velcroMedic1987

Greenburgh has both civilian and sworn EMT's and paramedics. It isn't just one or the other.

Not surprising that this thread gets no reaction or responses. We are our own worst enemy and the accidents and preventable injuries bear that out. Have a standard, train to the standard and hold people accountable to make sure we meet the standard in everything they do.

I hope that's the case! I hope that's the case!

This generates some interesting questions. Why do NYS DOH BEMS vehicles even have red lights and sirens? Are they authorized emergency vehicles? (This creates an even more interesting question, why?) Does the State of NY have an EMS agency code and inspect their own vehicles as "emergency ambulance service vehicles"? Given the inherent danger of roadside stops, why on Earth would a state EMS rep decide to "pull over" another EMS vehicle on the side of the road? Couldn't he follow them to their base or hospital? What was the "emergency"? (I don't think this is an emergency operation under NYS law.) If someone refuses to pull over for the DOH buff mobile what if anything can be done to them? They're not a peace or police officer are they?

https://www.faa.gov/uas/nprm/ The Department of Transportation's Federal Aviation Administration has proposed a framework of regulations that would allow routine use of certain small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in today's aviation system, while maintaining flexibility to accommodate future technological innovations. The FAA proposal offers safety rules for small UAS (under 55 pounds) conducting non-recreational operations. The rule would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking, and operational limits.

Instead of comparing apparatus, how about we compare the personnel? That's the real issue here. Is the personnel complement in Yonkers higher or lower than in 1975? Does the comparison with 1975 even matter? Who complies with NFPA 1710 and who doesn't?

RIP, John! You left us too soon and will be missed. Condolences to all his friends and family at the PCSO, Westchester ME, Westchester PSEF, Peekskill EMS, Cortlandt Paramedics.

Wow!

One of the visionaries that you describe put it very well about 25 years ago, the "problem is short-term leaders and long-term problems". This is as true now as it was when Jon Politis said it then. We haven't had a true visionary in our region in quite some time. Nobody is stepping up to carry the torch and beat the drum for EMS. Typically when someone does start, he or she is villified and ostracized for putting forth an unpopular opinion and the agencies just keep on doing their own ridiculous thing. Look at the discussions we have had hear that highlight the point that we don't have a system, we have a patchwork of band-aids covering a multi-trauma patient. One of the most affluent counties in the nation, with abundant resources that would make a lot of other places jealous, and we still can't cobble together a rational plan for the future. What ever happened to Westchester2000? That was 30 years ago and we're 15 years past the inception with few to none of the recommendations actually implemented. Who will be our relentless, energetic, tireless visionary that we recognize in 2030?

If a career/paid service fails, it goes out of business. We've seen this in our area too. The problem is the misconception that when you call your local VAC for help, neighbors drop what they're doing and come assist you out of the goodness of their hearts. Sadly, that motivation and ability for people to leave jobs (or volunteer at all) are becoming a thing of the past. There are plenty of businesses that fail because of poor leadership outside of emergency services too. The volunteer, donation-supported model for EMS simply doesn't work in 2015. It may have been successful in the 20th century but every day it becomes more and more difficult to sustain. Training requirements, regulatory requirements, insurance and other costs, time commitment, commuting jobs, all work against the model. How many people actually work in the town where they leave any more? The number is vastly different than it was 20, 30 or 50 years ago.

In Rockland they used to use paid drivers on the Sabbath and holidays. He would drive for them and the EMT's were allowed to treat, etc. during the call. I don't know if they use the same system today.

I think you're underestimating the power of the elected sheriff, especially in Putnam County. I don't think a lot of people are going to want to just cede control to the county executive or whomever would appoint a Police Commissioner. The Sheriff's Office will certainly not want to be relegated to jail and civil duties alone and give up road patrol. Look at the battles raging in Rockland County about the Sheriff's road patrol. Westchester's "Sheriff" is the commissioner of public safety. The Public Safety Emergency Force is their "auxiliary" unit. And call it like it is, the County PD doesn't take almost everything anywhere. They're even second fiddle to the state police in Cortlandt where they're contracted for police service. County PD is only primary on parkways, parks and the airport. Hardly like Nassau or Suffolk. It is true that "everyone in the state" pays for the state police but are their services equitably distributed? Is it fair to say that they "always provide patrol services"? They don't in NYC so half the population of the state is paying for something they don't receive. Do they do anything besides parkway patrol on Long Island? Be careful saying always and never. It is definitely not a clear-cut process or decision. I'm also willing to bet that the residents of Carmel and Kent will fight against seeing their taxes being used to send their cops to other towns. I believe a study recently showed that Carmel PD was substantially understaffed based on calls for service, arrests, etc.

So does this mean Philipstown and Putnam Valley (who incidentally disbanded their local PD due to the expense [and politics]) will now have to subsidize the police services in Carmel and Kent? Will the distribution of resources be equitable or will it just mean that the west side of the county continues to pay for services they don't receive because they're all focused on the east side of the county?

You forgot to mention the state police which would be a third, independent, county-wide police/patrol agency.

PD's and FD's are pricing themselves right out of existence. The article says that the Carmel PD is about 33% of the town's entire budget. That's a huge expense for one department.

Facscinating that there are sources before the study actually starts to decide what would be consolidated and how. I'm pretty sure that the sheriff will have something to say about his jurisdiction being curtailed to make room for this "new" agency.

All these responses are just opinion and agency guidelines. Are there any state policies on the subject? I looked through NYS EMS for policy statements and found nothing on the subject. Is it possible that there is no policy for this scenario?

Does Westchester even have 28 tankers? How far out would they have to go to get that many? What percentage of the county is hydranted vs. not hydranted?

More legislating by the executive branch. Not a fan of these actions at all.

That is just asinine. Using that logic EMS should have gotten 600 RMA's at the MNRR train accident a couple weeks ago. Did they? Or did they just seperate those claiming injury from everyone else? That PD has issues and the EMS agency is nuts if they put up with it.

The Westchester DES METU was involved in that and yes there are about 18 of them in NY/NJ. I don't know if they call it an EMS task force but they did do a drill a while back at Orchard Beach I think.

$$$$$$$$$ Doesn't get more factual than that!

That was my point exactly in response to an earlier post about it not being local tax money. Taxes are taxes and waste is waste..

Since when is discussing the lack of standards or a cohesive system "petty bickering"?

Or admin staff going to back to line positions and increasing the level of service provided. Same number of people, more in the firehouse or on the street!