NJMedic

Why is so hard to think the the USCG doesn't have assets readily available. Love the Coast Guard but where is the nearst USCG Air Station to the NYC area? Atlantic City, 90 miles south of NYC. Although I think their have a aircraft seasonal out on Long Island. I believe NYPD has an MOU and at least an informal agreement to do water rescue in the area. NYPD flies daily to rescues over the Jersey Shore. If a USCG helicopter is on a mission its going to take a while. Even a launch with a ready crew sometimes takes 15-20 to get off the ground. On a related matter I received this in the mail this morning. In responds to someone elses questios a medic who know works in the area rpovided more feed back..... First the facts: The Alameda Fire Dept. had a thriving rescue swimmer program and boat program, two necessary programs for an island community. 3 years ago, a new chief was brought in, because of the downturn in the economy, to bring the budget and costs into alignment. Decisions were made, that were not popular. As an example one was to suspend all community CPR training programs. We did 4 community CPR training programs a year, where we would train the general public in CPR. These were popular programs, but due to budgetary concerns, they were suspended. The other issue was to suspend the boat program. Alameda is an island community, with a Coast Guard station next to Alameda, and the City of Oakland and the Alameda County Sheriff also having water rescue craft (although they are not stationed on the island). I was the EMS Coordinator for AFD at the time, and myself and several of the duty chief's voiced objections to getting rid of the boats, to no avail. Then the rescue swimmer program came up. Rescue swimmer encompassed training for select members of the department who became certified as lifeguards, open water rescue, etc. They also received special equipment to SAFELY effect a water rescue, to include wet-suits, tow boards, water rescue surfboards, etc. There were members trained on every shift, and enough members to safely initiate a water rescue. Training is paramount for this type of duty, and these men and women trained EVERY month. The chief decided to cut the program. As with the boat program, he said we could get resources from Oakland Fire Dept or the Coast Guard. This was unacceptable, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. It was reviewed by the City manager and the chief financial officer for the city and the budget changes were approved. NOW, over the course of three years since the cancellation of the program, every day is an accident waiting to happen. Prior to the cancellation of the program we had had several rescues that were needed to be effected, some successful, others that weren't, but we were prepared. The COMMUNITY was lucky in the 3 years after the program was cancelled that a child did not need the service... In that 3 years, up to ONE THIRD of the department retired. New staff members were hired...new members who had NO EXPERIENCE, or NO TRAINING with rescue swimmer...wet suits were gone...the other equipment was sold... Now the day of the drowning, most of the members on duty, no experience with water rescue, and the rest of them had not been in the water in 3 years (please not, the rescue swimmer program was a VOLUNTARY program, so only 25 members were every fully trained at any time)...no equipment...54 degree water...a suicidal individual, one who will fight you... What would you do? If it was a house fire, with a suicidal individual inside, someone who would fight you, would you go in, without protective gear, and struggle with them? Without training? I provide this information, because if you are going to offer an opinion, it should be an informed opinion. I know the men and women of the Alameda Fire Dept, I served next to them for 5 years, they are brave, honorable people. Trust me, they are besides themselves over this. But they are also people like you, with families...they would gladly give their lives to protect you, but at the same time they need the tools and training in order to be able to do the job. EMS Operations Officer/Oakland Fire Department Former EMS Coordinator - Alameda City Fire Department

Although I do not know what model they use a rebreather is similar to an SCBA but has a scrubber to remove exhaled CO2 and induce some oxygen back into a closed circut so the wearing as fresh air to breath. Years ago we used to carry a device called a Bio Pack. As decribed above it had a same oxygen tank to allow O2 to be blended into a wearers exhaled CO2. Our units had a minmum of 60 minutes of use regardless of how much work was done. I think they are up to 120 minutes.

Apparently one or more of our local kids decided to use some spray paint on one of our trailers, right in front of the firehouse. Anyone have any good suggestions on spray paint removing?

http://www.halcyonproducts.com/mcp/default.asp

Keep in mind FDNY also has the squad companies, Haz Mat Company, all Ladders have set of Hurst tools on board, ten NYPD ESU trucks with 2 REPs with each truck.

I heard him say he was going to cut those homeland security grants too.

Apparently its costing the taxpayers more already to run EMS. How can a fire department consider EMS as a CORE mission but receive extra money to perform EMS? A town close to me recently did the same thing. They ran two rescue ambulance with three guys on the ambulance and each received more money for it. If an engine company went on an EMS job the firefighters on that Engine received a hourly boast in pay for the time they were on the EMS job. The town council realized they were paying the average 5 year firefighter, thats makes a base salary of $87,000 a year time and a half to run EMS calls. They said screw this and increases the amount of third service ambulances on the road by taking EMS response from the FD.

Check out this website devoted to all things College/University EMS: http://www.ncemsf.org/resources/links/showlinks.ems?category=999

I doubt it and I would fight this fire anyway. What happens if someone is trapped? What happens if he or anyone else et the fire to cover a crime? He is creating a public hazard(sp?) At the very least he polluting the environment

I won't be holding my breath on that one.

Yes, Secure the Cities exercise. In NYC and the seven Northwest counties of Bergen, Passiac, Hudson, Union, Middlesex, Essex and Morris Counties.

Wait now You need a RIT team, staging area manager, Resource & Sit/Sat manager, traffic control, Air Unit, Rehab unit, covers to fill the empty houses, etc

Just delivered to the NJ State Police, an Agusta 139 with winch and FLIR. Apparently going in service with NorthStar when pilot training is complete.

Please......what type of training do you think is needed to rustle a wayward cow or steer found walking the highway after the truck that was carrying it flips over. How many CEUs could that be worth? How do you become an instructor? These are the type of incidents when you just have to use your brain and some luck.

We have had several here in New Jersey including two in the last year. I've conducted educational sessions for local responders in the area. One was in a car foud in the parking lot og a warehouse complex on a weekend with signs posted on the windows. The other one was in a bathroon of a single family dewelling.

Any tried and true methods to make tires look good? Washing and Amorall doesn't do a thing.

I was at the Fire Academy last week for a demo. Seems pretty neat although the price might scare away smaller departments (I don't know what the price is but I have to imagine its not cheap). One feature is that when the man down button is pressed the radio switches from 2w to 5w, I guess that will allow the radio to cut out everyone else.

Although not a good precription for a long career but Chief Stone should just come out and say that 3 firefighters on a first due engine will not be enough to effect a serious firefight and will do little to actaully search for a rescue a trapped person. Why suger coat things? Did Pelhem just get a fire department, are they surprised that he FD has to be funded, even if it is at a patheic level? What have they do in years part? Bake sales, Pitch a penny on the highway?

I alsoheard recently that SW wanted to venture into the internationa market. That being the case the 737 will not work.

Happened on November 4m, 2008 and its Paterson, not Patterson. BTW Elmwood Park used to be called East Paterson. Get it...the initials for both towns are the same as the old names. In Woodland Park a referendum was held in 2009 to changed the name back to West Pateron and that referendum was defeated.

I don't see too much access given to this group. We the exception of the light generator being towed by a FDNY vehicle all the photos and videos show their members in publically accessible areas. Perhaps their uniforms buy them access but from an incident management prospective do I want an agency that I didn't ask for showing up on a scene perhaps operating outside the incident management system with no mandate to subscribe to an accountability system or have a particular mission? Nice trailer, wonder if anything is inside it.

WOW very scary. To call there guys buffs is an insult to buffs. Plus a big homeland security risk. An unsuspecting police officer might let them into a scene, but these are the kind of groups that should ring alarm bells. Official looking but with no role. Who knows whats in the trailer.

Well, just had our own Bus MCI tonight. At least no rescue involed. Middlesex County in not unlike Westchester County. Don't under estimate what can get done. Granted it would be much different at 9 in the morning then 9 at night. Plenty of help on the scene.

I like you style. Throw in patches and stickers and we would have to beat them off with sticks.

Bill Would Ban Photos At Accident Scenes http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/03/04/bill-would-ban-photos-at-accident-scenes/