sympathomedic

"Feds aren't going near this. EMS is still state run. " I agree. But if you control the checkbook, you control a lot. My stop mom has a 24/7 HHA. Guess what? It runs nearly $100,000 per year. One hundred thousand dollars. To serve a single consumer.

You're making thread a needle here, as I don't want to diminish any of my peeps from the Westchester class. But I cannot tell a lie; I have found the students that ride on my truck who are in the Dutchess class are better prepared than other local programs.

OK, here we go....

I like this. Maybe the feds can (gasp) fund a pilot study in a state/region/county and come up with a way to pay an amount for an avoided transport and ED visit. We need to figure out what it costs to avoid a call, and the amount then saved. Then run a trial and see if it eliminates needles ED transfers, and doesn't hurt anyone. If a $500 EMS run to a $500 ED visit, plus $$ for tests and $$ for a return home can be avoided by a medic stopping by and checking up on things, I am for it, even if I have to do it. More skills, expanded practice, better use of my time, less drain on the system, less money spent on this monster we call healthcare and maybe, just maybe a few pennies in my pocket. I am for it, pitfalls and all.

I can't do those neato quote the previous post things you guys can do. I did not mean to say get thrown off the cot/board, I meant to convey that in a rear-facing seat, which is what a conventional amb cot is, a hard stop is not so bad. Getting pushed sideways into 3 3" wide cot straps is, shall we say, different? Yes some folks feel funny and get car sick facing the back. But I can't think of any other transportation, Taxi's, trains, cars, ferries, planes that sit folks sideways. Maybe some wheelchair vans. I bet if you built a side-facing car seat, it would not sell. There is a reason. I am not looking to argue, I am just advocating for the sick people who would prefer a safe comfortable ride, and not one that has been modified for the purposes of fire suppression.

I believe there once was a plane crash on Rikers- I recall seeing black and white new footage. I also recall seeing a more recent news report with a live shot at the main SOD base. In the back ground was a modern ladder truck, painted in NYPD blue.

Holy Wheelbase!! Some thoughts: When it goes down for service, it is like two units being down. How does the Pt feel being moved sideways? Hard stops will throw the Pt sideways off the board/cot, not into it like a traditional ambulance and a sitting up Pt. I would like to take a long stretcher ride it it over curves hills and bumps. After all, we work for the person on the bed.

I got a BA in... what was it? Someone told me to get all the education you can while your parents are still willing to pay for it, so I did. It was in communications. It never had any direct effect on my medic job, but I learned a lot of cool stuff, including learning HOW to learn (and how NOT to). At my job we have medic students riding rotations from 4 programs and the UK. I have found the students from Southern Maine Tech to be by far the best and most prepared ever. I also worked in MA the many Northeastern University medics (shout out to Seth!!) they too were great. If medic is your vector, and travel is an option, I recommend those places, based on the performance of their students/graduates. If travel is out, I suggest Dutchess Community College as a strong local alternate. IMHO as always.

Happy day, Dan. YO and 3033 not the same. Bill

I attended a lecture by A Dr Nadine Levick at 60 control a while back. She has made a second career of studying EMS accidents and the deaths and injuries they cause. She recommends these things very highly. She has a website : http://objectivesafety.net/

If anyone doubts the forces of a forest fire, there is a great book called The Great Hinckley Fire, about a fire over century ago that burned three towns off the map. Folks burst into flames running for their lives and it even overtook a fleeing train. It killed about 400 people. It is seldom discussed because it occurred the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, and everyone focused on that one. http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2006/05/19/firestorm/ As for using prisoners to fight the fire, I thought Texas executes them all? Seth, be safe.

I am wholly unqualified to to post on this, other than I occasionally drive a ladder. But reading a lot of stories makes me suggest that before you "go for it" make sure it will fit in the station. Make sure the floor of the station will support the extra weight. Make sure the roadway in front of the station will permit the needed swing room to get in and out every day.

To me this is what a Mandatory Evacuation means. I don't think the government has any right to forcibly remove you from your property during an emergency. They have the responsibility to tell you about it, and let you know, "Hey, we are not coming back. We are terminating our responsibility to you out of concern for the safety of our people and equipment. Don't call us, we'll call you". We should come out with a better name than mandatory evacuation, like Termination of Services Alert, or "We are issuing a TASA for this area..."

Is the Chief Sarfaty of Hastings any relation the the former Chief Sarfaty of Larchmont, circa 1983?

Does anyone know if the 2% limit on tax increases applies to Fire Districts? If so, this is the tip of the iceberg. I saw several fire parades in Massachusetts this year. Compared to lower HV, the newest MA stuff was outdated compared to the oldest HV stuff. They had old single axle ariels, jump-seat cabs etc. But ya know what? I didn't see any smoldering foundations, so I assume they used what they had and got the job done.

This is one of the saddest things I have seen in 30 years in the ES community. I wish Tony the best and hope his replacement can fill his shoes. Bill PS: Tony, you can always re-apply at you-know-where!

Somers NY FD is selling a nice used ambulance. 914 248 7411. 0900 to 1300 weekdays

In my FD DDC it was taught that there is a law against changing lanes on or 50 before any bridge. IF that is true, and it does not allow a yielding exception, that could be a misinterpretation by the parner: It would not be illegal to use the siren, it would be illegal for drivers to yield to it.

When I took a journalism class, they pointed out that males in the news are nearly always referred to by their occupation,(fireman), plumber etc and females by their family status (mother etc. I never would have realized it, but pick up a paper and see. Just the way it is. Makes no sense shen the issue that brought the event into newsworthyness had nothing to do with the occupation.

There was a book out about 30 years ago called "Some Very Special Men" about the Hx of NYC ESU. It was in the library when I was just a weee buff. It could still be out, and would answer the question.

A union is NOT an energy source, it is an energy FOCUSER (is focuser a word?). Use it to turn a bunch of stray beams into a laser. Remember years back UPS went on strike? #1 on the news every night, The President got involved. When they voted on the strike-ending contract, they had a 90% turn out. HUGE deal, major employer, no paycheck, and one out of 10 guys didn't bother to vote!!! It can be frustrating. Be attentive. Keep records. A union is like a tree- it needs to be fed, watered, fertilized, and once in while; pruned. Bill

Calhobs: When you went union, did you add yourself to an existing local, or become your own? If you are your own, you are broke because you have not voted on dues. If that is the case and you wish to remain broke, then vote to have no dues. If you want to be able to buy stuff, like stamps for mailing, a PO box for getting mail etc, then vote a small amount, like a buck a week/member. I am less familiar with unionizing into an existing local. If that happened, and YOUR job is bigger than the one you are partnered with then your guys have a lot of clout (assuming you are united) and can cast a majority of votes to get stuff done. If your site is a minority in the new local, maybe you can vote to split off and be your own local. Your national can help you make these choices and get this stuff done. No one is going to feed you money. If you want something, you are a buyer, and what you want needs to be paid for. Sounds like the local you are with did not want to pay, and they have nothing, and are likely un-united and weak- a managment day dream. I would like to help you if I can. That's what we do. Bill

Seems to me the County runs a fine PD, a good trauma center, solid waste and sewer districts, a DES, a good parks department... An EMS agency is well within their capabilites and sorely needed. I think local governments can seee that this would be best handled at the County level, just like the stuff I mentioned above. We could do it Like Nassau's County PD: Jump in at the start or you are on your own. Run it up the flag pole and see who salutes. PS: I worked at and continue to love Playland.

I appreciated the update. I had wondered what was going on with that case. I like the Po Po, they have saved me a few times. Oh, and I have been accused of being a liberal. Doesn't make me anti-cop. Please try to play nice. I hate seeing the folks who work so hard to do the right thing fighting on these pages. I guess that's pretty liberal.

I will be there. Bill