GAW6

I am not 100% sure, but I know as a Fire Commissioner, you need (3) prices for anything over a specific amount of money - and I think when you are talking about a couple of hundred thousand dollars, you should as a Town Official, explore other options as well as listen to the opinions of the people involved.

I can totally see Ms. Wells point of running their own Medic. Even if it does cost more money, I am sure the cost to each individual homeowner would be minimal. Yes, the Mt. Pleasant system works well for the most part, but what happens when Medic 2 is at the jail, and Medic 1 gets called to Ruth Taylor or the Homeless Shelter (both County facilities). If a tax paying resident goes into cardiac arrest, I don't think their family members will be very happy to hear that the Medics are unavailable. Yes, I agree that it is, at times, taking longer to get a "vollie" ambulance out. But I also think that it is a disgrace that a "vollie" corps in the Town of Mt. Pleasant is billing patients (as well as receiving tax dollars) - and the worst part of it is that after the patient submits their insurance info, this VAC re-bills the patient for the small amount that insurance didn't cover! I have always said, and many peole have disagreed with me, that the Town of Mt. Pleasant should have looked into running their own Medic system. Our Town Supervisor just keeps looking for the easy way out and signing Transcare's contract every year without looking at other options. In addition, I always thought that other "bids" were required before agreeing to a contract?

Good topic you started lilblueeyes! (and I still stand behind my story that you were not conceived on the back of E-89)! My father was a 30-year member of Valhalla FD; he used to take me to the firehouse and let me climb on the trucks, but I was never interested in joining the FD (girls didn't do that back then!) But now I am a Fire Commissioner (Thornwood) and my father is a Commissioner (Valhalla) kind of unique situation! I was always interested in emergency stuff; my dad is also a retired MPPD officer. EMS is where my heart is and always will be - I am glad that my kids don't hold it against me for bringing them to calls, etc.

As a 17-year veteran and Ex-Captain of my VAC, I can tell you that my motto was "work harder and more than your members and you will gain their respect". This approach worked for me. The main thing is that you have to be tough, but be fair. Praise people regularly for a job well done and when someone "screws up" you have a private meeting. If a person breaks rules - you suspend them. The night before I took over as captain, I told the membership "tomorrow night I am becoming Captain, I have a job to do, and those of you whom I call friend will understand that job that I have to do and after my job is over I expect we will still be friends". Since many of our fellow members are friends it is very difficult when you have to discipline your "friend". I had to do it on a few occasions, and believe it or not, they are still my friends. Again the main thing is to be fair, be consistent, and act in a mature and level-headed manner at all times.

No problem - I love talking about my surgery because most people are afraid of back surgery. I was in so much pain before the surgery - and as I always say, I go to the dentist and don't take novacaine and I had 2 kids with no drugs - so I have a high tolerance for pain. That back pain was the worst!! I was only in the hospital 1 night and I was back to work in 2-1/2 weeks. I couldn't do any ambulance calls for 8 weeks and I am very cautious even now, but the surgery was a huge success! I was pain free right after the surgery and I had feeling back in my leg. My neurosurgeon said that the disk fragments were crushing my nerves so bad that my leg was twitching as he was removing it! The surgeon was Dr. Cohen - he actually worked with DOCS in Yonkers 1 day a week; his regular office is in Manhattan - had the surgery at St. Lukes-Roosevelt.

I totally agree. my VAC is talking about looking in to them. As a person who had back surgery 5 years ago for a ruptured disk from lifting stretchers - I am totally in favor of them. We have been wondering how they are working out - so thanks everyone for the positive feedback!!

Well said X2321!!!

The trucks look great, Mike! So nice to see RED trucks!!! When's the wet down? Best of Luck! P.S. Thanks again Mike for your help at the MVA on Saturday.

The Thornwood "Nanny" fire - my husband was the Chief at the time; he was one of the first on scene - took him years to get over it. Two books have been written about it. I was the EMT at the scene who treated the nanny. Pirro was not the DA at the time. The fire was December 2, 1991 - will never forget the date. The ADA who tried the case was George Bolen. I had always believed she was innocent until the prosecutor asked her "if you knew there was a baby behind the door wouldn't you have done everything possible to get her out?"

Congratualtions and Best of Luck! I wish all college campuses would take your lead! As a member of Pleasantville VAC with Pace U in our district a skilled crew at the college would be beneficial. We do many calls at Pace. Back in the early 90's we went there for a 19 year old student in cardiac arrest. I was totally shocked that no one knew CPR; the RAs weren't even required to have it! Probably wouldn't have made a difference anyway, the student had a blood clot that was formed in a derformity in her arm that suddenly went straight to her heart, but the point is that no one on the campus had any training!! Keep up the good work!

In the "perfect world" there should be (2) ambulances at a fire scene; (1) to treat and (1) to transport. The treating unit should be close to the scene; the transporting unit should be in a position where they are not blocked in, obviously!

Using the workbook worked for me when I took my original EMT Basic. I just refreshed my EMT-I and used a review book that I bought at the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore; was very helpful.

I really don't think you can make that comparison. What you are saying is that an EMT who might be brand new, but he is working for a paid service (probably doing transports or driving) is better than an experienced volunteer EMT?

ROEEMS87 - You hit everything right on the head! I couldn't agree more! I do not consider being an EMT a "hobby". I am actually an EMT-I, a CPR/First Aid Instructor, have taken critical trauma care, and any other courses available. I didn't do these things because I was bored and needed a "hobby". I am also a Fire Commissioner. I also have a full-time job and a family. It all comes down to being dedicated and having a good sense for community service and helping our neighbors. What KelliPVAC was refering to was that from 9 to 5 we have jobs (after all, we all need to put food on the table!). I feel Alpha's statements were totally off base. I DO care about a patient having chest pains despite what he/she thinks! We have set crews, so we don't just show up if it is a "good" call that we can "buff". Our patients do not get less treatment because of our response times since A) We have a paramedic system in place and Our Police Depts. have defibrillators. Besides, just how many cardiac arrests become saves? - not many even with ALS. Despite what Alpha says, I have seen some paramedics that have attitudes and not showing compassion (I am not saying all and I am not saying that their presence is not needed). The bottom line is I think Alpha owes us dedicated EMTs all an apology.

Are you sure Valhalla has it? - I heard they were looking into it - I did not hear anything about them going to public referendum to get it passed.

I am a member of Pleasantville VAC - we have considered looking into the LOSAP program, but unfortunately we do not retain members long enough to make it worth while since you have to be a member for 5 years before you are vested. I am also a Commissioner with Thornwood F.D. where we have the program (I am the Administrator for the program) so I am well briefed on how it works - I know the cost of the program and that is why we have hesitated with going forward with it at PVAC where we only have a handful of members with over 5 years (I personally have 17 years), so I would certainly benefit, but being reasonable, I don't think it is worthwhile to spend the money.

I agree that some of the new EMTs coming out are not the greatest, but I think a lot of the problem is that the new crop of EMTs have become "medic dependent". They are not like the "old-timers" who had to run calls on their own and therefore were made to THINK! The new EMTs rely on the medics for everything.

I certainly hope not - I guess people are forgetting "BLS before ALS".

Yes, Thornwood is expecting delivery of their new Pierce Pumper/Rescue in September