Remember585

And when no ambulance shows up to transport them - was it worth it???

If you tell your pizza delivery guy to EXPEDITE - that may be a reason to use it.....

Another thread got me thinking.... Being that Westchester County is becoming more aware of the safety of its own, more Departments are utilizing Mutual Aid to supplement their efforts. This is an applausable act, because realizing that you may need help from the start means you're looking beyond the pride factor, and looking out for your members. But - (there's always a but) when we have incidents with multiple agencies participating, they become nothing less than confusing. There are minor things I think we could do to help simplify and clarify things on our scenes. 1. Inter-agency training. I know we talk about this all the time, but those Departments that work with eachother often need to drill together often. Drills are practice for the "big game." If we run the basics over and over again in our heads, and we rehearse the moves so often that we can do them in our sleep, when we pull up on a real job, we won't be so hysterical and clumsy. 2. Simplified radios. Look, I don't care what type of radios you use, I just hope we are all getting it through our heads to get radios on the same bandwidth (UHF in my opinion) so we can communicate with our neighbors. Please, and I say this in terms of safety, start using the fireground channels, and GET OFF THE DISPATCH FREQUENCY! 3. Universal Accountability Tags. If we all had a system that worked the same way, as a sector leader at a major incident, I could collect tags from Montrose, Goldens Bridge and Larchmont firefighters and know what I am getting based on a universal color scheme. I believe Rockland has a countywide system, and we should aim for this too! Why do we all need something different? Give everyone 2 tags, one to leave with their rig, and one for their Sector Leader. 4. Univeral Helmet Codes. White hats, Red hats, blue hats, black hats - what does it all mean? Generally speaking a white helmet is reserved for Chiefs, but this isn't always the case. What about differentiating between Interior and Exterior firefighters? If we had a set code for what color helmet meant what, then an IC wouldn't have to guess. I know I am dreaming of something that will probably never happen, but doesn't anyone agree with me? I have been to fire scenes in many towns over the years, and the only thing that appears to be "standard" is confusion. Remember585 - advocate for safer fireground operations, as unrealistic as they may seem....

From what I understand, the "tan" gear is the natural color of the material used. To get it black they have to die it, thus costing a little more as well. The advantages of tan gear include better visibility (vs. black), and it is easier to see dirt, oils, soot, blood, etc. compared to a black coat. Personally, I have worn black forever, but I am open for new ideas and concepts, especially if it means improved safety for everyone.

If someone is willing to make the commitment to respond on all EMS calls with a designated "BLS Fly-car" why can't they utilize an Ambulance? I am all for providing care in the fastest manner possible, but wouldn't it be more prudent to use that available manpower on a transport vehicle vs. a car that can't? In my opinion, which I have voiced time after time at numerous Department meetings, if someone is calling for our help we should provide as quickly as we can. Sending a BLS fly-car can be nice, but if nobody picks up the ambulance, we aren't exactly helping.

Bottom line, once we, the PD, FD or EMS, arrive on scene, the "emergency" is over. Sure it may be an urgent situation, but once someone calls for help and help has arrived, by definition the "emergency" is no more. Hey Stat, can you expedite the Helicopter?! Always been my personal favorite.

I saw him about a year ago in NYC - he was funny as hell.

Peekskill Fire Patrol (Engine Co. 134) is hosting a seminar being given by Vincent Dunn, FDNY retired. I believe the topics are WMD, RIT and Command? I have the flyer, somewhere, and I will post the rest of the info.

VWWH1, many of the things you speak of in the previous post are truthful, despite the fact many people won't like what it says. I am sure I will strike a nerve with a few people now too, so you're in good company, ha ha. Your comments about the training requirements in NYS are dead-on, and in that regard I agree 100%. We should all have the same level of training, paid or not, because we are only cheating ourselves if we (Vols.) think the annual 8 hour is sufficient. Training shouldn't stop when we reach our minimums (paid or not) because our environment is constantly changing, and we need to be up on it. I know volunteers with hundreds of hours of training that are great firefighters, and I also know career Firefighters with all their training that still haven't a clue. Minimal training is good, but standardized training is better. In respect to the "benefits" us Vollies receive, I can only speak for myself when I say I think we are all getting a bit greedy. When I was growing up, my Grandfather, Father, Uncles and Cousins were all pretty much members of the Volunteer Fire Service. Not once do I remember sitting around listening to them whine about the lack of "LOSAP, Insurance, Health-Care, etc." because thats where their CAREERS came in. What they did (and still do) in their own time was/is their choice, knowing the only benefit was to be a part of the brotherhood. It makes me sick, and I know it pisses off many others on this forum, that we now see more people coming out to everything but the actual calls to earn their "points" while others continue to do it for nothing, expecting nothing. Additionally, I think the issue of staffing is more of a problem then many of us want to address. I belong to a Department with over 165 members on the roster, excuse me, on paper. Of this number, we have a solid core of 80-90 people that answer their pagers faithfully when they can. Whenever our Department's first due apparatus arrives at your call for help, it has a minimum crew of a driver and 3 FF per SOG. Do we have a manpower problem - no, not yet anyway. Does the Volunteer Fire Service have a manpower problem, yes. It may not be the lack of members, but the lack of GOOD ONES that actually will wake up at 3 a.m. for something other then a working fire! I listen to the radio almost all day long, and I know which FD's in the WC are struggling to stay above the water. Stop saying that "we cover our calls" when only a driver is on the rig! Stop claiming "we cover our calls" when the first apparatus takes over 10 minutes to respond! One last thing. I love being a part of the fire service, as I am sure many of you do. But we have to put aside these gripes and complaints and focus on the real issues. Too many Career Departments are operating without safe staffing numbers and minimal operating budgets. We all know this, but does the public? Too many Volunteer Departments are "running" with insufficient manpower too. But, other then us, who cares? To the public whether we're a paid or volunteer Department doesn't matter too much, we only exist in their lives for three reasons. First, when they need our services. Second, when we are blocking a road or driveway "they need to get on." And lastly, when they have to decide whether or not to give us more money. Other then these three times we are pretty much non-existent in the public's eye. We can only help ourselves if we get out there and help the public as often as we can, in a PROFESSIONAL manner. This means, in my own opinion, that every stab we take at eachother publicly, including here, only makes us look dumber and dumber. We should continue to be constructive and helpful, otherwise we are going to turn everything into a war that nobody will ever win. We must educate ourselves and our public, if we expect to survive.

Awwww, can't wait to get home to your Teddy Ruxpin?! #-o

The new engine we are awaiting was given alot of thought, mainly in regard to the overall size. Some of the things we are getting and the reason(s) are listed next to it. 10 man cab with 8 seats. 2 reasons for this - 1. We wanted more room for the crew and 2. We installed a cabinet to store the rechargables (portables, TIC, lights, etc.) 10" raised cab. We didn't want too high of a cab to affect the OAH and we wanted a little more room so the guys didn't feel confined. 750 gallon tank. We have 2 Engines with the 1000 gallon tanks and this puts the hosebed way too high. We opted for the smaller tank to cut down on this and the overall weight of the rig. We caught criticism for not getting a 1000 gal. tank but we have learned over the years that most of the fires we handle are either put out with the current 500 we have or we need a hydrant / water source anyway. We also made the new rig out to be only 18" longer then the current one (I am 90% sure on this) to avoid having a rig that is hard to fit in some of our tighter areas. One way we accomplished the shorter OAL was to pick the "medium" size pump panel. We also went with the full height compartments to accomodate all of the equipment we carry. The main focus of our new rig committee was to design a rig that was self-sufficient. Coming in just short of a quint, we pretty much accomplished this, and I for one can't wait to see the end product.

Hey, on the "up-side" it only says "southern Westchester." :pelvic_thrust: Boy am I glad to be a part of the Cortlandt community, at least for now!

NICE!!! Thanks!!!

What's the difference if all of your Chiefs participate in a parade versus all of them working at their jobs at the same time? You survive - right? You have other Officers - right? The few times in a year when all of the Chiefs are unavailable is a good time for the younger Officers to get a chance to work in the Command role.

I'm just wondering if there is anyway I can modify my Tippman Model 98 - such as an R/T. I hear I can't, which sucks, and I am hoping someone can prove this information wrong for me.

Croton's Washington Engine Company No. 2 will be there. Last big hoo-rah (probably) for the '84 Mack. :cry:

What exactly is ham night, and what are the costs?

You betcha!!

Tomato. Tomato. We know what our Codes mean......that's all that matters.

At one point in time I had both. But that was, how do you say, too "Ghostbuster-ish?" Truth be told, I had at least one of every color light back in the day. My car wasn't exactly too Cop-friendly. Especially when one of the Cops was in my house constantly lecturing me. Being a naive teenager eventually wears off, I'm still waiting for it to happen to me!

](*,)

1. Who do you think is going to the WS (dont forget there is 2 leagues)? Yankees and Mets 2. Who do you think the player to watch out for is? Giambi, because he has so much to prove now. 3. Who besides the entire Yankees team is going to the All-Star game? Wait - I thought the All-Star game is the Yankees vs. the National League?! 4. Who has plans for a road trip to a different stadium besides Shea and Yankee Stadium? I may go watch the Hudson Valley Renegades this summer, I love it there! 5. Anybody have any good baseball stories? Not really, but when I was a kid I pretended I was Don Mattingly. I took a swing of my bat and whacked by sister in her noggin, and gave her an egg on her head she will never forget, nor let me live down!

Good point WAS. I think I said this in another post a while back...but new EMTs are pretty much taught from the start "that if it is anything major, you'll have a medic anyway." BLS before ALS people! Use those skills learned in EMT class or you'll lose them. I know this for fact, because I recently expired after nearly 9 years as an EMT, and I have forgotten so much that I am nervous about my recert. Anyone want to take it for me? I got it - any MEDICS wanna take it for me????? #-o

I made no direct comments about this incident, just all incidents of this type in general. I am not the kind of person that goes "head-hunting" or "Department bashing." I look out for all of us, especially when public perception is far too often in the negative, and I try to offer my opinion. If you don't appreciate my opinion, that is your choice. One last thing - Don't let this stuff become personal. And this doesn't just apply to Alfons - but to all of you. Don't point fingers and start fights, but try and offer your opinion in a constructive manner.

One of our members has been coining the phrase; "Engine 119 & Tanker 10, your bread and butter." But, being the nice guy I am, I say we add in "Engine 118, your jelly." Any thoughts CFD320?