ems-buff

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

I have two:
I used to live on a tiny street that led out to a main state road. We had a call (volly) for a baby seizing in the house on the corner of the tiny street and the main rd. The address of the house was on the tiny street. As I came down that small road looking for the address, the elderly homeowner (pt's grandma) was on the tiny street, in the dark, waving me over. It was a febrile seizure. No big deal, but the family was well panicked. They needed more care then the baby did. After the EMS crew left, and I was leaving to go back home I saw the elderly lady who had waved me and asked her why she was not in the main road waiting for a first responder. I never met her before in my life. She said, "I have seen you come by with your blue light, so I knew you would be here."
#2. I was going to the hardware store in Sept of 2010, in my own car. Call came in for a bee sting reaction less than a minute away. I was about 10 minutes from the EMS station. I went to the call, with a BVM and a radio. I was led through the house to the back deck, where a lady was dying. Blue as blue, no detectable pulse, foam coming out of the mouth. Some movement in hands. + bee sting in last 3 minutes. I advised on the radio of the arrest, got her supine and began to bag her. Other members arrived and we began CPR. I updated the crew to bring the Epi-pen, AED and suction, which they did.
My day job is a medic. I don't know which end of the pen the epi even comes out of! (ball breaking comments gratefully accepted; and deserved) This kid from WEMS (who we use to staff our ambulances)came charging around the back yard, epi pen in outstretched hand and slammed that thing into this lady like Ahab harpooning Moby-Dick. The CPR was flawless and the scene time short. NO MEDIC available. Closest ED was Putnam. On loading the pt, she had a weak carotid pulse, a nearly useless respiratory effort and was still blue. On the was to the ED, the WEMS kid called med control and got orders for the SECOND epi-pen! (again, I am a medic. Who knew you you could do that?)
Someone introduced me to the patient this year at the towns 2011 September 11 ceremony. I was speechless. I said "I haven't seen you since..." She finished the sentence, "Since I died. My new birthday is coming up this month." The luck of me being close, but mostly the aggressive no-delay treatment by the WEMS crew and the good CPR by the other extra folks who arrived on scene without a doubt yanked that lady straight out of the grave. NO MEDIC involved. Putnam could not do an intercept. One of the top 5 hottest job in my 30 years, but credit goes to the other guys. I hope they see this.

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

I'll add mine.. I will have to give alittle backround thou..
2011 has sucked for me.. Losing both my parents in a 6 month span, losing a dog, the day I buried my father, to losing a very great girl from the stress of it all, to even now figuring out how a 25 year old can save his parents house from foreclosure. Alot huh...lol
With all this that has been going on, I've thought about quiting EMS, maybe even serving the public all together. Then I realized that, I have been helping people people since I was 16. Countless hours of giving, spending time away from those I loved especially the one's who just recently passed. Did I really want to give up all that time now they the two people who felt most safe around me when they got sick were gone.. I thought long and hard about it. Then two calls came by me that made me think wow.. This was my parents telling me to keep going..
Everyone who know me outside this forum know I have guity over my fathers stroke.. I still to this day say to myself, what if I didnt work that overnight before, and wasnt so tried.. maybe I could of seen signs before it was to late, and it was irreversible, but anyways it was a call I was on where the person had the big one in terms of strokes.. Me, and my ALS partner just worked so insync. That we got him back, and I could help but think to myself. I could save my own father, but I made a difference in someone else's life so that they can have theirs.. Thinking like that made me happy, that even thou I didnt get to save my own fayhers life. I got a chance to save someones elses to make them smile..
The second call, reminded me of my mother.. The call came in as CPR in progress. We get there to find a vent, in PEA.. ( strangely enough the same rhythm my mother was in the first time she went into arrest) We worked on the person, got them back to a NSR. Even I was shocked.. Then I said to myself.. This is my mother telling me, your good at what you do. Dont give up on your dream job, just because you missed me.. So even thou I have had a real shity year. There is some good that comes out of it.. Making a difference in someones life is sometimes better then a paycheck, when your faith needs alittle restoring.
I will close by repeating a saying Bill Rosthchild ( sympatheticmedic) told me while when my fathers death was recently new. He said " EMS is a thankless job, Its even hard when the world expect you to bring clam, and understand to a scene when you, yourself's world had no meaning, and is spiraling out of control, but if you are a true professional, You can adapt and overcome"
Thank you bill, truer words have never been spoken my friend..

Online GET WELL Message for P.O. Tillistrand - Pelham Manor PD
On Tuesday November 13, 2011 Police Officer Michael Tillistrand
was struck by a vehicle and seriously injured while assisting
another Police Officer on a Traffic Stop.
P.O. Tillistrand recently joined the Pelham Manor Police Department in July of 2011
Prior to that he was a Police Officer for the NYPD assigned to the 48 PCT in the Bronx.
P.O. Tillistrand remains hospitalized at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx.
THOUGHTS & PRAYERS... GET WELL BROTHER!

aka;
"Skilled Nursing Facilities"
"Assited Living Facility"
"God's Staging Area"

Nice to see he was published.
He did a great job that day and a number of lives were saved by his actions.
If he had not done what he did, someone would have asked the question:

Where's your drill sargent (capt)....Blown Up Sir

Bobby DelVecchio is probably one of the greatest guys I know. When first meeting Bobby as a volunteer at Harrison EMS, it was always impressive with his base of knowledge. You sometimes realize that some people just get it. Even as a young volunteer you knew that this kid just knew what he was doing. Having the privilege to watch Bobby grow over the years just made me realize what a special person he is.
His career, while shortened, was a varied career affecting many in the emergency services industry. Developing from a volunteer in Harrison EMS, Bobby became an Empress employee and one of the best dispatchers ever. While working at Empress (this chronological might not be perfect) Bobby went on to work at Sea Tow, TCD,volunteer at TMFD, LVAC, and finally work at the TM Highway Dept.
His caring and ability touched many of us. There remain many police cars, fire chief vehicles and EMS fly –cars that Bobby touched with his dedicated hands. I have the comfort of knowing he personally built 49-11 and 49-12, and never had to doubt the craftsmanship involved. He was the ultimate go to guy. With every industry he became involved with, he automatically became one of the most knowledgeable people in that field.
Not many of us have had as much radio experience as Bobby. His handles of TAC-1, Medic (whatever), Truck 202, “Central”, A-1, 430, E-51, Sea Tow 2, radio repair, or the many other radio names remained ingrained in our memories.
The privilege of knowing and working with Bobby will be forever ingrained in me. Even at a municipal job, not always known for the most productive workday, he stood alone. If something needed to be done, Bobby made sure the job was done well.
The privilege of working with Bobby over the years highlighted many memories and I cannot express the loss and sadness I now feel. However, the knowledge of his contribution to society and many aspects of the emergency services industry bring me great satisfaction of my relationship and experiences with Bobby over the years.
I cannot begin to express my sympathies to his family and friends. His legacy becomes one of knowledge and experience of working with one of the greatest persons I have ever known. We will always love and miss you Bobby, and never forget the myriad of favors you have done for all of us. I sincerely hope your son Milo has the chance to carry on the many great virtues your display.

You getting all sentimental on me in your old age brother?

Great job to all! A special pat on the back to all the dispatchers out there, especially at 60 Control! The unsung heroes of emergency services. Stay safe everyone.

Look at any operation and you can find "problems" or areas of improvement period. I always worry about home base first..and then my profession 2nd as we all represent each other. That's just a fact of life. If you or anyone else doesn't notice any...your not looking or don't know what to look for. Your training should be based off those issues but big and small to make operations more efficient, safer and professional.
As far as the if you don't have anything but negative things to say....and I saw no insults....enough already. If you want nothing but positives and want to keep eating cake go to the kids section of a book store. Things happens, things occur and things are occurring that are not efficient, nice, dangerous, ridiculous etc. You can not read them if if makes you upset. I say discuss them and tackle them head on..until we get over this stigma about insulting, badmouthing, monday morning quarterbacking..the fire service is going to have a lot of problems. And not for nothing you did invite anyone with your first sentence to point things out as they see them. I don't operate in Portchester so its not my battle but I could point out several that would blanket just about every department in this county....but as I said...I fight that battle on my own front.
Chuck...nice post but no one was attacking anyone nor saying you aren't or never were providing good service to your area. All departments have their issues. Its not personal...remember that. If it is..then the person posting should be or be able to say to anyone's face what they post. period.

Memebers,
While this topic was orignally started with questions about the opperations of the ryebrook fire department, it has evolved into a heated discussion about the need of the department. This is fine as long as a line the respect is not crossed between eachother. With that said, keep it going, but keep it respectful. Any member found being disrespectful to eachother, or going around the filter, after my post will be handled with accordingly..
ems-buff
moderator

COUNTY WIDE FIRE/RESCUE/EMS DEPARTMENT................except for the cities

With due respect to the staff,
Before the topic was locked, there was some measure of displeasure with the post from the site's founder regarding one-liners and inflammatory comments, with a poster saying the site has lost it's balls and the members need thicker skin.
It's not a matter of the site "losing it's balls" or members who need "thicker skin", it's about keeping the site educational, a positive environment, and most of all, PROFESSIONAL. Sometimes we need to remember that "we" (emergency service members) are not the only ones who read the content contained in these forums. I'm sure there are enthusiasts, members of local government, members of the media, and so on who read the content contained in these forums. While it's all good to banter amongst each other as if we were in the firehouse, precinct, quarters, or whatever you would like to call it, we still have to maintain some level of decorum and professionalism just as if we were present in a public place, since this board is easily viewed by members of the general public, and more importantly the media. Case in point;
The NYPD Rant for those who's haven't read it is full of so much garbage since there is little to no moderation, it's not one bit enjoyable to read from an educational standpoint. If anyone outside the NYPD read the material in that forum, the useless bantering of a few sets a bad precedence and honestly depicts the members of the NYPD in a very negative light. The media reported today on a thread contained in the NYPD Rant website about posters who posted personal attacks against an NYPD member. As a civilian reading that article, what kind of opinion do you think the "average Joe" will have of the Rant and the members of the NYPD?
So in order to keep this site from becoming another "rant style" website, there needs to be a level of moderation that suits the wishes of the site's founder, since it is ultimately his call on what is and what is not permitted. If any of us don't like it, we are all free to start up our own site where anything goes and all the members can brag over who has the biggest balls. Personally, I'll stick with the site that's an educational portal as well as promotes and exhibits the professionalism of emergency service providers.

Fire based is absolutely not the best way to go. A dedicated 3rd service EMS is the ideal way to go. However it is more expensive to implement and maintain such a service. Once municipalities start looking at EMS as more than just a ride to the hospital and use it as an integrated part of their healthcare system, benefits emerge that cannot be accomplished with an agency trying to also serve as police or firefighters. In other countries and in a growing number of communities here EMS is used as an outreach to reduce ER visits, able to mitigate minor illness and injury on scene rather than transporting, and provide local services like education and vaccination.
The IAFF is absolutely only pushing EMS because it keeps their members busy and helps to protect them from budget cuts. If cities were burning like they did 30 years ago there is no way this would be anywhere near their agenda. Why would they seek to add more work to an already busy workforce? EMS is a perfect fit as fire companies are already distributed throughout the community and already somewhat familiar with EMS due to the nature of the job. This is not to say that fire based systems don't work. That's just flat out stupid as they are currently performing very well through out the country. But to suggest the IAFF began aggressively pursuing EMS for anything other than self preservation is naive.

Not sure where to start on this. Saying that fire based EMS is the only way to go is tough to swallow. I think this video does a disservice to those that work in non-fire based EMS. Are we on the same side or not? There are a lot of excellent providers at all levels in those services. I included a link to a blog post which touches on this topic as well. To me putting the patient first and providing excellent care is what matters, not the uniform or vehicle you arrive in.
My link

The Town of Mamaroneck and Village of Larchmont VAC does not employ any paramedics or EMT's. They never have. The paramedics and EMT's are all employed by the Town of Mamaroneck Ambulance District. The district is a branch of the town government just as the recreation or the building departments are. The Ambulance District has a contract to supply paramedics to both the Larchmont VAC and Mamaroneck EMS. The Ambulance District is the one who does the billing and receives the money from the billing to pay for the paramedic service.

I wish EVERY town would do this!

Qtip

I don't (ever) post because I often feel like I have nothing to add. I have no experience other than as family. My grandfather was FDNY. My brothers were volunteers in Dutchess County.
But I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to each and every one of you. As a family member, I understand the sacrifices you make, the training you make time for and the time you are away from your families, friends and other activities so you can serve your community in the most amazing way I can think of.
I salute your bravery, your commitment and your expertise. Our communities are better places because you live, work and volunteer here.
Consider this a long distance hug from a very grateful community member.
-Heather

They're getting the shaft!
Same as the FD.

Oh boy, airing dirty laundry? Let me know! Having been an OVAC member and a Briarcliff member I've got lots of interesting and historical stories of great calls and not so great, really not so great, on both departments.
Aside from that, one of the most reassuring aspects of being a local Fire/EMS member was knowing that when, not if, but when, I or my fellow members needed assistance, a crew from Ossining, Millwood, Pleasantville, Archville or
Pocantico would be there to back us up. I'd like to think they felt the same. We've all needed back up from time to time and we've all had our cyclical membership ups and downs. Things are different now and more and more departments are having a hard time getting adequate personnel for calls, particularly on the EMS side.
So, now many departments are looking into paid day time personnel. Briarcliff went to a paid EMT two days a week because the one person that carries the bulk of the load has to go the their paid job those two days. Want to think about Briarcliff's ability to respond without that one person??? I don't.
I was also fortunate to have served with Lewisboro VAC, South Salem Fire and Croton Falls Fire. All good departments, good people, but if you learn anything after being on numerous agencies, its that no one should put a lot of energy into being critical of another department. All departments, like their members have good days and bad days and they are, for better or worse, reflected in our Fire/EMS performance.