Remember585

I hit reset. Just kidding (before the whole "typical volunteer" discussion ensues.) I like to keep the heat going in the cab of the rig, and I have 2 pairs of gloves so I can rotate them and try to keep the hands warm. On a side topic - how do you avoid the excessive dry skin associated with this time of the year? My hands look like hell and I can't seem to come up with a good solution.

It's stories like these that make me think we should create a forum thread called "Moron of the Week."

Stop, assess for injuries, notify dispatch and if OK to do so, continue as dispatched.

I was on another site and it got me thinking. On your Engines, what hose do you have? What's your primary supply line? How much do you carry? Do you carry 1 3/4", 2", 2 1/2", 3", etc? What kind of nozzles, appliances and packs are you using? And most importantly, what advantages / disadvantages do you find with them? On my Engine Company we have: One 100' 1 3/4" trashline on the bumper with a fog nozzle. Three 200 foot 1 3/4" crosslays with Sabrejet nozzles. Two 2 1/2" preconnects off the tail with Smooth Bore nozzles. One is 200' the other 300' (still waiting on 100' of 2 1/2"). Dead lays include 700 feet of extra 1 3/4" / 700 feet of 2 1/2" with a gated "Y" for courtyard stretches and our bed of 1350 feet of 5". All pre-connected hose is color-coded from the pump panel to the hose itself and the nozzle handles. Makes life a little easier. Having the 2 1/2" with the "Y" will come in handy for us at several complexes in our district. Discuss...

Yup. I remember reading their monthly publication and seeing more discussion about that then other things that are actually important and pertinent to firefighter safety. This topic is for NYSP lighting so I won't rant on. I will say this - the blue in the rear is a HUGE DIFFERENCE and I would like to see it happen on all emergency vehicles.

Or your volume is turned off....

Date: 12/14/07 Time: 07:05 Location: Saw Mill River Parkway NB at I684 / Route 35 interchange Frequency: 46.26 / Fire 16 / NSVAC Units Operating: KFD 2211, 2212, 2213, E116, R17 / GBFD 2141, R24 / KBHVAC / 45M2, 45M3 Description Of Incident: Car vs. Tractor-Trailer w/ entrapment Writer: Remember585 07:10 - 2211 on scene with car vs. tractor-trailer with one pinned. 2211 requesting Medivac availability. Air 1 Unavailable, 07:30 - 2211 requesting update from Medivac, still down due to weather. 07:52 - Patient extricated and enroute ALS to WMC via KBHVAC & 45M2. *Goldens Bridge FD and KBHVAC dispatched prior to this for an MVA possibly on I684, turned out to be this incident.*

Storm sucked, they all do, anyone that thinks otherwise either makes money off of this crap or is sitting at home with nothing to do!!! I hear Sunday may just be rain now? Anyone know more? I am on days this weekend and not looking forward to ANYTHING.

Good work Tracy and everyone that was working that night!

Date: 12/13/07 Time: 06:30 Location: 95 Beekman Avenue Frequency: SHFD, Fire 12 Units Operating: 2311, 2313, E85, E86, E87, R12 / Tarrytown 2462, E80, L37 / SHVAC / Battalion 14 Description Of Incident: Boiler malfunction with elevated CO readings in a multi-family building. FD evacuated occupants until levels "zeroed out." 30-50 Apartments evacuated, residents sent to near-by school. Writer: Remember585

Date: 12/13/07 Time: 08:53 Location: Tappan Zee Bridge Frequency: Fire 14 & 156.225 Units Operating: 2462 (IC), M5, Irvington, Piermont, Nyack, Tarrytown EMS, GPD ALS Description Of Incident: Jumper Down Writer: Remember585 2462 requesting Marine Units from Sleepy Hollow, Irvington, Piermont, Nyack 08:59 - Command reports victim is on board Marine 5 enroute to awaiting EMS on Tarrytown docks. Mutual Aid cancelled. 09:05 - Command reports FD units breaking down, patient in care of EMS.

Truck - you mean "Ambulance," right?

This story was in First Responder News also. Good work guys. 1rbn.com link

Date: 12/9/07 Time: 04:11 Location: TSP NB MM 33.0 (South of Hortontown Hill Road) Frequency: Putnam F1, F5, F6, Dutchess Fire, 45.88, StatFlight Units Operating: Kent FD 16-2-1, Putnam Medic 3, East Fishkill FD 3952 & 3971, Mahopac Falls 19-7-2, Air 1 (on standby), NYSP, PCSO Description Of Incident: MVA w/ entrapment Writer: Remember585 w/ assistance from 20truck & CLM92982 Dispatcher: Putnam 420 04:17 - Putnam 911 retoning Kent, Mahopac Falls & Phillipstown for one ambulance. Mahopac Falls base on the air with a driver in quarters and EMT to the rig. Phillipstown can cancel. 04:19 - East Fishkill Rescue 3952 and Ambulance 3971 responding. 04:28 - 16-2-1 on scene reporting no entrapment. 04:30 - Putnam to Dutchess, cancel East Fishkill units per Kent FD. 04:31 - Air 1 standing down.

Westchester has their share of problems covering EMS calls too. I almost feel like it is a crap shoot when toning out certain agencies as to whether or not they're going to come out and play. I guess as long as the person in need doesn't mind waiting 30, 60 or even 90 minutes for an ambulance to transport them, then there's nothing to worry about. I say the next time an ambulance is dispatched to a call you simultaneously order a pizza delivery and see who shows up first. My money says you can snarf down two slices before your ambulance shows up. [/sarcasm] As a member of the EMS community for nearly half my life I can say this - WE AREN'T DOING THE JOB AS WELL AS WE SHOULD! Agencies not getting out, Mutual Aid and ETAs over 30 minutes are common practice and it isn't right. I don't get it, what is so hard about covering an EMS call - in most cases it only requires a response of TWO PEOPLE! Most Fire Departments can get five times that around the clock for NON-EMERGENCY CALLS. Why aren't people waking up, showing up and covering calls?! Afraid to tech? Personality conflicts? Calls take too long? I've heard and used all the excuses (except the first) myself, but enough is enough. Those agencies having the greatest difficulties covering calls need to do a serious self-assessment and come up with a solution - not a band-aid - a solution - to this problem. We all have friends and more importantly, FAMILY that is depending on these services so let's all "man up" and figure out what to do - even if it means paying people to ensure an ambulance shows up in a reasonable time!

Good luck Ardsley, that's a nice looking firehouse.

Initial response to a possible structure fire for us is a Full Department Response: 3 Engines 1 Tower Ladder 1 Rescue 1 Tanker (where needed) On a working fire: 1 M/A FAST 1 M/A Cascade unit 3 M/A Tankers (where needed) 2 BLS ambulances (1 M/A) (One for transport if needed, other on standby for US.) 1 ALS unit Cause & Origin Team 1 Battalion On a second alarm: 1 M/A Engine 1 M/A Ladder 1 M/A FAST (either to replace or supplement the first) 2 M/A Tankers (where needed) 1 Rehab unit (Red Cross or Salvation Army) Relocated into district for coverage is 1 & 1 plus 1 ambulance, all Mutual Aid.

That's a lot of stuff! Any pictures?

I saw Yonkers FD in something a while ago too.

Let's not forget that the troops follow the lead of their leaders. Are people 21 years old going to behave and act accordingly? Most 21 year-olds I know, including me back then, wanted no responsibilities and spent much of that time chasing women and taking advantage of being the "legal age" if you catch my drift.

Date: 12/3/07 Time: 09:25 Location: 632 S Bedford Road - Fox Lane High School Frequency: 46.26 / Trunked Fire 16 Units Operating: Bedford 2041, 2043, E108, MA7 / Bedford Hills 2032, 2033, E198 / Mount Kisco TL14 / Battalion 16 Description Of Incident: Ruptured propane line to school building Writer: Remember585 Pound Ridge requested with one Engine (E113?) to backfill the Bedford FD HQ.

Quite opinionated, aren't you? I would say that everyone operating on the system for day to day operations seems to be having no problems communicating. If they are, they've kept it to themselves. Portable coverage isn't perfect, but nothing is. I've been not only working with but listening to the system when I'm home and it is a GOD SEND to see people FINALLY getting off of 46.26! AND - It's been a GREAT TOOL when we have incidents involving multiple agencies, calls where in the past we couldn't communicate with units that are now utilizing this tool. It truly has been a GREAT ADDITION to Westchester Fire & EMS and hopefully it becomes used by more units. As for the issue where it may be "Maxed out," - I think others would agree with me that 46.26 has been this way for a long, LONG time. If the trunked system does in fact need to be "tweaked," then so be it - what new endeavor has ever gone off without a hitch? RWC, for a "Radio guy" and a "Moderator" I don't think you really know what you are talking about here.

Date: 12/2/07 Time: 05:45 Location: Route 9 in area of Jack Road Frequency: Multiple Units Operating: CVFD 2131, 2133, E230, R39 / Peekskill EMS 75B1, 75B2, 75B3 / Cortlandt Medics 35M1, 35M2 / Peekskill FD 39M2, E133 / Garrison 15-6-1 / Putnam Medic 1 Description Of Incident: Single car MVA vs. pole with entrapment Writer: Remember585 3 Patients to Hudson Valley ER 1 Patient ALS to Westchester Medical Center ER Peekskill E133 requested to set up a landing zone at Annsville Circle, Air 1 had to abort due to poor weather conditions.

It's possible that some people are confused. I think because DES is making agenices submit a form to request additional users TO AVOID a system overload, people are taking it the wrong way. But I could (and have been known to be) wrong on this! I'll look into it.

Thanks Tim! I think I got it, I didn't set my State / Location / Range info right. Actually seeing the signal indicator on top now. It's just a matter of waiting for someone to talk on it now!