FF402

With all due respect, that's the essence of the first response, quick response initiating CPR and Defib. Instead of having fire engines doing first response, they will now have a Paramedic doing first response. Is this why YFD units were asking for EMS's ETA immediately upon the FD's arrival, and noting when it was a flycar on scene? This is just evidence that the FD is going after Empress as retaliation for them providing what the City has requested. If Yonkers FD wants to do EMS so bad, why don't they start their own Ambulance service, or put a Paramedic on every engine? And for those deadset on wanting to do EMS, why don't they quit the FD for an EMS career? The City is the one who asked Empress to come up with the ALS Rapid Response plan. Empress, being a vendor for the City, is not going to breach their contract with the City to go out of business, leaving Yonkers with a subpar EMS service to replace Empress, costing a couple hundred people their jobs, in order to save firefighter's jobs. EMS isn't nearly paid as well as Yonkers FD, nor are they given benefits like the FD does. EMT's and Paramedics have to have a second job to make ends meet, even though Empress paramedics are paid more then most commercial services. Actually, Empress was asked to come up with a plan, again asked by the City, to replace the first response program. The City has stated that they wanted to reduce the five man engines with four man engines, and will reconize a significant savings in labor costs, as per the city. Empress is a vendor to the City Of Yonkers, which doesn't even pay for the EMS services! And I think the biggest problem that YFD is afraid of is that their call volume will decrease significantly. Fight the City, not Empress!

Empress is a union shop (International Association Of EMT's and Paramedics Local 20). I'm suprised that Yonkers FD, having a strong union themselves, would be trashing Empress and threatening the jobs and livelihoods of over 200 people with a company that has served the City Of Yonkers for over 20 years, and is able to provide a large amount of ambulances to the system anytime. While the firefighters recieve very good pay, benefits including a great pension, it's unexplainable why their Union would go after another union where the members of that union don't have nearly the same pay and benefits of YFD members. And while the EMT's and Paramedics are running their butts off covering calls, with down time spent in an ambulance on post, the firefighters have stations they can go back to after they dump patient care on EMS, which then does the meat and potatoes of the work. I didn't think that trashing another union was how they played the game. I guess desperate times call for desperate measures. I guess if EMS is 80% of your call volume, if the City paid for more ambulances and flycars dedicated to Yonkers in lieu of an FD first response, that would really bring down their numbers, and that would affect staffing and funding. And they must forget how Empress is a vendor of the City of Yonkers, and part of that is delivering what the customer (City Of Yonkers) wants. Must also forget that, even though they claim "For Profit" ambulance, Empress provides EMS to the City Of Yonkers for FREE, and often sacrifices their transport side of the business so they can provide excellent service to the city. Empress also provides, at mostly their own cost, a full service EMS Special Operations unit, with numerous personel extensively trained and very well equipped to support the fire department in Haz-Mat situations. Empress also provides EMD pre-arrival instructions to callers, which has been proven to be lifesaving. Not to mention how clinically progressive they are, such as being the first EMS service around to use RSI. Also, Empress EMS maintains their headquarters in central Yonkers, pays taxes to the City Of Yonkers, and employs numerous city residents. Their dedication to the City is evident. I find it disgusting that the website implies that due to the EMS provider, that they are "saving lives everyday". Empress has some of the strongest and most experienced EMS personel out there, and you don't see stories about the good they do, because the fire department usually wants to take all the credit, as evidenced on their new website. The EMS employees are the ones saving lives everyday, as EMS is their full time job. Firefighting is YFD's full time job, and the motives of them trashing EMS is sketchy. I guess true colors are showing.

http://www.lohud.com...ext|Frontpage|s

http://yonkers.dailyvoice.com/neighbors/yonkers-union-leader-honored-national-award

http://usnews.nbcnew...nion-warns?lite

FULL ARTICLE: http://mountpleasant...-broken-hydrant

http://mountpleasant.dailyvoice.com/police-fire/mount-pleasant-fire-districts-propose-2013-budgets

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/murder_medics_SRV9OuK2J46SZbyq2QL7lK

http://www.lohud.com...ey=mod|mostview

http://www.lohud.com...reaking-planned

Full Article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48879499/ns/local_news-new_york_ny/

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.poughkeep...&nclick_check=1

Camden is one of the most dangerous cities in the country. http://articles.philly.com/2012-09-01/news/33522280_1_regional-police-force-county-force-police-budget

http://www.northjersey.com/lodi/Lodi_council_introduces_ordinance_to_limit_alcohol_in_firehouses.html?page=all

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/20/13377849-shooting-death-of-handcuffed-man-in-patrol-car-ruled-a-suicide?lite

http://www.poughkeep...&nclick_check=1

Tarrytown Ambulance Corps Struggles with Sexual Harassment Allegations Nine women who are either current or former members of the Tarrytown Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) have accused a male colleague of sexual harassment and plan to file a complaint with the NYS Division of Human Rights today. http://tarrytown.patch.com/articles/tarrytown-ambulance-corp-struggles-with-sexual-harassment-allegations

Cameras everywhere, nowadays. "BMW Fire: Armonk, NY 3/12/12"

How many hours of training can a volunteer firefighter be expected to put in? At what point will it drive them away?

Wow. What a dramatic event. Hopefully the firefighter recovers as quickly and painlessly as possible. And I hope lessons are learned from this video, like how to pay attention in bail out class.

Do you consider the moral and ethical background of Chiefs and Commisioners when you elect them, even though their conduct was not while "on duty"? I know of one department that has a Commisioner who, at the time was a Chief, was the subject of a Federal investigation regarding kiddy p*** charges, along with his friend who was also a Chief. It was well known amongst the department, but no one really said anything because it was embarrasing for two high profile members. I find it outrageous that a department or it's membership could actually let someone like this set policies for their department. Is that someone we want representing our department(s)? What if this ever came out in public during a Commisioners meeting or election? Could the credibility or charachter of that elected official come back to haunt them? What would you do?

I looked for this thread all day, couldn't find it. Let's not make this specific to one person or commisioner or incident, as this is not meant to be slanderous or an attack. Whichever case you speak of is probaly not the same as mine. I merely presented a scenario I was familiar with for discussional purposes only. But let's say the person you speak of was guilty but never charged? Or used an "escape" in the legal system? What would that say about that particular leader if it was to come out? And, if requested, should it be public knowledge? Especially if the charge is asssociated with someone who may provide fire education and firehouse tours to children? If it were to come out, what would parents think?

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110804/NEWS02/108040364/Westchester-hooks-college-students-accelerated-volunteer-firefighter-training-course?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Westchester County, New York

I second that. There's a ton on FB, but where's the appreciation here? Are people to lazy click a button and type, or are people afraid or something? Regardless, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the founder of this site!!

http://www.lohud.com/article/20110618/NEWS02/106180332/Croton-ambulance-squad-under-review-response-times-lagging?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Westchester County, New York