Westchester

I have to agree with everyones post. We all get nervous or buffed out in the beginning, it could be EMS.POLICE, and FIRE. In the beginning you will carry everthing to start your own hospital, then after awhile you will end up carring only a pen, if that. Your main concern is the job at hand and keep your self calm and think before you react. As you know all calls are different in nature, the last think you need is 20 pounds of extra s*** aroungd your waist or in your pockets.Whe I did EMS I buffed it out in the beginning, until all the crap I carried got in the way or fell out of my pants and belt, Your most important tool is your portable radio. Safety first for you and your crew

NEW YORK -- Philip Seymour Hoffman, who won the Oscar for best actor in 2006 for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote and created a gallery of other vivid characters, many of them slovenly and somewhat dissipated, was found dead Sunday in his apartment with what officials said was a needle in his arm. He was 46.Two law enforcement officials, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the evidence, said the actor apparently died of a drug overdose. Glassine envelopes containing what were believed to be heroin were found with him, they said. So the question was Is heroin ever getting off the street? Here is your answer.

I'm sorry but I disagree I some things here." More money needs to be spent on programs to deal with this". We are already spending millions on Task Forces, Drug awarness classes, never mind the insurance spent on these losers every time we pick up there high off there ass bodies and take them to the hospital to detox. Our Health care System is broken and this is a lost cause. I know you can't give up on your loved one or friend, but if they got the itch they are going to scratch it. I tired of feeling soory for people who put toxins into their body and then we have to feel sorry for them and cry and start charitys to bury someone because they spent all there money on the goodies.If you want to F**K up your life go ahead, just don't get in my way. Westchester the drug tasks force. The county or the villages and towns should post there picture and blotter report for all to see. I have lost family and friends to drugs, it sucks, but it also makes me angry that no matter what I did or said and spent ot detox programs, 12 step programs, drug testing, searching the room or cell phone for strange items or numbers, search the computer or social media, nothing helped or changed My Cousin is dead. I hate drugs and dealers. I'm sorry but its out of control. Hopefully humans will realize that GOD created and woderful creation and they are just sinning by destroying it. Spend money and efforts on the ones that deserve it, not junkies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry to say but there is no real answer for emergency responders to say. Drugs will always be there and it's not out job to prevent others who want to harm themseleves with this killer. Between social media and rave parties there is no end in sight. Peer pressure is higher than ever, drugs are cheap to buy, and as we all know how additive with one hit it can be. Do we blame the parents? Do we blame locaton? Ho about friends or relatives that are additive? I don't care if you live in the lower class areas or upscale areas Heroin or other narcartics are everywhere. It's up to goverment to make stricter policies so when law enforcement makes arrests of users, sellers, DUIs that the court system give s them a slap on the wrist. Heroin has been around during WW2, and will never leave. It some one wants to kill themselves, so be it !

Village worker was pulled out of water by civilian, and warmed with a jacket. Resuce arrived after he was out.

It's sad to see this happen to Chester Vac, but let's be real it's happening everwhere.In a thread I started awhile ago about Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps. volunteers are hard to come by know a days. Years ago residents lived, worked, akd breathed their village or town. Now residents just want their garbage picked up and thats it. We all are or have been members of a EMS agency. Things change members get old, move, or just can't do the time. It's hard for me to say but all EMS shold be paid and staffed 24/7. When I hear 60 control page out over and over and pver for a driver oe EMT it kills me to think what the patient or family is thinking ( I been there and lived it ) where is the help. The system is broke and people will die with delay or inexperenced EMT's Sorry Chester Vac your one of many that will shut its doors

"Many members don't march and many are disinterested. I've seen the amount of parades attended from some departments go from 15 to 20 parades a year down to 5 to 7." How true you are E106MKFD during our monthly meetings it's like pulling teeth or begging members to march in a parade. I love parades, I see old friends, talk and joke, and even my loved one gets into the sprit. The things I hate are standing around in the heat and crappy designed dress uniform with radioactive shoes that feel like there going to explode on my feet and when or parade committee tells us is only half mile and down hill when it's really 3 miles, up hill, and marching past residents back yards. And for God sakes put more crappers on the parade route. If have to walk 3 blocks and stand in line to take a leak that smells like someone had bad tacos the night before.

Well here goes! The thread I'm starting could be positive or negitive. Parades are important social function to all Emergency Services, not only showing off equipment and members, but also to meet other departments, talk old school stories, and be with friends and family. Now the bad. Paid or Volunteer it is always hard to get numbers in line to march never mind the cost of a band to lead your department with ony 10 in line, and of course there is food and drinks to be provided. And with any combination of adult beverages ( at a bar or brought in a cooler ) the beer muscles flex and the load mouths come out. In other threads in this forum the ex-brewster fire chief has been talked about. First no Paid Firefighter should ever bad mouth Volunteer Firefighters at after parade gatherings with alcohol. I've marched in New Yorks St. Patricks Day Parades ( and I know almost eveyone has marched or hung out ) I've been and seen some nasty fights either verbal or physical, and I've been to White Plains St. Patricks Day Parade ( nobody Paid or Volly ) can say anything, talk about drinking. So the question out there is what to do about Parades, should it be a dry parade or drink in uniform so we can make our departments look like crap when we get into a problem. Never mind Lake George for the Hudson Valley Parade! Duffys Bar is the bar to end all bars for firemen/firewomen talk about fun and some good fights. Well lets see what you think ! Parades Good or Bad? Drinking at Patades, Yes or No? And is it worth for a department to pay to go to a parade with a hand full of members? Let the debate begin.

How true you are about the journal news. And your right there is more to any story. The problem with media is they publish, we read, and then resident read and that's what makes us look bad. Emergency personel will always be looked upon as hero in one mind set and party animals in the other. It's a shame. Save a life or property called a hero, have a beer called a drunk, have a argument called a bully. When does it end

In my opinion ( And sometimes I have alot ) the moral of the story is that no proper hearings were performed to get the full story. Yes foul language was used and should never be used, but there has to be more to the story. I can undestand being upset that after marching you notice members hanging out when they could of been with their department in line, also was there alcohol involved. Let's be real every parade that I have marched in food, soda and beer were there, and yes I myself have been intoxicated prior to step off and I bet others too. And I have made remarks or got into a little heated debated with others. It's wrong, but it happens. The main story is that was there fair and due process done for a suspension oexpulsion. Every Firedepartment should have a grievence commitee to handle internal problems then have a hearing within the department so witness and statements from both sides could be heard, if that is done the town or village should be aware of what occured and either the matter was taken care of or village or town admin. and trustees must step in and have a proper hearing. Fire Chiefs and Captains are too fast at the trigger to hand down suspensions. As far as a 10 million dollar lawsuit, a lawyer can ask for the stars, but will only get nada! I'm tired of this sue happy world, but thats the way it is. It has come to the point like I have been rambling on for years, times have changed, trust no one and keep your mouth shut and think before you speak. And if you have a problem with another member don't explode when your wearing department issued uniform, your representing your department and your town/village. Just because a parade may be a social event your still a employee of your town/village.

I know this is a topic that has been beaten to death, and not many emergency personal will comment on a topic that we all deal with. It does bring up good points. I feel the moral in Fire Departments suck. I can see the numbers of responders getting lower and lower for calls. There used to be a time that when the pager wqent off regardless what time or what call, we all went because not only for the duty we love but to get out and hang around after the call and shoot the s***. Now ( and I know we all have families, etc. etc. ) it's like everyone is afraid to even talk in the rig going or coming from a call. I love to make jokes, and sometimes crude jokes or like poking fun with other brothers and sisters. But my GOD it's like you have to wear a muzzle now. It's to the point that probies complain about being bullied because they have to roll hose. Why to I want to subject my self to this baby bullshit, if you can't take it, get out!

I'm so happy someone other than myself feels the same way. I 100% agree with you FFEMT150, but in the world of lawsuits, slander, and bullies it seems almost impossible to say, write, or type your feelings, opinions and facts. I wish I can thread about some articles or comment about certain things, but I did that done that and got heat about it. I never wanted to use a false I.D, but in todays baby sucking nipple world, who wants to her crap about what I said. We all have stories about the FD service or EMS service. It's hard for some to (Q.T.I.P), especially Chiefs or Captains of certain departments. Things are not what they used to be. There was also a time you can have a beer together and shoot the s*** during social events and the next you know your being suspended or fired. There is no thick skin anymore. Most go running home to mommy with tears in there eye, a business card of a lawyer name in one and false statements in the other. Thick skin got feeled off a long time ago most take it personally and there the ones that I see on this site.

OK! Beating this story to death. Bottom line he buffed it out. He has no authority to send a crew to a second call before the first call. A child with a seizure and a elderly man with a cut arm are two different calls. For all we know the child was blasting a fever causing seizures, which in my medical training takes first priority. This EMT broke the rules and freelanced ( in my mind ) he wanted to be the hero of the day. Case closed. Another buff in a agency trying to get his/her name noticed. It happens in every department, there's always one that buffs a call and ends up causing more harm than good. No reader should argue with this cause we all have one in a department we serve and if you don't you full of it.

After reading all these threads, in my opinion it just goes to show how 1 article got everyone hot and wild and burned up social media, and now we read the secons article and there is more to the story. Before we take sides and all become experts there is always different sides to hear and read. He did wrong, period. No excuses should be typed or said. Rules are rules and if you don't like them quit or don't join. The second article is so much different then the first, wait there will be a third and we'll be hanging him out to dry.