v85

Can I get a "rule interpretation" from the moderators about the anti-negativity policy, specifically as it applies to younger members of the emergency services. It seems like there are frequent negative comments about younger members in emergency services that are allowed and go unchecked, where as negative comments about other groups (i.e. racist, sexist, homophobic, career vs. volunteer) get clamped down on. And no, I'm not advocating for anything ridiculous (like letting 18 year olds with licenses the ink is still wet on drive 10 ton pieces of apparatus) but a little respect would be nice

That's not the kind of respect I'm talking about. Yes, a probie or rookie needs to earn the respect of the men and women he or she works with. I'm talking about the human dignity kind of respect, the same that says making racist, sexist comments isn't acceptable should also say that making ageist comments isn't either. The comment about "fifth grade class" is an example. I was never handed anything through school.

Of course not, but I'm just suggesting possible reasons as to why. Whether they are legitimate or not is another issue

If this is true it sounds like there is one of two problems: 1. Private EMS impersonating or coming very close to impersonating police/firefighters. (i.e. vehicles painted in the exact same color and style of the local FD's) 2. Private EMS agencies "not playing nice" with the rest of the ICS system. (i.e. we have our own bosses and SOGs, we don't answer to you)

If they can't perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation, that is a different story. Then yes they can and should be disqualified. But if they can perform the functions then they should be allowed to join. Just because someone was at one time diagnosed with a mental disability doesn't mean they can't perform those tasks safely and effectively. Like I said before, I know personally of police officers, firefighters and EMTs with different disabilities (both mental and physical) and the don't require "babysitting"

I don't know...it wasn't my department. Maybe they assign him to some duty that doesn't involve direct patient care? (traffic control, stand here and watch the trucks etc)

Are you sure about the sexual predator one? I heard of a firefighter who was a registered sex offender. The only requirements were that he couldn't respond to elementary schools or go on medical calls where a child is the patient

Maybe that is the case. All I know is that I had 3 different fire chiefs (who were also all police supervisors or chiefs) tell me that it was illegal. Maybe they meant illegal to run an eJustice on them...or illegal to use the criminal conviction to disqualify (as opposed to the underlying conduct/moral issues) but that is what they said

That seems to be some dangerous thinking... Where do we draw the line. I know of armed police officers who have disabilities ranging from dyslexia to mild cases of OCD and Asperger's syndrome. Plus those who have or acquire PTSD. Do we really want to go back to the days of if you have a mental illness, you get dragged off by the men in white coats, and kept in a padded room locked in a straightjacket. Now, if a person is a demonstrated danger to themselves or others (i.e. making violent threats with paranoid delusions) then yes hospitalize them to get them stable. But a witch hunt is not the answer. EDIT: Also, it says that this kid was applying at the firehouse. How were they to know he had mental issues? Also it sounds to me like there was some pre-existing tension between the town board and the fire department. and this is an excuse to get rid of them

In NYS apparently it is illegal for VFD's to do background checks other than for Arson

Personally I think there is a big difference between badge bunnies, buffs, whackers etc... A badge bunny is someone looking for a relationship with someone in the emergency services solely because they are in the emergency services. A buff is someone who is interested in/gung ho about the emergency services regardless of job status A whacker is someone who walks the line between being legal and having a police officer empty a ticket book on them for various VTL violations relating to emergency lights, sirens, wording on their vehicles etc. Also applies to people tangently related to the emergency services trying to pass themselves off as real deal PD, FD, EMS.....i.e. a TSA screener who claims to be a Homeland Security agent....CERT volunteers who claim they are OEM employees etc

Some people think the object under his RVM is a light. A whacker maybe?

I don't understand. Isn't there a significant difference in the quality between a photo taken using professional equipment and one using a smart phone? Also, this might work for news, but what about sports. The reporters in the booth can't get the same kinds of photos as someone on the field level can

I was told by a member of their SOG, that they were state certified hostage rescue; I'll see if I can find out

I thought Orange County Sheriff's SOG were state certified as well. They might have been certified as hostage rescue and not swat though

I am COMPLETELY against the use of drones in emergency services. And it has nothing to do with privacy or conspiracy theories. It has to do with protecting jobs. You think the layoffs are bad now...wait until the politicians figure out that rather than having 100 police officers. You can have 50 police officers, 25 just turned 18 "cadets" or "community service officers", and use drones to fill in the patrol gaps.

Nice to see Mr. Woebse do this. Now if someone could do this every time this happens maybe we will get somewhere. Someone should also do this everytime a newspaper publishes a derogatory article after an Officer Involved Shooting.

I'm in

Yes, I was reading about Focus (the parent company) they seem to be quite involved in technology sector venture capital along with some other things, including nursing homes His name also appears in business textbooks and is one of the prospective buyers for the Orange County Nursing Home. Now this leads me to ask, what do the other EMS agencies in the area think of EMStar moving in? Generally venture capitalists like growth not stagnation, so might they eventually try to make a move on one of the other regional commerical services territories?

Is this the same EMStar as in the Philadelphia PA region? Also I wonder what is really changing? If the company is HQ'ed in Philadelphia area, will they just leave the same local supervisory and management staff in place? Will there be any difference in field operations at all?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mboKUdpkk34]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mboKUdpkk34 According to the description and vehicle it is a Transcare Emergency Response Unit; but it is not marked in any standard TransCare graphics, and is running code 3 in New York City, where TransCare is strictly interfacility transports. The only thing I can think of is some kind of people-mover either bringing EMTs to an MCI, or for nursing home evacuations/green-tag transport at MCI's...but if anyone could confirm anything it would help. Also I wonder where it was going...the video didn't appear to be taken in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and I don't think TransCare would be first due to a more "routine" incident

I can't read the article because of TH-R's subscription policies, but does anyone know when this company will be operational? Do they have apparatus and a bay yet? Are they certified by OFPC?

Someone on the video comments said it could be Organ Transport; I never knew TransCare did that. I also thought most Organ Transport vehicles were marked as such.

It could very well be fleet maint. related... I know FDNY has Emergency Field Crews, that have RLS on their vehicles

It won't let me post the link...just type transcare emergency response unit into youtube or look in the EMS vehicles section.