Medic137

On the west side you can use 453.7875 PL#503 to link to 46.38. 453.1875 PL 123.0 will link you to EMS 155.205. The Empire State Flycars have UHF extenders in the 460.0 range. If one of them is nearby (within a half mile or so) you can use them to receive or transmit on Channel 5. PM me for the freq and PL. I don't know why the county doesn't make better use of the VHF system they have in place. I can open that repeater with a portable from anywhere in the county. I have not heard of any plans the county has to upgrade the radio system.

Maybe if the proposal included bringing Medic 4 back to one of the Brewster fire houses it would be easier to sell it to the district residents.

I was one of the EMTs just getting off work at Empress when Scooter ran out of dispatch and shouted "Nobody leaves! There was a plane crash in White Plains." We all hopped back in our ambulances and boogied up there. On the way there we were updated that it was a propane truck. (We then tossed our cigarettes out the windows) My partner and I were in the first ambulance to reach the south side of the scene. There were basically two MCIs. One on each side of 287. We transported three patients to White Plains Hosp.

FDA AND NIOSH Public Health Notification: Oxygen Regulator Fires Resulting from Incorrect Use of CGA 870 Seals (You are encouraged to copy and distribute this information) Updated: June 19, 2006 Dear Colleagues: We are updating the Public Health Notification of April 24, 2006 alerting you to the danger of fires at the interface of oxygen regulators and cylinder valves because of incorrect use of CGA 870 seals, and to point out an important precaution you can take to avoid such fires. This update clarifies the FDA and NIOSH recommendation on the use of sealing- type washers (reusable, metal-bound rubber seal) and crush-type gaskets (single use, not reusable, usually Nylon ®) with oxygen regulators. We believe that this new language will alleviate concerns around the proper use of both types of seals. Background FDA has received 12 reports in which regulators used with oxygen cylinders have burned or exploded, in some cases injuring personnel. Some of the incidents occurred during emergency medical use or during routine equipment checks. FDA and NIOSH believe that improper use of gaskets/washers in these regulators was a major factor in both the ignition and severity of the fires, although there are likely other contributing factors. Two types of washers, referred to as CGA 870 seals, are commonly used to create the seal at the cylinder valve / regulator interface: The type recommended by many regulator manufacturers is a metal-bound elastomeric sealing washer that is designed for multiple use applications. The other common type, often supplied free-of-charge with refilled oxygen cylinders, is a plastic (usually Nylon ®) crush gasket suitable for single use applications. When used more than once, the Nylon ® crush gaskets require higher torque than the elastomeric sealing washers in order to seal the cylinder valve / regulator interface, and if they are used again, they require more torque with each successive use. The cylinder valve / regulator connection is designed to be hand-tightened. If the crush gaskets are re-used, the need for increased torque may require using a wrench or other hand tool, which can deform the crush gasket and damage the cylinder valve and regulator. This can result in leakage of oxygen past the cylinder valve seat and across the nylon crush gasket. According to a forensic analysis supported by FDA and NIOSH, “flow friction” caused by this leakage of compressed oxygen across the surface of the crush gasket may produce enough thermal energy to spontaneously ignite the nylon gasket material. Recommendations FDA and NIOSH recommend that plastic crush gaskets never be reused, as they may require additional torque to obtain the necessary seal with each subsequent use. This can deform the gasket, increasing the likelihood that oxygen will leak around the seal and ignite. The following general safety precautions should also be taken to avoid explosions, tank ruptures and fires from oxygen regulators. Always “crack” cylinder valves (open the valve just enough to allow gas to escape for a very short time) before attaching regulators in order to expel foreign matter from the outlet port of the valve. Always follow the regulator manufacturer’s instructions for attaching the regulator to an oxygen cylinder. Always use the sealing gasket specified by the regulator manufacturer. Always inspect the regulator and CGA 870 seal before attaching it to the valve to ensure that the regulator is equipped with only one clean, sealing- type washer (reusable metal-bound rubber seal) or a new crush-type gasket (single use, not reusable, typically Nylon ®) that is in good condition. Always be certain the valve, regulator and gasket are free from oil or grease. Oil or grease contamination is widely known to contribute to ignition in oxygen systems. Tighten the T-handle firmly by hand, but do not use wrenches or other hand tools that may over-torque the handle. Open the post valve slowly. If gas escapes at the juncture of the regulator and valve, quickly close the valve. Verify the regulator is properly attached and the gasket is properly placed and in good condition. If you have any questions or concerns contact your supplier. Reporting to FDA FDA requires hospitals and other user facilities to report deaths and serious injuries associated with the use of medical devices. If you suspect that a reportable adverse event was related to the use of medical gas equipment, you should follow the reporting procedure established by your facility. We also encourage you to report adverse events related to medical gas equipment that do not meet the requirements for mandatory reporting. You can report these directly to the device manufacturer. You can also report to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program. You may submit reports to MedWatch by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088; by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178; by mail to MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787; or online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm. Getting More Information If you have questions about this notification, please contact the Office of Surveillance and Biometrics (HFZ-510), 1350 Piccard Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, Fax at 240-276-3356, or by e-mail at phann@cdrh.fda.gov. You may also leave a voice mail message at 240-276-3357 and we will return your call as soon as possible. FDA medical device Public Health Notifications are available on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety.html. You can also be notified through e-mail each time a new Public Health Notification is added to our web page. To subscribe to this service, visit: http://service.govdelivery.com/service/sub...de=USFDACDRH_10. Sincerely yours, Daniel Schultz, MD Director Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug Administration Nancy Stout, Ed.D. Director, Division of Safety Research National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updated June 19, 2006 http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/042406-o2fires.html

Woman gets DNR tatoo Woman Gets 'DO NOT RESUSCITATE' Tattoo Thu May 18, 7:27 PM ET DECORAH, Iowa - Mary Wohlford has made it perfectly clear what her final wishes are: it's written in ink — on her chest. Wohlford, 80, had the words "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" tattooed on her chest in February. Wohlford hopes she's made her wishes perfectly clear should she become incapacitated. She also has a living will hanging on the side of her refrigerator. "People might think I'm crazy, but that's OK," she said. "Sometimes the nuttiest ideas are the most advanced." But Wohlford's decision to have her final wishes imprinted on her chest have raised some legal issues. Some medical and legal experts doubt that Wohlford's tattoo would be binding in the emergency room or in court. But they give her credit for originality. "I'll be darned," said Bob Cowie, a Decorah lawyer and chairman of the Iowa Bar Association's probate and trust law section. "There are easier ways to do it than that," said Cowie, who suggested people sign a living will or authorize a medical power of attorney. Wohlford said she knows some people might find the tattoo amusing. But she said her motive is serious. "This is a modern day and age," she said. "You have to advance with the times. We never even had a living will 20 years ago. Now I think we've got to go to the next step." So, will Wohlford's tattoo stop an Iowa doctor from resuscitating her? No, said Dr. Mark Purtle, who works at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Purtle said Iowa law defines when caregivers are permitted to end life-sustaining measures. A tattoo isn't enough, he said. He recommended a living will or an advanced directive, with a copy placed in the patient's medical charge. He also said people should discuss their wishes with family members. ___ Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com

JT1000. Same as the HT1000 but user programmable via the keypad. You can also use the keypad to tone into the hospital HEAR radios if you happen to be in a rig without a VHF mobile radio. I have the VHF and the UHF models. The only thing they won't do is send an identifier. Reliable and almost indestructible.

Now that BLS ambulances carry AEDs, Albuterol, and Epi pens, you've probably done all the things I can do quickly. If they haven't worked the odds are I'm not going to make a big difference either. (yes, there are some exceptions) Get the bus moving to the hospital. Medics get lost, and flycars break down. When you see my lights in your rear view mirror you can pull over. Until then, keep moving!

The UHF link (453.7875) is working.

For departments that run ambulances, and probably have more EMS runs than any other type of call, shouldn't the chief be (at least) an EMT?

Police and EMS usually work alone or in pairs without direct supervision. Firefighters, on the other hand, always work in squads or companies supervised by a LT or Captain and under command of a Chief. Considering there was a death and a serious injury on this scene, I would be more concerned about the leadership rather than the background of the firefighters.

Just to be clear: You need one radio for each frequency spread. Side note: I wasn't impressed with the HT1250 Low Band's performance. I get better range with my 15y/o P200.

From "The Valley News" Firefighter Test

Yorktown VAC has had its LOSAP in place for about 6 years now. Our members are required to be on duty at Headquarters, and in uniform at least 288 hours a year to get credit for the year. That works out to 24 hours per month.

Putnam County Bureau of Emergency Services

I think Infinity (Owner of K-Rock and WCBS FM) is hoping people looking for rock will move down the dial to 101.1. The ratings for the new "Jack" format are about half of what they were when WCBS was playing oldies.

I'll be a mile behind WAS. Uphill and upwind. Underfunding EMS for all these years comes with a price. I'll take the calls I'm equipped and trained to handle. I'm lucky if there's a turnout coat in my truck. (With the name of a defunct ambulance service on the back).

I wish they would put up a repeater so I can hear what's going on when I'm in Putnam Valley!

Also called 100-60 Chateau La. It's a State Facility for the developmentaly disabled.

Part of the problem for those of us working in flycar systems is maintaining good working relationships with the VACs and VFDs that run the ambulances. For the most part the volunteers are leaving their jobs or families to come out and do EMS runs. I try to get them back to what they were doing as quickly as I can. I'm already turning a 45 minute call into a 2 hour call when I insist that a patient with seemingly minor injuries who dumped their motorcycle at 30 mph needs to go to at least a level 2 trauma center. If I do the same with chest pain calls I may find myself alone on scene with an evolving MI waiting for mutual aid from 3 towns away. WAS: We were issued LP12s about 18 months ago.

I agree with WAS. If I think a patient is having an MI, I treat it as he described and usually get to the 12 lead as we're backing up to the ER. Just as well since you don't get a good read in a bouncing ambulance. I'll do the 12 lead in the house if the symptoms are more vague. Either way, until the protocol is changed it would be hard to justify bypassing the local hospital to go to a cath lab.

I bet when they figure out what it will cost to get a fire dept EMS system up and running the Jersey Medical Center bid will look very reasonable.

Putman Valley's tanker and Somers FD's chief. 24-4-1 and 2441.

Has anybody ever called 911 and said "I want an ambulance and I don't know why"?

The Plaza has a Carmel Mailing address although it is in the Patterson Fire District.

We tried that but NYCANCO kept telling us the strings were no good and.....well you know the rest. ](*,)