Future Fireman

I pass by their yard often on my way to work. It's not a slug, but an actual cabless locomotive. I've only seen one, but it appears that they had more than 1 unit in the past: http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=391542&nseq=5 Mike

As much as I am for getting into Fire-EMS, the IAFF is in it for the wrong reasons. Yes, that will piss some union members off, but hear me out. The IAFF is concerned about 1 primary thing: Keeping or expanding their union base and bringing more benefits to their members. Their point is that NFPA standards are already place stations in places for quick response times. However, the result of this Fire based EMS most often, is FORCED ALS, since it seems that every department wants to proudly promote that they provide EMS at the Paramedic level by putting "PARAMEDIC" on the side of the engine. (Who needs those silly basics anyways?) Do we need a paramedic on every fire truck like they have in abundance out in California and in Florida and in various parts of the rest of the country? If your ambulance is coming just as quickly, no, you don't. Maybe if it's 30 minutes out. But it is a rather expensive WANT rather than a genuine need. All FD provided ALS first response does is make your service more expensive to provide and give uber-redundency in the duplication of services. Now, if you think I have a vendetta against Fire Based EMS or the IAFF you're wrong. I was an explorer for 4 years with a FD that did transporting EMS, and I love both sides. But everyone is quick to put PARAMEDIC on the side of the engine when they don't need to. So, what am I getting at? If the FD operates at the ALS first response level, that usually makes for alot of forced medics (IIRC, Dallas is setup this way. You MUST be a medic to get hired or even get promoted.) What does this lead to? A downgrade in patient care. All these medics care about is getting a FF job or getting promoted. They don't give a crap about the patients they treat. All they care about is going to fires. Personally, I am a big fan of ALS transporting ambulances and BLS engines & other first responders. I'm no expert in Fire or EMS, and I don't claim to be, but I'm less than thrilled about why most FDs get into EMS (the typical padding their call volume & ensuring funds/staffing - which is what NFPA 1710 & 1720 [for VFDs] are for.) I'm sorry if I pissed anyone off, but as a EMS newbie that is well versed in EMS news, it ticks me off that some agencies out there are providing EMS for the wrong reasons. I'm sure I'll get some angry rebuttals from this, but I'm just gonna shut up from here on out.

Maybe it's just FDNY. And the "Ambulance" part of it is up there for state/city specs or maybe KKK? I don't know, I'm no expert in the KKK standard.

That would be correct. I checked with a friend who was a CFR & is a Mass EMT. Per him, there's no Con Ed hours and no really reason to keep it, so I was wrong about that.

Here's my question. How do you take it down? Destroy it?

I don't know the exact answer to that one, but I think that CFR refreshers can count as Cont. Ed. I will check on that though and get back to you. As to CFRs not being in the protocols, basically the role of CFRs is to do the basics of the basics (I.e. C-Spine, CPR, Oxygen if trained, BP & pulse, etc.). CFR training varies depending on who's teaching it. It's sort of "recognized, but not recognized." Granted, you generally practice to your particular dept. or agencies EMS level. Every firefighter in the state is required to be, at minimum, a CFR. Pretty much that and Haz/Mat training for the feds is the only "mandated" training for every firefighter in the state. Yes, our system needs some tweaking and fixing here and there. Gotta love the Office of EMS.

As a Mass resident & current CFR holder, (As well as a Mass. EMT) I know it exists. The state doesn't "officially" recognize it in the protocols, but it is a form of EMS provider here in the Bay State. JFlynn, point taken.

Uh, last I knew, Boston operated at the CFR level. So even if they made their EMT, they could only practice at the first responder level. Unless BFD is trying to up it to EMT. (which I've never heard of that happening.)

This is true. But the medicines can give you a clue as to what's going on for your patient. I'm not going to get into a debate over EMT knowledge and scope of practice in regards to understanding medications. But the more information that the EMT can use to his/her advantage, the better. As for Willdog77, I apologize for getting your topic off-track. By all means, if you're looking for a handy pocket guide, Informed is the way to go. Mike

Josh, that may be true. But for your patient's medications that you don't know do what, it can pay to have that pocket guide. Case in point: 72 y/o male with a meds list longer than the Declaration of Independence. On that list there's Alendronate, Aggrenox, & Pacerone. Now, if you didn't have that pocket guide, how else would you know that Alendronate is for osteoperosis, Aggrenox is an anti-platet,& Pacerone is an anti-arrythmic? Don't get me wrong, if you're literally being a cook book EMT and using the field guide to get you through a call, there's a major problem. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be used when appropriate. Mike

Informed has a good EMS field guide for Basic & EMT-Is out there. I paid $24 for mine, and I used it as a study guide for the state exam. Very informative and handy, and includes a prescription drug reference and a poison reference as well. Well worth it, IMO. Mike

Date: 9/11/11 Time: 14:45 Location: 11 Stanton St. Frequency: Ops-A Units Operating: Box 16/09: Engine 16, Engine 3, Engine 8, Engine 6, Ladder 2, Ladder 1, Rescue 1, Car 3. Ladder 7? is the RIT. Worcester EMS Car 9 & a unknown medic unit. 2nd alarm: Engine 13, Engine 12, Ladder 3, Car 4. Weather Conditions: Cloudly Description Of Incident: Box 16/09, Belmont St at Everard St. struck for a working structure fire at 11 Stanton Street. 3 story wood frame, "triple decker" found on arrival with fire in the back staircase. Fire is knocked down at this time and the Red Cross has been requested to the scene. Reporters: Future Fireman (Mike) Writer: Future Fireman (Mike)

Sorry, but no. Most departments have phased out the pull boxes. Boston's pretty much the only one left. No one to my knowledge in all of Central Mass uses a pull box at all. Worcester's the biggest city in the area, and they've never had any in the 19 years I've been a city resident. Springfield may of had some but out west, it gets rural really quick, defeating the purpose of them.

You're 5 feet off, Skip can verify this, but all the E-ONE RMA's in Beantown are 110, not 115. The Pierce units are 105 and the TLs are 85-95 ft. E-One's been making those for years, if I remember correctly.

Could it be a replacement to HM1's 2nd piece? Although, that would defeat the purpose of it being a walk in...