Remember585

Not yet. I have information from the manufacturer about the Toyota Prius. If anyone is interested, I will make copies and get them to you.

A REMINDER TO ALL. THIS TOPIC IS SUPPOST TO BE ABOUT A NEW RESCUE 20 FOR SOMERS. LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT THAT WAY. THE LADDER VS. TOWER LADDER DISCUSSION IS POSTED ELSEWHERE. THANK YOU.

When E119's replacement arrives, the current E119, the 1984 Mack, will be up for sale. When the time comes, I'll let everyone know. :cry:

Man, I would love to see our Mack converted into a tanker, but it won't happen. We are looking into a rescue/engine configuration. E119 currently handles the FAST assignments, and is also the strongest of the three engine companies in the Department. We are designing a rig that will be capable of doing pretty much anything, without the assistance of a Truck and/ or rescue. If all goes well, it will be a 1500gpm dual-stage, 750 gal tank, 10 man cab, all stainless construction, rescue-body, generator, scene lights, and all the equipment we currently carry and hopefully some more, including a TIC.

I bet these contributions are the reason MANY OF US whom did or currently DOES work for MetroCare never saw any decent pay increases......... :-k

Now that winter has reared its ugly, cold head upon us, we need to focus on the hazards related to this time of the year. Naturally, none of us want to get hurt on a fire scene, but the added low temperatures really make life miserable for all of us. Below, I have listed some of the common problems we encounter this time of the year. 1. Icy Roadways: This problem is all too common now with ambient air tempatures below freezing at night, and just above during the day. What may be a puddle at 12 noon may be an ice patch at 12am. Whether you are driving your Engine, Ambulance or POV, you need to make sure you are aware of roadway conditions. This is especially important at night, when seeing the ice may not be easy until you are on top of it. Take the time to learn your roads and where these hazards may be. 2. Buried Hydrants: When the snow falls, if your town is like mine, the #1 priority is clearing the roads, then the public sidewalks, then maybe the hydrants. Each municipality may have different laws pertaining to this, for example in the Village of Croton, homeowners are suppost to clear hydrants in front of their homes. This rarely happens. Know your hydrant locations ahead of time, and be prepared to dig it out. 3. Pump / Hose Runoff: If you are working a fire for 5 minutes or 5 hours, you will end up with water on the ground at the nozzle, at the hydrant and at the pump. Carrying a container of rock salt may help, but it may be easier to carry sand to provide traction. Make sure your scenes are well lit up, and if the problem is large enough (especially in the road) have Fire Police or the like divert traffic. 4. Frozen Handlines: If it isn't in use, either shut it down and get it out of the way or keep the nozzle cracked open to allow some water flow. As we tell our men and women to "never leave the nozzle unattended," we should be teaching them to never let it freeze either. 5. Keeping your people WARM!: This is the utmost importance, and unfortunatly, is overlooked far too often. Plenty of Chiefs make accomodations to keep the crew cool and hydrated in warmer weather, but many overlook the importance of keeping the crew warm in the cold weather. Make arrangments for a vehicle or other type of shelter to rehab the gang. Use a Rescue, Ambulance, or get a bus to the scene. Most School Districts as well as the County Bee-Line System are willing to help. Keep the people moving around and busy. There is no reason to watch them stand around and for lack of better terms "Freeze their asses off!" Get warm fluids and foods to the scene for rehab. Have dry gear ready for them to change. If it isn't possible to do so, get fresh bodies in there to do the job. A firefighter who is wet in these temperatures can experience numbness in the extremities, skin burns, frostbite, and even hypothermia. Monitor the firefighters periodically and make sure they are OK. 6. Pump Freezing - If apparatus are staged and not actually flowing water, they could freeze. Pipes in the pump as well as the tank itself could suffer substantial damage if not properly cared for. Circulate the pumps on all your pumping rigs. There is no reason to damage your rig and possibly put it out of service because it was sitting idle. Keep the water moving. Stay warm my friends, winter is just beginning...but more importantly, STAY SAFE!

Thanks, to all of you, for you ongoing support and understanding of this unfortunate incident. More importantly, I will have more information very, very soon. Again, thanks for your interest and support - ALL OF YOU. Captain J. M. Munson Washington Engine Co. No. 2 Croton, NY

My buddy is a member of this company, and keeps me up to date on their happenings. The website is cool, check it out. www.horrycountyrescuesquad.com Horry County, SC =D>

14 Daniel Road. It's between Hardscrabble Road and Alice Road. They've been there a couple months I believe.

The real question is..... Will 2032 / (x)639 bring any food to those of us working that night? That, my friends, is the real question of the day.

NOT COOL!!!!!!!!! :oops: STILL NOT FEELING GOOD. #-o I GOTTA HURL. THANKS. =D> [-X

What will the S.O.P. be for someone whom, say, needs EMS care at, oh I don't know, HVHC? Would that be BLS, ALS or KSA? KSA being Kick Someone's A$$?

Ask the wise-one where a good portion of his info came from. Hmmmmm....... :-k

In my eyes, there are four forms of EMS. ALS - Advanced Life Support BLS - Basic Life Support RMA - Refusal of Medical Assistance DWI/TAC - Deal With It / Take A Cab Is it me, or is EMS getting abused like crazy? Whatever happened to "sucking it up?" People are calling for EMS nowadays for things that used to be treated by Dr. Mom. We need to start lobbying for an "If it ain't broken, bleeding or totally messed up" law, where those who don't really need EMS can call a cab at a reduced rate, payable by Medicaid or Private Insurance. Call Volume DOWN - EMS Provides HAPPY. Just some thoughts..... :roll:

Regardless if we're paid or volunteer, we should always carry ourselves in a professional manner. The concept is far-fetched for many on both sides of the fence, and its a damn shame. I have seen in the news that many Departments nationwide (career/volunteer) are under investigation for making false claims to receive FIRE Act money. [-X Shame on you all. What's professional about that? NOTHING. It's a disgrace to our culture, and it can and, unfortunaly, will ruin things in the future of the fire service. If we as a service dishonor ourselves, we are eliminating that professional courtesy we have been so generously extended thanks to the Bush Administration. I think as a whole, the volunteer and career fire departments in this country should "pat the Prez on the back," because in my eyes, he's the first of over 40 men in his position to pay us our dues. =D> =D> =D> Furthermore, I think it is in poor taste of the IAFF bosses to cutoff their members from volunteering their services. There isn't a single VOLUNTEER firefighter who has never learned anything in their firehouse from one of their own whom also does it for a living. I don't know the exact number, but I'm not afraid to say thousands of FDNY members have basically molded the fire service in NY - whether directly or indirectly. Their experiences and research have made for safer and more efficient operations statewide, if not nationwide. If these guys and gals were told to stop volunteering, we would lose an invaluable asset to our "knowledge toolbox." In my own eyes, those who do it for a living and still find the time to volunteer, are top-notch, and should be applauded for their efforts, not criticized. ALS - I know you don't volley anymore, but I know deep down if you had the time, you would. :-k

I can't lie. I spend far too many hours on the internet, bouncing between favorite places like firehouse, fdnytrucks, and emtbravo, where I am a regular "poster" and forum moderator. Tonight, while "working" I noticed something kind of upsetting. It appears as though this section, the most important one in my eyes, has died off. No new posts have been made since Feb. 17 - almost a month ago. I apologize for not putting anything new up, I have been busy lately and haven't had time to provide you all, my brother and sister firefighters, with some helpful knowledge. To correct this and revive this forum, I will have something new to share in the coming weeks. Also, I want all of you to think real hard about things that I, or anyone else out there can help you with to improve our jobs, and keep us safe. Until next time, keep this forum alive!

DRD - to the best of my knowledge, a Squad designation is based on a crew and its capabilities, in Westchester. FDNY bases it on the same principle, for the most part, and builds the apparatus to fill the needs of the Squad Personnel. Hope that sheds some light on it for you. www.engine119croton.org

Original call mde from Car 2, reporting a working fire. 2271 on location, confirming same, requested TL8 to back in driveway, E123 to feed. Followed by requests for 208FAST, Cause & Origin Team. Later requests made were for the 234FAST and Buchanan Cascade unit. On a personal note, Montrose did a FINE JOB knocking this fire down and limiting the damage done. Apparatus placement was A+, and the men made a hell of a stop. Only times I have are Croton's. FAST Dispatched: 21:47 FAST E119 10-17: 21:48 FAST E119 10-19: 21:53 www.engine119croton.org

Croton did a journal for its 100th in 1992, and again in 2002 for its 110th. My company, Washington Engine, did a history book back in 1980. If you would like either publication, let me know. www.engine119croton.org

DFFD - the reason behind the "Tower Ladder" and "Ladder Tower" confusion is really simple. A "Ladder Tower" is an aerial device with a bucket, that also has a "full use" ladder to climb as well. A "Ladder Tower" can be found in Montrose, Croton, Peekskill, etc. A "Tower Ladder" is an aerial devce with a bucket that also has an "emergncy/escape ladder". A "Tower Ladder" can be found in Bedford Hills, Dobbs Ferry, Verplanck, etc. The reason Montrose calls it a "LT-8" not a "TL-8" is because they are correct with the description. However, the county follows an NFPA guideline for apparatus designations, hence the "Ladder" and "Tower Ladder" designations we all have. If anyone has more input, please say so.

A REAL Paramedic would take a few needle sticks themself prior to sticking others. #-o Only kidding, best of luck in the field pal! =D>

Good food is the way to any man's heart, especially mine. =D> Breakfast; Nothing beats Harmon Deli in Croton for anything, also the Hawthorne Station Deli - its immaculate and the food is always A+!! Lunch; Again, Harmon Deli, A&S Pork in Croton. Also, Cole's Market in Montrose, and Bueti's Deli in Bedford Hills. Dinner; Forno II pizza & Justin tyme cafe in Croton, firehouse grill in peekskill, Dino's in Hawthorne, lefteris gyros in tarrytown. Late night craves: WHITE CASTLE!!!!! Also the Westchester Diner in Peekskill. Nothing in this world can compare to my Mother's cooking, or my sister's, or for that matter, MY OWN!!!! For chains, Wendy's is the best fast food, Outback and Charlie Browns can do a steak nicely, and Taco Bell is good for the internal cleansing.

Speaking as a Training Officer responsible for a Department of over 150, I know exactly what this scenario feels like. Until I feel confident in doing something myself, I refuse to teach it. You will never see me teaching rope rescue, even though I have over 60 hours of State Training. Know why? My knot-tying ability is limited to my boots! A good training officer knows their material so well, that the student will almost thing you are either overconfident or full of sh-t! Its the truth. I have been a student in so many classes, and I always find that the instructors who know the materal real well generally have a confidence about them. And they should, because we don't want to be taught by someone reading out of the book, or who keeps asking the class questions that you know the instructor doesn't know. Those of you whom are Training Officers - realize this; You are being put in a position that will mold the future operations of your outfit. We are in a business where "we practice as we play, and play as we practice." What our mind is trained to do on the drill yard is how we will react on the fireground. Pass along the knowledge and confidence that you have, its your job. Big Daddy Says - Stay low, stay safe, and get your a** home!

In Croton, our Department is OBVIOUSLY not a large department, however we do have to fill out a crew on our units prior to responding. The Engines and Tower usually roll with a crew of 4 or more, the Tanker and Rescue with 2 (sometimes, R18 has more then that). Our rigs don't have set rules for riding positions, the riding officer (Lt or Capt) will assign his/her people as needed. Generally, seniority gets you the knob, and being junior man gets you the plug......

To clarify, a 10-75 is a "Working fire, all hands operating. Again, I don't think the 10-code system here in Westchester is used effectively. I have heard a 10-75 transmitted for a variety of fires. Not always structural fires. Of course, a 10-75 really means "working fire with all hands operating." This could apply for a variety of things. Until everyone is properly trained and capable of using it properly, the ten code system isn't for everyone.