helicopper

On what are you basing that statement? There have been many instances of EMS personnel being shot or shot at. I never wore a vest while I was in EMS but I certainly understand why some agencies make it available and some providers buy their own. As has already been pointed out, we try very hard to make ourselves indistinguishable from the police and despite our best efforts, a scene may not stay safe after we arrive and do that scene survey. Dispatch information is also only as good as the information provided. I remember going on a "difficulty breathing" call solo - just the ALS ambulance, no PD and no FD - only to find out that the cause of the difficulty breathing was a gunshot wound to the chest! This is not a slam on dispatchers - they gave us what they were given. It just turned out to be more! I would lobby for the agency to provide vests on their units in the small city rather than spending my hard-earned dollars on one.

Date: 03/25/07 Time: 1715 Location: Sprain Brook Parkway southbound between Jackson and Tuckahoe Rds Frequency: 155.505, 453.275 Units Operating: Yonkers PD and FD, Empress EMS, State Police Description Of Incident: Accident with injuries and extrication. Two ESU trucks operating at scene. Unknown extent or number of injuries ATT. Writer: Chris192

I've dabbled in digital video editing using Pinnacle software and their computer/camera adapter but I now have new responsibilities that will require me to produce digital video for presentation, training, and public relations. Does anyone else do video editing? If so, what do you use for it? I'm especially interested in the equipment and software you're using. Remember, it has to be cop proof so the more simple the better! Thanks in advance! Chris

Clearly, knowing my response area I would already have stopped at D&D and now only have to drive slow enough so as not to spill my coffee! That's why the new helicopter has a hoist - we don't even have to land! Just drop the hook and have them attach a box of joe!!!

No Mac, it's a Dell Windows based PC...

PJ, I don't think you can be negligent if you are stopping at a life threatening situation such as an accident requiring extrication. You haven't arrived at the other job yet and other units are also responding to it. At the accident there is someone hurt, risk of fire or fuel leak, potential for other vehicles to crash if the scene isn't safe, etc. I can articulate a dozen reasons to stop but would be hard pressed to justify my position for not stopping. I see you point about being assigned to the first incident but when I was in EMS we were redirected by dispatch to higher priority calls all the time. I think this is similar to that. Another way of approaching this scenario is to ask the question, "what call is a higher priority: structure fire or PIAA with pin"? Great discussion - really makes you think!!

I don't believe they're CFR's for the T-way. They may be in VFD's or EMS elsewhere. Most of the crews were bridge maintenance workers. The same guys used to be responsible for updating the bridge's variable message signs when there was an accident and the movement of the center barrier. The whole point of the wreckers is to clear the road so traffic can cross the bridge. They usually pull disabled vehicles off to either side of the bridge where they can safely wait for the contract tow service.

That's the problem - there's this association and that association but they never grow any wings and fly (like the flying metaphor? ). I don't know what the solution is but there must be a way to support the industry in our area.

You're right - EMS has never developed any kind of lobby anywhere and despite all the same issues, we are a divisive bunch... We're all so good at identifying this as the problem but do you have any suggestions for improving/correcting it? This may sound like a jab because this type of forum lacks the emotion of a conversation but I am asking sincerely. I thoroughly enjoyed my years as a paramedic and if it had the kind of future or pay/benefits that the PD does, I probably would have stayed in it. Unfortunately, EMS in our area is hardly a career path.

What kind of sick degenerate would do this to a girl and her dog??? I hope they do catch the bastid and he gets some serious time for this - since they're calling it an implied terroristic threat maybe they can let him rot at Gitmo!

Why not allow us to sue a property owner if they're negligent and we get hurt? The law already allows perps to do it - years ago a dirtbag burglarizing a school in NYC fell through a skylight and sued the city for his injuries and WON!

I hope they extend the counseling not only to those injured in the line of duty but to those forced to use deadly physical force in the performance of their duties.

Great post Stepjam! I've always been fascinated by the Chicken Little, the sky is falling, attitude we have in the US about nuclear power. Tomorrow there's going to be a catastrophic release during a snow storm while they're doing emergency road repairs on the TZ Bridge and traffic is snarled already. And of course there will immediately be a major release of radiation that will travel in every direction at 50 miles an hour. Come on... The Japanese have many nuclear power plants to generate their ever increasing power demand and they have safety measures in place comparable to ours but where the he11 are they going to evacuate??? Thanks Stepjam and ALS for staying focused on the siren issue.

That explains alot!

ditto!

Well, first of all, we obviously have different interpretations of self-dispatch. That point notwithstanding, if I am responding to an armed robbery call (where there may or may not be an imminent life safety threat) I am not the only unit responding so I would stop at the accident where there is an imminent threat to life and notify dispatch. Of course the first steps at the accident are to insure that the scene is safe and assess the severity of injuries - with that information you can update dispatch and request appropriate resources. I don't think anyone is saying that someone would "break out the tools" before doing these things. The implication in the original post was that extrication is needed and the engine is equipped for it. Looking back over these posts I see that very few chief's have weighed in on the subject. I'm curious about what they would say if one of their engine called them with this scenario. Chief, do you have the engine stop to render aid and backfill them on the fire call or vice versa? Also, and potentially most important should this ever occur, are these actions based upon formal agency policy? Has your department counsel ever reviewed that SOP and offered guidance to protect the department and it's officers?

You're not self dispatching if you come across an incident on your way to another call. That's apples and oranges. Self dispatch or "buffing" is when someone (for whatever reason) chooses to go to a call without being requested or assigned. Coming across an incident is simply that, coming across an incident. What if the IC is not on the scene yet and doesn't know what he wants or needs? What if, what if, what if, what if? Another point is that when you come upon the accident requiring extrication, you become the IC for that incident so what do YOU want/need? I'd like a legal opinion on whether or not any of us should "pass" a car accident or other call for service without stopping to render aid or at the very least make the scene safe. The time lost dispatching another agency to the response area already sapped of resources by a working fire job can mean the difference between life and death to a trauma victim. Sorry, but I think you gotta stop at the accident requiring extrication. Great topic! This one really makes you stop and think!

Let's see if the news tomorrow focuses on "Reverend Al's" Freudian slip calling for all five police officers to be shot. This generated quite a laugh among the assembled "mourners" of Sean Bell and caused Fat Al to back pedal a little and claim that he's not calling for the officers to be shot but it was too little too late. Why he even gets media attention is beyond me but that's for another thread...

Anyone have any idea what kind of plane that was in the foreground at the end of the crosswind video??? Holy cr-p!!! That thing is HUGE!

Politicians are just that - politicians! They will say anything to anyone to sway their vote and most have no allegiance to us - only to the almighty dollar. Hillary is telling the IAFF what they want to hear because she's collecting $$$$ at the event or is hoping to get the endorsement of the IAFF or both. Next week she'll be in non-union country telling all the non-union folks gathered that the unions are the problem and pledging to fight them at every turn. You can't go by what a politician SAYS; you can only go by how they VOTE! How did Hillary or any of the others vote on issues that matter to you? Is it how they told you they'd vote when they were courting you for your vote? Ignore the BS speeches, find out how they voted and hold them accountable if it is different than what you were told. Just my $.02.

Trauma, you're absolutely right - we're trained to aim for the largest target and to stop the threat - that means the chest in most cases. The only correction I would make is we're not trained to shoot to kill. We're trained to shoot to stop. What kind of personal car he owns? What kind of money he makes? Are you kidding me? This guy just got indicted for doing his job and will likely lose that job as a result of it. He may even wind up in jail if the ADA is anything like the US Attorney who prosecuted the Border Patrol agents involved in a shootout with a drug dealer on the border. Those guys are now doing six years in federal prison! On a dark street, in the middle of the night, this cop and his partners were out there trying to protect people and are now being called criminals for making a snap decision, a judgement call that he will have to live with for the rest of his life! Maybe he was trying to enjoy his last weekend as a free man. Maybe he was trying to dump his savings so that there is nothing to sue him for civilly (another sure thing to happen now), maybe he got taken out by his friends to give him a little piece of mind before turning himself in and being charged today. No matter what it shouldn't be news. It is absolutely ridiculous! ...stepping off soapbox...

Here is a flyer about the event that may generate some more interest. They are trying very hard to make this more than just a police vehicle/fleet management event so if you've got any new equipment, contact the organizers! In addition, alot of specialized resources (helicopters, boats, etc.) will be there so it may also be a good photo op. [attachmentid=2185] 2007FleetandEquipmentDemoDayFlier3.doc

If you drink enough green beer do you still need the green food coloring?? But I have four wheel drive! Why did I slide off the road on this ice? - quote from one of the fools!

Date: 03/16/07 Time: 1422 Location: Sprain Brook Parkway southbound from Jackson onto Bronx River Parkway into NYC Units Operating: State Police, County Police, Yonkers, Mount Vernon, MTA Description Of Incident: State Police in pursuit of a Honda Accord wanted for assaulting a trooper. Pursuit into NYC, most Westchester units terminated at border. NYPD, NYSP continued into the Bronx where perp fled vehicle on Holland Ave. NYPD ESU conducted perp search with (1) under. Writer: Chris192 I guess they plowed the Sprain pretty well today!

What are the requirements for the resident FF's? I would imagine that they have to perform a certain level of activity to remain eligible for this benefit.