ONEEYEDMIC

Does a BLS fly car stop the Clock? Not much good if you can't TXP the Patient. Same as if a Medic is there first. There has been times when there has been a MUTUAL AID Medic in an AMB(with and EMT partner), show up at scene, want to TXP to the ER and has been denied so the VOLLIES could get there and TXP. I think that is neglect, but numbers are numbers.

Hoss, I couldn't have said it any better. I posted right after Nursemedic and had something to say about that. I just kept my mouth shut. I think that these posts are needed and informative to those of us around the County. The bottom line is POLITICS. That is it. If the members any VAC went and told a MAYOR, TOWN SUPERVISOR, ETC... that they would not be backed if they went agains their wishes for a different system do you think that the Heads of City's, Town's, Villages, would still try and do it? Hell NO. Do the Residents of New Castle even know that they get a PARAMEDIC? I don't know that if in MT PLEASANT they even know that. The system has been in place for at least 5 years. Since I can't afford a house in the Town I work in, I don't know if that is on a TAX BILL. I have been out of the loop for some time but I heard that WPHMC, PHELPS, NWHMC and LAWRENCE Hosp are run by the same CORPORATION or something. I also heard that a member of CVAC is a High up in one of these hospitals and may be in strong opposition of New Castle going out on their own EMS wise. This is all speculation though. I could see those politics now. Town Supervisor wants new system, Hosp Rep tells Vac members not to reelect Supervisor if Town goes out on own. So, if you are for WEMS staying in New Castle, you can run for Supervisor. LOL

I still think that a 20 min response time of call to time on scene is CRAZY. It annoys me to know end. What would happen if there was a 20 min response time to a House Fire? I would think that the house would burn down. Who am I kidding, there wouldn't be a 20 min response time to a fire because everyone would come out of the woodwork. My point is, I don't think that everyone takes EMS as serious as they should.

Somehow, I didn't realize that this post went to another page. It doesn't affect me or not with what New Castle is doing. It looks like they settled for another year which gives them that much time to look for an alternate service. At least, that is what I got out of the article. Now, GAW6, it took me a minute then I put it together. You know my feelings on ALS and BLS and VOLLIES and PAID. Since I became a Medic, I was for ALS. That only makes sense. I did the Vollie thing like I stated in a past post and That is how I got started. Then I didn't see the point for it. When Metro/Transcare first started in Mt Pleasant, I was still a Medic and Not a Cop. I was the first Medic to do an ALS call in the Town when the fly car was put in place. For that matter, I was also the First Medic to do an ALS call when Metro/Trans Care covered Northern West. Guess I was at the right place at the right time. I agreed from the start when Mt Pleasant was talking about moving to a paid MEDIC that they should have gone out on their own. Just like Eastchester, Scarsdale, PortChester, MEMS, ETC...(I can't remember them all). If Mt Pleasant Medic 2 is on a call on the ground to WMC, Medic 1 does cover some of their calls. It does not happen all the time, but it happens. Do I agree with it, HELL NO. I think that if the Tax Payers of Mt Pleasant are paying for a service, they should get it. That is the problem with the deal they made with Metro/Transcare. Now if Medic 1 goes to Ruth Taylor, we have to call a Mutual Aid Medic from GPD, who is usually all tied up, Ossining, or maybe even WEMS. That also means that a Volunteer VAC gets dispatched to Ruth Taylor. I don't know how many times I have heard that get dispatched to another Mutual Aid because they can't get out. It is really pathetic that the Town of Mt Pleasnant can't get an ambulance out sometimes. That is the problem with Vollies. Maybe it is only durning the day and I still give credit to all of you that get up in the middle of the night for FREE. I never knocked Chapp VAC and their ability to get out. That is pretty inpressive if what that person said was true about the Crews. I didn't know that. What are they doing right and how can other VAC's copy their system. Now, when I get to aided first usually as a PO, my hands are tied. That does not mean that I can't do anything, it just means my resources aren't there until the MEDIC gets there. When the MEDIC gets there, it is like having double the Care until the AMB gets there because even though my role is as a PO, I help the MEDIC with the IV, EKG, GLUCOMETER, whatever it takes. That way, when the AMB gets there you can load and go. This is not a MT PLEASANT post and I may be wrong with some of my points. I guess my point is, Each town should have their own FLY CAR if they Can afford it.

That's Politics. I don't know who Dick is and I don't know where he works or anything like that. When you are dealing with a contract, that is when the politics come out. I don't know the answers to the WHAT IF. I can tell you that if both our medics are out, we will get Mutual aid from what ever ALS unit is the closest to the scene. That could be the OSSINING/CROTON MEDIC, GPD MEDIC, or even A WEMS MEDIC. I think that same thing goes for an ambulance. Although that has not happened alot, it has happened and we have utilized 87B1 from the WMC CAMPUS. I am sure that New Castle isn't trying to do this just because 1 person didn't get hired by a company. And, If Transcare did take over, you might even see a deal with the Town Supervisor of Mt Pleasant work something out if they needed a Mutal Aid Medicl. Mt Pleasant PD does cover areas in New Castle anyway so I don't see that as being a big deal. DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THAT. I made that up, but being around for awhile and seeing many contracts go to different companies, I would not put anything past anyone. I guess that would also be better for the Residents of Northern Westchester then. 1 more fly car freed up. It will be interesting though. I think the problem with all of this is, if a Vollie crew can't get out, people get pissed. But, if you decided to put a paid system in place, you may be paying money for services not needed. You know, some of these towns go a couple of days without calls so that would be a waste of money. Maybe just a paid EMT for these areas and making sure there is a driver on duty at all times. I can say this, I have been put in the situation and still see it now that a only a driver can get out and the call is BLS and they try and get the MEDIC to ride it in. I have said NO many times. The Vollies tried to pull a fast one, not on me though. Murphy's Law. You ride in a BLS call and while enroute to the ER, There is a Cardiac Arrest somehwere. Try and explain that. Especially when it will take awhile for another Medic to get on scene. I also think that alot of the problem is that the people in charge of EMS in their towns don't understand EMS. Does the Supervisor of New Castle know about EMS and FLY Cars and all that? She knows about numbers and how much it is going to cost but how about looking at how many ALS calls they have Versus BLS calls. I know that changes year to year, but it is good to look into.

I think all your points are valid and I can tell you one thing. Although I think that Volunteers do a great service, it is getting to the point where this County is going to have to go FULL PAID SERVICE. I am not picking on Vollies because that is where I started. I soon learned that getting paid for being up at 3a was better than not. Then I saw the at the time the leve of my training. EMT-P was higher than offered where I lived. I didn't understand that and whenever I did a "VOLUNTEER" call, I would get annoyed. So I stopped. So, we moved into the 21st Century and we now have 1 dedicated Fly car that is in the Town. From 7a-7p, we have Two ALS TRUCKS. Sometimes that other medic is in an ambulance. Since switching to this system when it started, and knowing the area, it was easy for me to get to calls. Response times were good from anywhere in Town which is approximately 40 something square miles. I have worked all over the County and in one system, I would have to drive the AMBULANCE TO GO PICK UP MEMBERS AT THEIR HOUSES. Talk about B/S. Those of you that have been around may know who I am talking about. In my Town now, we have entered the point where it takes forever to get an ambulance. One can't get out so you Mutual Aid that other can't get so you Mutual Aid finally you get one. That is at least 8 minutes before the last AMB gets dispatche. Then they have to respond to the building and you know the rest. At least one of the VAC's went to a PAID EMT in the morn when there is nobody on the schedule for the VAC. Maybe that is what needs to be done. There is no reason that ANYONE should have to wait more than 10 minutes for an AMBULANCE. That is given that the MEDIC is already on scene giving TX. I can't tell you how many time that I have asked for an ETA for the VAC. The aided and their there family members just look at me with this puzzled look. Is that Fair? NO. I am on the other side now in a PD role and it has opened my EYE to a whole new situation. I GUESS I AM just frustrated. So, If New Castle is willing to spend the extra money and have their own medic, so be it. I know that will not get the ambulance out any faster, but it will get TX to the aided quicker in most cases.

The residents of any Town that has a fly car deserve the fastest response time that they can get. I don't think that 1 of the Northern West Fly car is dedicated to New Castle is it? Say the Medic is on a call in Mt Kisco and is securing an RMA or assisting the VAC with a BLS call, and a call comes in to New Castle. That is going to take an extended period of time for the Medic to respond. That is not fair to the person that is sick or injured. I am not saying that if New Castle had their own medic that the same scenario couldn't happen, I just think that the response time would be faster. I know the response time in the Northern part of the County before their were even 2 fly cars was insane. Thank God they have 3 now. That was the true meaning of Medic intercept. It was fun though. I am not trying to cause trouble and thankfully I live in a Town with a dedicated Medic and 1 that is avaiable from WMC. The New Castle Supervisor makes a valid point.

Two out of Three isn't bad. I am sure that people will be there at 1700hrs. Prob setting up. Thank you for the correction.

Not sure what and person down in Fire lingo is, (in PD terms it is 10-13)but on Mon April 17, 2006 at The Thirsty Turtle in White Plains, there is a Benefit for FF Malone. I believe that it starts around 1700hrs and will go to whenever I am sure. The donation is $20 and you get two free drinks and open Buffet with that. All donation I think will be going to the family. I know that I will be there to show support. I hope the rest of you on EMT BRAVO can make a showing. I am pretty sure these details are correct. If they are wrong, I will let you all know. The date is right and the price is right. Time might be wrong.

Give the locations of some of these bars if you can. I love wings and love to travel to eat them. Thanks.

The one person it should not happen too is an off duty POLICE OFFICER. Unless of course he is BREAKING THE LAW, then what ever happens, happens. If you are an OFF DUTY PO and just carry your ID that is your own perogative. I would like to think that when questioned by AUTHORITY, the off duty MOS would say, " I am on the job here is my ID" It would take a quick phone call to confirm if this person is in fact PO MOS. Who really cares if the person is an EMT? What gives them the right to carry a BADGE? Most people that carry badges including Paid FF's are sworn in to carry such badge. That does not mean sworn in by the Head of an AMBULANCE CORP or FD either, I mean by a MAYOR, TOWN SUPERVISOR, ETC... Are EMS people now sworn in before they get a job. NOOOOOO. He could have left his badge else where. Why not just carry it in a wallet. Leaving it in a briefcase may have been suspicious to the PERSONNELL at the Court house. IZZY, where you there? Was it you? You don't know that he was just falsely arrested for having it in his briefcase. There is more to this story than they are letting on about. You are also assuming that he is going into work after he gets out of the Courthouse. This is not a PAID Versus VOLLIE thing, it is a BADGE Versus NO BADGE thing. I just think that you are mad becasue nobody agrees with you.

I figured out the quote thing. I am so happy now.

PM, just to be clear, that is not my quote above. I copied that from whoever else wrote it and pasted it on mine. I don't know how to use the quote thing. I did write the "Stinking Badges" part though. With that being said, maybe if you are A PAID PROFESSIONAL and working in uniform you can have your badge. Just leave it at home or in your glove box when not at work. Vollies don't need them period. As for people that stop when off duty to assist, why do that? You could be first on scene giving medical treatment, but soon as the PD/FD/EMS agency gets there, get out of the way. I can't stand when I get somewhere and someone says, "I'm an EMT, with Blah, Blah, Blah. I don't care, get out of my way. I don't need your help. Thanks for stopping, now be on your way. I am still curious to see what the EMT in the City was charged with. Did it say? Reading some of the older posts, it seems that almost everyone is in agreement that shields should only be carried off duty by LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Once again being arested for BS not not having a badge is what will deter volunteering. The reason to have a badge would be for the same reason off-duty FFs (paid and volly) have badges. If there is a fire will a FF pull out his badge and fight the fire? I think there may even be a stronger argument for off-duty EMTs to have a badge (in addition to their other credentials) then for off-duty FFs. However I will concede that there is little actual reason in EITHER case for a badge, but perhaps the same can be said about off duty PD. I'm sure that all police officers when they carry their gun have some sort of photo ID with them, becayse a badge just won't cut it; anyone can buy one of those. Not sure how to work that Quote thing. Neither should have a badge Period. 9-11-01 was different. It still didn't matter if you had a badge down there or not. Nobody was checking. I have been into Federal Buildings as well and have had to at least lock up my firearm in the Office I was in. Off Duty PO's should have both their ID and BADGE. If they are going to carry their firearms, they MUST have their Badge, and ID won't cut it. Like was said before, ID's can be made on Computers. You see how people are making fake Licenses, they can make those ID's Better. You can get a badge made, but you need proper ID to do that as well. Can't just walk into a Uniform store and have one made. PM was right, the only people that should carry a badge is LAW ENFORCEMENT personell. So, this person was arrested, are you saying he doesn't want to volley anymore? I know lots of VOLLY's that have been arrested, they still do it. BADGES, WE DON'T NEED NO STINKING BADGES

So the badge was discovered in a briefcase, why was it there and not in his wallet? He should have just left it at home. I know what was happening, if someone got hurt or sick, he was going to be like SUPERMAN and Run into a phone booth and come out with it around his neck. Not like the Courthouse can't deal an issue. Everyone talks about this detering someone from Volunteering. Is that why one Volunteers, to get a badge? In my experiece, kids like to get them becasue they think that it will get them out of tickets for driving like assh***s. They just don't make any sense to me. Can someone come up with a VALID point on why someone that is not involved in LAW ENFROCEMENT or maybe even PROFFESSIONAL FD has to have a shield. And don't tell me to identify ones self while OFF DUTY, BUFFING A SCENE.

So after reading the petition, the EMT was arrested for walking into A FEDERAL COURT HOUSE and having the badge in his briefcase. I think it said that he was a Volunteer. With the way the world is now, maybe they should have detained him and taken the shield and slapped him on the wrist. But you know what, they did what they had to do. ANYONE can get one of those badges, walk into the Courthouse and BLOW away a judge or someone else. I stand by my point. DO AWAY WITH ALL BADGES THAT DO NOT PERTAIN TO FEDERAL, STATE, CITY or LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. Maybe PAID FD CAN keep theirs, not sure yet.

What the article didn't say is why the EMT/Medic was stopped in the first place. I am sure that is was not just for the fact that he/she had a shield. Maybe the person was trying to use the shield to get out of something more serious and the Officer gave him/her a break. I never understood why when an EMS person is not working, they needed a shield. It makes no sense. You don't need one off duty, I'm sorry, but you don't. So you stop at an accident while you are off duty and tell the Officers that you are an EMT/Medic, whatever, stick around to give your name, you know you will anyway. I like to think that when someone carries a shield, they should also be carrying a gun. That is a rule of thumb that was taught in the Police Academy. You should have your ID with you at all times, but, if you are going to carry a gun, you HAVE to have your shield. And, you should not carry your shield if you are not going to carry your GUN. Do EMT's/Medics carry guns now? I think more facts of the story should come out. What was the Probable cause for the stop? What are the charges now? I was involved in both Paid and Volunteer EMS for a long time and still am and never carried a badge. Had my state card and that was good enough. Had my name, state # and my EXP date. Enough said.

Stat 213 is right, you don't need all that crap on any EMS call. What you carry in your bags should be enough for even the TOUGHEST BLS/ALS call. I never carried anything with me, other than my Stethescope. The more crap I see with a person, the more I know that they don't know what they are doing. I once saw a person carry that rubber hammer used to check reflexes, WHY.

An open line on a 911 call could also mean a crime in progress. Home invasion, Domestic Dispute. The FD would do no good being dispatched to any of those calls. I think that the bottom line is that IF there was a Central location for 911 calls, and there is an open line, does everyone get sent? I know that PD should get sent on everything. Whether they beat the FD or EMS is another thing, depending on call volume at that time. I think that 911 should come into a Central Area except for the big cities. I hear that Baltimore City or County, can't remember has an awesome 911 command center. Would prob be big bucks though. Wishful thinking in this County.

Tanker had it right. Do all the local VFD's and VAC's want to be put on standby for all 911 calls that come in? If that is the case, you should have full time staff in your firehouse's or ambulance corps. Our PD gets all 911 calls from within the Town. Of course sometimes, actually most of the time, they are dialed in error or accidental. When a true 911 emergency comes in, a patrol car is sent and the right agency is dispatched immediatley either through 60 Control or another PD agency. It might not be the best system, but it works. If a patrol car gets on scene and see's a working fire, it gets called in as a working fire. Easy enough. 60 is notified and so is the responding agency. So is it the position on here that all 911 calls come into 60 Control? I don't think they even want that. Confusion, Confusion, Confusion. I will say this, 60 Control can take over our portion of EMS though. Please, do us the favor. No offense to the EMS system in our Town, just a pain in but sometimes.

Not sure if it is still there, but this place called Wild Wings in the Reading Reginonal Airport in Reading, PA. All you can eat wings at the time for $6.95. All kinds too. Foley's had great wings and I agree with the Candlelight, but they are bigger than wings should be.