trauma74

I know that the H.E.L.P. Truck program is thru the NYS DOT and that the trucks are sponsored by State Farm Insurance, but who actually staffs the trucks? I was on the NYS DOT website and the info on there says that the people operating the trucks are not NYS State employees. If State Farm is sponsoring the HELP program, are they the ones that hire the people to staff the trucks? Anyone know how to get hired to work on a HELP truck? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

I am still trying to find out what company hires and provides the staffing for the HELP Trucks in the Hudson Valley area and how to apply for one of these positions. So far, I have had no luck finding out this information. I have spent many hours searching the web and I have been on the NYS DOT website numerous times and I have found nothing. Are these positions so coveted that everything has to be kept a BIG SECRET??!! Anyway, if anyone has this information and provide me with it, I would GREATLY appreciate it. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!

Also, take a look at TOMAR, they make excellent LED lightbars.

It appears from the article that this supervisor was not intoxicated from alcohol, but under the influence of a controlled substance. Does anyone have any further info on this?

While I have been programming scanners now for many years, manual programming seems to be a thing of the past. Just like with portable radios, they really need to be programmed via computer. A friend of mine just gave me a scanner to program and I feel like a dope because I cannot figure it out manually. Does anyone have the full version software for the Uniden BC246T that they can email me in a zip file? Also, my laptop only has a db12 pin female connection and the scanner programming cable is a db9 pin female connection. Does anyone know where I can get a male - male adaptor to I can program this damn thing? Thank you in advance!

Jack, Thank you for your help with this, I found a computer at my parents house that had the correct male connector I needed. I downloaded the butelsoftware and after some tinkering, I think I got it working correctly. Unfortunatley, since I hadny slept in over 24 hours, I had to take a break from the programming and I will finish it tomorrow. I do plan on doing this as a business, so I will be eventually purchasing the different software and cables with connectors that I need to hunt for. USB cables will work just fine once I get them. I just have to get a little capital first before I can purchase these items. Luckily, I was able to access my hard drive even though my computer crapped out. I have the full paid for versions of BCT15 and BC898T software on the computer and I should be able to recover them and use them. Thanks Again!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH! I will give it a try!

If what I tell you is actually the truth, it will be a big surprise for everyone involved. Like I said, posting on here will let the cat out of the bag and will cause major controversy. That is why I need to tell you in a PM only.

I found a way to connect to my computer, I just need the full version and not the crappy demo software. Can anyone help me with this? Maybe just send to me in a zip file or provide me with the keycode if it works that way? Thank you in advance for your help. Doug

I am starting a business that includes programming of scanners, consultation and sales. I am specializing in the radio systems of Orange County including the new 800mhz EDACS towers that are now linked together and are on a voting system. However, I can program other Counties in the area without a problem. Many of the new scanners are nearly, especially trunked systems impossible to program manually, so I must program them via computer. If you need programming, sales or consultations on different types of scanners. Please email me at trauma74@aol.com if you need my services. Thank you advance. Doug DiBlasi ScanMaster Communications

I am only charging minimal prices for programming, a lot less than what scannermaster or any of the other companies charge. The OC EDACS system is very complicated to program and it does take some time to get it programmed, especially when doing it manually. I can do other Counties since I have a huge database of active frequencies. I do not change until the scanner is finished and working properly.

A friend asked me to program his scanner for him and I am doing him a favor, I guess I am going to have to get a cable or figure out how to do it manually.

I stand corrected, it is a DB15 connector, problem is that its a double female that I need....

I am going to make an educated guess when it comes to AMR. From what I was told, someone who was higher up in 2 different Private EMS agencies, was planning on bringing AMR into the area and running the show. It has also been rumored that there is a Private EMS service for sale and that the only company that they would ever sell to is AMR. Maybe the rumors finally will become reality and I would not be surprised by it. Let us see what happens Before I get ripped apart, I am just posting what I have told over the past 10 months.........

Below is the ammendment to the NYS VTL regarding Blue Lights on the rear of FD Vehicles, EMS vehicles were left out of the ammendment. FD vehicles in NYS are now permitted to have rear facing blue lights. No mention of EMS vehicles anywhere................... § 375 (41). Colored and flashing lights. 4. Blue light. b. In addition to the red and white lights authorized to be displayed pursuant to paragraph two of this subdivision, one or more blue lights or combination blue and red lights or combination blue, red and white lights may be affixed to a police vehicle and fire vehicle, provided that such blue light or lights shall be displayed on a police vehicle and fire vehicle for rear projection only. In the event that the trunk or rear gate of a police vehicle and fire vehicle obstructs or diminishes the visibility of other emergency lighting on such vehicles, a blue light may be affixed to and displayed from the trunk, rear gate or interior of such vehicles. Such lights may be displayed on a police vehicle and fire vehicle when such vehicles are engaged in an emergency operation. Nothing contained in this subparagraph shall be deemed to authorize the use of blue lights on police vehicles and fire vehicles unless such vehicles also display one or more red or combination red and white lights as otherwise authorized in this subdivision.

Dan, I agree with your post. You and I have both been involved in EMS and the FDs for many years in Orange County. Almost makes me feel old! LOL! You can never be too safe when you are operating on scene. I do agree that it would look bad for DOH to cite any ambulance for being too safe. I fully understand your concerns about agencies going overboard with lighting and I agree that often times, it can be very blinding. I do like that idea that there can be different settings for LEDs to reduce their power, like a dimmer type switch. This is something that could be used at night especially when stopped on a scene. Also, I know someone mentioned the "move over" laws that many states have in their VTL laws. NYS passed a "move over" law that goes into effect sometime in 2011, hopefully that will help reduce the number of accidents when emergency vehicles are parked on a scene. One more thing I wanted to mention that gets me about EMS being left out of the new VTL ammendment is that if the ambulance, fly car or special ops vehicle is from a Fire based or Police based EMS service, they can blue lights, but the private, volunteer and independant EMS services cannot.......that is just DUMB!

Yeah, who the hell came up with the letters KKK for a standard for EMS?, someone was not thinking on that day.................................

The ammendment to the NYS VTL for blue lights is pretty recent, I am not sure of the date that it was ammended, but there is no other section of the VTL regarding colored lights, so yes, EMS was left out of the new ammendment. Even before the ammendment was made for FD vehicles, I did see many FDs start adding blue lights or replacing existing other colored lights with blue on the rear of their vehicles. I know that even though EMS was left out of this ammendment, many of the volunteer and municipal EMS services will use blue lights on the rear of their vehicles. I have already seen many VACs with rear facing blue lights and as far as I know, and speaking for the area that I live in (Orange County), none of the VACs have had any "run ins" with the State and local PDs. I think that most of the police officers could care less if an ambulance has blue lights on it. With the law now including FD vehicles, I really do not see any EMS agencies having any problems on the PD side. For the private EMS services, I think they may tread a little more lightly than a VAC or Municipal service. The reason why I say this is because NYS DOH looks pretty hard at the Private EMS agencies and I know that if DOH really wanted to "break balls", they could technically give out a violation for a vehicle that is not in compliance with NYS DMV laws. I am not saying this will stop Private EMS from using blue lights, but I do not think it will be as widespread as it is with the VACs and Municipal services. Also, I am not going to name any EMS agencies, but I have seen ambulances in both Orange County & Rockland County using some blue lights that are forward facing in addition to rear facing. It comes down to safety, this is the reason why the PDs were permitted to have blue lights in the first place and why the NYS VTL was changed a few years ago to allow it. If the PDs and FDs can use blue for safety reasons, I do not see why EMS should be excluded from something that is for "safety reasons"...... As far as visibilty goes, yes, amber is a good color choice for the rear of all emergency vehicles, but blue blows away the amber when it comes to visibilty. I know when I am out on the local roads and the State highways and PD is stopped along the shoulder whether it be for a traffic stop or some other hazard, I see the flashing blue lights WAY before I see any of the other colored lights, especially at night.

They also do ALS for Chester and they supply daytime paid EMTs for Chester VAC.

You guys are funny! I am sure that Billy will get a good laugh at all of the comments

REST IN PEACE CHIEF HAND! May GOD Hold You In The Palm Of His Hand

Checking this out: I would like to test this out and see if it really works. Anyone else interested in setting up a test with me?

I am not trying to fight with anyone here, but I wanted to throw my 2 cents in here.....When it comes to PL Custom and whether or not they build a POS, speak with Spring Hill EMS in Rockland County.....I believe they run between 9000-10000 calls per year, all of their buses of PL, someone correct me if I am wrong, but from what I am told, every 5 years, they remount their PL boxes onto new chassis and then 5 years after that, they then purchase a new PL bus. As far as I know, they have not owned anything other than PL in at least the past 15 years and they have 5 buses in service. Many other vollie EMS agencies on Rockland County have PLs. The agency I used to ride for 3 PLs. They still have one of them left, it is a 2001 on an E-450 chassis. It does not have the new multiplex electrical system, it has the traditional "flip a switch" system to turn on the lights etc. To date, there has not been any serious issues with that bus. The 2 older PLs were replaced with 2 Horton type 1 ambulances on medium duty International chassis. After a lot of research, with the main focus on safety (Horton is the only American ambulance maker that does crash testing), we decided to write up our specs around Horton specs. Even though the specs went out to bid, no other companies put in a bid on these specs, Horton was the only bid, so they were awarded the contract. I am not saying that we would not have been happy with a PL. If PL did bid on the specs and win, I know we would have been very satisfied. Being on the ambulance replacement committee for my agency, I spent countless hours studying specs and actual ambulances from many different companies. In my opinion the top 3 companies are, Horton, PL and Medtech. Top 3 chassis Ford F-550 SuperDuty, Dodge RAM 3500 & International/Frieghtliner Medium Duty.

I know Billy Goldfedder on a personal level and I am not surprised at all that he would stop to assist at an MVA not matter he is or where he is or where he is enroute to..........I like the LSFD design on the back of his turnout coat. Was he is in his LSFD vehicle or his POV?

Does anyone know what kind/brand of radio that the local medivac (LifeNet/Stat Flight & NYSP LifeGuard)use in the choppers? I know that different areas and different agencies use multiple different frequency bands with and without PL/DPL tones. Just trying to find out what they use. Thanks in advance!