PEMO3

Unfortunately there are many out there that are book smart and street illiterate. While I will be the first to say there is a lot of plus behind a college education and/or degree it should not be the only measure of a true manager. We have all seen the book smart "leader" with the personal skills of recluse who couldn't motivate a dog to go for a walk let alone a work force.

"Hydrofracking" , can we say that on here?

That was my thoughts exactly.

In a move that boggles the mind, the mayor of Wilmington Delaware has disbanded the Fire Departments heavy rescue company, Rescue 1, in an effort to save costs. (See: Wilmington (DE) Disbanding of Rescue-1 Affects all Citizens of Delaware). The article goes on to show the seriousness of this bone cutting by noting "A fire in Northeast Wilmington on Sunday afternoon emptied all of the city fire stations. When it came time to cover those stations, the nearest volunteer company refused to respond opting to cover from their own station. Members took a real beating and at one point 2 firefighters were unaccounted for. There was no RIT coverage as the FAST Team was utilized for the firefight." Unfortunately as cities and towns start to look at their 2011-2012 budgets this type of bone cutting may become all the more common putting lives of both first responders and citizens at risk unless the emergency services community does not act proactively and educate the public on what price these "cost saving" cuts come at.

Yes and no. A busted chain will chew up a wheel well if not addressed but and this is a big but, you need personnel trained to put them on and drive with them. Driving with chains is not like driving with regular tires. Too much torque and you will snap a chain. Then they need to know how to address a broken section, how many broken sections you can still drive with before you have to take the set off, etc, etc, etc. This is not something that can be fixed overnight. They might be able to stud the tires quicker and with less headaches. Also, chains are not a cure all, if the snow is to deep, chains are not going to do you any good.

I wonder if Mayor Bloomerberg found his shovel yet because I don't think his scooters feeding him streaming video are going to help him when it hit the fan this time. They still have not picked all the garbage up from Christmas in some neighborhoods yet.

Bnechis I agree whole hearedtly that both expedite and respond with caution are terms that while commonly accepted practice, leave everyone liable in the event of an accident/incident enroute. Replacing these phrases with advising dispatch to have the utility make this a priority request or have the unit continue non-emergency to the scene is a better term. Sometimes I wonder why rather than having units respond "with caution" anyway for example to an automatic alarm that has been confirmed a malfunction already, why incident commanders don't just give a return all units with the exception of X & Y who are already on scene. Why risk having a unit continue that last 2 or 3 miles as opposed to just returning the apparatus?

The term expedite is a extremely dangerous term. Safe, reasonable response ensures that all apparatus and personnel arrive safely to the scene. "Expediting" a response risks not arriving at the assignment and in addition creating another call requiring the response of personnel and apparatus who will be "self expediting" to your scene since it is a MOS involved incident. It does no one any good if you do not get to the original scene in one piece. I have always been an advocate of giving units assignments enroute that gives them the picture of the severity of the incident but does not ask them to push the limits of their response. e.g. Unit XXB1 on arrival report to staging, xxB2 report to triage, xxB3 report to transport or Engine XXX you are going to work on arrival report to the B side of the structure, etc. This pre-arrival assigning lets units know you have your hands full but also presents you as a command with a grasp of the incident.

All politics aside, from 9 years old to 79 years old lives were lost and countless others changed forever include that of Congresswoman Gifford and her family. The only thing that sicked me more than this senseless act of violence and loss of life is the announcement just moments ago in the Huffington Post that the Westboro Baptist Church, the Topeka church known for its inflammatory anti-gay protests, plans to picket the funerals of the six people killed in Arizona on Saturday including that of the young 9 year old girl. What has this world come to?

Huffington Post recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leaps we've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the difference today's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids. I've used some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following? Videotape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here at Money Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations with out ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera we use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously. Travel agents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that's been decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will those born in 2011 be able to find one? These paration of work and home: When you're carrying anemail-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can find you -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office andhome will be blurry indeed. Books,magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written ondead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those born today, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as record stores are now. Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove some place just to rent a movie? Watches:Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand. Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station.They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably haveto visit a museum to find one. Wired phones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone that plugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept. Long distance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk to somebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited. Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of news print just to see what's for sale. Dial-upInternet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long beforedial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone. Encyclopedias:Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated before the ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today. Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!"The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've ever known even slightly via Facebook. Forgotten anything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like to stand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world's collective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since youhave it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything? The evening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it,that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket. CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection. Film cameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word"film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both video and still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over that function too. Yellow and White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just tofind someone? Catalogs:There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything youhave for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, sendme an email. Fax machines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and"email?" One picture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/desk space to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of pictures and/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met and everything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared to what we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and force them to watch what we called a "slide show" or "home movies." Wires:Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, andother electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? Tokids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing an extension cord. Hand-written letters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the last time you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word"cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you to shame on a tiny keyboard. Talking to one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to be with one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today will just assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with five or six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happen to be physically next to. Retirement plans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do was work at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month for as long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medicalbills, too! Mail:What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the bills you could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited,and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloated bureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually. Commercials on TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs,and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way to force you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to pay for them? Commercial music radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora area better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song. Hiding:Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobody knew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone is not only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- including advertisers -- exactly where you are. Note: Edited to fix a problem with some missing spaces spotted between words-PEMO3

HuffingtonPost recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That BecameObsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leapswe've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the differencetoday's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids. I'veused some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Doyou think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following? Videotape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here atMoney Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations withoutever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camerawe use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have beenimagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we wereusing previously. Travelagents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that'sbeen decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will thoseborn in 2011 be able to find one? Theseparation of work and home: When you're carrying anemail-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can findyou -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office andhome will be blurry indeed. Books,magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written ondead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those borntoday, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as recordstores are now. Movierental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplacejust to rent a movie? Watches:Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which ispretty much always in your hand. Papermaps: At one time these were available free at every gas station.They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably haveto visit a museum to find one. Wiredphones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone thatplugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept. Longdistance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk tosomebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited. Newspaperclassifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprintjust to see what's for sale. Dial-upInternet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long beforedial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone. Encyclopedias:Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated beforethe ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today. Forgottenfriends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you wentto high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!"The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've everknown even slightly via Facebook. Forgottenanything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like tostand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world'scollective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since youhave it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything? Theevening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it,that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket. CDs: Firstrecords, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your musiccollection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close asthe nearest Internet connection. Filmcameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word"film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both videoand still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over thatfunction too. Yellowand White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just tofind someone? Catalogs:There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything youhave for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, sendme an email. Faxmachines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and"email?" Onepicture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/deskspace to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of picturesand/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met andeverything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared towhat we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and forcethem to watch what we called a "slide show" or "homemovies." Wires:Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, andother electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? Tokids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing anextension cord. Hand-writtenletters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the lasttime you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word"cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you toshame on a tiny keyboard. Talkingto one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to bewith one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today willjust assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with fiveor six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happento be physically next to. Retirementplans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do waswork at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month foras long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medicalbills, too! Mail:What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the billsyou could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited,and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloatedbureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually. Commercialson TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs,and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way toforce you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to payfor them? Commercialmusic radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora area better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song. Hiding:Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobodyknew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone isnot only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- includingadvertisers -- exactly where you are. MOD NOTE: Duplicate post

First let me start by offering an apology for my definite in appropriate comment. Unfortunately, I was not near a computer after EFDCAPT's response set me straight to do this sooner. I allowed my emotions over the demotion of a person I respected for no apparent reason other than a politician covering his rear allowed me to read into certain threads and respond with a knee jerk reaction which is something that I pride myself on not doing. My only point was that an EMT can supervise just as effectively and sometime even better than a medic. Stay safe.

I need to address a previous comment. NY10570 I was one of those "dumbed down" EMT Supervisors (Lieut) in the NYC EMS system and had absolutely no issues with supervising both EMTs and Paramedics on a daily basis and actually enjoyed it. I found that there was extreme cooperation from both levels of personnel and knew my job was to enforce procedure and review what was within my scope of training. The issues arise when medics carry a "mightier than thou" attitude because of their level of training and forget that without BLS there is NO ALS and also forget where they came from, they were once one of those "dumbed down" EMTs. Don't throw stones when you live in a glass house. Lets talk dumbed down. Being a medic is not Roy and Johnny. It is flow sheet medicine. If you do A and see B then do D not C. There are even pocket protocol charts and I-Phone apps. Not that there is anything wrong with it but don't knock one area of a system because of a swollen ego. If swelling has become an issue some IM epi or benadryl might help but I am working out of my area to suggest that. Stay dry and safe in the snow today and remember we are all there for the same thing: the patient.

Nah. Better headline would be "Bloomberg grows a pair and fires John Doherty" but that would never happen even with an approval rating that has dropped from 57 % to 31 %. Its his last term anyway so he just does not care. Everything is any accident or a mistake or a misunderstanding to him.

The point of this demotion is purely political and nothing more. It has nothing to do with training, experience, trips, vendors, investigations or anything else Mayor "Bloomers" wants to blame it on. It is a spin doctor's move that was created to take the heat of him and his cronies and it worked. The media has shifted its focus on John and now Joe Bruno at NYC OEM. Fact is from my personal point of view, I have know John since he was made a Lieutenant, and that is over 20 plus years, he is a solid manager, medic and person of integrity. He is the one person I would trust without reservations and I personally find it distressing to see a man who has give so much trashed for a politicians sake.

Date: 1/6/11 Time: 12:51 pm Location: Maryland Department of Transportation headquarters in Hanover, MD & Maryland Department of General Services' Jeffrey Building 16 Francis St, Annapolis, MD Departments: Numerous local and federal Description: A total of 6 people have been reported injured in two separate blasts in mail rooms of 2 government buildings according to a compilations of various reporting agencies. The devices emitted a small flash and explosion. No apparent structural damage has been reported at either site. The 16 Francis St location is on the grounds of the US Naval Academy. Links: Writer:PEMO 3

Going through the list it gets a little confusing. Police office is ranked 5, highway patrol officer is ranked 7 . Isn't a highway patrol officer a police officer?

The EMS supervision provides incident management and oversight of operations similar to a battalion chief at a structure fire. It is sort of like saying a battalion chief never worked on a truck company, what gives him the right to direct one at a structure fire. Medical intervention still falls to the highest medical trained members on scene. It has worked for decades where in the EMS command system EMT's have held positions of Lt on up and been able to run incidents since they were providing pure ICS based direction. The best way to look at is rank structure regardless of level of training (EMT - Medic - Lt - Capt - DC - AC - .... Chief of Dept - Dispatcher ) Hope this sort of provides some insight.

I find it extremely interesting that the Bloomberg spin masters found a way to create a story to pull the media attention away from the fact that all of the figure heads were not at the helm during the blizzard. Seems once the media started to ask the hard questions yesterday they found someone's head to chop off publicly and make a point of having the media use the snowed in vehicles and deaths in the story spots. Just like Bush in 1995, Bloomberg's "Katrina" is going to be a epic scape goat event also. Demote the EMS Chief and pat the Sanit boss on the back, I want some of what Bloomies drinking.

Congratulations. You should feel great that you made a positive difference in someones life - you gave it back to them. Enjoy the feeling you deserve it. Hopefully there will be many more in 2011 !!

Back in the early 1990's the NYS DOH created a section specifically for NYC that stated that "in a city with a population over one million" that the EMS crew could triage out the patient on scene with the approval of medical control (telemetry). The disposition code "10-95: Triaged out at scene, patient not transported was created. It was rarely used when it first came on line due to the fact that it was quicker to transport then to "10-95" a patient. That is probably how they left patients without the risk of abandonment. I need to look around for the original section that it was created under but it covered both BLS and ALS units that were part of the Municipal system only.

Now that's how to move snow.

My thoughts and prayers are with both Dawn's immediate family and her extended family at PCVAC. She will be deeply missed.

Effective January 1, 2011 the Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act becomes law in NYS. Failure to move over carries a $150 fine and a $85 state surcharge. The law protects law enforcement officers and emergency workers stopped along roadways while performing their duties. Some of the highlights of the law are: • Drivers must use due care when approaching an emergency vehicle that displays red and/or white emergency lighting. • On all roads and highways, drivers must reduce speed; • On Parkways and other controlled access highways with multiple lanes, drivers must move from the lane immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle, unless traffic or other hazards exist to prevent doing so safely. See: Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act

My thoughts and prayers are with the members of the Chicago Fire Department and the family of their fallen brothers.