BCFire05

That's part of the reason that it's all in clinical trial for the next 3 years. To see if it is cost effective and beneficial to stroke patients. It's an interesting study, one that's already been going on in Europe. Houston is a fantastic place to test this. Houston has some of the best stroke centers in the US. Honestly, some pediatric hospitals spend more on they're NICU/PICU ambulances than UT spent on this stroke unit.

We just had a spinal protocol change that kicked in this month. We can decide on "spinal precautions" (c-collar only and sit the patient comfortably) only when we arrive on scene to find the patient has already compromised c-spine by walking, bending over, and other movement. Major MOI and non-compromised c-spine has us still using back boards. Though I've been hearing the last couple years that the use of backboards has come under debate.

Frazer has a new video giving more detail about the Mobile Stroke Unit. Staffing is 1 - Paramedic 1 - Neuro Physician 1 - CT Nurse 1 - RN http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1m64EL-k5I

I much prefer a raised roof. Our Stock pierce is a flat roof and I don't particularly care for it. I love the space in our new engine with the raised roof. It'll be interesting to see how they create more room. If it will be similar to the Saber in interior space. Though there are a few fire dept's around Houston who have spec'd velocity's with a cab as big as the old Sabers.

It was decently funny. I enjoyed it, we'll see how the show pans out.

I'm pretty excited to see the new chassis. My area here in SETX is dominately Pierce. I know they tend to cost more, but I've had nothing but good experiences with Pierce rigs. Then again, it all comes down to how you spec.

It's about time they update the f650/750 Looks great. Can't wait to see one decked out for EMS or Fire lol.

That was a pretty good documentary. I watched it a while back. It should be on Netflix. It's an eye opener. I feel bad for the guys at DFD. Yet at the same time, you really do have to admire they're love and dedication to the job. To me, DFD fire fighter's are some that represent the epitome of love and passion for your work.

Oh never mind...looks like its already been shown lol. (NOT MY PICTURE)

It'll be interesting to see how they'll looked decked for for Police / Fire / EMS. I'm more of a Ford guy lol. I want a 2015 F-150.

Good luck on the move man. I live in SETX about 1 1/2 hours from Houston. I can tell ya now, there probably won't be another test until much later this year, or next year. They have 2 Fast Track academies scheduled this year and 2 full academies scheduled equaling out to around 200 new hires. HFD usually holds 3 different tests. 1. Non-Certified test (Requires 60 hrs of college credit, or 2 years military) 2. Certified Test ( TCFP & TDH EMT-B / P) 3. Paramedic (Non-fire cert) If you have your Paramedic, you're in much better shape. I had talked to an HFD Paramedic the other week when I brought a patient to Memorial Hermann and he informed me they are still very short handed on paramedics right now and they had a lil fumble with this years budget in regards to sending employees to Paramedic school. Either way, HFD is a great department, and I plan to try out next time they test. Best of luck to you man. Any questions, feel free to ask. I'll help out as best I can. Also, if you're not dead set on HFD, be sure to keep track of the TCFP website, as many Texas fire dept's post hiring notifications there.

As far as protocols and staffing, I'm not sure. I would assume atleast someone with the hospital stroke team. Again you have to remember that this is a clinical trial. I'm sure more will be revealed when it goes into service. Harris county is quite large and a vast majority of the hospitals are centralized, especially the primary stroke centers such as St. Luke's. HFD has stations as far out as 25 min from these stroke centers. So having a mobile unit that can verify a stroke on scene and immediately begin treatment with clot busters and whatever else could be very beneficial. I'm interested in seeing how well it works.

I've been keeping track of this and have talked to a few people. The Stroke unit has been Unveiled, it's a Frazer with a 12 ft box, CT scanner mounted where the captains chair is. It will carry full ALS supplies along with stroke drugs as well. The unit will be accompanied by HFD Ambulance and paramedics or whichever dept / EMS agency the residence is covered by. It will be the start of a 3 year clinical study to see if it is cost efficient and saves more stroke victims. Houston area hospitals hope that if it works, they can have up to 10 units placed strategically around the city after the trial is complete. These are not my pictures. They are from Frazer's Facebook

That's absolutely unacceptable in my opinion. Especially with the address mix up. That easily could've been avoided had they gone to help and radioed that they were across the street from their station. Walk ups happen all the time. You don't tell them to call 911 first before you do anything to help them.

You gotta remember, this was in England, not the USA. So their laws regarding impersonating a police officer may be different.

I gotta say. I love this show. I know some people are complaining about unrealistic stuff and how it's just a big drama show. But you gotta remember, this is television, and the show is catered to a wide audience and not just emergency personnel. Look past that and just enjoy it for what it is, it's a damn good show. Suspend belief, and have fun lol. If there was a show that covered the not bit details, it may as well be a documentary / reality show. Prime time tv is all about action or drama or comedy, Chicago Fire wraps all that up into one. I dig Chicago PD too. We'll see how it pans out. Glad they keep the show I remixed with characters from Fire showing up on PD.

Seriously? Personally I find that ridiculous. I'm sure you guys have a hefty medical call volume per unit. But to not get to relax in a station on down time is pretty BS to me. Especially if you're working 24 hour shifts. Houston FD houses ambulance and squads in their stations. They stay pretty busy too, but they aren't treated like that. Granted, HFD's EMS is fully incorporated into the fire dept and isn't exactly a separate division as most of the guys rotate shifts on the box.

I've never been a big E-One fan. Most the dept's I know that have them have had numerous problems. But hey, they work for some. More power to them.

Although there are no pictures of the completed unit/s. This was on the news the other night. Not sure if many have seen it. Houston will have mobile stroke units staffed by a doctor, nurses, and a paramedic. I think it's a pretty cool concept. Can't wait to see them. This video is on YouTube via the Frazer Ltd channel. Not sure if the imbed worked....sorry if it didn't. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GpVP2RYlXyY

I know exactly what you mean.

I'd rather the ford over a sprinter or the dodge. The chevy's I work out of are constantly in the shop. I've been in my regular truck maybe 3 asifts in the last 2 months.

The future!!!! Lmao!!

I'm sure we'll start seeing ambulance variants of this sometime soon. Since Mercedez took back the Sprinter. I know Fiat has a bunch of these set up as ambulances around Europe. They're ugly as hell, but if it's cost efficient, then I'm sure some private agencies will take advantage. I'd hate to be in one....I hate working out of a Sprinter as it is. I'll keep my Frazer.

Good lookin rigs. I know HFD has started ordering Spartans and has a couple engines and aerials that have been delivered. I'm not sure if they're in service yet. I saw a couple of the new Frazers they have the other night after doing a transfer to Ben Taub. I like that they finally changed the colors on their boxes to red with white stripes

No telling what's going on with them. My vol. department still has an old school LaFrance ladder from the 80's or earlier. Sent it for a refurb about 10 years ago and it came back in worse shape idk who did the refurb...it was just before I joined the dept. The fire academy I went to uses a LaFrance as well. I'm not a big fan though.