mikeinet

I did watch the episode to see what it was all about. First, I'm sure their insurance company would love to know that they had the two of them DRIVING THE APPARATUS.... or so it seemed. Secondly - I felt embarassed for the entire fire service for having to be subjected to something so stupid and downgrading.

Syracuse, NY - Rural/Metro gets paid to be the City BLS/ALS provider... and you sure bet they charge the patient... steap too. BLS ride gets you $400 plus I believe $60/mile

Personally I think they might be a little too flashy, it catches my eye too much

ooooouch.

www.westchestergov.com/emergserv there's a link on the right frame in the bottom right for a "radio update" - you'll find a bunch of info there!

I thought westchester county banned live burns?

wow that just made my night!

I was actually in the Domincan Repulic a few weeks ago... and they started playing this song at one of the Disco's we went to. My whole group started laughing histerically... and everyone else kept dancing - it's a really popular song in germany... I guess they haven't seen the video. hehe

I have an issue with people responding to "everything and anything" with lights/sirens. If you are in a rig, you have a pt with you that absolutly stable (lets say general illness + a little vomiting) - then why the heak do you need lights / sirens? Lights/Sirens are supposed to be used in an "EMERGENCY RESPONSE" - not a "the rig is in motion" response. If you ride EVERYWHERE with lights/sirens, then people become used to it, don't notice it as much... and just think "oh, there goes xxxVAC again... playing with the lights and sirens trying to be cool and get through traffic" and not something like "oh S*IT something bad is going on, get out of the way!" my $0.02.

Don't get me wrong... i'm not saying that it isn't an issue ambulances get out and this should add to that issue - - but say CVAC's district: their district extends to the Kisco Park area... that's a like 10 minute drive to headquarters. So, say you get a full arrest - 10min to drive to HQ to get the ambulance, (if the arrest is on teh same side of town... another 10min back)? If you had a first responce vehicle, it'll just increase teh speed of care. I'm not saying it is going to address other issues such as getting crews out.

SHAC - I agree that it almost most cases it can work fine... yes, you might look like a tool or sit there playing with your thumbs if the ambulance is very delayed... but at least in a situation where a pt needs to be revived... or an aed is needed... its there fast.

Remember585 - I understand what you're saying... but say a crew chief has a first responce vehicle with them - they arn't bound to stay in quarters (they ARE volunteering!) and they can get quick to a scene if it's important while the rest of the crew responds regularlly... shrug.

man, i miss that baskin robins!

I agree there should be one central PSAP - it's shown it can work in MANY other counties... though I don't really like the whole "911" thing at the end of call signs... it can get confusing especially if you use 10 codes along with it. "Westchester 911 10-10" I think just "Westchester" would be fine.

my 'cuse lost =( typical screwups as we've done all season. at least uconn's out too, so im happy =D

Personally, I don't care if i'm in an ambulance, a fire engine, or what... if someone tries something on me, it's going right back at them - if you can reasonably prove what you do is in self-defence, then no court is going to argue it. I find it hard to believe that a state says an "EMT cannot withhold self defence mechanisms if need be" - I know a number of EMTs that carry knives as well as other things for worse-case senarios.

I enjoy the show - of course it's not fully realistic or even true... common, what the heak is anymore. I think the storyline is good and some of the issues that are brought up are great. The Third Watch/Medical Investigation combo was very good. Too bad it's such a far time away until the next epside comes out.

addictinggames.com is a dispatchers first link in the chain of survival

calhobs: yes, there is a "reason" why they are throwing up... but is it life threatning? I personally see no reason to "respond" to a general illness... can you justify killing someone (say an accident at an intersection) for someone who has no apparent life threat? I know I can't.

calhobs - why would you respond to every call with lights and sirens? In today's day and age, 911 is the phone number to call when anything goes wrong... so why do you respond lights and sirens, possibly putting people's lives at risk, for someone who's throwing up and doesn't feel well? (general illness w/ no priority symptoms) that's just silly.

yeah, sorry - exactly what I meant ... been a long day

this will absolutly hold in a court of law - as a dispatcher (especially 911) you have a duty to act in that you must provide the care, or transfer them to someone who CAN provide the care... you cant just tell them "sorry go away bye" - this is no different than an emt being on the scene of a heart attack victim, and refusing to help becuase they dont feel like it - its duty to act!

One word answer: yes. Further answer: In a place like westchester where there is no "priority" system or no determination of "level" of responce (light-sirens/automatic als/non-emergency responce) then unfortunetly the only real gain that EMD has is being able to give CPR instructions, FBAO instructions, and how to control bleeding. In a system that runs on priorities then EMD is a must, it determines the real level of an emergency and how a responce should be based.

pjm - what do you have against EMD cards? Face it - a dispatcher has only one sense to work with (ears) - and doing that while trying to be "the first responder" to an emergency scene (face it, a dispatcher is... they are the first person you call in an emergency) - the EMD cards can make a call run smoother, let alone give pre-arrival instructions from delivering a baby to CPR to how to control bleeding. When used properly, EMD cards can help a call more than it can hurt it.

well.... a) As per EMD Protocols, you must take the call unless you are transfering to someone that can give the same level of pre-arrival care as yourself (aka also has EMD cards) - though I find that just complicates stuff. If you get to the point where you realize it's out of your district, just take the info and shoot the call to the right place- by the time you transfer it, they go through all the protocols again... lost time. Yes, send PD to check and advise, BUT DO NOT DELAY FIRE/EMS DISPATCH - Dispatch them to the call YOU KNOW about, and advise them that there are additional calls in the area for a call of similar nature. (I do it all the time). NEVER DELAY PATIENT CARE!@!