jack10562

Nice post. I wanted to quote you so maybe some of the brothers would sit back for a minute, re-read what you said, and remember how they really all do work together at emergencies, aside from this "pillow for your gun" cr@p. It's a shame that cops and firefighters are taking shots at each other. The Fire Officer that started this thread got upset because he cares. If the job is under pressure in New Rochelle, it spills onto all of it's members, particularly those who care the most. I think that's the biggest thing that the general public doesn't understand about being a firefighter or a cop; the pressure. I used to ride around in the duty car and think about the thirty plus thousand people that lived in the district, the five thousand plus apartments, over eight thousand structures, and think to myself " well whatever is going to happen on this shift, it's going to be my responsibility." That's what I got paid for, and when the proverbial hit the fan that's exactly the way it was. And that pressure did take it's toll on my health. That's why I'm retired now.
The police officer that posted his status came back and explained what he meant. I think now, particularly during the holiday season, and with all of the economic pressures coming down on all the jobs, it might be a good time to remember that everyone, cops and firefighters, are really on the same team. I have to admit I read the status update in question the same way the Fire Officer from New Rochelle did. I thought it wasn't appropriate. But I do know what cops are forced to endure and how difficult that job is. I think back to the day Michael Frey was killed. I'm thinking about Pipi who died in his patrol car. I'm thinking about Fred, who endures his pain and busts his @ss rehabing after being run down by a truck. These men are giants in my eyes.
As far as the public is concerned listen; corporations are squeezing everything they can out of the private work force. Then these same people come home and get their tax bills. They aren't thinking that they might be the next victim that needs a cop or a firefighter; they're thinking fifteen grand for property taxes. They don't take the time to break it down; the County, the City, the District, the School, they are mad as h#ll and can't take it anymore. Not while their 401K has been destroyed and their plans and dreams for the future are in jeopardy.
Yes it's a sad state of affairs that we are all in as a country these days. But to all the brothers on the job; keep your heads held high as you deliver a VITAL AND NECESSARY SERVICE to your community, and stick together k. Merry Christmas.
Edit: to reflect the correct rank of the Brother from New Rochelle. God Bless.

Well in all actuality that is what diversion in an essence truly is...an advisory to not bring patients there. The problem with it is often in the area where I work (and you know this well) is that the BLS agencies and one in particular disregard it and add to the problem only further pushing the clear time back by adding more to the mix. I've never had an issue when I've called any facility on diversion with either a very simple need or one in which the added transport time to me could have been detrimental to the patient or I didn't want the added risk when the patient was deteriorating despite actions I've already taken.
Additionally I have always found it trivial as how even some fellow ALS providers when faced with a medical patient in severe distress or decompensation of the present medical issue get the thought of closest facility in their head and can't deviate from that...however when faced with a just as critical or unstable trauma patient (with a managed or manageable airway) have no issue transporting by ground to the trauma center. There are local hospitals just as close or slightly closer then WMC in my area. If anything with the addition of Etomidate I have found being able to facilitate conscious sedation for intubation much much easier then just with straight narcotics a plus. Add in CPAP and a good ALS provider should be able to manage many of the issues (respiratory seems to be the flair of conditions leading to wanting to bring them in to the facility on diversion) that causes the lock onto the "closest facility" syndrome. Not to mention that when involved in the QA/QI process there were many cases where providers didn't even dig deeper in the tool chest for management.
The bottom line is that whatever ones opinion on diversion is..or as I often hear from some in one agency "its not my problem its theirs"...it is really your patients problem. Its about explaining to them the issue at hand and that they may not receive prompt treatment, may have an extended ER wait and sit time and may not get the same level of care that they would normally or need/deserve. I really could give a crap when my local facility goes on diversion...I have no place else I can go when at work so I deal with it. What is a shame is how local agencies still have no SOP's to deal with it appropriately and how mutual aid goes up when the word gets out and that every agency still seems like to be on a island when they are all dealing with the same issues. Get friggin crews in there on standby. Make it worthwhile...feed them...give them things to stay busy and share resources so calls get covered in your region not just your little island.

It seems like every day another new feature is being introduced on this site. Personally, I think the site is greatly improved. The favorite feature I like is when someone makes a new post the site will update to reflect it. It has to have taken a lot of effort on the part of the administration to make these improvements.
I've noticed the fundraising goal has been fairly stagnant as of late. If a majority of the "active" posters on the site would just step up and help the site reach it's very reasonable goal of a few thousand dollars, it would be a good thing. It would be doing the right thing imho. After all, we all participate here, get good information, share our thoughts and opinions, and for me being retired, it's a way to stay connected to the fire service.
Tis the season, and I encourage my fellow emtbravo members to help the site meet it's fundraising goal.

Got this off You Tube
Part one
Part two

Don't be so quick to judge. This is a great concept and currently I am lobbying my dept to allow Holle Berry to be the third wheel in my E-Wagon while on patrol. Maury Povich has shown a strong interest in it.....
Any suggestions on what rank I should give her??

Ok, I haven't worked in EMS in over six years. I was a paramedic. This is a topic which surfaced in the crew lounge from time to time. Most medics I knew honored the police request to take the blood sample mostly to gain favor of the police officers. Some of us were just dead against drawing bloods for law enforcement. Absent protocol and formal agreements including indemnification between a particular law enforcement agency and EMS provider with the oversight of medical control, the paramedic in New York who draws blood for law enforcement is at the very least risking embarrassment at the hands of a sadistic defense attorney and quite forseeably risking all personal future economic freedom.
My turn came one night while stationed at Mahopac station 3. The phone in the firehouse rang, it was Kent P.D. Sergeant Ranieri was just about demanding I come over to draw blood of a DWI suspect. I refused. He gave me a rash of s*** that I am the only one who has ever refused to do so for him and there would be hell to pay. Apparently he called Sloper HQ and pissed in Joel's ear about it. The only thing to come out of this was a company wide memo from Joel that we are, under no circumstances, to ever draw law enforcement bloods! This by the way came from a police officer. I have also on more than one occasion seen E.D. staff and physicians refuse to draw law enforcement bloods. Too much legal liability.
I am in favor of getting drunks off the road. Blood tests are the only true measure of blood alcohol content. It's good to see law enforcement learning another evidence collection skill. The skill in question is certainly treading on civil rights issues and stepping into the gray area of medical procedure. But that is for the law enforcement agencies to worry about on their own without involving a profession not inherently trained in law and evidence collection.

According to "M": Missles behind the headlights, a rotating licence plate, the ability to drop oil, stars or smoke and an ejection seat for the officer.
or






The light tower has 6 750 watt lights (left & right side can be adjusted independent of each other, so they can actually shine in opposite each other). The tower also has an automatic electric field monitor (the grey box on top of it) and a radar to prevent the tower from hitting anything or getting within 8 feet of powerlines.

The top....Crane, boat, light tower, storage and the "Hippo" power unit (white box in right rear corner of body).
THe Hipo unit powers 2 low volume (40cfm) air hoses, 2 hi volume(185cfm) air hoses (to run jack hammers, an air knife and dirt vacume and 2 10gpm hydraulic lines that run our stanley hydraulic tools (concrete chain saw, jack hammer, and pumps). The pumps move 1,600 gpm and unlike drafting have a lift of up to 35 feet at 100 feet from the rig.

Seth and all, thanks for the kinds words and props.
I still keep in touch with the patient and I am happy to say that he is doing extremely well. Having done CPR on countless occasions in more than 20 years of EMS experience, this was one of the very small percentile of patients that literally comes back with little or no long-term effect from the arrest. It is nice to see such a positive outcome and to such a good guy.
Getting an award is nice, but there are plenty of other people on my job that do great things every day that go unnoticed and are probably more deserving. The greatest acknowledgment that I did receive came from the family of the patient this past August. The family had a large family reunion weekend to celebrate their Dad's/Grandpa's second chance and during the reunion took a family photo that they all signed and sent to me in card saying "thanks for letting us have this weekend", there really is no award better than seeing something like that.....
Thanks again-
MTP

Thx, glad you guys like. I have one or two places I want to hit the next time I head out there. I think my next excursion will be out to South Jersey and Philly, w/some Orange County.

I am not a commissioner nor was I ever one but I am a former chief who had to work with a board of fire commissioners. First I suggest you maintain your integrity and don't let the position go to your head. Your are a public official with alot of responsiblity and are there to serve the public and not your own political or personal agendas. Read and understand section 176 under town law which explains the duties of fire commissioners. Listen, respect, and work with your fire chiefs and don't interfere with thier duties especially on the fireground. Don't adopt policies or sop's behind thier backs or buy equipment without thier input. Include them with all of your ideas.
You will also have to vote on things like hiring people ( if in a career dept) or vendors to preform to services for the district. You will also have to vote on appointments of fire chiefs and do so knowing this is truly the right person for the job, not just the "allright guy". Probalby the most important item is the budget and buying equipment. Don't buy equipment because it looks cool or the next department has one. Buy stuff that is practical. Remember you are spending taxpayers money.
Like any other elected official you will have to make decisions that may not be popular. Dont be swayed or play the fence. I have seen this happen. Stick to your convictions and do what is right. How you vote could impact your department for years. Treat all members fairly and dont play favorites.