pasobuff

That didn't end up in Yorktown Heights, did it?

Wishing a speedy recovery...glad the perps were caught..... I was working 2 different nights when WCPD officers were injured/involved in MVA's....NOT a stress-free situation!

Haven't heard a thing up here yet.....

From the NYS V&T Law....the vehicle MUST be an Emergency Vehicle.....

California follows the ICC as far as Codes (as does NYS)...I jsut did a quick search, and did not find anything specific to this application..... I do not see the Property Maintenance Code listed however, which would probably have bearing if this was in NY. I ahve seen these types of displays here - in fact in Albany there is a huge sign on a parking garage - however that is just what the structure is.....a parking garage....no office space impacted.

Not sure about California building Codes, but the placement of such signs may decrease the glazing requirements for buildings - they are effectively blocking the windows..... Umm....if any of the windows are low enough for escape - that would probably be an issue too. I don't have my Code books with me to look up an specifics right now though.

At the time (over 10 years ago) for this 'first EMT call' - I had a very good rapport personally with the department that could not get out.....I also belonged to the neighboring VAC as a riding member. It was my choice to detour to the scene and see if I could assisit in any way...... As for tha ambulance ride I had personally a few years ago - I don't have a problem with getting a bill - thankfully my insurance paid almost the entire amount. There are 3 fully paid services I believe that work in this County, and they have specific areas that they cover. If a rig isn't available, I do not know if they will request the next closest or one of hte other agencies. I am not going to take that chance if I am in pain - my last ride I would have had my mother dirve me to the hospital, but I was in such pain I had her turn around and head back to where I KNEW there was a Medic with drugs! Up here I do have an issue that the ambulances, which are fully staffed by paid personnel - still have VAC on their side....but that is another thread. If a service needs to be paid in order for the citizens to get TIMELY service - I have no issue with that. If there are enough volunteers to staff a VAC, that is great too - it is a cost saving to the taxpayers. They should not be afraid to look into going part or full time paid if they are not able to regularly get out for calls. Paid services are not always 'better'- they also have issues with staffing, getting rigs to scenes...it is not just a VAC problem. That being said - I watched someone code one day as we were trying to get him packaged for transport - I was there as mutual aid - after listening to the covering VAC page, and page, and page....the person could have literally WALKED to the hospital faster than it took the VAC to finally call for mutual aid. And, of course, while we were there another call cam ein for an MVA - and that was covered IMMEDIATELY! THAT I have an issue with - picking and chosing calls. With a paid service, you don't have that problem at least. To me, in a 'perfect world' - you get X number of chances to cover a call (like 2 pages), then it automatically goes to next closest for mutual aid - no picking and chosing who you are 'friends' with that week - or stepping over an agency that pissed you off last week.....that is NOT in the best interest of the patient! Same thing with the fire service....when I was a dispatcher, I would rather hear a request for mutual aid worded something like 'I need 2 tankers, an engine and ladder' than I want 1 eng from X department, 1 tanker from x dept etc.....where I worked there was a CAD system - and the dispatchers actually knew if other departments were already out - saving time and resources.

It is not a matter of swallowing pride.....as with having ANY paid service - it is a matter of PAYROLL and COST.....some communities cannot afford it. However, I do know that a lot of communities have gone to having paid EMS during the day, when coverage is the lightest due to regular volunteers working their paying job. Where I live now, the local ambulance corp. went paid a few years back - they just didn't have the personnel to cover calls. Was it a 'fix' - sort of.....I listened to an EMS call one day down the road from me (I don't run EMS here, so I didn't go).......it was close to 20-30 minutes before an ambulance got on scene.....the Vol. FD was there, but they are not a transporting agency - they had to wait for the 'Paid' staff to show up. This is why unless I absolutely NEED an ambulance, I will either drive myself or have someone drive me. The last ambulance ride I had ended up with a bill of almost $500- for a BLS transport - to a hospital 14 miles away.....the Medic that rode in with me didn't cost a dime (although he was getting paid through the Medi-vac company he works for) - they didn't bill me. You will always have the possibility of having one more call than the staffing can cover, and then have to wait for backup or MA EMs. When I worked paid EMS we responded to any mutual aid call we received - didn't matter if it was from a VAC or another paid service. And, this WAS in Westchester County - over 10 years ago.

The first EMS call I ever rode on as an EMT was with a neighboring department......I lived in Yorktown at the time, and was listening to a neighboring department tone out for an unresponsive person in a vehicle.....and toning...and toning.....I was able to finish getting ready for work, get in my car and head out.....I had to drive past the road the call was on anyway, and decided to take that road. I was the FIRST EMS provider on the scene - PD was there, but the person was still in the vehicle with his German Shepard (I thinkit was) standing guard.....still remember the dog going NUTS any time you approached the vehicle. PD went and got his wife - house was right down the road - I somehow or other advised I was there I think - and the ambulance rolled with I think just a driver...... Long story short, I think the total time of CPR was around 45 minutes.....unfortunately the person didn't make it....... I was never asked why I was there, my presence was greatly appreciated I think. It didn't hurt that I knew a lot of people in that FD, I also rode a few calls with other local EMS agencies when they needed the help - I was never refused. It helps to know your neighbors, have a good rapport with them.....and work together!

I used to do a lot of fire photography, and some of the things I used to see would probably make you cringe. Haven't had much time for it in the last few years - I should try to dig out some old photos though and scan them. Photos are a great way to 'see and learn'.....and the question of responsibility and/or liability are good ones. If there were to be an incident/injury - the photos would most probably be called into play - OSHA, NIOSH etc would probably end up using them. Insurance companies too..... Everyone loves those action shots- but I feel that especially the newer members need to be taught how to PROPERLY don and wear their gear when at a scene. Older, wiser, more experienced members should set an example. Remember we are all human - I know I have not always worn every piece of gear I was supposed to - maybe left the gloves off because it wasn't condusive to what I was doing etc. Waist belt, well, maybe because of my physique I find it easier to wear the belt and support the pack....although the strap almost always gets in the way of the pockets of my turnout coat....so I can't use the pockets. In my position now, though, I have a responsibility to make sure all my gear is worn properly, because I have to set an example. Not only that, but I also need to make sure that I do not become a casualty in any way, and I sure don't want to be photographed doing so!

And from Yahoo also...... http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/pop...17&src=news

Taken off Yahoo News...an AP photo.....

From all the pictures and video it also looked like there was no wind....no chop to catch a wing tip. I'm listening to the audio of FDNY right now.......interesting!

I took this off the Upstate Forum - and am wondering if it is being enforced down the Westchester and elsewhere.....I know when I was down there the topic came up - but this was years ago..... I personally don't think the last sentence makes any sense.......if someone has to work overtime, the only thing that will be affected is the community where they volunteer - it isn't as if the volunteer position would take precedence over the paid position.......

I think what people need to remember too is that we are all adults - if/when you pull 'double duty' as a volunteer and career - you should know what the risks/consequences are if you get hurt/killed on a scene. What is your coverage -and if you don't like the answer, then it is your CHOICE not to volunteer....... In the case mentioned above, it is the FAMILY who suffers - not for the 'loss' of perceived benefits - but for the loss of their loved one!

I believe you might be right - this was the type of scenario I remember when I was down in that neck of the woods - and/or a career ff could not volunteer in a neighboring/mutual aid department - if they responded into the career/IAFF area then there would be a conflict again.....

It would depend on the scheduling of the tests - if one is in the morning, and the other after lunch it shouldn't be a problem. If you plan on taking them at the Academy - give them a call and ask in advance. When I took my FSI 1 & 2 National Cert they were given on 2 consecutive days.......

I wish I could make it (I don't get notices any more - think my Associate Membership ran out! LOL).......but I will be heading to FLORIDA that day!

I will keep an ear out up here and report back if I hear about any National testing being scheduled....... And, better a drive to the Academy in April than February!

As we discussed this morning - congrats on the 'pay raise' ROFL!!!

Good question! I would say if the injury manifests itself within 24 hours of the incident, make sure it gets reported ASAP. And document, document document! After 24 hours, it gets harder to prove that it was job related, and also your memory could start to fade (although for some of us it starts to fade faster! )

And here is the link to the video if anyone missed it! I've been away from the area a while - but he looks familiar! http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=6641998

Very good point! It doesn't hurt to get something on paper that you received an injury - however slight. You may feel kind of dumb at the time reporting a tiny nick - but as illusteated above, you never know what might happen. I think we all want to be 'macho'....and ignore those aches and pains and 'minor' cuts and scrapes.......been there. done that myself! Thankfully it hasn't come back to bite me in the rear.

I'm going to reply to the last part first - to me, a 'minor' injury is one that does NOT require transport to a hospital. When I was active as a firefighter, if I received a minor cut (say from a shard of broken glass - not really needing a band-aid even) - I wouldn't bother reporting it. If it was something that required any type of medical attention, yes, it was reported. As for your given example - that reminds me of a story I heard quite a few years ago.....that at a fire scene a certain person would go up to firefighters and 'instruct' them that they were 'injured'.......I never saw it myself -but heard it from more than one person.....this supposedly was done to bolster numbers and try to show that more staffing was needed etc......a Union issue.

Not to pick on anyone - but watch what you say when talking to the news! How many items can you find in this article?