wraftery

Blow on kindling, you get fire. Don't do it inside your tent.
-New Proverb
-ME

Blow on kindling, you get fire. Don't do it inside your tent.
-New Proverb
-ME

Got the newsletter from NYPFRA. President Wicoff reports that Local 628 Yonkers Firefighters are going to join the NYPFRA. He states this would be about a 31% jump in membership for our Association.
Details are being worked out, but by the end of the year this is supposed to occur.
As President Wicoff put it "This is what I call 'thinking about your future', by having all your active members become knowledgeable in retiree issues."
He further states that this is THE most proactive move by a police or fire union in the entire state, and helps insure active and retirees work together.
Couldn't agree more with the President, and I think this is a great move by Local 628. Awesome news.
Active guys getting involved with retiree issues is a smart move, and all cops and firefighters on the job should join the New York Police and Fire Retirees Association, for a number of reasons.
Some day God willing all of you will be retired. You want to be involved right now, keep informed, and there's no better way to do that than to join the NYPFRA. These brothers do some serious work up in Albany; they are constantly pushing to get legislation through that would protect retirees' health benefits, just like the teachers in NYS enjoy protection by law of their retiree health benefits.
White Plains cops and firefighter retirees are under attack by a slippery city council, to pay into their health coverage. The same council members who got elected with union support, turn around and at a late hour insert language into legislation to require retirees to pay 15% on their health coverage. You know, it starts with 15%, and ends up being 50% in ten years. Percentages are a tough item.
The NYPFRA executive board asked active locals to send letters of support for various legislative initiatives supported by both the active local and the retirees assoc. They then use those letters (representing VOTES mind you) to show legislators the support a piece of legislation has. According to our newsletter the following five organization are the ONLY ones whose executive boards followed up their verbal support with letters:
1. Dobbs Ferry Police Assn.
2. Police Columbia Assn. of Westchester County
3. Local 628 Yonkers Fire Fighters
4. UFOA Yonkers FD
5. N.Y.S.P.F.F.A.
That's it, from contacting FORTY-FIVE active groups.? What's up with that? I know plenty of union execs read these pages. Come on fellas, let's follow up with those letters, and improve the communication with the NYPFRA?
You know Cuomo is a runaway favorite for the next Governor's seat right? Well his agenda is to call for "People's Convention" to "rewrite state constitution."
Once a convention begins "EVERYTHING" is on the table.
Get involved. Join the NYPFRA today, active members encouraged to join.
Once again, Yonkers Fire Fighters Local 628, comes through with more than talk. I respect an organization as proactive as that.
PS: Welcome aboard EFD Firefighter C.G.
http://www.NYPFRA.org

Good answer, Steve. The same way OK became COMMON TERMINOLOGY almost worldwide, 10-4 is well on it's way to universality in its meaning. It became widely understood largely because of actor Broderick Crawfod's constant use of the term in the TV show Highway Patrol in the late '50s or early 60s.
I would like to start a national movement right here on EMT-B to accept 10-4 as common terminology. My reasoning is the 10-4 is no longer a ten code (which we can't use). It has evolved into a word. It means "yes". More people in this nation understand and can spell the new word "10-4" than can understand os spell the word "afirmative."
All in favor, write to FEMA, NIMS, Common Terminology Section. OK?

I think you meant "affirmative"
From dictionary.reference.com
FYI - Word History : OK is a quintessentially American term that has spread from English to many other languages. Its origin was the subject of scholarly debate for many years until Allen Walker Read showed that OK is based on a joke of sorts. OK is first recorded in 1839 but was probably in circulation before that date. During the 1830s there was a humoristic fashion in Boston newspapers to reduce a phrase to initials and supply an explanation in parentheses. Sometimes the abbreviations were misspelled to add to the humor. OK was used in March 1839 as an abbreviation for all correct, the joke being that neither the O nor the K was correct.

The Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International, and The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council (NPSTC) have received American National Standards Institute (ANSI) recognition of their Standard Channel Nomenclature for the Public Safety Interoperable Channels.
This Standard sets forth frequencies (on all bands), and requirements, that are available Nationwide for ALL Public Safety agencies to use for Interoperable Communications between agencies. Public Safety agencies can program these frequencies into mobile and portable radios as long as they have a valid FCC license. No frequency coordination or license amendments are required for the above mentioned mobile or portable radio use. Base station use would require frequency coordination, and additional FCC licensing.
The purpose of this Standard is to provide commonality Nationwide of both frequencies, AND the designations of these frequencies. This means that 453.2125MHz will be known as UCALL40D, and not as, for example, channel 16 or interop 4, or whatever local designation previously was used for this frequency.
Westchester County has received FCC authorization for Base/Repeater use of these frequencies with licenses WQLI 209 and WQLI 210. WQLI 210 provides for mobile and portable radio access for repeater operations on these frequencies. I have a source at 60 Control that has told me that Westchester County is looking to build out the UTAC/UCALL frequencies when funds become available. This source also told me that all the Trunked System Portables have been programmed with these frequencies, and he is hopeful to have these frequencies programmed in the Mobile Radios in the future. FYI - the City of White Plains has received FCC base station authorization for use of these frequencies.
It would be advantageous for all Public Safety agencies to program these frequencies in their radios now before they are needed, rather than, if and when, they are called mutual aid to the next County (or State), or five County's away and they are unable to communicate with the local agency except for being handed a local radio from the host mutual aid agency on their local frequency. There may or may not be enough of these radios to hand out, and you may not have communications with the local agency except for cell phone (if service is available). Be proactive, and be prepared, get these frequencies progammed in your radios.

I was trying to think of a "respectful" way to say that. You got it. Thanks!

My friend, your logic is as sound as your spelling, grammar and sentence structure.

I would be willing to bet they waxed the bejeezez on that roof in the morning just before they left for the parade.
If you are going to ride up there, you want it nice and slippery in case the driver stops short.
Hopefully, the Bogota Ambulance Corps is next in the line of march and not riding the roof of the bus.

With the hot weather upon us we need to make sure we take care of ourselves and hydrate hydrate hydrate!!!! Try and stay away from too much joe, its a diuretic. Clear non-carbonated liquids throughout the day are your best bet. A good mix is 80/20 of water to powerade/gatorade to sip all day and straight gatorade/powerade after strenuous activities (ie calls/runs). If you have a couple of bottles of water throw them on the rig at the beginning of your shift b/c we never know how long we'll be out of the barn. If there is no need for turnout coat take it off or at least open up the chest. WE CAN NOT BE OF ANY GOOD IF WE ARE OUT OF THE FIGHT!! Did I mention to HYDRATE? I've had heat stroke once before and its no fun. Remember.... HYDRATE!

OK...got it...it works like
1.a washing machine wringer to get water out (which people under 55 have never seen)
and 2.goes back and forth to keep the bedded hose level.
That would make it a cross between a self leveling fishing reel and a proby

You're right on, Jack. Every time a fire photo got posted, the guy or operation got picked apart by the know-it-alls down to the most miniscu;e of "sightings." The "sightings" are things like "OOH, look, I hit Zoom in seven times and found that the FF pictured has his right shoe double knotted but not his left. This is a major safety hazard. That shoelace could suffer a catastrophic failure"
The photo guys that used to post here are very good at what they do. (Pinto, Messar. Bendick, etc). I hope hey didn't give it up.
How 'bout the rest of us just look at the picture and don't be stupid?

The interest level in posting photos has (unfortunately) taken a nose-dive, in part, due to the negative comments about the operations depicted, that almost always seem to find their way into these threads.
Many of our members who have posted numerous photos in the past have become jaded from the same, tired comments, about masks and straps and whatnot being worn improperly, and as a result, no longer do so.
In fact, a new site policy eliminates public comments in photo threads so they can be more like a gallery, to view without members "input".
We are hopeful this policy will encourage those who formerly posted great photos to resume sharing their work.

First, we who have health care ARE sharing the wealth. Illegaal immigrants, those on welfare for generations, and the like pay nothing for their health care, The reason we get hospital statements showing $ 4.oo for an aspirin is because we paid for our aspirin plus the 8 doses for the freeloaders I mentioned above.
Second, those in the private sector are always ready to bang cops and FF's over health insurance costs. From proby to Chief, our salary and benefits are an open book. How does the private sector CEO's salary/benefit package compare to his average employee? I bet he's doing OK if you can even find out! How many Fire Chiefs make 100 to 1000 times more than his FF's? Not a one. Maybe...just maybe...Cops and FF's are good negotiators,, and those in the private sector are not.
Third. Cops and FF's are not that smart. We keep endorsing Democrats, and a year or two later, they want to lower our salaries, and lay us off. It happens over and over.
And yes, Rob, I know we have to scramble. I was just spewing out a few thoughts while I scramble.

First, we who have health care ARE sharing the wealth. Illegaal immigrants, those on welfare for generations, and the like pay nothing for their health care, The reason we get hospital statements showing $ 4.oo for an aspirin is because we paid for our aspirin plus the 8 doses for the freeloaders I mentioned above.
Second, those in the private sector are always ready to bang cops and FF's over health insurance costs. From proby to Chief, our salary and benefits are an open book. How does the private sector CEO's salary/benefit package compare to his average employee? I bet he's doing OK if you can even find out! How many Fire Chiefs make 100 to 1000 times more than his FF's? Not a one. Maybe...just maybe...Cops and FF's are good negotiators,, and those in the private sector are not.
Third. Cops and FF's are not that smart. We keep endorsing Democrats, and a year or two later, they want to lower our salaries, and lay us off. It happens over and over.
And yes, Rob, I know we have to scramble. I was just spewing out a few thoughts while I scramble.

First, we who have health care ARE sharing the wealth. Illegaal immigrants, those on welfare for generations, and the like pay nothing for their health care, The reason we get hospital statements showing $ 4.oo for an aspirin is because we paid for our aspirin plus the 8 doses for the freeloaders I mentioned above.
Second, those in the private sector are always ready to bang cops and FF's over health insurance costs. From proby to Chief, our salary and benefits are an open book. How does the private sector CEO's salary/benefit package compare to his average employee? I bet he's doing OK if you can even find out! How many Fire Chiefs make 100 to 1000 times more than his FF's? Not a one. Maybe...just maybe...Cops and FF's are good negotiators,, and those in the private sector are not.
Third. Cops and FF's are not that smart. We keep endorsing Democrats, and a year or two later, they want to lower our salaries, and lay us off. It happens over and over.
And yes, Rob, I know we have to scramble. I was just spewing out a few thoughts while I scramble.

First, we who have health care ARE sharing the wealth. Illegaal immigrants, those on welfare for generations, and the like pay nothing for their health care, The reason we get hospital statements showing $ 4.oo for an aspirin is because we paid for our aspirin plus the 8 doses for the freeloaders I mentioned above.
Second, those in the private sector are always ready to bang cops and FF's over health insurance costs. From proby to Chief, our salary and benefits are an open book. How does the private sector CEO's salary/benefit package compare to his average employee? I bet he's doing OK if you can even find out! How many Fire Chiefs make 100 to 1000 times more than his FF's? Not a one. Maybe...just maybe...Cops and FF's are good negotiators,, and those in the private sector are not.
Third. Cops and FF's are not that smart. We keep endorsing Democrats, and a year or two later, they want to lower our salaries, and lay us off. It happens over and over.
And yes, Rob, I know we have to scramble. I was just spewing out a few thoughts while I scramble.

I have to strongly disagree with you. When employees retiree they are specified a base pension that only increases with COLA yearly. While that $50 a check is not bad to you ask someone on a "fixed income" what difference $50 or $100 a check makes. Why should the public sector pay for the private sectors failures. Remember it is the private sector that got the tax breaks and incentives that created a lot of the problems. The taxpayers are straining and the department strains are due to government balancing the budgets on the workforce's back. Instead of illegally changing existing pension plans of retirees, illegally take away the sweetheart deals the developers were given, oh wait they have deeper pockets for lawyers than the retirees so use the media and make the public employee the bad guy. Just look at the media and see what has been going on to set this up - relentless articles about overtime earned, articles detailing benefits all to make the public see the public sector employee as the bad guy not the politicians that gave away the store to every developer that wanted to put up something bigger than a dog house.

Billy thats an easy question to answer---I have seen it many times over my firefighting/union career. They get first bite and have sharp teeth. We have to scramble--like WPFD is doing now to counter them. Someone told me long ago, that there are smart people on the other side and someone tells them---just do it we can litigate it later hmmm lawyers I believe. No matter what municipalities have deep pockets and we donot.

FYI By law, bargaining units (the unions) are not allowed to negotiate for persons who have retired,
Except for COLA, retirement packages are "written in stone"
It's like buying a house. Once you sign your mortgage, the mortgage company cannot change your contract because you now happen to be paying a lower interest than the national average. That's their problem.

FYI By law, bargaining units (the unions) are not allowed to negotiate for persons who have retired,
Except for COLA, retirement packages are "written in stone"
It's like buying a house. Once you sign your mortgage, the mortgage company cannot change your contract because you now happen to be paying a lower interest than the national average. That's their problem.

There are frequently intelligent and thoughtful discussions on this forum; sometimes they become contested and members passionately debate the issue(s). This is one of the great things about the site.
On the other hand, some members find it necessary to create screennames just for the sake of stirring the pot and don't contribute anything at all to the discussions. This artificially aggravates perceptions on all sides and about this site and don't serve any valid purpose.
If you don't know the forum rules please review them and abide by them to keep this site operating as it should be.
The forum staff is researching accounts created solely to stir the pot and offending members will be banned permanently. Likewise, it may be necessary to block specific IP addresses to prevent frequent abuses. If you suddenly find that you can't log in to EMTBravo from your firehouse, EMS agency, PD, DPW, etc. it is very possible that one of your colleagues has been abusing forum rules and spamming the forum. Don't like it? Exert a little peer pressure on those who think they can post whatever they want just to see what problems they can start.
The overwhelming majority of members here are positive, contributing members. To keep those members and encourage new members to join we're going to remove the bad apples and their posts.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! As always, if you have any questions or concerns feel free to PM or e-mail someone on the staff.
The EMTBravo Staff

The requirements for fast at an incident begins at the moment the incident leaves the incipient stage and the atmosphere hes the potential for becoming ILDH. Remember 2 in 2 out? Well the purpose of that 2 out is fast.
When we hear an IC calling for a FAST TEAM from dept X and getting an ETA of 20 min, does that mean that IC has been operating up to now without a fast team and will continue to do so for at least 20 more minutes? I hope not, but if you listen to your scanner, it sure sounds that way. That's a far cry fromm operating with members on the first alarm assignment being designated as fast , and then designating an incoming company as fast. The IC that is operating without a fast team and something goes wrong needs two things asap:
1. He still needs FAST, but a bigger team
2. He needs a good lawyer

The requirements for fast at an incident begins at the moment the incident leaves the incipient stage and the atmosphere hes the potential for becoming ILDH. Remember 2 in 2 out? Well the purpose of that 2 out is fast.
When we hear an IC calling for a FAST TEAM from dept X and getting an ETA of 20 min, does that mean that IC has been operating up to now without a fast team and will continue to do so for at least 20 more minutes? I hope not, but if you listen to your scanner, it sure sounds that way. That's a far cry fromm operating with members on the first alarm assignment being designated as fast , and then designating an incoming company as fast. The IC that is operating without a fast team and something goes wrong needs two things asap:
1. He still needs FAST, but a bigger team
2. He needs a good lawyer

"And I waked in and sat down and they gave me a piece of paper, said, "Kid, see the phsychiatrist, room604."
"And I went up there, I said, "Shrink, I want to kill. I mean, Iwanna, I wanna kill. Kill. I wanna, I wanna see, I wanna see blood andgore and guts and veins in my teeth. Eat dead burnt bodies. I mean kill,Kill,KILL, KILL." And I started jumpin up and down yelling, "KILL,KILL," and he started jumpin up and down with me and we was both jumping upand down yelling, "KILL, KILL." And the sargent came over, pinned a medalon me, sent me down the hall, said, "You're our boy."