x635

As mentioned in my blog and on this thread, Empire is working to become a full-service training center. This includes hosting a multitude of courses, EMD being one of them. These classes are open to everyone, and not just their employees. Additionally, EMD training is useful for the dispatchers working in the commercial sector.....EMD training helps with private emergencies, stat ALS transports, etc.

Here's the outgoing Stamford Truck 2, as it appeared today, sitting IFO the Stamford Fire shops on Magee Ave. It appeared to be still in service. [attachmentid=1236]

Here's the squirrel before he noticed me and decided to pose..... [attachmentid=1235]

I'm back from Orlando! NO, I did NOT go to ANY theme parks! No exciting or buff related photos either, didn't have time or an oppurtuinity. Did see some nice Orange County and Seminole County apparatus driving to and fro though. Check out my blog entry about this trip here: http://x635.blogspot.com/2006/09/back-from-orlando.html Next scheduled trip: This coming Sunday, San Francisco AND Los Angeles...full out buff, err, I mean enthusiast trip. I may photo-blog my way daily through this trip, so stay tuned for details.

Just a heads up, this show airs tonight. 8PM & 11PM, National Geographic Channel. I believe Cablevision Westchester Channel 162 (NGC is on Digital IO)

This is called "Tactical EMS". It's becoming a trend in SWAT/EMS agencies across the country. I know agencies, such as Newark EMS, send EMT's/Paramedics out with the SWAT team on entries, raids, etc. They are the last in the line, and are there to quickly treat and extricate any officers that are injured. Usually, these paramedics have to go through a rigourous selection process, and very extensive training. There's many training courses for paramedics called "Tactical Medic" training. I believe this orginated in Texas. There has been a JEMS article on this, as well as a TV documentary. Every team operates differently, and if you google "Tactical Medic" you can find numerous different associations and teams to learn more about this new sub-specialty of paramedicine. Also, I believe NYPD has officers trained as Paramedics that respond with SWAT teams for this purpose ( I remember an article about them getting an ALS license a few years back for this )

I've been looking foward to attending the Metro-North Croton-Harmon Shops Open House all year. I've never been before, and really wanted to go. It would have been really cool to see the shops up close and personal. I was there once this past fall for a train rescue class, but wasn't really into trains then and only saw a small portion of the shops. Anyways, as I figured, it's been announced for Saturday October 14th, from 10am till 3 pm........and I'll be flying back from Oregon that day. So, heads up to all of you that are interested in this kind of thing, and if you go....get plenty of digital photos for me to see!!

What about chocks that put themselves down automatically? Now there's something for someone to invent! Thanks again for the lessons which are always in the front of my mind going to runs.

I do properly position always when possible as you taught me . Sometimes it's impossible or very difficult to properly position, take East Hartsdale Avenue, North Washington Ave., Ridge Road, for example. I'm not talking so much about operating, but parking for BS EMS calls, routine stuff, etc. I try to locate on a side street or driveway where applicable, but sometimes those options don't exist. And even with proper positioning, these drivers still pose a danger.

Congrats Karl!!! Best wishes to you both, wedding planning is a lot of work but a lot of fun....many cool options out there. Have fun, it only keeps getting better and better from here....

And it doesn't take more then a few seconds to get hit by these drivers with total disregard. In many cases, you don't have an option, you have to be in the road...especially in older areas with tight and narrow streets. Anyone who has had to remove and in some cases unfold chocks while in a lane of traffic should know what I am talking about. It's dangerous, and I feel chocks, if they are a department order to apply, should be accesible from both sides of the apparatus.

That is a beautiful truck!

Does anyone have chocks stowed on both sides of their rigs? Usually, the chocks are stowed on the drivers side, so they can be accesed and applied quicky without the driver having to go around to the other side. However, I do not see why they are not commonly found on the passenger side....their are times when one is in traffic, and placing the chocks on the drivers side puts you at uneccesary risk, when you can go around to the passenger side and chock there. Also, do any departments have policies that DO NOT require chocks when an apparatus is parked?

I actually like the looks of this chasis. And I'm hearing awesome things about the interior design and space. I'm going to reserve judgement on this one until I see it in person. I'm going to miss the Dash though. What a great chasis. Long live the Arrow XT though!

This is a slap in the face to dispatchers statewide. As stated, dispatchers are just as much a part of the team as those who actually respond to the scene. I hope the dispatchers of this state are out there, schmoozing with the canidates for governor to know where they stand and to educate him, so that when this bill comes up again, it can get passed. Dispatching is high stress work, and takes its physical and mental toll, same reason why FD and PD have 20 year retirments. Unfortunetly, their pensions are lumped in the same with clerical workers and janitors. I think the dispatchers need stronger unions, a stronger capitol lobby, and hopefully a new administration that truly supports ALL of our emergency services personel. As for the cost to local goverment, this is once again ignorance. What does it cost to continually recruit and train dispatch staff, a PROFESSION that has a high turnover rate? What does it cost agencies in efficiency to lose good dispatchers? A pension plan would help to attract and retain competent and experienced personel (in most cases)

I'm sorry for ruining the suprise. It was my understanding that the webcast was done already...friend called me from the show and said it was introduced. Had to get the news out to the buff world.

Two brand new thought out chasis' from Pierce were introduced today. Can't wait to see them in person. However, first impressions, the mirrors on the Velocity look wierd, and the Impel looks similar to an E-One Typhoon. Pierce Velocity: [attachmentid=1211] Pierce Impel: [attachmentid=1212]

http://www.fallen-heroes.org/Memorial/dvd.html (11 minutes in length, but worth the watch)

Thanks everyone. Unfortunetly, my night didn't go exactly as planned, and I ended up going home sick late in the evening. I'm excited to be off probation (I think!) yet I feel like crap right now. I can't wait 'till I can really celebrate. As for the probie dinner, I have to wait until when I'm working with enough people from my group simonltaneously. Then it will be a good dinner. The training, of course I'm always going to do what I can to be the best I can be and contribute to my department's large knowledge and skills base. And congrats to my brothers from 03-2005, who also recently completed probation!

Many of you followed my probie year through this board, and Class 03-2005 since 9-12-05. Well, tonight marks my last shift as a probationary firefighter, and if all goes well, I will walk out the door of Station 2 tommorow as a permanently appointed Hartsdale Firefighter. Here is my blog entry reflecting on my "probie year": http://x635.blogspot.com/2006/09/my-last-s...-as-probie.html

Ardsley begun demolition of their old firehouse on Ashford Avenue this past Wednesday. Details, photos, and video are posted on my blog from both Wednesday and tonight (Friday 9-8-06): x635's Blog- Click Here To View It's suprising how much land they have without the building there!

Great photos! Thanks for sharing! What were they all doing down there at once? It's interesting to see how each department puts its own spin on the same apparatus. I am also finding NJ to be very proactive and generous when it comes to homeland security vehicle and equipment spending. Same with the State of CT. I haven't seen a similar NYS program at all.

I'm just curious, but how old are you? As far as the above reply and the article posted....... I do not understand why you would make that statement, much more in a public forum full of professionals. What you said can be applied to anything...."I don't look before crossing the street because when it's your time, it's your time". How crazy does that sound? I would think that anyone with experience who has been to enough MVA's wouldn't make such a statement. Seatbelts DO save lives. Proven and witnessed fact over and over.....can't tell you how many times in the ER bay we've said "Boy, if she didn't have her seatbelt on........" If you have a death wish, don't bring it upon your brothers. And I'm sure your company has a seatbelt policy, so if you choose not to follow safety guidelines then you have no business riding on any piece of fire apparatus. In fact, get out of the fire service, because you're probaly the type that sometimes "doesnt need" you're hood or SCBA, etc. Not wearing your seatbelt, and gloating about it, is a clear example of someone who doesn't wan't to be part of a team or follow department guideline. Seatbelts can be dangerous, but in VERY rare instances. So can oxygen. As a firefighter, you are looked up to as a role model...if a little kid sees you not wearing one, will he think he has to wear one? BE PROFESSIONAL AND PUT YOUR DARN SEATBELT ON! I highly suggest finding other ways to act like an idiot that don't make the fire service look bad. This guy should have had way more jail time, maybe he could learn teamwork from his jailmates.

Dispatchers often have short career lifespans due to high burnout conditions in many comm centers. They also often come from a long work history.Don't judge a book by it's cover.

As I mentioned in the article. the town building department and other appropriate notifications were made by our officers and the those who were notified handled the situation from there. There was a follow up call made, but I don't know if any violations or the such were issued. The site today has "cleaned up its act", but is still dangerous and we visit it every night tour in my group. And there are many other construction sites out there across this region that warrant the building department and OSHA intervention, that a lot of firefighters don't even know exist in their communities.