Eagle24

EMT-I was great for me going into medical school when I didn't have time to do the medic course/rotations. Once I had the cert, I practiced my skills with medics who I had worked with as an EMT-B for years. It was not only good to put on school applications,but it gave me a huge leg up in school in many areas, as well as the ER I work in now. I recommend the CC course now because the recert for EMT-I is going to be impossible without the CC training from what I understand.

Agreed. This would be a good scenario to go over what worked and what could be improved on,from as many agencies involved as possible.

I think you guys all got the right idea. The value of an EMT-I in this part of New York is, thankfully, not that high because of the proximity of most medic units. However, as an EMT-I myself, I think the course is very valuable for any EMT that is going to be riding calls simply for your own benefit of knowledge and experience(rotations during the course). Having said that, you will only get to practice your skills on a small amount of calls (if you get to at all). I've found that if you work with the same medic "group" long enough, and they know that you are a COMPETENT EMT-I(and are MAC'd), they do not have a problem with you practicing your skills when appropriate(under their supervision). Do I ask to start every IV line? No. But if there is an arrest and everything else is taken care of except for intubation and IV access, then yes I might ask to do whatever the medic isn't working on (assuming BLS care is being taken care of by other EMT-B's on the crew). If you have the time, just go for the medic course. But if you can't manage that into your schedule, then an EMT-I course might be a good way to get a good foundation in emergency care.

Exactly my thoughts. I'm just waiting for the investigation to confirm this, but it's hard to keep an open mind on this when half of the story is coming from "sober" witnesses that keep changing their story. It is a horrible tragedy regardless of how it happened, but you got to think of the people that the driver might have killed if he had gotten away. And the EMS response...15-20 mins, then 12-15mins, then the cops didn't treat him fast enough or the medic didn't go to him first...RIDICULOUS. No cop would want a person they just shot to die. The response time was great considering the time of night and area (in my opinion). And I won't speak for the medic...but this was an MCI, so if the medic took five seconds to ask the first person he/she saw if he had any bulletholes in him...I would not fault the medic at all. Despite the loss of life, it seems like a job well done by the EMS agencies in handling this situation. Next play in the lawyer playbook: Blame the M.E. for false test results. Even though that did not work last time in this town...

I'm glad that this is being brought to light, everyone knew what that "press conference" was about...and it was flat out disrespectful(for lack of a stronger word of disgust) to set up your legal defense/deflect blame in public, before they were even buried. If the village wants to keep the media away from bothering TFD/families, use the police, not ill-timed press conferences. Did anyone see Blau at the services? I didn't, and I couldn't imagine him in the same building as 500 emergency workers so soon after that debacle.

R.I.P. guys...my prayers are with you both, your families, and our communities...you will be missed by many.

sounds like fdny has a good plan on paper. What about Westchester? What resources are out there(besides toning out for more people to help lift)? Critical patients are do what u can,but what about stable ones that can't walk? Please note that if the stretcher HOLDS 750lbs,it doesn't mean an automatic one can lift that much(not even close in my experience)...and already stated is that the patient will hate the normal stretcher and will be hanging off the sides the entire ride. I think wmc has a bus for this but I'm not sure...

Droid has never had a problem on this site...

outstanding news!

Yes, yes, and yes. The only question is when to start the stand-by...

THANKS Jack!

Does anyone know of a webpage anywhere that has the full and UPDATED list of who generally operates on specific EMS/Fire frequencies...for example, what agencies operate on EMS 12, Fire 12, etc...I don't want to waste 60 control's time requesting a full list if it is out there somewhere. Radio reference has the frequencies, but doesn't state the agencies that operate under each. . . Thanks for the help.

I should have stayed in Miami another week...

To answer the original questions...day scheduling vs night scheduling is done the same way at the agency I belong to. We are 100% volunteer for our BLS ambulances, with a contract for an ALS fly-car. We have an internet website that allows members to log in and sign up for any hours that they can do (which can then be seen by all other members and generally avoids the "clown car" problem). The scheduling "blocks" are hour to hour for ambulance drivers and/or EMTs, and we also have a BLS fly-car slot available for 12 hr. shifts(obviously for EMTs only...) that requires officer approval to utilize. We DO have gaps in the schedules of our members, and the officers coordinate to cover those hours or reach out to other members that don't ride as much. I do not have the times on hand...but I would say BLS amb 3-5 mins to roll on AVERAGE, fly car is on scene withinin minutes when signed out and a driver has called in as responding to the amb. Obviously times vary to BOTH extremes depending on crew situation/nature of call... ALS response times are usually 10-15 mins to arrive on scene depending on their location/availability. I do not believe that there is a "perfect way" to run a volunteer agency. Every agency operates differently, and it is important to find what works best for your agency AND the patients we are there to help. I think that open discussions like this one are important to see how other agencies operate, and maybe take an idea from one agency and try it with your own. Please do not bash specific agencies mentioned here for their methods/effort. To avoid the "waves" of new members mentioned in this thread, how do other agencies out there "recruit" regular new members? We've tried posting signs throughout the district, letters out to the community, and obviously word of mouth probably works best...any other methods proved beneficial for you/your agency?

Very well done. Showed it to someone who said "bro, that makes me feel good about what I do"...