Union241

I too, would like to see some examples of this. 12 PA Code, which establishes laws and regulations for PA municipalities, dictates that each municipality is responsible for identifying the agency responsible for fire, EMS and police coverage for said municipality. Municipalities are not responsible for funding the identified organizations, but the code does allow them to levy a "fire tax" or "emergency services tax" to help fund or offset the costs of providing the coverage (my municipality uses this tax to pay the rent for fire hydrants charged by Suez Water). In addition to this, many agencies (mine included), in addition to normal fundraising activities, have an annual fund drive through which a significant amount of their annual budget is derived through. This is by no means a subscription, and for an agency to make that assumption, could at the very least run the risk of them losing that coverage area. I also doubt a county PSAP would also not replace a company which has failed to respond with the next due or next closest company if an agency fails to respond (8 minutes from initial dispatch for my county).

The station of the original owner, Neffsville, PA is about a mile and a half from the Lancaster County Airport.

Is it at the former LTI plant in Ephrata?

I have operated KMEs almost exclusively for almost 8 years now, and whatever problems that we have had with them not only have been problems from suppliers (i.e. Hale, Allison, Detroit Diesel), but the representatives have been extremely quick to address them and work with us to correct the problems. Any new rig, regardless of the build plate, will have its growing pains, and if you look from brand to brand, you will see commonalities with the problems because it is the same parts on rigs of different builders failing. Pumps, motors, transmissions, et cetera are not built by Seagrave, E-One, KME, Pierce or any other apparatus manufacturer, but they are the first to get blamed by the masses when something fails. What we as a whole need to remember is that it is that they are complicated tools that we work hard (1,000 times harder in a place like NYC) and they, like it or not, fail at some point. What matters in the end is the service that backs up the sale.

My former EMS agency in South Central PA had an entire fleet of box style Sprinters. The first three were van style built by ALF. Two caught fire and the third was retired about 6 months ago and is being used for parts. Management loved them because they got in excess of 20 MPG. The providers hated them becasue the turbos continously blew, they were uncomfortable to drive and the configuration in the back was a poor design (that, however, falls back upon the design selected by managment). I stand at 6' 4" and 260 lbs, to have me and a medic partner in the back trying to work a code or a trauma was far less than comfortable. They just recieved 3 new sprinters, but I have been told by my former supervisor that they just placed an order for several new ambulances on Chevy 3500 chassis. Attached is a photo I snapped with my phone of the 3 new Sprinters (not lettered) with some of the ones that were already in service (the ones lettered)

1 Firefighter sent to the hospital when his aerial collapses. It was an older ALF aerial, so I can't help but wonder if age played a factor with the collapse. Either way, praying for a speedy recovery of the firefighter. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45921110/ns/local_news-pittsburgh_pa/

Congrats, Joe! Best of luck to you in your retirement.

Locally (South Central PA) they have been advertising the Ephrata plant as an LTI and general apparatus repair and maintenance facility

My understanding is that these are to replace the Fords as there is no diesel SUV available right now.

Pennsylvania is the last state not to have a budget in place, there is supposed to be one almost done but I'm not holding my breath. State workers did go a couple of weeks without getting paid back in the start of the summer, but a temporary spending budget was put into place so that State Workers are now getting paid despite a budget not being in place.

That's a shame...I remember going there for lunch back in middle school and high school. Cheeseburger deluxe and a cherry coke (a real cherry coke with the distinctive layer of cherry syrup on the bottom of the glass)

2 Stations, 2 Rigs staffed with carrer staff 24/7/365

The Engine that replaced it is actually from the Upper Allen Fire Department (former Engine 1-23). One of the members of Upper Allen is one of the lead instructors at HACC and arranged the deal. The Engine will become the former Township spare once Paxtonia's new engine goes in service (their current engine will become the township wide spare). The engine is former Linglestown Fire Company, Lower Paxton Township (replaced by our current 2000 KME). From what I understand the township is considering all reasonable offers for it. Still runs and pumps as if it was brand new, some body rust but nothing that a little work couldn't take care of

Despite living in the Harrisburg Suburbs, I usually avoid the Fire Expo, however, I did go this year due to the fact that I brought my company's former engine (and now former township spare) there in an attempt to sell it. I must say, that I think that it was a better Expo than in previous years due to the lower attendance because it gave you a better conversation with the dealers and could really get a good sense of what was new and coming from the manufacturers. I was impressed with the new KME crash truck and Reading's new KME tiller. Here are a couple of the pictures that I took while I was there: Although not offically on display at Expo is Harrisburg's new Pierce Wagon Three: Their company patch: My Company's former engine, 1982 Pierce, Ex-Linglestown Fire Company, Ex-Lower Paxton Township Spare: City of Lancaster Truck 2 - 100' Spartan/Crimson Rear-Mount Tower: I know it is a bad photo, but here is a demo Spartan/Crimson "Boomer": Colonial Park (Lower Paxton Township) PA KME Engine: Paxtonia (Lower Paxton Township) PA Seagrave Engine: Memphis, TN International/Taylor Made Ambulance: Lastly, Hershey Medical Center Life Lion Aeromedical Eurocopter Dauphin 2:

Life Line. More photos of it can be found at the dealer's website http://www.efrsales.com/webpages/vehicles.asp?sectionType=1

My first time was a teenager who had intentionally overdosed in a suicide attempt. By the time that his father found him it was an obvious death, but the medic with me made the call that we would work him just to give assurances to the family that we did try to bring him back. Don't remember what exactly the kid took, but he washed it down with Peptol Bismol so there was pink vomit all over him. I (thankfully) haven't had to do it too many times (6, to be exact) but I do have one save from it. There isn't a better feeling in the world than having the patient walk into the station and thank you.

The Medical Director for University EMS at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA issued a directive last month that all EMS personnel are to report to the ER to assist staff there while not out on a run or doing paper work. While this is not employing them as doctors per se it is still having a major impact on the overall operations of University EMS. First of all, pagers only work in certain areas of the ER, so calls have been missed. Also, because the EMS providers get no down time now to relax and de-stress many providers have stopped picking up overtime shifts, meaning that they have missed many serious calls (I know of at least one arrest and 1 MVA with entrapment) in their first due. Paramedics assist ER staff with starting lines, reading EKGs and such, where as the EMTs assist with obtaining vital signs and registration. Like I said, while this is not utilizing them as doctors, I still feel that this is only a way to speed up the rate of burn out, turn over and just in general a horrible utilization of resources.

E ating M y S nack E at M ore S natch E very M edics T axi B oy

Anybody know what they are going to do with the Mack?

How true. I'd rather buy from a foreign company that provides jobs to Americans than buy from an American company that closes US plants to send them overseas while asking the government for bailouts

For PA all you need to do is contact any regional EMS office and challenge the test, or you can take the national registry exam and it will be recognized by the PA department of health

Now THAT is funny I think I might have to go out to the grocery store and get some bacon and sausage and try that...

That's awesome. But I want to know, what was Seth up to last night?

Replacement for E-29? Or are the planning on replacing one of the LaFrances?

It is a shame that the medics have been complaining about this serious issue for a while now and nothing had been done until the Department of Health came in. Our medics carry their narcs in what essentally amounts to a secure pencil box attached to their hip with a carabener. When they need to restock or switch out old meds for new ones they go to the hospital pharmacy, where I hope the meds are kept under proper conditions. Non narcotic meds are kept in a secure locker inside the ER in a room that I would be surprised if the temperature ever reached above 50 degrees. Our newer Medic Squads have temperature controlled lock boxes, but on the older ones in terms of temperature control, it is hit or miss as to the temperature control of the narcs/meds.