Westchester

It's a dame shame! Brotherhood is alive with certain long time members that have thick skin or ones you went to school with. Then came certain members that can't take a joke or go running to superiors to file a complaint. Those new breed of members are destroying the brotherhood. It's like walking on eggs. Riding a truck, going to a meeting, or a social event is very difficult. It has come to a point you can't trust anyone and say nothing about knowbody

Man calls 911 because he saw a police officer marking tires with chalk ( 4 HOUR PARKING LIMIT ON STREET ), caller stated he didn't wan't his tires marked because he pays taxes which pays the officers salary and he didn't want his tires dirty. Women call 911 to ask if it was snowing out. ( She lived across the street from headquarters, and was spotted looking out the window at the time) Family calls 911 multiple times from landline and cell to report a shadow of a perp lurking around the outside of their home and area. Police respond and find out it was there cat walking around casting a shadow from the street lights. Later that evening same family called 911 to tell them they thought is was the full moon casting the shadow and that the cat may be dangerous.MEOW

As a rivertown resident it's upsetting for me to see the Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps slowly go down the tube. In a recent Irvington Work Section on WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 2013 - 7:00 P.M. On the village website http://www.irvingtonny.gov/ Captain Ellen Lewit spoke to Village Mayor, Trusees and said the Ambulance Corps is in big trouble. Now lets go back in time where IVAC had 60 or +/-members and about 30 +/- EMTs, and there was a time when they talked about always covering Dobbs Ferry when they could'nt bet a rig out. Well the shoe is on the other foot now Dobbs Ferry is covering Irvington. The Captain even says it during the meeting and if anything happened to her the Ambulance would never get out. It concerns me that the Captain is spilling her guts to the Village which has nothing to do with the Ambulance Corps. except for the contract to provide service to Irvington and the retirement plan. It's time for a paid service in Irvington. Why wait until someone dies because they ca't get a rig out and what does the Dept of Emergency Services say that IVAC is not following the Mutual Aide Agreement correctly. In the video of the work session, Captain Lewit metions that she has been in contact with Dobbs for coverage. Has she informed 60 Control of this? This problem within IVAC has been growing for sometime now. I think it's time for Greenburgh or the County to investigate this serios problem. And the kick in the butt is that they still have CME training and EMT classes and no old or new members for IVAC are in it. I know all Volunteer organizations have some problems recruting or getting rigs out in a fast time. But this happened to IVAC very fast and very bad. Lately it's been the talk of the villages.The only idea that might help is that the Rivertowns is to merge in some way or go all paid. It's time to clean house in IVAC and help it before it falls. THEY NEED VOLUNTEERS NOW.

Good Morning! I just came off a long shift, and I was thinking( hard to beileve ) What was the point in me starting this topic. The important problem is not just the EMS service but really the whole Health Care System. We don't have enough Hospital, ERs, Doctors, or Nurses to even begin treatment on patients we bring in. Thw whole system needs to be dealt with. Too many hospital on diversion, many hospitals in the city don't even want a patient, and most Hospitals are going under or way under staff. So if we get to a patient quick, hire paid staff, get per-diems, or merge with other villages we still need to transport these patients. Where do we go? Most patients want to go where their doctor visits. That's not the case anymore ( most of the time ) it's either WP Hospital or ST. Johns. and you know if you bring a patient there you'll being wating around the ER for so time. White Plains Hospital and Saint Johns Riverside was busting at the seems. Our Health Care System from bottom to top needs to be looked at and something done. Obama Care sure isn't going to help ! Good Nite all, and be careful out there.

ok! So whats the best if not only way to fix this problem? And will the higher powers listen to you, me, and others? If this problem isn't corrected in any village of town that has problems who is to blame if someone dies?

How right you are I worked for Paid EMS service I know the hours you put in and others for scrap pay. Trust me it's not right. The difference between a paid service in the Rivertowns and a paid service in Yonkers or the City. Is LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION ! I would love to be a paid EMT in The Rivertowns same pay as Empress or FDNY EMS and the best part no hiking up 10 floors with a patient on a reeves. I've been there I know what it's like it's unfair the pay I used to get and the pay now for my past brothers and sisters. I would rather be a paid EMT,Firefighter, or Police Officer in any Rivertown, that would be like hitting the Lotto of carrers. I've done the 70-90 hours weekly plus overtime, it sucks and it's blood money, but we love to do it! I guess at the end when you know you saved a life or made a family member or patient better it all pays for itself, at least at night I can feel good about myself for the things I did in the past. It might of not put a new car in my driveway, but I'll always be proud for the career I had.

Either hire paid day time crews, get per-diems ( if available ), or go all paid. I don't see a mad rush of volunteers banging on the doors, and that goes for a lot of VACs. I wish I had the best answer, but it's a problem that all resident in Westchester will have to face. I'm burn't out ! Good Nite.

How right you are! Also EMS calls would average 30 minutes to 45 minutes from tone out to back in quarters. Know that more hospital are closing or going on diversion EMS calls are 1 hour or more. Volunteers can't leave work for that long of a time. What if you get 3 calls on one shift, forget about it. Your boss or business you own will go in the crapper.There are not enough residents that want to get their hands dirty, they work in the city, come home, have a glass of wine or smoke a joint, put the garbage out, and play Wii or go on facebook with their mistress.Let's call a spade a spade. The residents around these parts want no part of volunteering unless they can get their face in the N.Y Times or Wall Street Journal. Thats Yuppies that are invading or villages are purchasing 1 million dollar condo's and have no idea what stores are in there village or town, and you know there not coming out for a EMS call at 2am !

This problem IVAC is having now is nothing new within the county. I know there are problems all across the U.S but were talking about our RiverTown Communities. This problem is spreading like Herpes, It goes a way for a while and then comes back. I don't know what the answer is I'm very concerned fro all residents. The first thing that has to happen is for VACs that have a problem come forward notify yor village and town officials connect 60 Control, REMSCO, DOH. some ideas I proposed several years ago was a merger of VACs and cover certain districts, have per-diems cover VACs like Dobbs. Hire paid crews like Tarrytown, etc. Something has to be done now, before the worst happens

your right on target. Resident of these villages don't realize that their property taxes are high is due to the School Tax Bill. School Taxes are about 75-80% of our total property tax. Village taxes are not that bad considering the service we get. If paid Fire oe EMS was to go into a village, Yes it will increase Village or Town tax, but there are ways to cut other things to have a paid service. I'm a Volunteer and I would hate to see a Paid service come into my village, but I also don't want to see some die do to response time.

I apoligize your correct! But I do recall sometimes when TVAC was out on a call, IVAC would do mutual aid to Tarrytown, transport to Phelps and see TVAC still at Phelps. Sometimes ( And let's be truthfull ) TVAC would not call into service while taking there time at Phelps. Yes Irvington always had a reputation of getting 2 Ambulances out for calls, but go back a little ways and see when the problems started. IVAC went from 60 members+/- and 30 EMTs+/- to about 4 EMTs and a couple of drivers and aides. My concern as a resident is what happened? Past and Current members did'nt move or change jobs. Yes some got a little older and burnt out. But what really happened. If Dobbs Ferry is going to help Irvington by covering the village does 60 Control know this? Do residents of Dobbs know this? Does REMSCO or DOH know this? I understand all volunteer Emergecy Services are short handed and new volunteers are not coming in like they used to, but lives are at stake and I feel the response time is being effected for resident in Irvington. The Captain haas addressed this problem with the Village Board Members during a work section. I want to see what happens next. Also your right TVAC has only called mutual when the primary crew (paid) is out on a call. How about TVAC second rig? You get the first out but it's hard to get the second rig out, because the stand-by crew are volunteers, and TVAC lost alot of members to Sleepy Hollow after some internal problems. Say I'm Wrong! I watched the Tarrytown Board Meetings when TVAC was metioned about problems within the Corps. And a investigation was done. How many members has TVAC lost due to that problem? I know TVAC lost alot of excellent members.

I have been a EMT BRAVO member for longer than a month, just I got a new e-mail address and had to re-register under a different user name I have been a member for awhile. My family lives in Irvington, and I Volunteer And Dobbs Ferry has not had a problem for 15 years, I believe they started having a problem in 2005 or so, when a new administration was voted in and alot of old timers left or kicked out. Dobbs Ferry VAC has done a lot for Irvington. Remember when Irvington Police Officer Lugio Osso was involved in the headon with the teen who stole the car from Conn. It was Dobbs Ferry VAC that transported him and treated him. IVAC was stuck on Main Street. Irvington has also been in Tarrytown alot. Why doesn't TVAC pay back Irvington. It was Irvington that helped TVAC with a problem of scheduling crews. Tarrytown eventully went Paid day time . So huzzie59 learn your history first I've been riding paid/volunteer Fire/EMS for 30 years.

Finally the right question to ask! Bravo. Your so right! There are mutual aid policies but villages are using them for the wrong reasons. Mutual aid is for departments that are involved in a Emergency call where either that need asistance or there responding to or at another job. But instead mutual aid is being used because crews aren't getting out or they don't have enough personel.

EMS in the volunteer world has third party billing, unless they have a budjet fron there villages in Irvington's situation they have third party billing + fund drives + EMT and CME courses. IVAC owns there building and every thing inside. Most communities are set up like IVAC. My main concern is response time and eventually loss of life due to shortage on duty shifts. The important question you should ask is Who are paying the per-diems from Dobbs Ferry to cover Irvington. IVAC isn't. Is it Dobbs Ferry residents through their taxes or is it DFVAC paying it through thier funds? Maybe their using their fund drive money to pay per-diems to protect Dobbs but are instead covering Irvington. Thats the real question, that no one has a answer for.

How right you are, but is it failure to respond due to lack of Volunteers in the Emergency Services,or when the pager goes off Volunteers are unwilling to respond due to the nature of the call and time. Even in the paid service the man/women power is thin. I guess were banging or heads for nothing!

The Village of Irvington has a contract with The Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps. If they can not hold up to the agreement and they have no one on the schedule and a 911 call comes in and 60 Control knows nothing, there will be lawsuits. If the Village can't afford to contract out EMS service then a deal or partnership must be done. I'm a volunteer and career, and I'm burnt out. There's nothing worse then sitting on the apron waiting for more crew members and you know theres not a damn thing you can do. Which is more important the cost to the Village to hire EMS or the cost of a life? I understand it happens in NYC, Yonkers, etc. But the small communities must tackle this increasing problem before it gets out of control.

"EMS dispatch: no answer dispatch again 3 min later. No answer after 2 more min. dispatch again and dispatch mutual aid." Cardic Arrest = DEAD anaphylactic shock =Dead Stroke=DEAD ETC, ETC You know as well as any Emergency Service Paid or Volunteer time is always against us. If Police or 60 Control continues to page out and then go to mutual aide GAME OVER!!!!!!

Your 100% correct. Trying to recruit and keep volunteers in and Emergency Services is almost impossible. So with that said what is Towns, Villages, State going to do. In the Rivertown Area Volunteer's are leaving left and right when will a local or sate officilal get involved and do something before someone dies.

Ok let's take it step by step! IVAC has a contract with the Village of Irvington to provide service.And IVAC has a service award program through the village. The Building, Rigs, equip,etc. ae owned by IVAC. From my understanding they already have per-diems or in the process of getting them. IVAC in 3 years has lost about 70% of its membership due to moving out of the village, injurys, and in house problems.The Board of Directors has to go to the Village and say it's over, contact REMSCO, DOH, and 60 Control. After that they can either sell off everything or keep IVAC as a fully paid dept with no more volunteers. The Captain is trying to keep everything bandaged but it keeps pulling off. IVAC has lost alot of great members, this is a sad event, I knew alot of members back in the day.IVAC will just have to pay the per-diems out of their pocket. It's not fair for my Dobbs Taxes to pay for our paid staff to cover Irvington. In fact Dobbs is hiring more because Dobbs is covering Irvington almost all the time!

Several residents in Irvington are seeing what's happening with Irvington Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Dobbs Ferry has covered them with their paid per-diems. And their election is coming up for new officers and it seems nobody wants to run. Also I found out 2 Board members resigned. This is the begining of the end. Get the Shovel Out and Broom it's clean up time

Holy Crap! I can't drink that much "A 34-year-old woman who died Saturday was driving at four times the legal alcohol limit when she went the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway and collided with another car, authorities said Wednesday. Michelle Cio, who’d recently moved to Ossining from Tarrytown, had a blood-alcohol content of 0.32 percent, eclipsing the 0.08 percent limit, state police said. “It’s highly unlikely for us to see individuals operating motor vehicles with this level of alcohol,” state police Maj. Michael Kopy said. “Fortunately, no one else was killed in this crash. This is a stark reminder of the problems associated with driving while intoxicated.” A woman of Cio’s weight, 125 pounds, would have consumed an average of about eight drinks per hour to have a 0.32 BAC, based on the Widmark Formula, a standard scientific measure". Lohud.com This is a disgrace ! I have no respect for this action ! Not only putting other drivers and passengers in danger, but first responders safety and mental health. This women doesn't deserve a wake or funeral with family and friends crying for her loss. I'm sorry but this is a waste of life.

AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!! How many more of these accidents can we have. It's coming to the point that you can't leave your home anymore at any time. Something has to be done, regardless if the driver is impared, tired, lost, depressed, etc. This is happening too much!!!!!!!!! It's time for Emergency Responders to put thier thinking caps on and think of a way to stop this horrific occurances, and hope one day the county,state, or others finally figure out how to stop this.

I love watching a cop driving in a patrol car while on the cell phone! If police pulled over every person not paying attention to the road, the officer would never be able to patrol the streets, there's not enough ink in their pen to write tickets

I agree 100%. But vehicles are built like crap now a days. They have side curtain air bags,B post air bags, air bags in seats, air bag for back seats. Yes safety standards changed but I feel they changed because of the way people drive today, the speed they do, and the vehicles they drive.If seat belts are lifesaving but there has been reports of accidents where people un-restrained sometime averted serious injury. One of the most common injuries when the bonet(front hood) had lift shocks and during a front collosion the shock would drive straight through the window where the driver or passenger would seat. Thats why Hood shocks were stop being produced. M complaint is as vehicles get faster, lighter, and made with composite materials more safety devices are needed to compensate the shaby construction. Vehicles built in early 80s and 70s etc needed less safety due to the vehicle weight and also the speedometer had a govenor which you can set. Remember! Also less distractions for drivers back then.

You are so right! But lets look at the past to know. Seat belts were not needed to be worn, and remember It used to be just a lap belt, now because drivers are worse and vehicles are made of crap we now need nascar restraints. Cell Phones were not around years ago, now everyone has them glued to their ear. Vehicles years ago just had am/fm radio, now the center console looks like the star ship enterprise. You need Scotty to set all the channels, time, video channels, etc. Years ago most women drove sedans, know the shortest women/man drives the biggest truck using a step ladder to get in And lets not forget GPS! What the hell ever happened to the good old folded map, look where you have to go and that's it, now we have a tiny screen with a blue line and a arrow showing us how to go home. Yes most people spend most of their lives in the car. But damn't technology is taking over and ignorant drivers love this crap. You ever heard of using a type writer while driving years ago, now look out ESPN has text messaging contests Let's not forget Ambien, take a pill and you'll drive to California and not even know it. And let's add a Xanax pill and a beer. Now we got a ticking time bomb. Instead of renewing drivers licence on line, It should be mandatory for ALL ages to renew every 10 years written and road test. People have become more stupid! So we have to continue to protect ourselves against them by changing road signs, lights, etc. This will not be the last wrong way driver! I just hope someone does something fast. I'm going to strap tires to my front bumper just in case.