x635

I think he's already had it, lol

Today (12/5/03) is my 1 year anniversary from my "retirment" from 60 Control..how time flies...........I found this interesting because on that date last year, we had a snowstorm as well.

:D/

Some great points there.......also, I think TL's cost signifcantly more to aqquire and maintain then regular straight sticks......when you have TL's within a reasonable distance, can't the money be spent wiser elsewhere? Tower Ladders rock, and are a great tool, but, IMO, not in every single community. You lose a huge tactical advantage (manuvering, etc) when that happens.

Also, Chappaqua you have Mount Kisco,Pleasantville, Thornwood, and Bedford Hills all nearby with TL's.

I too sometimes wonder, what happened to the good old straight stick truck?Whereas the TL company used to be more of a specialty unit, now a straight stick ladder is becoming the specialty unit.

Tons of great apparatus photos:

Click on "New Gallery"

http://www.code11.net/

Using state of the art streaming audio technology, FireFeeds.com gives you access to live fire scanners from all over the United States, 24 hours a day. Our live fire scanners cover some of the worlds largest and most respected fire agencies, including the New York City Fire Department (FDNY),  the Boston Fire Department, Dallas Fire-Rescue and more! Whether you're a true fire buff or just like listening in on the action, FireFeeds is your best source for live fire scanners on the Internet.  

http://www.firefeeds.com/

On the front page of EMTBravo.com today is the new MVPD ESU Truck 3, which was aqquired surplus from NYC. Mount Vernon PD has several vehicles as does Yonkers that have been aqquired at a low cost as surplus, refurbished in house, and put to good use where it would have been unrealistic to buy a unit new.

In the chat room the other night, this topic came up. It was said that if people were willing to take the time and effort, an old NYPD ESU Radio Patrol truck would make a great mini-rescue or brush truck. It was also stated (DG795) that Yorktown DPW has aqquired a former NYPD ESU truck as a DPW ESU.

My question is, has any FD or EMS agency in Westchester considered or done this? I think it is a great low cost idea to supplement your fleet.

Great video about NYPD ESU

N.Y.P.D. POLICE EMERGENCY, A&E, 1999

They are trained to handle everything from water rescues to subway accidents. They are the Emergency Services Unit of the New York City Police Department, a unique force that combines the duties and skills of rescue and SWAT teams.  

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS goes on the job with New York's ESU team as they handle crises citywide. Watch as they rescue a man who is threatening to jump from the Triboro bridge, capture dangerous drug dealers in a Brooklyn, use the "jaws of life" to extricate a family trapped in a terrible car wreck and talk a distraught boy out of suicide. To handle these disparate situations, every member of the team is trained as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), qualified in high-angle rope rescue, scuba, and a variety of heavy weapons. We'll hear from team members about the toughest situations they have faced, and the directors of the force detail the role it plays in protecting the city.  

Thousands of times a year, the men and women of ESU respond with speed, equipment and experience. Come along for the ride.  

50 minutes, fully narrated, VHS NTSC ONLY VN1095 / $24.95  

=D>

Available from FSP Books and Videos

http://www.fire-police-ems.com/videos/vn1095.shtml

or A and E's website.

Sometimes, the more subtle tone audio changes could be that they are using a different make/model tone encoder as well .

I like both.

Voice is good because it's what were used to, and we can monitor other communications with our alerting device enroute to the incident, plus I feel the dispatchers voice often helps with alerting.

Alpha is good for when you are out of range/out of town/mowing your lawn/etc......also good because you can reference the information (whats the cross/house # again?) and relay additonal information (Building hazards,preplans,etc)

Alpha can also be used to notify members of meetings, drills, apparatus changes, weather conditions, etc etc such as Yorktown does.

Both systems compliment each other nicely.

I know this belongs in the SWV Forum, but I feel this one is better suited here:

http://www.firestationdesign.com/

Comprehensive webstie about Fire Station desgin and construction.

Image From Firehouse.com, Farifax County Virginia Firehouse

Lewisboro: Report: Emergency communications system 'inadequate'

BY PATRICK GORMAN  

THE PATENT TRADER  

(Original publication: December 4, 2003)  

The communications system that supports emergency service responders in Lewisboro is inadequate, according to a report from the county's Department of Emergency Services. Town officials are now mulling ways to fix the deficiencies.  

But the need for more EMS communications does not necessarily mean more cellular towers in town.  

The town's Emergency Preparedness Task Force requested a "Hazardous Analysis Report" from the county's Department of Emergency Services last summer, in an effort to find any areas of concern for the town from a public safety standpoint.  

"We invited them in and worked with them. They determined there is a lack of reliable communication, and that's a real concern," said Councilwoman Jessica Bacal, who heads the task force.  

The report, which was released in August, states that "public safety communications are difficult at best. The town may want to consider the installation of a cell tower to improve public safety communication capabilities."  

But that doesn't necessarily mean large cell towers popping up all over town, according to Ted Sohonyay, chair of the town's Antenna Advisory Board.  

"This is a very complex topic. There is nothing more important than communication in an emergency situation," said Sohonyay, who is familiar with such issues through his work as an engineer for cellular giant Motorola.  

Though the county's report suggests a cell tower as a remedy to the town's communications shortcomings, Sohonyay said the town could remedy the situation with radio antennas that need no tower.  

"An antenna is not a tower. They are 3 to 6 feet long, and you could put them on the side of an existing building," he said.  

There are several areas in town that have spotty cellular service, but that does not present a public safety hazard for emergency service workers, Sohonyay said.  

The next step for the town is to decide what direction they want to go in, either with a cell tower or with radio antennas.  

"To implement a townwide communications network could run into the millions of dollars, depending on what the town wants to do," Sohonyay said.  

He said the Antenna Board may meet with the Emergency Preparedness Task Force to begin discussing a plan for the future, he said.  

As for the future of cell towers in town, Planning Board Chairwoman Jacqueline Dzaluk said the town hasn't received any proposals for new towers in a while.  

"We don't tell people where to put their towers. We haven't seen as many applications recently. We'll review them when they come in," Dzaluk said.

NYS Trooper Examination Scheduled for March 2004

http://www.troopers.state.ny.us/RecTprs/Re...cruitindex.html

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcas/pdf/firealarmdispatch.pdf

MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG

Mayor

MARTHA K. HIRST

Commissioner

THE CITY OF NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF CITYWIDE

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

APPLICATIONS CENTER

18 WASHINGTON STREET

NEW YORK, NY 10004

N O T I C E

O F

E X A M I N A T I O N

REQUIRED FORMS

APPLICATION FORM

READ CAREFULLY AND SAVE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

FIRE ALARM DISPATCHER

Exam. No. 3009

WHEN TO APPLY: From: December 3, 2003 APPLICATION FEE: $30.00

To: December 23, 2003 Payable only by money order to D.C.A.S. (EXAMS)

THE TEST DATE: The multiple-choice test is expected to be held on Saturday, April 3, 2004.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

TEST PAPER

FOREIGN EDUCATION

FACT SHEET

(IF APPLICABLE)

WHAT THE JOB INVOLVES: Fire Alarm Dispatchers, under direct supervision in a Communications office, or under

general supervision in the field, receive and transmit alarms of fire and emergency using various systems including

Computer Assisted Dispatch System (CADS), Mobile Data Terminals (MDT), telephone, voice alarm, Emergency

Reporting System (ERS), two-way radios, PC-based database programs, etc.; receive and process calls in regard

to administrative issues or complaints from FDNY field units, other FDNY bureaus, City agencies and/or the

public; interpret information received and use the computer keyboard to enter data into the computer for release

to fire companies; determine the amount and type of apparatus, and which units to send to alarms; relocate

companies as needed; adjust the number and/or type of units at fire scenes based on the condition and/or

predetermined response assignment protocols; operate department radio and voice alarm systems to announce

alarms to and receive fire company acknowledgments or response to alarms; announce special messages and notify

designated parties of incidents, as required; enter data into the computer for transmission to fire companies;

perform related work.

Some of the physical activities performed by Fire Alarm Dispatchers and environmental conditions experienced

are: speaking in a clear and understandable manner by telephone, Voice Alarm System, or radio; giving

instructions and dispatching fire companies; eliciting pertinent information from callers who may be under stress;

distinguishing between and acting upon indications of alarms which may be received in a Communications office

in the form of lights, buzzers, bells or computer queue alert; visually observing equipment that has various colored

lights which reflect changing conditions; and using a keyboard to access computer screens for reviewing or

inputting updates and/or changes in data.

Special working conditions: Eligibles appointed to this position will be required to work rotating shifts including

nights, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays in any or all Central Office facilities. Regularly scheduled shifts are

usually 12 hours in duration, however, the position may require being ordered to work beyond the regularly

scheduled shift and on days off.

(This is a brief description of what you might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this

position.)

THE SALARY: The current minimum salary is $27,865 per annum. This rate is subject to change.

HOW TO APPLY: If you believe that you meet the requirements in the "How to Qualify" section, refer to the

"Required Forms" section below for the forms that you must fill out. Return all completed forms and the

application fee to DCAS Applications Section, 1 Centre Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10007 by mail only.

Applications will not be accepted in person.

HOW TO QUALIFY:

Education and Experience Requirements: By the last day of the Application Period you must have:

A four year high school diploma or its educational equivalent, and

(A) two years of satisfactory full-time experience, within the last five years, as an airport or railroad traffic

controller, a fire alarm dispatcher in a Class "A" Fire Alarm System, or in radio or telephone call receiving

and/or dispatching in an emergency communications facility; or

( three years of responsible, satisfactory full-time experience within the last six years, handling the receipt

of multiple, simultaneous calls and radio dispatching in response thereto; or

© three years of satisfactory full-time firefighting and/or fire dispatching experience, within the last six years,

as a member of a municipal or federal fire service/department or the New York City Fire Patrol; or

(D) three years of satisfactory service as a member in good standing of an accredited volunteer fire department

within the last five years. To be creditable, such service will be evaluated in accordance with the verifiable

points system established by the volunteer fire department to meet the minimum yearly service requirement

for being a member in good standing. Written verification by the highest ranking member of this volunteer

fire department that this requirement has been satisfied will be required.

College education may be substituted for a maximum of one year of experience as described in (, © or (D) only,

on the basis that 30 undergraduate semester credits from an accredited college or university is equivalent to six months

year of experience.

Exam. No. 3009 - Page 2

The General Examination Regulations of the Department of Citywide Administrative Services apply to this examination and are part of this

Notice of Examination. They are posted and copies are available in the Applications Center of the Division of Citywide Personnel Services,

18 Washington Street, NY, NY.

The City of New York is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Title Code No. 71010; Fire Alarm Dispatching Occupational Group.

For information about other exams, and your exam, or list status, call (212) 669-1357.

Internet: nyc.gov/html/dcas

Note: Experience in the following types of positions is not acceptable as listed in (A) or ( above: housing

superintendent, hospital page operator, radio motor patrol vehicle operator, or other vehicle operators who receive

and/or transmit messages over a mobile radio, hospital telephone operator, customer service personnel, airport

dispatcher other than air traffic controller.

A maximum of one year of satisfactory experience will be credited for each 12 month period. Part-time satisfactory

experience will be pro-rated and credited in lieu of, but not in addition to, full-time satisfactory experience during the

same 12 month period.

You may be given the test before we check your qualifications.

Medical Requirement: Medical guidelines have been established for the position of Fire Alarm Dispatcher.

Candidates will be examined to determine whether they can perform the essential functions of the position of Fire

Alarm Dispatcher. Where appropriate, a reasonable accommodation will be provided for a person with a disability

to enable him or her to take the examination, and /or to perform the essential functions of the job.

Drug Screening Requirement: You must pass a drug screening in order to be appointed.

Residency Requirement: You must be a City resident within ninety days of the date you are appointed to this

position if:

(1) You begin City service as a result of this examination; or

(2) You are currently a City employee and you began City service on or after September 1, 1986.

If you are required to be a City resident, you must maintain City residency as a condition of employment.

English Requirement: Candidates must be able to understand and be understood in English.

Proof of Identity: Under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, you must be able to prove your identity

and your right to obtain employment in the United States prior to employment with the City of New York.

REQUIRED FORMS:

1. Application for Examination: Make sure that you follow all instructions included with your application

form, including payment of fee. Save a copy of the instructions for future reference.

2. Education and Experience Test Paper: Write your social security number, the examination title and

number in the box at the top right side of the cover page. Fill out Sections A, A.1, A.2 and B. This form

must be filled out completely and in detail for you to receive your proper rating. Keep a copy of your

completed Education and Experience Test Paper for your records.

3. Foreign Education Fact Sheet (Required only if you need credit for your foreign education to meet the

education and experience requirements): If you were educated outside the United States, you must have

your foreign education evaluated to determine its equivalence to education obtained in the United States.

The services that are approved to make this evaluation are listed on the Foreign Education Fact Sheet

included with your application packet. When you contact the evaluation service, ask for a “document-bydocument”

(general) evaluation of your foreign education. You must have one of these services submit

its evaluation of your foreign education directly to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services no

later than eight weeks from the last date for applying for this examination.

THE TEST: You will be given a multiple-choice test. Your score on this test will be used to determine your place on

an eligible list. The multiple-choice test may include questions on understanding written and verbal information;

communicating written information to another person; remembering new information; combining separate pieces of

information to form a general conclusion; applying general rules to a specific situation; understanding the order in

which things should be done; and other related areas. The pass mark on the multiple-choice test will be the score of

the 200 th highest scoring candidate. Candidates who are tied for the 200 th highest score will be deemed passers.

If you pass the multiple-choice test you will also be given a qualifying practical test to determine if you meet the skill

requirement of keyboard familiarity. In order to pass this test you must be able to type accurately at a minimum speed

of 50 keystrokes (10 words) per minute after errors are deducted.

ADMISSION CARD: You should receive an Admission Card in the mail about 10 days before the date of the test. If

you do not receive an Admission Card at least 4 days before the test date, you must go to the Examining Service

Section, 1 Centre Street, 14th floor, Manhattan, to obtain a duplicate card.

THE TEST RESULTS: If you meet the education and experience requirements, and pass the multiple-choice test and

qualifying practical test, your name will be placed in score order on an eligible list and you will be given a list

number. You will be notified by mail of your test results. If you meet all requirements and conditions, you will be

considered for appointment when your name is reached on the eligible list.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Selective Certification for Foreign Language: If your name is on the eligible list and you can speak a foreign

language, you may be considered for appointment to positions requiring this ability through a process called Selective

Certification. If you pass a qualifying foreign language test, you may be given preferred consideration for positions

requiring this ability. Follow the instructions given to you in the multiple-choice test booklet on the day of the test to

indicate your interest in such Selective Certification.

SPECIAL TEST ACCOMMODATIONS: If you plan to request special testing accommodations due to disability or

an alternate test date due to your religious belief, follow the instructions included with the “Application for

Examination”.

Thanks for the info!!!......Providing I am not working or otherwise commited, I will definelty be at the parade and maybe the picnic.

What kind of stuff have you done in the past?

Ardsley had to spend extra $$ for E-164 so it would fit into a very narrow, low bay. If you see the pic on the Ardsley Profile, you will notice a smooth roofline with special lightbar mount. It is VERY difficult and dangerous to manuver this rig in and out of the bay-there is about 1/2 inch clearance in either direction. There have been a couple of mishaps due to the narrow openings, which have cost money to fix. When Ardsley bought Quint-1 (Our first ladder ever) ,they added an extra bay because we had no place for it otherwise.

I guess if you have the chance to modify your facility to accomadate the new apparatus, that would be the best idea.Some cases thats not even an option. Howver, to spend the extra money to modify an apparatus to make it fit when your facility is inadequate, thats throwing money away. I say keep the rig you have alive until you can make the building safe, sound, and a good fit for the apparatus you need, not the other way around.

It's used widely in California

With new apparatus open cab design, it's not really that practical. For a doghouse style engine, the can be very beneficial. However, they are hard and tricky to wear when trying to put on your SCBA and gear.And of course, this type of system works best for a tiller and a walk in rescue, where members are seperated significantly

I dont think as an intercom sytem is the best/only use for this. I think a headset type device system works best when it is wired so the pump panell/ladder operator can wear one, keeping his hands mostly free and drowns out some of the background noise.

Even might be a good idea in the TL bucket, or for the officer/driver to keep his hands free, when you a foot switch, it frees up your hands.

Boston and Worcester EMS have these for their C-Med (Medical Control) radios. They have a foot switch and knee switch. When you are taking care of a critical patient, it's nice to be able to talk to the doc/hosp and have your hands free.

Ive also seen a new smaller wireless generation of these devices, that "plug"(maybe transfer over is a better word, since they are wirelss) right into your portable when you unplug from the truck, and also intergrate with your SCBA mask.

These definetly can improve safety and effeciency when used appropritely.

Dates usually come out around March/April.

I beleive it was Remember585 brought up in a chat on this board that videotapes were a good training tool for those members that could not attend a drill,whic is an excellent idea.

I think, especially a new Sony DVD HandyCam :wink: (Nice camera, recrds straight to a DVD that you can pop right in your player) would be a great investment for any department. It would serve as a great visual aid for incident and drill critque, provding you have sufficient personel to operate one.

It also, like a digital camera, serves a great documentation and archiving tool.

I've heard of departments that carry a videocamera on their first due and point it at the incident (mounted on a tripod that can be quickly deploted anywhere and then left) to record the incident for documentation and future critique. I will try and find more information on this subject.

Is Lukas still sold, or did Hurst absorb the brand completly? I was using Lukas at AFD, and the tools were great. Don't really have much experience with any other brand.

COVINGTON, Georgia (AP) -- These little cops can't seem to keep their heads on straight, but don't call them bumbling -- bobbling is more like it.  

The Covington Police Department is selling bobbleheads -- complete with serious faces and shiny blue uniforms -- of its officers to raise money for its Police Who Care Fund to help needy families.  

In a limited run, 1,000 dolls were manufactured by a bobblehead company.  

The bobbleheads are being sold for $10 at the police headquarters, the Covington/Newton County D.A.R.E. office and a Wal-Mart in Covington, east of Atlanta.  

The bobbleheads are supposed to depict all officers although one officer, D.J. Seals, did pose for the manufacturer, said D.A.R.E. officer Lt. Ken Malcom.  

"He's kind of excited about it, while at the same time he's embarrassed because of all the grief he's gotten from the other officers," Malcom said.  

In past years, the department has sold toy patrol cars and police trading cards to raise money. Malcom said he hopes the bobblehead dolls go over just as well.  

If sales go well, bobbleheads of a S.W.A.T. officer and a canine officer could be produced in coming years, Malcom said.

Ardsley has the same thing. Still doesn't help the person who can't or is not ready to buy yet though. Just a small token for those who do own a overpriced home, but as you said hopefully a step in the right direction.

The best tool(s) in extrication is compassion, training,skill, and interagency cooperation. We're there for the PATIENT, ultimately, and in alot of cases that is lost in the "excitment" of an extrication. Being an EMS provider that has had the chance to work pin jobs with several different agencies,as well as a FF doing the extrication, I've seen many different situation. The BEST extrication is the ones where everybody can put aside their own egos and (for lack of a better word) personal agenda (i.e. fighting over the tool,putting on a show, i dont like this person or agency and so on) and care about the PERSON, the human being inside the vehicle. THATS WHO YOUR THERE FOR.

Also, people sometimes get tunnel vision at bad MVA's. I once had a FD ready to cut the drivers side door and roof off, (Didn't even ask EMS what they wanted to do, how they wanted to remove the patient) . Meanwhile, while they were preparing, we removed the potentially unstable pt easily and quickly off the bench seat on the passenger side door, despite the FF's protesting that they "had to" cut the car in order to get the patient out. As I was once taught in a EMS course, "Least Invasive to Most Invasive" and "You dont use a daisycutter to kill an ant"

*Edit*BTW, forgot to add we later saw the same car in the body shop getting repaired, something that might not have applied if the car was cut. That fact shouldnt neccasarily be the first in your mind, but just an interesting tidbit.

But I guess I'm going a little off topic, the discussion was about the tools after all. 8)

Personally, I feel one of the biggest issues facing the WC Fire (and EMS) service is lack of affordable, or even any housing for young single working class people. Besides Pound Ridge, does anybody know of districts that are doing something about this situation? It seems like WC is just interested in servicing the wealthy upper middle class, and the low income population, and those of us inbetween are forced to live with our parents, pay out incredible sums of rent, live in an undesirable area , and/or to buy in the county is a rare oppurtunity. Even when you are married, it is tough to buy. Why can't we live in the towns we grew up in, like generations before us did? IMO, most of these Manhattan tranasplants are destroying Westchester for us, and forcing the true citizens out. And most of them could care less about us either. $$ talks I guess. When a new park or "open space" or whatever yuppie issue is more important than your local services, you have serious issues....how can these people justify voting down firehouses and engines etc as well.

This isn't just a volunteer issue either, IMO. Paid personel are forced to move to Dutchess and even further, how is this going to affect off duty recall times when a disaster strikes? Also, how does a 1+ hour commute each way affect stress levels?Also, how much does gas and wear and tear eat in to your paycheck and time spent traveling eat into your personal and family life?

Just a little rant and something to think about.