joetnymedic

One of the major issues in CT is too many chiefs and not enough indians. Take med con. We have what 6 different zones if I remember right and I dont know if this has changed since I worked, but SW is the perfect example. You can have med con from bpt and st v's or norwalk or stamford or greenwich and thats in just one section. If things were regionalized it would be great. Florida is a great example look at the counties. even their radio systems, the whole county is on one system just different talk groups.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD...EMPLATE=DEFAULT

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/200...-of-mayhem.html

they're all kinda clean from the pics huh?

you sure it didn't wind up on it's side? when I enlarged the pics it looked like the center of the rig was dented pretty good

congrats - good job!!!

gee and I thought buff refered to a guy built like a brick sh**house - lol And yes even at my ripe ole age, i still buff got a camera and the pics to prove it.

Actually, My friends in Canada work for Calgary EMS and they have quite a few medic bikes. Here's a photo from 2002 and they've added more since then. Joe

OK maybe some didn't understand my post. first let me say yes he drove a car drunk, yes he took the car when he shouldn't have. And yes thank God he only wrecked the car and didn't kill someone. Now as for saying he has a problem - that's evident by his actions. Should he have drove the car in the first place - the answer is no. Who knows maybe he thought he wasn't drunk. How many people do we see in the course of our job that honestly say they've had too much to drink, not many. Most won't admit it. To those who have taken the keys from someone, thank you you probably saved their life. Now, What I was also trying to say is this guys actions should not have a blanket effect on the views of Sleepy Hollow nor EMS. Yes, it was pointed out that it was a Sleepy Hollow vehicle and John Q. Public can't see for themselves that it's an individual and yes people tend to draw their own conclusions. But remember guys (and gals), they form uneducated decisions and that's why it had a blanket effect. But, the Journal News plastered Sleepy Hollow in the paper to people who don't know any better, they see Sleepy Hollow and associate it with the corps, or they see the word ambulance and it cast a shadow on everyone. I was not trying to stick up, or sugar coat anything either. But, it's obvious the person involved has an issue or issues that being said, while I agree he should be punished because he made some very bad choices here, I don't feel he needs to be locked up in jail for it, especially if this is his first brush with the law. He should have to pay for the damage, lose his driving privledges, have to attend at least 2 or 3 autopsies (I know this sounds morbid, but hopefully at least one of the persons was killed by a drunk driver), he should have to do a number of hours of community service and be on probation for a period and as a special condition, he needs to go for alcohol counseling and AA. His career in EMS is probably over too. Now why don't I think he should be locked up? Maybe because of 2 reasons. 1) I believe alcoholism is a disease and as it being a disease, if you don't treat it, it will get worse. 2) what kind of treatment is this kid going to get if he's locked up? I'm not sure about NY but I can tell you here in CT we are going thru crap right now with the state because guys get locked up and it's more like a warehouse for people, they don't learn anything that they can use to better their lives or get a job that pays above minimum wage and on top of that, when these guys get released, they literally get driven to another city and dropped off on the city streets with nothing and what's that going to accomplish? Nothing. This person has no where to go, no job, etc - he or she is going to re-offend and get locked up again and the cycle continues. And don't get me wrong, I feel that people who commit crimes against others, violent crimes, etc should be locked up. But we really need to look at things on a case by case basis. And as Seth said, this individual had some issues in the past but he tried to change, he tried to become a better person by getting into EMS. I don't know, these are just my opinions and I know alot of you aren't going to agree with me so I'm ready to take the heat. But then again please remember, these are my opinions, you are also entitled to yours and I will respect them. Joe

I'm not saying what he did wasn't illegal in fact, if you re-read the post, you will see I actually suggested some things that could be done as punishment. While I did not say lock him up, that's something that would be on everyones mind so I didn't write it. That said, what would happen if he was locked up? would he get the help he obviously needs? not a chance. sure he will be penalized for what he did, and he should be, but we (as in society) need to not only penalize him, but get to the root of the problem and fix it. Just locking a guy up may give him plenty of time to think about what he did, but other than that, I think jail is just a human storage facility. At least in CT it pretty much is. There have been plenty of articles and news storys on how our DOC takes guys who get out and drop them on city streets. You may as well just give them a ride back to jail because these are the guys most likely to re-offend. if you don't fix the problem one person at a time, it's going to happen over and over. There's something else I wanted to point out, as for EMS always catching a bad rap. How many stories do the paper and TV news do on EMS that shows it in a good light? - exactly, bad news sells and this is how media makes it's money. I worked for a couple of TV stations up her, doing video, in fact when fox61 opened it's news department I was one of their videographers. I quit. you know why? Because they sent me to film the funeral of a cab driver, who's wife was a nurse at Yale with 4 or 5 kids (I recall it like yesterday the guys name was Al Hansen and he worked for Metro Cab). You know what my boss was intent on me getting video of? The family crying and being devestated by his death. Well I disagree with that. Funerals are a time to mourn and I thought that was a bit over the top so I left. I also worked the desk here in CT at News 12 in Norwalk. It's pretty funny that we would jump on a story about a fire department who's equitment was falling apart and had to borrow trucks from other departments, yet we ignored the guys that were out there saving lives. Funny thing is, as I still have my hand in the pot there. Last year was the first year they actually did some good stories and spotlighted several ambulance services during EMS week. I'm just saying the media is slanted and I don't think anyone here would disagree. And part of the reason the public may have a tainted vision of what EMS is all about is because mainline media keeps shoving all the bad stuff down their throats. Anyone see the Journal News at Sleepy Hollow when they put their new ambulance in service? How about their 40th anniversary dinner? Media was invited, but they decided it wasn't in their intrest to cover it. And this type of coverage doesn't just happen in Sleepy Hollow. I am using Sleepy Hollow as an example because of what just occurred. Do I think what the guy did was wrong, of course I do. Should he be punished? yes. Should it be splattered all over the papers? no. But 10 to 1 when he gets sentenced the paper will bring the whole incident up again so that everyone has to live it again.

Not to say this wasn't a bad thing that happened nor was it right. Yes, it gave Sleepy Hollow a black eye so to speak. Someone didn't think before they did something stupid. What the article failed to say is that the VAC has other members which are willing to and dedicated to serving the public. Yes, it was a lack of judgement, and yes, this is going to portray the VAC in a poor light. But I am sure that the members who are active and dedicated will be able to overcome this obsticle. Everyone here has to admit that Sleepy Hollow has come a long way from what it used to be. As for the driver, Yes, he should be punished for what he did. But remember, his thinking was impaired from whatever he was drinking. He should be responsible for paying for the damage to the fly car and whatever else they find out he hit. He should have counseling and should be required to get help for his issue. Everyone here has had to deal with some type of drunk whether it was on the job or off. So remember how those people were. What I think would really drive the point home here is to have him see what drunk driving can really do as he is lucky he didn't hit and kill someone. Make him sit in on an autopsy. Make him watch blurred lines (yes, I've seen it). Open his eyes to what drunk driving can do and let him see that there are other victims to his actions, not just himself. And yes, even though he didn't hurt or kill anyone, there are other victims here. Each and every member of the Corps has to deal with this. Not only that but the Corps is down a vehicle which was used to help people. and the Village also suffers from this. And yes to a degree people who don't realize what or where this happened, may think it was somewhere else. Some people will be quick to point out that incidents like this are part of the reason EMS is viewed as the red headed (sorry to anyone with red hair) step child of public safety. That's because when incidents like this occur, we tend to monday morning quarterback instead of learning from it, and putting things in place, as well as just sticking together. I don't mean standing up for the guy that screwed up, but standing up for the Corps and EMS in general. If we can't get our acts together, who will and the mold will never be broken. This is just my opinion and everyone else has theirs and is entitled to it also. joe

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090113/od_af..._20090113032028

I love it but you hit the nail on the head. More like vegi-runs as my ex partner brett would say. BTW I actually just noticed the typo. I must have been really tired when I typed that in my old age (going for the walker with the tennis balls now). I'll be a candidate for GLS myself to - LOL

I worked for both WEMS and Transcare in my day. While you will do alot of transports with WEMS, you will gain alot of knowledge from the transfers if you apply yourself. I know they were mixing both GLS and ALS rigs for transports back then. I will also tell you WEMS has an excellent benefit package should you go there. Transcare is also good. Yes you will have to work transport until you get some experience under your belt, but once you get into the 911 system, you will be doing all 911 jobs. that being said, one thing about both of them is that the road people as well as the supervisors are really good people and good to work with. I would also suggest you try and get into a VAC to get some experience under your belt. Good luck, joe

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_wtnh_Woo...ce_200901092305

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/20...n-arrested.html

Just a short note to say Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, etc as well as a Happy New Year to all. Some good things happened this year and We hope you all have an awesome holiday and great 2009. Joe, Barbie, Sean, and David

bet he got a ride alright-lol

Thanks Guys. I enjoy putting stuff in here and the mods as well as the members make this site a great place for news and sharing information. I've learned quite a bit here. I hope to be here for years to come. Joe

i hate seeing old trucks put out to pasture to just rot. i'd love a chance to do a restore. once I do the move in march or april, i'll start looking with all the time i'll have on my hands

http://www.lohud.com/article/20081010/NEWS02/810100414

Nice Rig Scott. Good luck to WEMS with it. Question though. Aren't the power stretchers alot heavier than the regulars?

http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/news_ap_ledya...rs_200812020809 From WTNH New Haven, CT

i read that story too. the guy who wrote it is an absolute clown and soomeone needs to take his crayons away. what is he thinking. i actually posted the story myself on another website. what this guy is proposing is lunacy. when the guy in the car shows up and calls for back up, whats he supposed to do till they get there toast marshmellows? and on the heart attack protocol he proposes, uh yeah, ya know what, we're trying to save money this month so we're not going to give you nitro or a line because hey, the er has all that stuff there. this is exactly why people who have nothing to do with emergency services should express an opinion on what said services should do. basically you'd get a better response from a wall than this clown. what's next, well ya know even though the fd went to 5000 calls last year, only 300 were real calls, so look at the waste of manpower and equipment so lets start cutting jobs and selling off equipment. This guy is one of those people who would probably convince some mayor or counsel member somewhere that any of the above mentioned would be good for them. and the sad fact is as most mayors or council members have no idea about emergency services, they'd probably convince some shmoe to go for it. what's next telling cops not to shoot at someone unless they actually get hit - hello. This guy is outright dangerous

Happy B-Day Chris. Next year I'll get us matching walkers - with tennis balls of course - LOL!!! Joe