x635

Art has a great idea. It is important for EMS to have CO detectors as well. Progressive departments, like Radnor PA EMS, carry them on their first in bags and have done so for a while. Here's a photo...the unit is very small and clips to the strap of the bag:

Interesting story. Apparently, some dude didn't think he had to stop because "firefighters dont have the right to direct traffic".

Beautiful! Jeff, get your shotgun ready, lol!!!

Seagrave finally steps into the midmount aerial TL business. This should open up some new markets and customers for them

I would just like to quickly vent about an issue. I see many people on here venting about certain safety issues, and that's cool. But I ask how come a MAJOR safety issue, one that kills several firefighters each year, is often overlooked or not taken seriously? I'm talking about Firefighter fitness. Whether it is cardiac health, endurance, strength, proper diet and nutrition or any other fitness component that may be critical in saving your or someone elses life one day, how come it is not take seriously? Many people can say "Oh, we have a gym in the firehouse", but how many people actually use it, or use it properly and regularly? Is the gym set up properly, in a nice location, and does it have all the proper equipment for a entire workout routine? How many volly fire departments have physical fitness requirments for interior structural firefighters? How many career departments do regular PT each day?How come we do not have CPAT in Westchester for an entry agility? Once you pass the intial agility, why are you done then? How many departments make trainers, mentors, or nutritionists regularly available? How many departments emphasize healthy choices at their communal mealtimes? In addition to the physicals, how many departments have a TRUE stress test component to their physical? It stuns me how departments are so gung-ho about "yearly physicals", but do NOTHING to contribute to that firefighters health year around. Health and safety go hand and hand!!!! THIS GOES FOR EMS TOO!!!

Thoughts and Prayers are with those LA City FF's were were injured, and those who were involved in the crash. http://www.nbc4.tv/slideshow/4454115/detai...l?qs=;s=1;w=320 (Images/Story)

I had the privledge to visit Jeff, Lauren and Olivia Isabella today....what a nice new family and a beautiful baby girl! Congrats! (Photo will be posted tommorow)

I was thinking about all the recent discussion regarding Firefighter Fitness, and came up with a wacky idea. Westchester County is always doing something progressive. Their latest intiative is countering "Cyberbullying", which is recieving nationwide attention. So why doesn't Westchester County do something for the Fire Service that would be progressive? Here's my idea: Westchester County should open two "Firefighter/EMS/Communications Fitness Centers", one for the North county, someplace central, and one for Central/southern WC. These COULD be open to other county and local employees as well to offset costs, but the primary focus would be firefighters and EMT's physcial fitness. Fire Departments would pay a very reasonable fee, and for that the firefighters would have 24/7 day a week access to a gym with equipment and design geared towards a firefighter or EMS professional. At specific times, a personal trainer would be available to develop and implement workout plans that will fit everybody. Second part of my idea.....make going to the gym and meeting with the personal trainer to set up a plan a component of the FF1 class. Require ALL Firefighters/EMS proffesionals AND dispatchers to attend the gym at least twice a month or whatever in order to maintain membership or employment. I know it's a little outrageous, but if the county can provide training, why can't they provide this? I feel that many in-house gyms are underutilized or used inappropriately.

I'm in, lol!

If you're talking about the link to the image I posted with the Riverhead story, that is an image that is #1 is commonly available on ALL of the media websites and TV and newspapers. The main reason that link was placed in the story I posted was it's hard to put an incident like that into perspective without it......the damage to the ambulance and the incident is just further evidence of how ambulance safety and construction standards needs to be greatly improved. Ambulance design, safety, and construction is a HUGE issue....this is not the first incident of this type, but I hope it will be one of the last. This image clearly shows the need for better crashworthy ambulances. These collegues that lost their lives today.....maybe the incident they were invloved in will get people to think more carefully next time before they turn on the lights, to look at how the ambulance is built before purchase, to lobby Congress to enforce better ambulance safety standards, to add safety features, etc etc. Ambulance safety, design, and construction is almost completly ignored over fashion and bells and whistels. That's what I wanted people to think of in that photo link, not the gore....

Terrorism is definetly a key issue......the waters are deemed to be one of our weakest points of entry for terrorists. Last weekend I came across the TZ and there were tons of boats on the water....easily way over 100 in the vicintity of the TZ....there is definetly a need for enforcement and patrols on this busy and dangerous river!

Sooner, I hope. Not even sure if I am going to Firehouse expo yet....if I do, I will probaly take the train down. It's more fun to enjoy the city/inner harbor without a car sometimes.

I like 'em! They look great. Medix sure is becoming popular in the lower portion of this county. 648's photos should be posted later this week.

This is the type of post I love to see on this board, and mainly what this forum is about. With that said, I have some random thoughts of my own. Excuse me if anything's been said already. -You won't always be able to hear or palp a BP, don't be afraid to say so if you can't hear one. It may not be you... -Invest in a quality stethescope. Littmans are the best, IMO. The better quality and model the scope, the better you can hear. Cheap stethescopes are just that. Littman engineering and quality allow more and clearer sounds. -Look at other signs to get an idea of the ballpark of the BP. If the pt is pale, cool, and diaphoretic, chances are you aren't going to hear one. -Children under 3, no BP needed or neccesary -Automatic BP's can be helpful, but can be way off. Always get a manual BP every 5-15, and use the auto for trending -Practice, Practice, Practice And kudos for knowing when you need help! Many new EMT's have way too huge of an ego, and will make up a BP when they cannot hear one, which can be detrimental.

Those ducks were some of the coolest, most laid back ducks I've ever met. Plus the mallards had beautiful colors. If I had the room, I would get pet ducks.....again. I like to add other things from my photo expeditions to the set that is displayed. Many people tell me that they enjoy that as well. Plus, animals have been a regular feature on my photo sets for the duration I have been posting them. If you'd don't like it, tough. The animals (and other photos) are here to stay. Funny worded post though, lol. I did try to get a Baltimore Medic Supervisor truck, they are hot, but couldnt find any. Gonna try to get some more rigs next time I am down there.

Date: 5-3-05 Time:Approx 13:25hrs Location: Rte. 105 IAO Rte. 25 City/County:Riverhead, Suffolk County LI Writer: x635 Ambulance was enroute to hospital with patient w/ chest pain on board. Ambulance was apparently cut off by another vehicle and swerved, striking a tree. Severe damage to front and passenger side of ambulance, sadly, 2 EMT's (Or EMT & Paramedic) died and 2 others (the patient and the driver) were critically injured in this collision. No further information at this time. RIP. News article and additional information can be found on this thread: http://emtbravo.just5buckshosting.com/phpB...opic.php?t=4528

Watching the news today, I saw footage of a St Vincents (Manhattan) Hospital Type II van ambulance? Since when does St Vincents use vans? I thought St Vincents only used Type III's, either Brauns or Marques? What does St Vinny's currently have in its fleet? Anybody got photos?

After being brought to my attention by T4, I found out K-Rock (92.3 FM) has a new format. I really didn't notice, since I wasn't listening to K-Rock much anymore, because they played the same songs over and over, and on top of that, they played horrible, useless bands like "The Used", "The Killers" etc. Every now and then they'd have a "90's Weekend" at which time I would listen and like. But the rest of the time, same songs, same bands, repeatedly. After being quite skeptical of the new format first, I've been listening when I can. I actually like the new format. They play a nice mix of real rock songs, and throw in some of the 90's and retro rock quite often as well. Being WC's only fully recievable rock station, its the only and best game in town. And thankfully, they weren't taken over and didn't become yet ANOTHER spanish language station. (We used to have 107.1 and 92.7 as rock stations, then they both went wacky, then both turned spanish). The next K-Rock move I think will be interesting to see is how they do their mornings without Howard Stern in 2006. Hopefully it will be a good morning show, because I'd like something to listen to...I'm not a fan of Howard and I don't listen to his show. The only thing I wish is for NY to get a true metal station. But hopefully, I will be getting satellite radio soon, so radio will be good again I hope. Related link: www.krockradio.com

If you guys were a sandwich (by "you guys", I refer to those employed by WEMS), you'd be this:

I disagree. Career departments are there 24/7, when one shift goes off another comes on. As far as volunteers, they are supposed to be available 24/7 most of the time, but how many will you get, what training level, etc. Then there is the equipment issue. A large percentage of the young volunteers aspire to be career, or at least that is my impression. If more career spots open up, then why would young people be opposed to career? But that's a whole seperate issue...my point is the younger guys tend to support the better option when not influnced by the decade old thoughts of their elders. As far as 50% career goes, I betcha it will happen within the next 20 years. Though there are still several more remote areas in Westchester that may never see a career deparment , there are some that are heading in that direction. And when FD's can't get out the door, municpalities will have no choice but to pay FF's, and taxes will rise even more. The money is there now. Westchester can pay for all these luxuries, they sure as heck can pay for FF's!! I remember a time when municiplaities didn't want to pay for medics...in fact, they still don't want too!!! How many volly FF's has Westchester lost already because nobody can afford or wants to live around here anymore?? How many FD's are generational? That trend will continue into the future. But that's not the issue I am trying to bring to light....I'm trying to point out RESPONSE TIMES ARE CRITICAL!!! Ego's, tradition, and the term volunteer or career should not come into play, especially with something as essential as tech rescue. The question should be, how can we get the best trained people with the best and most equipment there the fastest way possible? It is a large county, there should be a north and south TR region, but how to we assure the above for both??? And again, do you really want to wait for a tech rescue or hazmat team to "assemble", or do you want them right away??? AND I'D LIKE TO ADD ONE MORE THING: If people continue putting band-aids and temporary fixes/distractions on things, then nothing is ever going to get resolved properly. If you have a problem, admit it so you can get help. It's nothing to be embarrased or ashamed of, especially when you are being proactive and not reactive.

If we do go plain english, hopefully we can at least keep "10-4". I mean that one is pretty much universal.

When I first heard of this tool, I was extremly skeptical of an elcetric powered extrication tool. But after seeing and getting to experience the Powerhawk, it has some really neat and unique features that, in some situations, give it an advantage over the tradtional hydraulic systems. It'll be interesting to see this tool do it's first couple of jobs.