mikeinet

They did the same thing with the CT division. 
 
They're overall consolidating most of the company - closing a call center in CT too 

This letter is only one of two times I ever say all five departments actually agree on something in writing. So if there is a silver lining maybe that is it.
 
That being said, I read the letter and got a totally different feeling from it. I got a feeling of frustration with the city. This is something that the union knows all too well. The VFD's were told certain things and many of them have not been realized yet. I think that to some extent they feel that settling the union contract, regardless of specific language, while not really working at the integration plan is a slap in the face. I don't agree with that but I can understand it. I can also see how they are upset at having a command structure become part of labor negotiation, because while it is certainly a work rule issue, it will effect the VFD's and they see it as a deal between the city and the union with no input from them, despite being told they are stakeholders. As we saw with the Springdale agreement the city has no problem promising the union one thing and the VFD's something else, and letting the courts sort out which contract is more important. The bottom line is that the city is the one dragging its heels on this. There could have been an integration plan in place quite a while ago. That plan could have involved participation from all involved, but it has not happened. To some extent I thin the union has become a convenient scapegoat for the volunteers because of years of animosity.

I don't think anyone is complaining about "helping people"... I think they are saying are we the right ones to be helping...
 
If you fall and can't get up in your home/private residence... I have 0 quarams.
 
If you fall and can't get up at an assisted living facility and the staff who are well trained refuse to help... THAT is where I have the issue.

I don't think anyone is complaining about "helping people"... I think they are saying are we the right ones to be helping...
 
If you fall and can't get up in your home/private residence... I have 0 quarams.
 
If you fall and can't get up at an assisted living facility and the staff who are well trained refuse to help... THAT is where I have the issue.

FF1/FF2: National Certification etc etc doesn't mean a dam thing! I know a shitload of Career guys who have Certificates up the yingyang and are dumber then a box of rocks actually putting their lives along with their fellow Career FFs lives and the Public who they swore an Oath to protect in further danger. This can be directly attributed to, Nepotism,  lowering the Standards, turning a blind eye etc..etc... Just because you sat in a class and passed a test doesn't mean your automatically a Professional FF! If the Public only knew how many knuckleheads were out there so called protecting them! The Fire Service in many places is no longer a "Calling" its just a paycheck now unfortunately! Gimme gimme gimme!!!! Another handout Profession!

I think and hope a lot of people are missing the issue. We shouldn't be complaining about doing EMS calls for anyone anywhere. Now comes the BUT. But, facilities that market and charge for care in addition to housing should not use EMS to reduce their WC costs by having "No Lift" policies for their employees. This means every time someone is on the floor, EMS is sent to pick them up. This is a relatively new policy stance that seems to be effecting all areas of the country. In my 'burg these calls result in needless transports more than 75% of the time as the patient has ceded all rights to the facility to make decisions and they will not sign a refusal of care or transport form after hours when the actual medical staff has gone home. This results int eh pt. and family being billed for a transport and ER visit when it was a simple fall or even in some cases, the pt. just sat down or laid on the floor and cannot answer "why". 
 
So I can see a growing frustration in EMS for tying up units to respond to calls that rarely have actual injuries, but result in increased health costs for the patients while tying up resources. The answer is a higher level than the providers. Good bosses need to work on this problem so providers can continue to treat every patient with care and compassion regardless. We are starting to see many places up our way bill these facilities. We're looking into how they accomplish this ourselves.

 
I think I agree to disagree with this... 
 
Do you see a respiratory therapist treating a patient at 2 in the morning because their mother on the other side of the country thought they "didnt sound right" on the phone so called 911? Did you see an EKG tech being called to run an EKG because the local one that was sitting next the patient couldn't do it because of "insurance reasons" so they had to call someone else who was just as qualified as themselves? 
 

 
As has been discussed in numerous areas of this thread - we're all getting called for things that are not "emergencies". 
 
If you live in an assisted living facility and you need to call 911 because you fell and can't get up...? Even down to needing to have a cath replaced... why is that an ambulance call? Why don't these facilities have proper staffing to deal with the needs of their patients. 
 
It has nothing to do with "wanting to go on the GOOD calls" (like a pin job) - it has to do with allowing our emergency services personnel  to serve those that are in an emergency situation. 
 
To the above scenario of the assisted living facilities... i've personally been on those calls where i've been patient side and hear tones drop for a cardiac arrest and it being the Xth call in town where we're out of resources... and we end up having to pull in mutual aid... which takes more time than if we were able to respond. 

Many regional protocols are moving away from requiring backboards except for extreme indicators... research found that the backboard didn't cause as much benefit as previously thought and more often than not, a patient is already moving around and had compromised C-Spine if there were an issue. With that being said, a lot of the protocols still require collars to be used, just not full immobilization.

Many regional protocols are moving away from requiring backboards except for extreme indicators... research found that the backboard didn't cause as much benefit as previously thought and more often than not, a patient is already moving around and had compromised C-Spine if there were an issue. With that being said, a lot of the protocols still require collars to be used, just not full immobilization.

Many regional protocols are moving away from requiring backboards except for extreme indicators... research found that the backboard didn't cause as much benefit as previously thought and more often than not, a patient is already moving around and had compromised C-Spine if there were an issue. With that being said, a lot of the protocols still require collars to be used, just not full immobilization.

Many regional protocols are moving away from requiring backboards except for extreme indicators... research found that the backboard didn't cause as much benefit as previously thought and more often than not, a patient is already moving around and had compromised C-Spine if there were an issue. With that being said, a lot of the protocols still require collars to be used, just not full immobilization.

I think we're discussing a major tax on our system that's CAUSING us to not be able to cover everything in our owns...??

I've seen this as well. A lot of facilities won't even assist a patient if they fall - it becomes a medical emergency and gets a 911 call (oh, and they'll probably charge you for calling 911 on your behalf...)
There really should be some sort of protocols that stop these type of EMS abuses. If a patient has no symptoms, no true MOI and "slipped out of a wheelchair"... why do you need a 911 ambulance to pick them back up and put them back in it? Most staff have plenty qualified medical professionals that can make a judgement call if there's an injury and care for them.
But the nursing homes don't want the liability...they'd rather pass it off to EMS to deal with

Completely out of control! It is an epedemic of people making money (Atria) and abusing the 911 system along with it. No less than 4 times a day to them in one town and 4 times a day in the next town coupled with another in the next and the flycar is basically assigned to them. Regardless, of whether they can be billed it is ridiculous! Especially in the evenings and weekends when there is less staff. All of these "assisted living" complexes should be required to have at least one and maybe two persons ON DUTY 24/7 for LIFT ASSISTS. Is it really an insurance issue or rather a lazy issue? People can be trained rather easily in how to lift a patient off the floor.
It is time for the VOLUNTEERS to be respected rather than abused! Perhaps doubling the fee to the nursing home should be investigated for lift assist calls. That would stop the abuse in its tracks. Something should be done before there are no 911 ambulances availabe for true emergencies.

I've seen this as well. A lot of facilities won't even assist a patient if they fall - it becomes a medical emergency and gets a 911 call (oh, and they'll probably charge you for calling 911 on your behalf...)
There really should be some sort of protocols that stop these type of EMS abuses. If a patient has no symptoms, no true MOI and "slipped out of a wheelchair"... why do you need a 911 ambulance to pick them back up and put them back in it? Most staff have plenty qualified medical professionals that can make a judgement call if there's an injury and care for them.
But the nursing homes don't want the liability...they'd rather pass it off to EMS to deal with

I've seen this as well. A lot of facilities won't even assist a patient if they fall - it becomes a medical emergency and gets a 911 call (oh, and they'll probably charge you for calling 911 on your behalf...)
There really should be some sort of protocols that stop these type of EMS abuses. If a patient has no symptoms, no true MOI and "slipped out of a wheelchair"... why do you need a 911 ambulance to pick them back up and put them back in it? Most staff have plenty qualified medical professionals that can make a judgement call if there's an injury and care for them.
But the nursing homes don't want the liability...they'd rather pass it off to EMS to deal with

I'd think there's a little more to it than just "let millwood respond" -- don't forget, this is district lines... so the concept of "let millwood first respond" is also "let millwood auto dual-respond/first respond for us for free"
I think the RIGHT strategy would be to look at the fire district lines and understand what makes sense and where the best coverage can be provided - not just keeping existing lines and buildling up to support an imginary line in the ground
And it goes both ways - maybe there's areas where YFD is faster than MFD (and there are)
The above is a "big picture" statement though and holistically looking at things...but why would we bother to do that

Dangerous act to pull off, however, we in this service risk our lives so that others may live. Kudos to those involved with this rescue. An extremely brave act against an extremely dangerous (silent) predator!
On the other side, this was extremely dumb. I don't want to criticize the actions of those on scene, but things could have gone an entirely different direction. I only say this because I advocate placing SCBA on ambulances for this very cause. If the first responder notices multiple victims down, and a fire department response isn't underway, IMO EMT/Medics should be equipped to handle the first few minutes of a CO response w/symptoms. There is no need for EMS personnel or police officers to succumb to one of our deadly predators. ((FOR THE RECORD: My opinion is not meant to hijack this thread in anyway. My opinions on this matter are my own and are only placed here to create positive discussion))
But, I will reiterate, good job to everyone on scene!

i feel like a lot of this thread is people grandstanding for their own opinions and feelings rather than looking at the facts / looking at what folks on hand had to deal with.
Well, on the bright side... at least there's an "active" thread again on this site :-) woohoo.

i feel like a lot of this thread is people grandstanding for their own opinions and feelings rather than looking at the facts / looking at what folks on hand had to deal with.
Well, on the bright side... at least there's an "active" thread again on this site :-) woohoo.

i feel like a lot of this thread is people grandstanding for their own opinions and feelings rather than looking at the facts / looking at what folks on hand had to deal with.
Well, on the bright side... at least there's an "active" thread again on this site :-) woohoo.

Agree- watched an episode or two and it seems 'decent' so far. Not overly dramatic, not far fetched, etc.
Curious to see how they maintain it / where it goes

Agree- watched an episode or two and it seems 'decent' so far. Not overly dramatic, not far fetched, etc.
Curious to see how they maintain it / where it goes

Perfect example why these "mega complexes" are scary as can be. They get built super quickly, super crappy, and to huge scale.
Wonder what type (or lack of) fire stops were in place...