WAS967

Since more than 24 hours have passed since we all stood in the ER and were present with the horrible news, I wish to convey my condolences to the my entire extended family at Mohegan VAC and FD on the passing of longtime member Bob Landsman. I have details on the arrangements but I think it best to come from someone within the department as I am unsure of all the details (departmental arrangments, etc). I've known Bob and his family for a long time and his passing comes as a shock to all of us who worked with him. His son Brian is also a member of Mohegan and a trooper with State Police in Cortlandt. Please keep them in your thoughts especially being the Holiday season only makes it harder. -Chris Deierlein Cortlandt Paramedics Updated Funeral Information For Bob Landsman: CG206 posted below information Thursday 12/11/08: Wake at Cargain Funeral Home at 418 Rt. 6 in Mahopac (opposite Enterprise Rental Cars) 2pm-4pm 7pm-9pm (department services at 7pm) Friday 12/12/08: Funeral services start at 9am at Cargain Funeral Home or 10am Mass at Grace Lutheran Church at Curry St and Gomer St in Yorktown Interment to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Park on Mill St in Putnam Valley

Date: 12/9/2008 Time: 0519 Location: 509 Washington Street Frequency: Peekskill Fire and EMS Frequencies Units Operating: 35Medic2, 75Bravo1 and 75Bacon3, E-133, TL-45 Description Of Incident: Initial dispatch for an EMS call for male who fell and altered. U/A 35Medic2 and E-133 on assessment of the patient learned the apartment was being heated via a gas stove and a second person was complaining of possible CO symptoms. U/A the crew from TL-45 measured over 100 PPM CO in the upstairs apartment and the building was evacuated with the initial patient being evacated by TL-45 crews with SCOTT packs. (I left mine in my other pants so I stepped outside). MCI was declared and second ambulance from Peekskill EMS was summoned. In total 3 Adults and 4 Children (including a 4 day old newborn) were transported to HVHC, several with related symptoms. All were treated and I believe released. Writer: WAS967

Chappaqua VAC uses this system. It's kind of a neat concept. Call a number, enter a PIN, enter what position you are covering and where you are going to. I believe it is the fact that they use this system that is on of the biggest barriers of getting them to switch over to 60 Control, as 60 Control does not (and from what I'm told has no plans in the immediate future to) support such a system. Would be a neat feature if they did however. Who knows, maybe that has or will change(d).

This made me LOL. Seriously tho, Peekskill isn't that far away from Dutchess. Give em a call.

Just took a look at the Battalion map and had a quick question. What are the two areas at the top of the map above Pine Plains and Milan that are actually on Columbia? Do Milan and Pine Plains cover a part of Columbia County or is that only if the neighboring departments up there require M/A from Dutchess, the CCs go up there to assist?

You can NEVER have too much cowbell. And yeah, I definitately need some Aricept. Thanks for the thoughts......errr......uhm.....what was your name again.

Poor Seth. You missed out on 4062, the old Somers Ambulance. It liked to burst into flames on local highways. Little trivia for you. "Ambulance 4" as we called it from the old WAS, actually came from one of the CT University ambulance squads/corps/brigades. UConn I think. The DeSimones really loved sending us the cream of the crap. That thing must have gone through at least a dozen transmissions and had so many electrical problems.

I've yet to see the new bus in person but from the pictures I can see a few nice features that I'd love to see in it's big brother, 4032. The netting to hold the ALS gear in place and the shoulder strap on the captains chair/5 points on the bench are good to see. And yes, the mechanism of the electric stretchers DOES make it significantly heavier. The battery alone is about 10 pounds.

The only time I've ever executed what could be considered a traffic stop is when I had a truck with one of those stupid extended arm side view mirrors rip off my own side view mirror on a narrow portion of a local state road. In retrospect what I did was stupid, but they guy was clueless and it basically amounted to hit and run. From that experience, if the same happened today I'd likely just try to catch up with guy, not pull him over and just follow until the PD can catch up with him and do the dirty work. As previously mentioned, the biggest fear you should have in these situations is the unknown. You never know what's going in the vehicle you could be "pulling over". At my primary job we frequently end up relocating to cover other areas when other medics go out on a call. While doing so one night, I spotted a NYC Taxi cab traveling across a major road probably having just got off the major highway in the area. It was heading into a particularly rural area. What eaked my interested was the blinky amber light on the back. Anyone who knows NYC Taxi Cabs and Livery cars knows this is a distress light that the driver sets off to warn police that he is in trouble. I of course followed at a safe distance and radioed police. But being early in the AM, and most of the local PDs being only part time, only the State Troopers were around to respond, and they were apparently coming from Somers. The situation was complicated by the fact that it was raining. Now following in a vehicle with big lights on it that looks a LOT like a police vehicle tends to gather attention. The taxi driver pulled over at one point and I slowly drove past but he waved at me in effect flagging me down. I guess if I were in a POV I would have just kept going, but being "on duty" some could argue that I have a duty to act, for who knows, the problem could have been medical in nature. The driver gets out as if to ask for directions and seemed overly nervous. I asked him discreetly if he needed help and he said yes. The occupants of the vehicle got out and asked what was going on. I had no idea what the deal was so I just told them he was asking for directions. The all got back in the vehicle and I continued to follow. I've no idea what the end result was from what I could tell on the radio it sounded like a monetary dispute over the cab far or something. But for all I know the guys could have had this poor driver at gunpoint. So stay safe and try to think safe before going and doing anything "stupid". [PS....I've pulled people over to the side and pulled up next to them to warn them of a dangerous situation before. IMHO, that's totally acceptable. Case in point of a local contractor with a LONG extension cord dragging behind his truck heading toward a local hamlet. Had he started taking the locals right and left hand turns with that thing whipping behind him, we'd likely have a few casualties on our hands. ]

LOL. I just noticed this. Thanks guys.

We just discussed this at an inservice tonight. If you are driving lights and sirens, and the case in the back is NOT an "emergency" then you place youself in a huge amount of liability. There was a case of a 22 Year Old female EMT who was driving L&S to a hospital with a DNR Cancer patient in the back with trouble breathing. She crashed into a car and killed 2 people. The jury is not anticipated to see that as justifiable use of L&S and she is facing 2 counts of Vehicular Homicide. Use your head when you use your lights and sirens. If you have dinner at home waiting for you, you can nuke it when you get back. If there are other things more more important to you then the patient, then you need to rethink your being involved in EMS.

So who is taking over who? I assume Regional is taking over Hudson Valley? Does that mean they will have to repaint the buses all over again?

If you ask me they should just eliminate this crossing and entrance/exit from the Saw Mill altogether. You can get on a mile up or down the road at Kisco ave or Route 117/Bedford Road. This is the same crossing where the truck got off, hit the grade and got stuck, causing the train crash some years ago. Luckily nobody was killed then either, but are we gonna wait until someone is before doing anything?

A little Trivia for you. The modern Mets are just called the New York Mets (originally The Metropolitan Baseball Club of New York). The "New York Metropolitans" were and old baseball team from the 1880s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Metropolitans

Take a challenge refresher. You come in, take a written and practical test. Based off your performance on the written determines which modules you have to attend. Sometimes they can be take home study tests. Sometimes they are classroom. EVERYONE has to take the CPR module. Then at the end you take the State Written and you're done. Have you ever held a NYS card before? That makes it easier, as NYS no longer has the rule where if you are lapsed for more than a certain time you have to take the whole class over, you just need a refresher. I'm not sure if there are any rapid refresher classes around, but they can be done in a matter of a long weekend. They seem more frequent upstate.

So with the changeover upon us, who is going to remain as medics in Putnam and who is going elsewhere? Sounds like Oppie is going to work elsewhere, and I hear the same for Bill O. I know Rev is sticking around. Anyone else?

HFD: I fully agree with you on the whole judging aspect of the parade. If they want to judge apparatus for cleanliness and/or features, do so BEFORE the march. I like the Peekskill Parade. It's not judged. People march for a show of pride and community. If I wanted to go see a bunch of stiffs marching down the street military style, I'd go to a Military parade at West Point. And ALSfirefighter says it best....if you open a door on my apparatus while it's in motion, said apparatus will be quickly halted, and the offending operator of said door will likely get a boot in the a**.

Yes, the Eastern Mountain Rattler (the type we have around here) is an endangered species and protected. Killing them is indeed a crime, and short of self defense, should be avoided. Rattlesnakes are most dangerous when they are scared and protecting themselves and/or their nest/home. A nice tip to note: They can only strike about 1/2 -2/3 the length of their body. The longest I've heard of locally is 6 feet, so they can usually only strike out about 4 feet from themselves. Most poisonous snake bites are caused by people screwing with the snakes when they should just be left alone. If they are sitting somewhere that is preventing you for doing whatever, they can be moved with a long sturdy stick, preferably with a hook on the end. DO NOT be dumb and try to handle them by hand. Even some of the most experienced herpetologists I know WON'T handle them manually, they still use a hook and pole. Don't put them in a bag, since they sense heat they can tag you through the bag. Best to use an empty garbage can if you need to put them in anything. Like the story said, the snake likely saught warmth in the engine compartment. Many other animals do the same thing. I've heard many stories about stowaway cats and other furries in car engines during the winter. But even mildly chilly nights can send a coldblooded reptile seeking warmth wherever they can find it. Thats why if you are ever camping, make sure you shake out you sleeping bag, boots, etc before getting in or putting them on. Never know what might have turned it into a den. BTW, while not NEARLY as common as the Copperhead, rattlers ARE found in areas of Westchester. Two most common places would be the Pound Ridge reservation and Camp Smith.

Wow. Were you watching the same debate as I was? Agree with you there. McCain needs to stop laughing about stuff, this ain't a joke. He also stammered alot. Obama needs to stop saying he agrees with McCain in opening a rebuttal - I don't want to hear what you agree on, but how you differ. I think he was a bit more calm and collected in his responses. And yeah, I would like to see some outside views on things from other candidates. I will likely spend half the day researching some of the information stated by both candidates. "Facts" states often are a bit askew.

FULL ARTICLE: http://www.newstimes.com/ci_10438111?IADID...w.newstimes.com

Thanks Slayer.

A question about the Paramedic district up there if anyone knows or is familiar. What other towns are covered by the Campion medic other than New Milford. Must be some pretty sparsely populated areas like Sherman (the town time forgot) since it seems New Milford accounts for a vast majority of the calls apparently.

That was the first thought that went through my head - visibility should the autoeject not work. We have had issues with some of hte autoejects (not Kussmaul - some other vendor with a metal cover on the first batch of truck we got) and I've gotten into the habit of unplugging them manually anyways. So having them on the front bumper just makes it easier than running to the passenger back side, then all the way around to the front. Overall I like the trucks you guys outfit and am glad to see more of them and look forward to trying 4011 out on the road.

All I have to say is: DAMN. And interesting to note the placement of the shoreline receptacle. They put it in the front driver side bumper instead of the passenger rear.

That changed a while back. I'm not sure if it still stands but when they became Air Methods, they wanted 100x100 regardless of time of day. Not sure if that has been extended at all for night landings.