GAW6

We are working on that - having a problem obtaining a frequency - politics as always!!!!

Excellent comment!! I can't tell you how many times the ambulance crew has had to wait on scene while the Medic is doing their thing. I actually had a Medic say to me once "go ask the homeowner for a garbage bag so you can clean up all my stuff". Sure we have some poor response times, but as said previously, care has usually already been started by either PD and/or the Medic. Also, I have been seeing more and more calls where the ambulance should just be painted yellow and have a big sign that says "TAXI" on top. I am sorry, but I don't think these calls warrant people trying to kill themselves getting through town either in their personal vehicles or in the ambulance to find the person there waiting with their bags packed!

I have known Tom for almost 20 years and I know that he will do an outstanding job!

We have the electric stretchers and we love them!!! Have not heard one complaint about them. We keep an extra charged battery on the bus, so if by chance it dies on scene, we just pop another battery in.

Happy Birthday Andy!!!

Sorry for your loss; I just lost my mother last month after a battle with cancer also. Deepest sympathy for you and your family.

I believe they put a bag over it to show that it is o.o.s.

The bigger issue would be what if someone put that there due to the hydrant being faulty and (as most times in my areas case) the word didn't filter down the way it should? In my Town, where my husband happens to be the Asst. Superintendent of the Water Dept., when a hydrant is out of service he notifies the appropriate Fire Chief. Also when we have a big snowstorm, his guys go out and shovel the hydrants. Many people I know shovel out their own, after all it is for their own safety. My 86-year old father even shovels his own hydrant!

Me too! I remember my father bringing me to the firehouse when I was a kid and letting me sit on top of the fire trucks - the open cab was the best!!!

Was Captain of my VAC 15 years ago and became Captain again in January. Have never seen any officer courses offered to VACs. Would be very willing to take any courses offered.

Hey Guys - this is your Captain speaking: Great job guys; very proud of you!!! Snow is expected tonight, so maybe you can make the necessary repairs. See you later---- P.S. The picture doesn't do it justice; looked even better in person.

Correction - he was a former officer and he did not have a fx pelvis. I believe this incident is still in litigation, so I will say no more.

All of you on here complaining about Commissioners being on "forever", why don't you run, or have someone you have confidence in run? The election is open to anyone who is a resident of that District. Get out there, actively campaign, and make the public aware. I am a "civilian" Commissioner who has run unopposed in my last (2) elections. Why? Either they (the members of the dept.) are pleased with my performance, or simply, no one wants the position. We happen to have Board members that have been on for several terms, and frankly, I am grateful for their experience and knowledge.

I've been in my VAC for 20 years and we always had Brauns until 1999 when we purchased a Horton. BIG MISTAKE - it has given us nothing but trouble, plus the dealer is not around anymore. He made numerous promises to us and he never came through. Our 1994 Braun is in better shape. The Horton is rusting out and has given us a multitude of mechanical problems. Actually, it is being serviced by LifeLine right now, and will be out of service for at least a week to complete all the necessary repairs. We did not go cheap with this bus either, if I remember correctly, I believe we paid about $140,000 back then. We purchased a 2007 LifeLine, and so far so good. The service has been excellent. It was built exactly the way we requested. It did cost us about $170,000, but well worth it! Good Luck to and your committee Truck22. If we can be of any assistance, please don't hesitate to ask!

This must be something new; in the past failures were received the same day as those passing.

I am currently an EMT-I (since 1998) expiring in September and probably going to go back to being a Basic. As HFD219 said, we do not get many chances to use the skills. We end up driving the fly car to the hospital for the Medic the majority of the time. At least taking the course gave me the extra knowledge, and for that I am grateful.

My EMT-I certification expires 9/30/08, therefore I will be looking to get in to a class very soon. When I find a course, I will post.

I can answer that without going to any department heads. The agency that needed the mutual aid was already tied up on another call. I can remember the days when you were more than glad to do a mutual aid call for "your neighbors". I can also remember the days when our Police Officers were grateful for the volunteers. Now some of them won't even speak to you nor give you a hand with anything, they stand there and just watch with their arms folded. Talk about where your tax dollars are going!!!!

No Need to PM you VACGUY - I am putting this so everyone can read it. The (2) agencies DID NOT MERGE. Get your stories straight before you make statements! And with your thoughts about the Town running their own system - I brought that up years ago and was shot down by guess who? People that are now members of your agency!!!

Ditto LTNRD - You are absolutely right. So many of the career EMTs and Paramedics started out in vollie corps and then forget where they came from. With 20 years of VAC service, I have seen many come in with no training and leave as excellent EMTs and Medics - the problem is, many forget their ROOTS!

Yes, they are basically run like a general election. Voters must be registered voters. The registered voters list is obtained prior to the election. Those who run the election are appointed by the Board of Commissioners.