Goose

Problem 1: The public has no idea that they are getting sub standard EMS service. Problem 2: Good luck finding a politician willing to tackle a volunteer agency's problems, for some reason they are apparently exempt from the same standards and criticisms career agencies are The thing that always cracks me up is how much power VACs have. Just like you say, the membership is the leading opposition from a consolidated/combination (essentially more effective) system. The vast majority of these "experts" on the issue have no experience outside xyz vac or myhome USA. That lunacy just prooves that they have no genuine desire to care for their fellow citizens - they just want to get their buff trip, play hero and get in their name in the paper. Do your resident's a favor and bring in someone to do a honest third-party study and offer recommendations on how to improve the system. At the end of the day, this isn't a hobby nor is it a game. If you can't guarantee your resident's the timely service they deserve, be honesty about it and take steps to mitigate. I'm tired of seeing crap agencies operating with impunity, pulling the wool over their resident's eyes, and gladly - with no second thought - sucking up those donations and taking that chunk of cash from the town. Meanwhile, you can't even get a crew 80% of the time and have to be covered by a career agency. There are proactive VACs and Rescue Squads out there, don't get me wrong - and these should be praised, but they becoming the exception not the norm.

Yeah, Empress EMTs have been there for a bit. I can only hope that they wear their own uniform and not Hawthorne's. Contracting out paid personnel and then having them the wear that agencey's uniform is the biggest scam going if you ask me.

Interesting. However, i don't think the camp setting and street setting mesh too well. Nurses are far better off handling the treat and release and over the phone refusals/guidance. Those types of things go a bit against the grain of our training by sheer nature.

Congratulations to a well deserving PFD! So now i'm gonna hear Engine 1, 2, 3 Truck 1, Tower 2 respond.... keeping those fingers crossed for a job in Engine 3 area tonight

NICE! Can't wait to see it out in the street, its sister, Engine 1 is a sharp looking rig.

Looks like the dog almost got lit up.

RIP. Prayers to his family and fellow FFs.

Great job and quick thinking Troopers and PCSO!

I'll support whatever will keep them safe. I can remember one occasion i was held over at work and was pulled over on 684 for speeding. Make a long story short the Trooper had his gun un-holstered and ready to roll. A bit scary, but just keep your hands on the wheel and let them know of every move prior to making it. An ounce of respect and understanding can go a long way, in my case a warning.

Could have been part of an additional request from County dispatched departments. Maybe they just threw all the tones in together. Regardless, SNK is 110% correct that all requests for City fire go through City 911.

All EMTs (at every level) practice under a doctor's - their medical director - license. In Westchester and Hudson Valley regions, the region uses the NYS BLS protocol as the EMT-B's primary protocol combined with a number of region specific amendments as far as Albuterol, Aspirin, and MARK-I is considered (among others). It is irrelevant what type of situation the incident is in (if you are requested via 911 or your a first responder), if you are an EMT at any level you are legally required to treat within your training (aka following the protocols). While i do not know off hand, i have to assume (and hope) that a camp would have to have a "medical director" of sorts, or at least a physician to oversea and sign off on specific SOPs for treatment and medication administration. We aren't licensed so, the more i think about it, the more i think there has to be a doc involved. As far as documentation, New York State does make a BLS-FR PCR which, in my mind, seems most appropriate for this application. Whether or not thats required is beyond me.

Doesn't NYS limit online CME hours to a total of 4? If not, does that mean you can essentially take all coure/elective classes online and then have an CIC sign off on your practical skills? Just and update: 12 hours of Core study and 24 hours of additional study can be done independently, everything else has to be attended.

Probably air national guard units doing exercises or pss. force protection if any Navy units are in the area. The planes 2 weeks ago were USMC F/A-18 Super Hornets providing air support for a "show of force" demonstration with Seal Team 10 in Greenwich Ct. It's a Salute to the Veterans show they put on every year around July 4th. This year Team 10 took down a terrorist "convoy" with help from the Super Hornets and Cobra gunships. Afterwards, the team members mingle with the crowed, answer questions and take pictures while the chopper pilots land on the baseball field and do the same. Been going since i was little and i've gotta say they are a class act.

Glad to see these guys are in the hands of law enforcement. Only thing we need now is the death penalty. I think it was a multi-department effort between NYPD and a number of agencies, including the PA State Police

Just checked the UFA website - as a side bar, they are taking the same position. http://ufalocal94.org/pdf/nypost_07_01_07.gif

I think both of you missed the bigger picture. It's not about the chief's car, its about the scaling back on manpower. Obviously there was a need for the career staff, now that they have cut back or eliminated that altogether whats going to happen? Your losing your standard response and are likely to see more sub par responses like chief cars only on AFAs b/c no one else is willing or around to properly man a response. And, in the real world, that is an unacceptable response, it gets you nowhere if that AFA turns out to be a fire.

Thanks for the first hand clarification Trauma.

BINGO!! It's time for people to wake up and smell the coffee. A chief/officer's vehicle doesn't cut it in the REAL WORLD. It's time for organizations/departments to wake up, put their "pride" aside and provide the honest and proper fire protection it's citizens deserve. If you can't do the job, bring in paid personnel. I am so sick and tired of seeing people pay taxes up the wazoo and getting crap fire/ems service in return. :angry:

Just to reiterate what ALS already stated, the car needs to be Part 800 and inspected by the state and then needs to display, on 3 sides, the NYS DOH certified logo. As far as red lights/sirens i was told only officers were allowed that privileges. Regardless, you have now identified yourself and your vehicle and have a whole load of new legal responsibilities. Not to rain on anyone's parade but how many times are we gonna go over personal vehicles and their associated light schemes? There seem to be more pressing issues in the emergency services worthy of discussion...

Complete stupidity. As for Hotzolah...well i think crown heights spoke for itself.

A number of things have started to get the gears turning and i wounder, should we ever include the price of air transport into the consideration process? Now, before anyone decides to go postal, I'm not talking about situations in which air transport is indicated. However, as we all know, air assets are likely overused in our respective areas. So, with that said, when you're making the decision to call for a helicopter do you ever consider the 8 - 10K bill associated with it? Personally, its one of the factors that runs through my mind. Granted, its at the bottom of the check list. For me, when we are talking multi-systems trauma, its a no brainier if your a distance which merits a chopper. If you've got significant mechanism but a self extricated patient with arm pain and a lac on their forehead not only is a ground transport indicated and a better use of resources, but your also not taking your patient's wallet to town. So, what are your thoughts?

City of Pok dispatchers aren't moving to the new public safety complex?

I bet they launched the brid. Everyone wants to be the hero and/or give their lights/sirens a workout. It's a real shame. I always find things go allot smoother when you've got less people aka an APPROPRIATE response. At work i've got myself and my partner along with a sup (additional ambulances will back us up if need be) and an engine or engine and ladder response along with the shift commander. Thing's work so perfectly and we aren't draining our respective response area's of resources. There is rarely an over-response and you've never have 40 people showing up out of no where and all giving their respective 2 cents.

Since i got FiOS everything a month ago, i've been catching both every now and then. Not sure if they air regularly or as fillers for time slots. No idea why they canceled the show, but there are definitely worse shows out there.

Best of luck.