Remember585

I disagree, and I decline to go into further detail. I don't care what anyone says, there is no perfect system. Period. The only way you can guarantee prompt, dedicated service all the time is if you can predict the calls, or schedule them ahead of time. Other then that, there is nothing we can do to be perfect. Some systems are far better then others, and this is true. Others should close up shop because they are misleading and mistreating the public they are suppost to be protecting.

I think it is time to develop a "sailcar." Anyone care to pursue this endeavor with me???

A lot of good feedback, and I think Jason said it best, our safety is #1. I would rather see people either pull up the hood enough to shoot the line in or use a piercing nozzle thru the hood or fender. Why bust our a**? If we peel back the hood just enough to get the knob in there, the water that turns to steam on the underside of the hood will drip back down on the burning engine block and help with the suppression. I agree with my Captain, go for the saw if you really need full access, why work up a sweat over something that is more then likely totalled. And, in case people missed thier basic training, you don't need to punch a hole to stick a piercing nozzle in - it is designed to pierce, hence the name. Good times......

I know Fire Police that would achieve that stunt themselves.... I saw this somewhere else and it was believed to be a spoof. I agree, it was funny, and reminds me of some of the Chief's cars in my area when I was a kid, especially my own father's gold Chevy Wagon..... And, speaking of 5" getting run over.....here's some units that have run over Engine 119's LDH over the years......E126.....CPD.....TL44......I guess poop happens once in a while. Chief Has Arrived On Scene

Wait, we're not parading on Thursday?! Thanks for noticing, I'll make sure it gets corrected.

The Croton Volunteer Fire Department website is now up. Visit it here: Croton FD It's a work in progress, and we have many additions coming soon!

If only we could get our Air-Packs to work off of fruitcake instead of batteries...

In our village, the PD responds on most Medical calls, depending on thier availability and the severity of the call. Our patrols have Oxygen units, AEDs and various medical supplies. Unless something has changed, they are CPR-D certified and nothing more. Back about 8-10 years ago, several of the CPD went through the EMT class. This was FANTASTIC - not only were they able to further treat patients, but they would ride the ambulance in to help out the crew when needed. This program, sadly, ended when those Officer/EMTs went to thier "Chief" (a term used loosely) and asked for a little more money and were denied. Once the 3 years came up, they all let thier certifications go. I only wish that they would be given a stipend and were able to bring this excellent service back to our Village. If I'm not mistaking, our PD has been credited with a couple of saves over the years too. It's always nice to pull up on a job and see them already doing CPR or administering O2 and potentially making a crucial difference. Hey, does anyone remember those demand valves? That's one thing I am GLAD has gone to the wayside. I used to think a demand valve to a cop was like a "Q" pedal to a fireman......hold it down until someone yelled "stop!"

So......is this coming to WC? 30A1 - ALS Ambulance 88B1 - BLS Ambulance 99X1 - XL Ambulance?

PK, It does what it's told! Your radios are the only ones we consistently struggle to hear. Is there any reason to this - perhaps people don't pick up the mic? Bad ground? Wrong antenna? Foil helmets?!

Save some of the WTC steel to help build the massive guns that will blow these terrorist assbags away.

Our PD strikes again! Last night (4/4 around 0100) we got dispatched for an EMS call on the south end of the Village for a party with difficulty breathing. I heard the call, got dressed and made my way across town. As I was driving towards the scene, I realized that I hadn't heard the Ambulance nor a second dispatch. It took me 8 minutes to get to the firehouse, and I was suprised to see the rig still in quarters and nobody there. At first I thought that the call was cancelled, but I was wrong. I radioed the PD desk and asked, "Any personnel on scene?" The reply was no, so I asked, "Can you tone out again since it hasn't been done yet?" The desk did so, now 11 minutes into the call. While sitting in the rig awaiting a crew, I heard the on scene Patrol car ask "have you heard from the Ambulance yet?" to which the Sgt. replied, "No." At this point the Medic, rightfully, requested Mutual Aid. Another 2 minutes later, my Asst. Chief called and said to respond, as he would fill out the crew. Afterwards, the Chief told me that he thought the call was covered, because it was "a long time" before a 2nd dispatch was made. First, I blame our own members for not responding in a timely fashion. But, I further blame the PD for not paying attention to us. Even after 6 minutes when we had nobody, assuming the Desk Sgt. was paying attention, they could have had Mutual Aid coming sooner. This call further enhances my dismay with our current system. Anyone else feel like I do?

One suggestion.....radios that work, please.

Are you losing it man? I NEVER SAID that it is the fault of the PD that the Ambulance does not get out. That is a membership issue. I DID say that the PD is responsible for us taking longer to get on scene because on many occassions they DELAY DISPATCH in one way or another. Nor, did I say that we do not want the PD there. I just said that it would be nice to dispatch those that have to drive across town to pick up the rig BEFORE sending the Patrol Car. Start my own Company, if was was prosperous then that would be fine. But the fact remains that many (not all) PD's answering the 911 calls in westchester are not trained to handle the medical emergencies they receive. Do you disagree OneEye? I doubt it. And I, too, see many many EMS people more concerned about thier clipboards then patient care. That isn't the point of my rant. And I DO HOPE my PD reads this, and every complaint that I and other members have made here and on "official" basis in the past few years, because they need to know that they are jeopardizing the well-being and health of our community. GOOD JOB! The subject was response times - and I voiced my opinion, which, apparently, hit a nerve of yours. If you can tell me that I am wrong and that SOME POLICE DEPARTMENTS are awful at dispatching, then I would love to hear how I am wrong. I don't know you, or what PD you work for. But I am referring to the ones I have PERSONAL experience with. Oh, and if you lose respect for me that's a shame, I am sure I will lose sleep over it tonight.

First off, I don't blame the PD for the ambulance not getting out, I am blaming them for many of the response time delays we have. Additionally, what is the point of sending a Patrol Car if the Officer isn't trained?! Why not dispatch a garbage truck? Putting oxygen on someone isn't a solution, nor is standing there and getting thier pedigree info. Granted, if it is a cardiac arrest they can defib 'em - but more often then anything that's not the case. If your crews need time to get to the building, why not dispatch them FIRST? Holy $hit, there's a concept. Even better, if you dispatch on a console that can transmit on multiple frequencies, why not joint dispatch everyone?! I agree, too, that Cops don't take thier jobs so they can dispatch an FD or EMS. But if it is part of thier job then just like all other responsibilities they have, they should be done properly 100% of the time. I have nothing but respect for Law Enforcement - I just don't think that someone without thorough training should be taking 911 calls for help.

My FD Ambulance is given 6 MINUTES after dispatch to be responding, otherwise the PD starts Mutual Aid. As good as it may sound, there's problems with it. First, our PD is notorious for not following through with our dispatch policy. As far as I can see, nothing will ever change with this. Another problem I see with this is our access to dispatch. We can have a crew of four coming from the firehouse on the north end to pick up the ambulance, but if we try to tell PD it's covered they give us an attitude and/or start Mutual Aid anyway. There's also desk officers that will tell us things like, "Too late, *VAC is coming." They do as they want, will always do what they want and we will continue to take it on the chin, so to speak. Oh, and what do you do when PD gets the call, then calls the patrol cars, then calls for the Medic, then dispatches the rig?! Or, as I see happen in one neighboring town more and more, the PD will hit the tones 2, 3, 4 times before they even talk! Paid staff in quarters, but if you don't tell them where to go - now what? Lastly, they are SUPPOST to contact 60 Control for Mutual Aid so that the closer agency is sent. Too many times they call *PD for *VAC - thus tying up ALL OF OUR ALS RESOURCES for what can be a non-emergency BLS call. My point...EMS Staffing is a major issue when it comes to response times, but dispatch and communications is almost as vital too, and people forget that. Solving the problems with EMS response times is a multi-layered solution. Getting paid and/or volunteer help is one thing, but if you dispatchers blow, you ain't got a fair shot.

I've searched high and low, but I can't seem to have any luck. I am trying to find NFPA and/or OSHA information about Mask Confidence Training. In particular, I am looking for actual standards. Any help is appreciated, thanks!

20 Minutes for house fires - yes, it has happened. And I am sure it will again! I am not touching the paid vs. volunteer EMS thing, I will reserve my opinion. BUT - I do agree that waiting for help is unacceptable. If you call 911 for a medical emergency, you shouldn't have to wait more then 6-8 minutes.....in a perfect world. But this is REALITY. And in REALITY nobody is perfect. Yonkers probably has one of the better systems in Westchester with Empress. I don't know facts, but I am sure thier responses can't be too long. What is the solution? Who the heck knows. We could put an ALS Ambulance in every station and it still may not be enough. I belong to two organizations, one a FD EMS and the other a VAC. Both places have good days getting out and bad days. If we paid someone to crew a rig that would be great - but both places have this thing where more then one call can happen at a time. Then what? We hire a 2nd crew? That's great, until you get an MCI and need 3 rigs.... It's a never-ending problem, as far as I can tell, and we shouldn't get into a battle over how we cover our calls, when we get there, etc. Nothing we do will ever be full-proof. We could put 5 rigs in a town, but how will they be paid for? Someone lock this subject - it's getting played out!!!

The concept of a movie about living in a store....sounds a little too "The Terminal" if you ask me...

FDs Not Dispatched by 60 Control (Primarily) Ardsley - APD Armonk - NCPD Briarcliff - BMPD Chappaqua - NCPD Croton - CPD Dobbs Ferry - DFPD Elmsford - EPD Fairview - Themselves Hartsdale - Themselves Hastings - HPD Irvington - IPD Larchmont - Themselves Mohegan - Themselves Mount Vernon - Themselves Sleepy Hollow - SHPD Ossining - OPD (Village) Pelham Manor - Themselves Scarsdale - Themselves Somers - Themselves / Contracted to WEMS Tarrytown - TPD White Plains - Themselves / Public Safety Yonkers - Themselves FDs Dispatched by 60 Control (Primarily) Archville Banksville Bedford Hills Bedford Buchanan Croton Falls Eastchester Goldens Bridge Grasslands Fire Brigade Greenville Harrison Hawthorne Katonah Mamaroneck Town Mamaroneck Village Millwood Montrose Mount Kisco New Rochelle North White Plains Peekskill Pelham Pleasantville Pocantico Hills Port Chester Pound Ridge Purchase Rye Rye Brook South Salem Thornwood Valhalla Verplanck West Harrison Yorktown Vista

I've narrowed it down quite a bit over time at home to just listening to the Croton PD. If I am bored or know of something going on, I turn on that channel accordingly. In the car, I have a uhf mobile. It is on scan most of the time with the following... 46.26 (A couple of different repeaters) Croton FD Ops Cortlandt VAC Ossining VAC Peekskill VAC Peekskill FD Fireground 6 (Montrose FD primary) Briarcliff FD Ops There's others in the radio but they aren't programmed into the scan bank.

Loved the strip tease!!!!

I think I know what week I will be on vacation in '07....

All that - and the poor cat was just doing pull-ups to get in shape for the upcoming Fire Department agility test.... In all seriousness, no, I wouldn't do that nor would I let anyone else.

I got you Bill - Engineers united.