spc0806

EMStar & MLSS can be dispatched by pager as well as a backup to CAD. Their CAD was down and they were paged instead of called via the phone.

I had been a AEMTI from 1997 till 2006 & had worked as a I at Empress as well as other locations. Yes places are still using I's & CCs. 2 of my present partners are. I tell you from experience that taking the I & working as a I is great experience & is a step to be a better medic.
Yes times are changing & I am not to sure of the future of these programs. If you can find a class take it. Knowledge is never a waist of time

Williamson County, TX (my home county) has taken delivery of 6 new Ford F-450 Super Duty/Wheeled Coach ambulances, with more on the way. These are the first ambulances's to feature Wheeled Coach's "Cool Bar", which intergrates emergency lighting with the front mount A/C unit. They also have air-ride suspensions.
They are remounted onto a new chasis at around 40-60k miles. After another 50k, they are replaced and put into the spare pool for about 2 years, most often less. The oldest frontline ambulance is a 2008.

Compartment door are pinned closed. Indicator lights for the driver and officer. TR54 Photos

Here are some pictures of FDNY R5 taken Sunday at the LI Fire Expo

Front of R5.

Rear of R5.

Looking inside the rear box. Note the red reflective striping around the rear perimeter.

Side Company Emblem.

View of the top of the rig.

An "antenna bar" with eight antennas attached to the front of the rear box.

Very sturdy grab rails along both sides. This rig appears to be built of heavy duty materials. The white speaker on the left is the intercom to the front cab.

AirPak Brackets and seating in the rear box.

View of the front inside of the rear box.

Radios at the front of the rear box. There is a sliding window just above this on the front of the box.

Netting for compartments with roll up doors also.

Rear wall of the front cab.

Front console with two radios and door ajar indicators. To the rigth of these radios is another scanner.

View of the dashboard.

By now I'm sure a lot of you who respond to EMS calls have run into at least one young person who has drank to much of that new drink Four Loko. For those who don't know what it is, it's a 23.5 oz alcoholic drink flavored ( grape, orange, etc.) which has a 12 percent alcohol content, and the same amount of caffeine of a 12 oz coffee. It has become very popular with high schoolers and college students. Over the last few weeks pretty much every drunken person under the age of 25 I've picked up has been drinking this " blackout in a can". I know that people are pushing to get this drink banned, but before it ever gets there we still have to deal with the fact that it's on the street. I was wondering if anyone else noticed an jump in younger people drinking to much recently, or have had calls attributed this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_%28drink%29
http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/2010/10/19/2010-10-19_four_loko_an_alcoholic_energy_drink_is_banned_at_a_new_jersey_college.html

You got a good response and a lot of info on your inquiry, but allow me add my two cents. It takes more than throwing a jump bag & 02 in your car to make it an Emergency service vehicle (ESV). On carrying oxygen in your POV, while there is little risk in administering O2 it is still a medication requiring authorization from a MD., which your agency probably has. They can then authorize you to carry & administer it under them as an ESV. However there are a few other issues that you should be aware of. Other than the required equipment needed, which has already been posted, there are other specific requirements which must be in place. You must be authorized as an ESV by your organization just as they auth. the use of blue or green courtesy lights. This is important & I'll return to it later. Another requirement can be found in part 800.21 (E) which states that all ESV must have the organization ID'd on both sides & rear of the vehicle with lettering not smaller than 3 inches. In all my travels throughout the NY metro & Hudson Valley area I've only seen one agency do this right (there may be others, but I only know of this one) and that's Lewisboro VAC. They made up huge magnetic signs which are then placed on the authorized POV's, and not everyone in the organization has them. Other than the obvious there is also a safety issue involved. Many, many years ago I remember an unmarked van which crashed & burned out on Long Island xway. It was carrying tanks of compressed gas. I'm unfamiliar with the thermodynamics of what happens when gases are heated or whether the heads failed due to heat or damage. The end result was the tanks flying through the back killing & injuring firefighters. This might be academic to you but is, I'm sure, one of the reasons which ESV's must be ID'd.
Take a look at 800.26 it requires the agency to authorize, have policies, & insure ESV's. Now, some agencies might tell members not to worry that your insurance will cover any accidents or that you are covered under the agency's insurance when responding. One, what would your insurance company say if they knew that the family car they are insuring is being used as an emergency vehicle. I'd ask to see a copy of the agencies policy which states I'm covered if responding in my car on their behalf.
I hate to rain on your parade, you sound like someone who wants to help, but there's never a problem until there's a problem. If you should get into an accident where someone is injured or, God forbid the nightmare we all fear, a fatality & all the requirements of State regs. & law are not meet.... you will very quickly find yourself an only child alone in the cold.
That's my view.

I had CO exposure symptoms for months. I thought I had the source identified with the stove as the culprit. If the stove was on for an hour or so making supper, I would finish supper and then fall asleep in a chair. Turns out, I was just tired.
Sorry, guys, I just couldn't pass up the chance

Orange County Sheriff's Police Car with Montrose VAFD E-225 at VAFD HQ

The Darien CT Police Department recently received 2010 Crown Victoria patrol vehicles, following their conversion by Specialty Warning Systems of Danbury CT.
The warning system is entirely Whelen LED based incorporating a Liberty WeCan lightbar, Super LED Mirror Beams, HideAway LEDs in the front corner lights, LINZ6 LEDs behind the grille and a headlight flasher. Completing the system are four additional HideAway LEDs in the reverse and taillights, a dual Talon on the package shelf and LINZ6s installed in each rear side window. A CenCom system provides overall lighting and siren system control.
The center console is a Havis Stout Mount Series with secondary rear console, which contain the dual cup holder, 12V power outlets, Trak mounted flip up armrest, Whelen CenCom control head, department radio and AM/FM radio, which is relocated to accommodate the Data 911 computer display.
A ProGard prisoner containment system incorporates the primary partition, ABS transport seat / floorpan combination and solid rear door panel with window armor. Pro Gard also provides the front pushbumper. The custom exterior graphics package incorporates reflective striping and lettering elements, town seal and roof mounted ID.
Specialty Warning Systems appreciates the confidence the Darien PD has placed in us, to provide their new vehicles and looks forward to a long working relationship in the future.
Visit us on the web at www.specialtywarningsystems.com or look for our videos on YouTube