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What state is this? From the article, it sounds like they were operating w/o an EMT until the law changed...anyone have any further info or care to elaborate? It seems a little odd to operate an ambualnce on a CFR level. Shame that they got disbanded, w/e the reason!

From the full article: Montero, who was on an antibiotic drip, was loaded into a litter basket, lifted into the helicopter and flown back to the Reagan for an appendectomy. Her mother stayed aboard the cruise ship.

EMS pay is way under what it should be. Where I work, both deckhands and maitenance make about the same if not more than I do as a tech. I respect other people's line of work, but there has to be priority! There is no way those two jobs can be considered equal to EMS on a scale of importance...I mean noone ever died b/c the garbage wasn't emptied. Probie BLS should not be under ten an hour these days. I would like to see the privates raise their top level of pay closer to 20. 911 should be on a higher scale, but not to much to discourage EMTs to start out in the privates and engender resentment and laziness leading to bad patient care.

Heres the story from msn.com. Wow, what does everyone think? NJ SWAT Team Disbanded After Racy Hooters Photos Emerge N.J. SWAT Team Disbanded After Racy Hooters Photos Emerge WNBC-TV updated 4:35 p.m. ET, Sat., Nov. 17, 2007 HOBOKEN, N.J. - The Hoboken Police Department's SWAT team has been disbanded, just days after officials learned of racy photos showing the unit's commander and other officers cavorting with waitresses from a Hooters restaurant in Alabama. Images: SWAT Team Controversy On the same day Hoboken's new public safety director was sworn in, he gave the city's police chief orders to disband the SWAT team and to order the lieutenant at the center of the controversy to desk duty. After seeing the photos of Lt. Angelo Andriani and other members of the Hoboken police SWAT, newly appointed Public Safety Director Bill Bergin said he had to act decisively. Bergin listed his reasons for disbanding the SWAT team in a phone interview with Newschannel 4's Pei-Sze Cheng: "The brazenness of the whole situation, because everything in the photographs, which I was shocked at, had Hoboken all over it, from the uniforms, to the police car, the bus that was involved." Bergin ordered the police chief to disband the SWAT team and to have Andriani return from his extended vacation and assign him to desk duty immediately. The photos were taken last year on a return trip from Louisiana, where the Hoboken officers helped with the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. They show the waitresses holding shotguns and other weapons belonging to officers under Andriani's command. Some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit were among the officers present. City Councilman Ruben Ramos Jr. on Friday called for an investigation by the city into the conduct of the officers during the trip. Andriani is currently at the center of a federal lawsuit against the city of Hoboken filed by five Hispanic officers who accused Andriani of being racist. "What the police department has done is used the SWAT team as a tool to retaliate against our members," said Richard Rivera of the National Latino Peace Officers Association. "What they're trying to do is pit the officers against our members and blame them." Bergin said his next move is to sit down with the police chief to discuss the Katrina trip. "(I want to) sit down with him and see exactly what evidence is involved, and see what transpired with this as far as who gave them the finances to make this trip, and just basically the background on how valuable the trip was," Bergin said in the phone interview.

Wow, thats a far cry from us here in large US cities taking everyone w/ every complaint to the ER. Obviouly neither extreme is the appropriate response. I'm wondering if she had called the police station directy and explained the suituation if she would have gotten a better response. I mean, yes its not PD matter but at the same time we all have had sitauations where there is leeway for disgretion, the mitigating factors should have helped out. I guess there is a legal issue for PD to take charge of an intoxicated, injured individual, but at the same time, its a legal matter (at least we've made it so in the US) when proper, lifesaving care is not provided...

Now that it has started snowing this season, I was just wondering what other places do to ensure saftey against the elements. What procedures do you have in place? When to snow tires get put on? Or a better question, does any company have a emergecny lights on at all times in snow policy? I have heard this several times but no one can tell me anything about it other than it is to increase the in snow visability of a what is with the exception of striping a mostly white vehicle. Does this decrease people's sensitivity to the lights or is a good saftey measure? Thanks and stay safe this winter!

Tradition alone, unfortunaltey does not make somthng legal or right, no matter how simple or well intentioned the act. While I don't necessarily agree with the complaint, and I won't weigh in on the rights and wrong of church and state seperation, the placement does appear to be a violation of the law.

I agree, as long as he confined himself to exterior attacks/wetdowns he took a load of the goverment and saved quite a few liveliehoods in the process. Kudos for ingenuity and courage!

Here's the flag code Section 7m of the Flag Code (see below) reads: The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia and members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. As used in this subsection — Basically, the governor can order it down for a member of state government or a state memeber of the military killed on active duty. Strictly speaking, agencies cannot half staff their flag w/o an order from the president or governor. That being said, the flag code is strictly voluntary w/ no criminal penalty attached for non compliance. Now, add that to the fact that there are more disrepectful ways people use the flag these days....not that I'm sure where I stand on the issue, but it would appear that the ends justify the means in a case like this????

Always!!! In an ambulance, I used to think the same, its very hard to tech, but after a while I found, if done properly, you don't really need to move around too much unless your working up an arrest or somthing serious. I bet if most techs take the time to think and prep some equipment, they could tech the call w/o disengaging the seatbelt. Whether it be getting your cuff, scope and pts sleeve rolled up and jacket off to gettin a pen light and gauze out of the cabinets or bags, you can do alot before you roll so you don't have to do it later unsafely. They are starting to mention this in CEVO classes as well and quite frankly I've never had an issue in being seatbelted while teching. As for trusting the driver, thats all well and good, (most times I do) but that does nothing for the other idiots on the road. I can personally attest that after my bus was cut off, I was saved my another crew member who happened to be sitting on a step stool in between the captain's chair and the side door. Had she not been there and caught me ( I was standing) i would have been slammed head first into some onboard tanks. Bottom line folks, seatbelt every time is the best way to go...just too many reasons not to!

United States Park Police have a pretty cool uniform and badge combo. Mounted Unit Badge

A Segway w/ police package including light, siren and reflective police striping comes to $ 6360.85. It includes a tail-light for increased visability. I would be curious to actually here an what a Segway officer thinks of them. I know we have some at work, and they make you sit through training to use them....seems a little silly.

Can we define subdued, tactical colors for those of us that are not familiar?

My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and cowokers at ESA and other organizations. It's a tragic loss at any point, may he Rest in Peace.

Thoughts and prayers to my EMS brothers....truly upsetting!

A clear violation of flag protocol, good job! There seems to be a general disprespect for the American flag these days and I find it disgusting! I walk through Battery Park weekly, and every day I see morons dressed as the Statue of Liberty beckoning tourists to take a pic w/ them. When a tourist falls for it, they wrap them in the flag for a picture. This really gets me, and what really bothers me is no one seems upset about it or willing to do anything about it. It's not a piece of clothing, prop or anything other than the proud symbol of our country. If our brave men and women who die in Iraq have their coffins draped in it, that should be a sign to everyone, athletes and scalpers alike, the flag should never be draped over a living person!!!!!

NYS encourages and I believe mandates ambulances stop and stabilize patients at the scene of a flagdown if the patient under their care is not critical. I agree, excellent job all around.

Wildland firefighting is very different than structural. It would be impossible to combine the two in the way you suggest, but I do agree it would appear some dept's are cross trained out there, so perhaps if the lawyers don't have field day with it, some ff's could help man the urban area calls while the locals handal the forest stuff. I think though, insurance companie would put up WAY too much of a fight to make it practical. Perhaps vollies could help w/ camp duties and rehab duties etc cosidering the large, extended nature of wildland fires.

Seriously, does anyone have any information on the device or where I can get info?

Does anyone want a trauma surgeon or ER doc kickin back in the staff lounge after a tough call one two or three hours into a 15 hour shift and having a cold one??? Just about the only profession that drinking on the job is pratical/acceptable is bartending!

I understand that it can be tough to evacuate and that crowds panic, but at what point do we draw the line? At what floor do we say ok stop evacuating during an alarm and wait? I remember in school we had fire drills all the time, even in college. It was ignored sometimes but it was good practice. In grad school now in a 14 story building, we had a fire drill where everyone was supposed to report to the nearest stairwell. Thats better than nothing, but even that is tempered when there are big notes posted around the building saying evac is NOT required during a fire drill. It would seem to me that it's always best to take the few extra minutes and air on the side of caution. If people are injured, the retropsect there is really simple; if only we had moved a little sooner.... I'm with EMT1301, the general opinion of the public w/ regards to alarms is changing, and as responders I think its somthing we need to be aware and concerned about. And before everyone tells me that its impossible to move large amounts of people quickly, I do this almost weekly at work. With practice, it CAN be done, its almost a matter laziness sometimes on the staff rather than people reacting incorrectly.

PJReilly, So no one who's carreer should volly??? Look, the volly world isn't perfect, but I can guess carreer isn't perfect either. I can tell you that my squad has lost several members to the career sector, none, despite lots of promises ever returned....they were good vollies, we couldn't retain them any more then we could a non career person. Volunteerism has always been about the personal choice to do somthing to help others. No union or dept should make that personal choice for someone....quite frankly until the entire US is paid career (and I doubt it ever will be) vollies are necessary and integral and I pray that no one who is supportive of measuse that will prevent that from being an option has to depend on a volly when they or their loved ones are in need. Perhaps the IAAF needs to talk to insurance companies to work out better coverage for vollies or talk about better training so people don't get hurt in the first place...

W/e the reason, the end result is it does away w/ and or severely discourages volunteerism. That alone is disgusting...dont care what religion your from, what your beliefs, your upbringing, voluteering is a great, great thing, shame on anyone who says its bad or tries to do away with it....FOR ANY REASON.

Tinytown or not.... the fact is the streets are extremely narrow and curvey, no one can dispute that! And as for 72 getting stuck, I'd say thats a pretty safe bet considering I've heard of 20A getting stuck....

Aviation is not currently an active VFD (they have NO apparatus, NO house, and barley any members), and as stated earlier, is currently a hotbed of contention and scandal. Edgewater is the only other choice for a VFD in the BX, but last time I checked you have to be a resident of Edgwater to join. As for VAS, there are only two in the BX, Fordham EMS and Throggs Neck Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Fordham only accepts students. Throggs Neck is pretty low on members and always accepting applications (no real requirments i.e. being voted in etc..) Lower Westchester has Mammaroneck EMS and Larchmont Volunteer Ambulance Corps. That about covers it unless you've got any more questions...never heard of APSU....hows that work, what type of calls, how disptached?