If so, how come some departments (like the casinos) got them on a custom Ferrara chasis, and Danbury and Westport got them on International Navistar chasis? A pay to upgrade thing? Also, how does this system work? How's it staffed? They respond anywhere in the region? If so, Danbury's got big territory to fill....does this take a chunk out of their staffing when it has to respond, or is it callback?

I'm just curious, how is it that Putnam County is responsible for providing Advanced Life Support, yet BLS falls on the individual muncipality or fire district? I know here in Westchester, it's up to the municipality to provide and fund ALS. How was it done that Putnam Co. is reponsible for providing ALS, not the municipality? And is there an ALS tax or ALS district?

Let's see how many now-defunct EMS agencies or ambulance agencies we can list. Please give details or dates if you have them. AAA Ambulance (Yonkers) Park Ambulance (Yonkers) Metropolitan (Before Merger) Transcare (1st Version) Yonkers Volunteer Ambulance

I believe the pilot aired on Fox Reality and MyNetwork (Fox Owned) in May. I guess feedback was good, and LACo Sheriffs higher-ups liked it, so I guess their spinnning it into a series.

Please post wake and funeral information on this thread when it becomes available, and please post your condolences here so they can be passed along to the family. R.I.P.

Just wondering what departments do to handle heat exhaustion, especially during heat waves? Do you carry cold bottled water on your apparatus? Do you call Bee-Line to use one of their buses as a "cooling center"? Do you automatically send EMS w/ ALS if not already on the card? And here's an oddball one- do you staff more firefighters so that the rotation and work can be spread out over multiple guys, with each one getting enough time to rest and rehydrate?

It really should be a state law. I mean, could you imagine drinking in a Police Station? If firehouses want to be social clubs, then they can't be firehouses. Let them start a fraternal orginization and get themselves a hall or something that is completly seperate and remote from the firehouse.

Having Pollice Officers as Paramedics is a good idea,ONLY if it does not impact patrol coverage. In the unincorporated section of Greenburgh, that's how our ALS is provided. A Police Officer staffs a Patrol Flycar solo. A Police Officer-EMT also patrols in an ambulance solo. Their is a civilian medic ambulance also for the town, that medic rides solo as well. For the most part, they depend on a sector car to drive the ambulance to the hospital. Although this allows for rapid response times, it takes police officers off the streets for a good amount of time, for even the most minor call, such as an ankle injury. On the flip side, if the Police Officer-Paramedic has to make an arrest, he is out of service for a while. If call volume spikes, then the surrounding communities are relied on to come in and cover, or if a Police Officer isn't available, then a career firefighter is used to drive the ambulance to the hospital, or if it's a cardiac arrest, two are on a rare occasion used. Therefore, taking firefighters away from the community. EMS should be an independent, fully staffed civil service agency, just like PD's and FD's. Everyone always tries to get a bargain with EMS. Towns care more about their Sanitation departments then they do EMS. And a lot of it is our own fault, as we cover up our problems and don't do much public education as to who we are and what we need.