Remember585

For starters, those at the ER / ED (whatever it is called today) are humans too. They may be in a good mood one minute and hell on wheels the next. It's just the nature of people. A hospital report should be conducted just as you would any other radio transmission. Know what you will say before transmitting. Be clear, be "to the point" and most importantly - BE ON THE RIGHT FREQUENCY. On the other hand, one hospital I deal with quite often hardly ever has a working radio. When you call on the phone, you usually get put on hold. By the time someone takes your report, you are parking the rig. As someone else said, keep a good rapport. It helps - believe me.

He worked Per-Diem during my little stay at A-1 in the late 90's I believe.

The DOH Laws are the supreme. Like previously said, if Medical Control gives a different order - go with it. Same thing goes for those of us on the Basic level. If a Medic tells me to do something I am not sure of, and I DOCUMENT IT, then I would think that Medic would have to explain thier actions - right? And I would think that me, the EMT-B, would be obsolved of a wrong-doing sanctioned by ALS. Good Samaritan Laws should cover you too - so long as you stay in your scope of practice / certification.

Yes. It took a half dozen cops, 3 of us EMS guys and a Fire Chief to contain him. Not fun.

And yet, dozens of EMS agencies in Westchester County still get dispatched by local Police without the training. I was not a fan of EMD at first. It was first offered to me when I was a Somers FD dispatcher about 6 1/2 years ago. I avoided it like the plague. It wasn't because I didn't want to do it, I just felt that 1 dispatcher couldn't effectively EMD something while answering additional phones and radios. Now where I work (60) I have been certified for nearly 4 years. It is a great thing to use. We get more information that can help responding resources with their responses. We also can modify which units get dispatched - for example - certian Departments / EMS agencies will not have a FD AND EMS response, just EMS. Hopefully, down the road, we can cut back ALS abuse and keep them available for the calls they are really needed for. Down here at 60 our minimum staffing is 4. There is 5 squads of 5 operators, with 6 assigned to day tours. Take into consideration that we don't dispatch everyone in Westchester - and that those we do serve (primarily) have this benefit. I personally have used it to give CPR instructions, to control bleeding and deliver babies. As skeptical as I was at first, I am now an EMD fan. I believe Empress EMS has this training too in addition to the Somers FD dispatchers.

I first took CPR at the age of 12. Back then the ratio was 15:3 for adults and 5:1 for children and infants. When I re-certed once, it was 15:2 and 5:1. Another time I re-certed I was taught 15:2 for one man, 5:1 for 2 man. Most recently, it is back to 15:2 for one AND two man, plus a 5:1 for kids. I was told in my latest EMT refresher that studies show that with the 5:1 we weren't making a sufficient enough blood movement in the body. I can see their point, but here's another question for all of you out there.... DO YOU REALLY COUNT ANYMORE? Doesn't it seem like one person at a time is pumping non-stop on the chest while someone is hyper-ventilating with a BVM? Don't get me wrong, every call I go to gets the full work up, but I can't recall the last time I heard someone calling of the cadance "1,2,3,4,5 BLOW"

Is that picture taken before or after they all fell down by the front door? I drove past Elmsford firehouse tonight, it's simple but looks nice. For the holidays, do you guys switch one ladder for one engine to get a "red & green" theme in each house?

After hearing this, Harlem Heavyweight and former President Bill Clinton will now lead the battle to bring more BJ's into Da' BX. His former personal assistant, Ms. Monica Lewinsky, is also rumored to be helping the fight, leading her campaign from her new Cigar shop in the Riverdale section.....

NYC is only safe if you don't eat anything from a street vendor...... Can't wait for Firehouse Expo 2006 - already investing in some Kevlar...

Not just the French that open "wrong doors." Did anyone see "Dubyah" trying to avoid the press the other day and go for the wrong door? Tool.

So long P.O.S. pagers..... Where can I find one?

If I'm not mistaking, Spring Valley in Rockland County has a Metz. I am not 100% sure on the length. Our TL44 is a 100' Tower, but when you add the one Truck Lieutenant "Stretch" to the bucket, it's a 110'. Couldn't resist....

I wasn't going to jump in, but I do have a few thoughts I'd like to share. Manpower = big issue, no difference if it is in a paid or volunteer environment. I can't speak for outside Westchester County, but in our happy little wasteland, the almighty politicians would rather piss money into parks nobody uses, playgrounds that see more drug activity then children playing and new "Welcome to Putz Town" signs then protection for the residents. To the best of my knowledge, none of Westchester's fully career Departments, with maybe the exception of Yonkers, has enough personnel and equipment to hold thier own for 90% of their runs. I'm not blaming the FD's by any means, I just think it's a slap in the face to all of the lower WC Departments to be expected to provide flawless, top of the line protection day in/ day out with the bare minimum. Come on Joe Politician, put some money into your community's front line responders. In volly land, where I spend my time, our biggest issue is manpower as well. Every Department is too shy to step up to the plate and admit their problems. Anyone that does should be commended. Aside from pointing out the problems - what else are you doing to correct it? Membership drives - they're about 50% useless in my opinion. If you take in 6 new members in 2005, I bet only 3 will prove useful and be there in 2006. Incentives? How about helping your community and being a part of a proud heritage, nevermind the tax breaks, LOSAPs and other benefits. Those of us that joined "yester-year" knew we were getting nothing in return and that is still fine by us. I joined in 1996, after 2 years as a Probie, knowing that my only reward would be the memories I have and the lives I've been able to help. Its been said here a few times - why do we have seperate training standards for paid and volunteer? Answer - time! Career Firefighters are expected to complete 100 hours of in-service training per year - which, if you think about it, is only one month's worth of shifts. (Obviously one has to sleep and occassionally take in a run) Volunteers are required to, um, well that varies district to district, doesn't it? If we were required to do 100 hours per year, which I think isn't too much, we could do it in 2 hours per week, roughly. Think about how much time we piss away at meetings, parades, cleanups and other BS functions. I think the top dogs of FASNY, WCVFA and all the other "organizations" should work together to set a new mark for us to meet. I think it would be more benficial to our public then say, spending time and money on the blue light law?! I have friends and family on both sides of the fence. In most cases, all of them take pride in what they do and do it professionally, regardless of a paycheck. Most of them spend time learning more. I also know many, mnay career firefighters that do the same. If you do this job, paid or not, you should always further your knowledge until you finally give this sh!t up. Is there hostility, yes, and it's because those that take pride in what they do get fed up with the shadows that do nothing, but run their mouths. Rant over. Happy Turkey Day!

To the best of my recollection, they used to have a front-line Engine, a spare engine, MA28 and two ambulances. They may not be that "busy," but I will be the first to admit that they are a good resource to us in the area. Our FD has trained with them a few times and to the best of my knowledge, we have them in our "Haz-Mat plan" for initial response. In the VAC I belong to, we run quite a number of calls on the VA campus, and the FDVA is always there to provide prompt EMS care until our arrival, and to assist us until we transport. From time to time, personnel permitting, they give us an EMT to fill out our crew. On a more personal note, I am surprised the Montrose VA campus doesn't run a quint....maybe one day it will.

In order to drive our FD apparatus: You must be at least 19 years old. Possess a valid NYS License Complete an EVOC Have at least one year in the Department / Company Be a firefighter Pass a driving, pump and equipment knoledge test Know the streets Know Dept SOGs And in our Engine Company you are expected to complete MPO And, in order to qualify on the Tanker, at least one year of driving experience on the Engine.

He got hit by lightning AND lived?! Hey pal, don't sue, buy a Powerball ticket!

I can't believe it won't let you write D!ck Epstien's name.......

I've got a Brother P-Touch label maker. Anything I can help you with?

What I can think of... Career Departments: Yonkers, White Plains, Mount Vernon, New Rochelle, Rye Brook & VA Hudson Valley at Montrose Combination Departments: Eastchester, Fairview, Greenvile, Harrison, Hartsdale, Larchmont, Town of Mamaroneck, Mohegan, Peekskill, Pelham, Pelham Manor, Port Chester, Rye & Scarsdale Fire Brigades: Metro-North, Grasslands, Indian Point & Sing-Sing Prison Volunteer Departments: Archville, Ardsley, Armonk, Banksville, Bedford Hills, Bedford, Briarcliff, Buchanan, Chappaqua, Croton Falls, Croton-on-Hudson, Dobbs Ferry, Elmsford, Continental Village, Goldens Bridge, Hastings, Hawthorne, Irvington, Katonah, Village of Mamaroneck, Millwood, Montrose, Mount Kisco, Sleepy Hollow, North White Plains, Ossining, Pleasentville, Pocantico Hills, Pound Ridge, Purchase, Somers, South Salem, Tarrytown, Thornwood, Valhalla, Verplanck, Vista, West Harrison & Yorktown

Date: 11/14/05 Time: 22:45 - Ongoing (00:45) Location: 1969 East Main Street (next to LMFD HQ) Frequency: 46.26 / WC FG #1 Units Operating: 2262(IC), 2263, 2264, 2265, 2266, 2267, L10, L35, U40, MVAC; Yorktown 2531, 2532, 2533, E270 FAST; Peekskill 2342, E133; Buchanan 2551, 2556, U12; Yorktown ALS 34M1; Yorktown PD; WCDOH; Cause & Origin Zone 4 Description Of Incident: Mohegan Car 2266 (Lt. Tom Stretz) contacted Mohegan base of a possible structure fire at The Tattoo Shop. As Mohegan was in the process of dispatching, 2266 advises of a working fire. Fire in basement of Pet Store with some extension up into main level. Writer: Remember585 Mohegan FD, Mohegan VAC and Yorktown PD personnel should be credited with saving the lives of nearly 50 dogs and cats. When I showed up, interior crews were passing the animals outside to awaiting help. Members from neighboring EMS agencies were also on hand to assist. Both LMFD aerials were up and working, L35 on the "A" side and L10 on the "D" side. The LMFD did a hell of a job with the fire attack and animal rescues.

Our Department driving age is 19. Members must be active for a minimum of one year. They must also complete an EVOC, and requalify annually on everything they are qualified on. Our Ambulances, on the other hand, personnel can qualify at 18. They must have 6 months in the Department, complete an EVOC, complete First Aid & CPR and requalify annually. Even though these are the "standards," more and more members choose not to drive for a few years so they can learn other things first. As for driving the Fly-Cars, if you can't drive a Department vehicle, you can't drive a Medic Unit.

Dirrrrrrr-that's right D-Ball. Git-R-done.

Not bad looking, hope it serves you well, which I am sure it will. One question - why cover up the pump panels? Just wondering because I've seen it before but never found out why. What will become of Engine 88 now?

www.ossiningfire.com may have some info or pics of what you are looking for. I am told the house is up and operational now - I swear I heard that somewhere, I will probably be down that way in the next couple of days, I'll take a look.

I still think that those 2 knuckleheads fighting for the knob was priceless. Stupid, but priceless. It made me think back to some of the calls I've been to over the years where a guy will have the knob and someone, either senior, higher-ranking or just plain bigger, rips it away from them. As for the PPE and SCBA, I've aired out my opinion enough to not only beat the horse to death, but to beat him into a bottle of glue. Show is OK in my book, because I watch it for entertainment, not critquing.