PoqFFEMT

On Thursday July 11, Paramedic Bill Spadafora came home. Bill was critically injured in an ambulance accident on May 28th. After almost two months at Albany Medical Center, Bill not only came home but he came home in style. Many EMS, Fire, and Police agencies came together to participate in his homecoming. The following is a video of his homecoming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_L74QsLeO4g
Welcome Home Bill!!

Thank you!
My goal is simple. Make EMTBravo better and a place where all of us involved in Emergency Services enjoy visiting.
EMTBravo has some very loyal members and it's time to tap into that for some suggestions in making improvements.
We are nothing without YOU the members.
All I ask for is support.
Feel free to e-mail me with any suggestions for improvements, compliments or complaints. I will try to address each and every one.
Rob

Members,
I know I've changed titles around a lot in the past, but we are going forward in a new direction with this forum.
I've changed the "Director Of Operations" to the "Chief Of Operations" because that title is much more understandable to emergency services personnel.
With that said, Rob Casasanta (RWC130) has been appointed as EMTBravo's Chief Of Operations. Rob has been a member of this forum since it's inception (10 years), and is the second person registered after me. He is proud to be a member, has helped to get this site to where it is today, and has always given me sound advice and guidance. He is very diplomatic, which is something we need. He has some great ideas to expand the site, like heading up the EMTBravo Muster, and has continued to show great initiative and planning for a successful future. He wants the best for this site and it's members.
Rob has always been someone I trusted greatly, and is a true friend and has no "agenda". He is tolerant, understanding, caring, and honest. It has come time to appoint someone to be my equal should something happen to me health wise and to assure the future of the site. In the next few weeks, we will be forming a written partnership agreement regarding this. I will also be training him and providing him with what he needs to run the site (so, for example, we don't have downtime like we had in March).
I'd like to say thank you to Rob for always being there, through thick and thin. You're a great friend, and will make a great Chief Of Operations. Thank you for taking the load off my shoulders when I need you.
Now, to me. I will stay involved with the technical, financial, and development ends of the websites, so I will still be around as Deputy Chief Of Operations.
Congrats!
Seth Granville
Founder & Deputy Chief Of Operations

The Fire District purchased our first staff vehicle from J.H. Ketcham in Dover Plains, a 2005 Ford Expedition, with a command center in the back, once I get a chance I will see about getting some further photos, although not new, it's a start in the right direction, Chief Boardman just picked the unit up from the graphics shop in Carmel. Yes I know it's not Blue!!!!

and the body is mounted and shall be headed to paint

Many people have PMed and emailed mre asking about life "over there" in Afghanistan, so I thought I'd write a quick decription of how it is for those interested.
To start I am now assigned to Kandahar Airfield which, unlike all my previous jobs, is a NATO run base. At present I believe the British are the ones technicaly in charge of the base but almost all NATO countries and a few others are represented here. This makes for some interesting interactions as cultures do clash occasionally, usually with comic results fortunately. It is hot here, I mean really hot. Average temperatures this week have been just above 130 with the nights cooling down to a balmy 100 or so. It is also dusty here to the point that everything has a permant shade of tan covering it, no matter how often you clean it.
My FD here or to use it's proper name Kandahar Fire Crash Rescue Services is comprised of 60 men manning 6 crash trucks, 2 structural Engines and a Tanker along with a Chief and as they call them a Plattoon (our Depruty Chief or Shift Commander) Chief for each of the two shifts. Work schedule is 24 on 24 off or on average an 84 hour work week, which may sound like alot but trust me most would rather be working everyday as there isn't much to do otherwise. We do have a gym at the main station as well as a number of military ones throughout the base that we are free to use. There are 6 DFACs (dining facilites), 1 British, 1 French or Continental, 1 Asian and 2 American, the other I havent found yet but it is reported to be Arabic serving only Hallal food (similar to Kosher). The food itself is edible although as any former soldier can tell you, everything is cooked well beyond well done. Kandahar also boasts a Boardwalk which is just exactly what you'd expect it to be, a wooden sidewalk on which fromts a number of commercial establishments. We have a KFC and Friday's, 2 pizza joints although the term pizza is a bit of a stretch to anyone from our area, a Nathan's open 24 hours to boot a coffe shop and a French Deli/Patisserre. Along with the gastronomic choices there are a number of small "Haji" or locals run shops carrying everything from cigarettes to jewelery and trinkets to a full tailor shop that will make a hand tailored suit for you for about $250. There is also a Bazaar every Saturday with the ubiquitous bootleg movies as well as an impressive selection of junk, haggling a must.
About the FD itself aside from the above. Well I started at the main station, Station 1 which sits on the Airfield. Housed there are 5 of the 6 crash trucks and their attendant crews. I was assigned to Engine 3 one of the two structural units on base. Station 3 houses another crash truck on the opposite side of the runway. Station 3 is a luxuriously appointed Army tent with none of the comforts of home. Station 1 is more akin to a Stateside firehouse with an alarm room, offices, a large dayroom and sleeping quarters (3 to a room). The crash side of the house is busier here since much to my suprise Kandahar Airfield is the busiest single runway airport in the world with between 850 - 1000 inbound and outbound flights a week. And there is quite a wide variety of aircraft in and out of here including C-130s and C-17s, C-5s as well, F-16s, F/A/18s, Harriers, A-10s. We also get 737s, Antonov A-12s and the other really huge Russian one whose designation I can't recall as well as a few 747s. Choppers abound with Blackhawks and Chinooks, Cobras, and Apaches and a large contingent of old Russian machines like the Mil-8 and the Mil -10 for transpot duty. And of course the UAVs which are really quite impressive.
My current assignment is as the Crew Chief (Capt) of Station 2 "Southside". I have with me 4 crewman and our rig is a European spec'ed Rosenbauer from Germany. Needles to say that it takes a bit of getting used to with the pump in the rear and it's overall lack of hose and equipment by our standards, not to mention its all metric. I have a pump that in liters!! Damn Europeans now I have to do math.
Our first due is about 8 sq. miles with roughly 25,000 miltary and civilian residents. Building range from one and two story PEBs (pre engineered buildings) of metal and wood. wooden B and C huts (think ranch houses except it's many offices or sleeping rooms off a central hallway), tents of various sizes up to 200 x 75 and a large number of two story masonary barracks (think garden apartments). Along with these living areas we on the Southside enjoy the distinction of being what back home would be called the industrail side of town. The majority of the mechanical shops, warehouses, stortage facilities fuel points and motorpools are in our first due, along with a host of HazMat goodies. All in all it's a diverse and challenging district.
Now what makes KAFs Fire Department somewhat unique is the fact that we are comprised of a multi national force. There are Indians, Philippinos, South Aficans and a sizeable contingent of Brits. Then there's a few Canucks and representing the good ole USA is Nate who hails form the metro DC area and myself. While English is the required language I have found that it's use is somewhat impeded by the variety of accents in use. In fact I've found that I'll need to invest in an English to English dictionary to communicate with my comrades form the UK...LOL
One of the most common questions I get is, is it safe? Well safe is a relative term in a war zone. We do get regular presents of the 81, 120 and 240mm variety from our Taliban friends outside the wire and they do at times cause casualities. The last was a soldier a few months ago. Our towel headed friends also like to try and crash our party here often by trying to get through the wire. They don't get too far. In fact just prior to my arrival about 100 or so of them got their wish with a one way fast track ticket to meet Allah...isn't that nice for them. Hopefully their buddies will be right behind. Our boys here are more than happy to oblige that wish and we all support them. Vigilance is a necessity here, just like home complacency kills. We do all we can to stay safe, but the reality is, if your numbers up then it's up. Until then I and all of us have a job to do and we just do it.
Some may think this a noble or courageous endeavor, for that I thank you, but please give your kudos to those that really deserve it, the brave and dedicated men and women of our Armed Forces. These folks are as courageous as they come and they are in a sense our kindred spirits....they too put themselves at risk to protect and serve others, all of us here and back home.
In closing I would ask a favor from all who read this. As you go through your day stop for just a minute and think about those service members over here and what they are sacrificing for you and yours. And if it should strike you please find an organization that send things over and send something to a soldier, sailor, or airman here. It couild be anything, a letter, a card and damn tube of toothpaste...anything so that they know that you remember and support them. They will appreciate it more than you know. Freedom is not free and these folks are paying the price for our freedom, please don't forget them.
Cogs
________________
Peter Cogliano
Crew Chief Engine 2 "Southside"
Kandahar Fire Crash Rescue Services
Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan

2nd Capt / Asst. Training Officer
Belltown Fire Dept.
Stamford, CT

Hi guys,
I've had a rough couple of months.
I became critically ill in June while on a trip to Chicago, and was hospitalized in ICU intubated for several days.
A few days after I got home to Texas, same thing happened, I had a procedure to corrrect the problem, but while I was intubated I aspirated vomit somehome and came up with severe double pneumonia. Physically, I can only use the computer for a limited amount of time right now, and am still extremly weak but am getting better by the day.
While I was in the hospital, I had no access to my phone or computer. I lost my job because I wasn't elegible for FMLA yet and I ran out of time that I could use, so I'm on a very tight budget. I can reapply for my job, but read on to find out why I won't.
My PayPal account that I use to pay for this site was hacked, and I was cleaned out of all the funds for this site. Although PayPal will be reimbursing me, it will be several weeks. I'm on a limited budget right now, and bills for the website are due soon and I can't bill, sell, or design any ads right now to raise money, nor will I be soliciting donations.
Earlier this week, my luck started to turn around the best it can at this point. A very awesome longtime friend and great person helped me out, big time. I am thankful for him and his bosses because his actions and concern gave me great motivation to keep going and renewed my passion. For right now, all I'm going to be saying is that I'm moving back to NY in the next week.............................I think I'll be much happier back there, especially because I miss all my friends from NY and working there. I LOVE Austin and Texas and will miss it (I've lived here for 4+ years already), and have been succesful and had awesome experience with the agencies I worked for , but at this point I need to start taking care of myself. After I was no longer healthy enough to be a career firefighter anymore, my heart was broken and I really wasn't the same-it destroyed me, but I've finally had closure on that and want to have the old pre-2007 Seth back.
There is MUCH more to this story, but please don't speculate.
I also apologize for not getting back to all those who hae been calling and emailing, it just gets a little overwhelming right now as I recover.
I have over 1,500 emails personally from friends, collegues, and EMTBravo members and related to me since May 26th, and eventually I will get to them all.
I traded in my car and sold off a lot of my things and bought a small 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty/Winnebago Aspect 23' RV with only 7,000 miles on it. It's got all the comforts of home, and is cheaper and easier for me to live, especially since I will still have the home in Texas.
Does anyone know of RV Parks in the NY/CT area that are affordable and have electric and water hookups?
I was hoping I could park it at an FD or EMS, and in exchange join that agency and they would technically have a driver in house. I am stilll a certified Firefighter and Paramedic, and am capable of driving, operating, and maintaining any type of emergency vehicle. I can drive ambulances, midmount and rearmount aerials and tower ladders, engines (I am certified in pumping and water supply), rescue trucks, tankers, brush trucks, etc. If someone knows of an agency that could work something out with me, I would greatly appreaciate it. Email me at seth@emtbravo.com if you know of anything, even if short term.
I hopefully will have a job lined up, but I am looking for a second job, if anyone knows anything that's open and pays decent. It doesn't have to be emergency services. Email me at seth@emtbravo.com .
I wish I never gave up some of my Westchester jobs I had, I always thought the grass was greener and kept moving up jobs, but I look back now and had it great right where I started.
Thanks guys for your concern, and whatever help you can offer me. I hope that some of you guys can come up and hang out with me when I get back.
There is more to what I am going through, but please don't speculate or comment on that.

I've run our salt treated 28ft above ground pool for 3 years now and cannot say how much we truly love it!. Once your initial set up at the beginning of the year is done, it really requires almost no maintenance. I take water samples to our pool store and they run it, tell me what I need (all for free) and then I add what's needed. About once a month I'll take another sample and at most I need some more salt (due to rain/spash-out) and some stabilizer and we are good to go!
Check out this site: http://www.troublefreepool.com/
Or better yet: http://www.troublefr...or-etc-f21.html
Also, FWIW, I've never had burning eyes after swimming in my pool.... Added bonus!

That guy in the while helmet has ABSOLUTELY no business being on a fire scene....he made me so mad I wanted to punch my computer..LOL

Thankfully, the glue traps I had set up to capture spiders from getting into the garage and house caught this 1 year old-ish rattlesnake the other day.......although he was glued down and not going anywhere, he was still alive and pissed! I had him sitting there for several days thinking it was just a harmless variety of snake....until my neighbor who is very familiar with snakes pointed out the features of a rattlesnake.....I had him in the garbage can all ready to be picked up with the trash (in a fashion he could not bite anyone) but my neighbor took possesion of him temporarily as his wife has the same rules as mine.

If anybody is interested in attending, the New Hackensack Fire Department will be having a 9-11 Memorial service on 9-11 at 1 PM at the fire station on Myers Corners Rd. at the intersection of All Angels Hill Rd. in the Town of Wappinger. Department members as well as numerous local contractors have been hard at work trying to complete the memorial in time for tomorrows service.

NKFD Commissioner J. Howard Prager (Center) watches as members go over raising the flags on the new memorial. Howie put in a tremendous amount of time to make the memorial a reality to honor all the victims of
9-11.

Members prepare to raise the 9-11 flag.....

Members go through a dry run for tomorrows service.....

Firstly, let me say that I'm not a big fan of the ACLU...... However, occasionally, they do serve a useful purpose for the average law abiding US citizen. And this IMO, this is one of those times..... I can tell you from first-hand experience that some Law Enforcement Officers get a little carried away when enforcing the laws, one being the ability to photograph in public. I had just been laid off from my hi-tech job after 30 yrs and needed to clear my head and decided to do something to make me relax which to me, is taking scenic photos.... I was going to try to take a unique photo of the Mid-Hudson Bridge from a park in Highland. It was going to be a full moon and I had intended to get a shot of the bridge with the moon rising over it. In case you don't know, the moon rises rapidly as it breaks the horizon so I had my camera on my tripod with my remote shutter release in my hand, waiting for the moon to appear. At the instant the moon started to crest, I was illuminated from behind. I then heard a muffled "Excuse me" from a PA speaker..... Without looking around, I knew exactly what the lights were and what was next. I was asked to step to the car which I did, and then was told by a NYS Trooper " You should know better" To which I replied "Excuse me? He then went on to tell me it's illegal to photograph bridges and that I of all people (I had a FD shirt on) should know better. He then went on to tell me that there were signs on the bridge all-over forbidding photography and that I needed permission to do what I was doing....... At this point I said that I'm not doing anything wrong and I'm NOT going to argue with him. I told him that the only signs on the bridge were the signs that asked if you were going to jump, call this number first. That really pissed me off because now, he is making things up and lost all his credibility. I was never ID'd but just told that I had to break down my equipment and leave the park I was in (legally I might add). So, what did I do? What were my choices? I knew that I was DOING NOTHING WRONG, and had every right to do what I was doing where I was doing it. BUT, I also knew that he could arrest me for no valid reason and that the onus would be on me later to prove my innocence. I think you call that "intimidation"..... Should I push it and end up spending the night with the Bro's and Ho's in the Ulster County Jail? And then have my wife pissed off at me because she has to defend me in court. Or do I walk away? At the time, I was so pissed I just packed up my equipment and left which IMO, was the WRONG thing to do. Later that night while I was still fuming, I ran into a friend who is a Trooper, I explained to him what happened and his response was " So, go back tomorrow night..... It's a different tour and he won't be working" So, I did, and took the photo below.......

Crime Cop and HFD219 - I did not post this to create a conflict. I have to say that If you were a photographer like me who photographs a lot, and kept up on what other photographers do and are going through, and didn't have a tin to flash, you would have a different view...... There are numerous cases like what happened to me where individuals are harassed for no legitimate reason. If the person is truly suspicious, presenting a hazard, or breaking the law, then fine ......If not, leave them be and move on to finding someone who is....... If this keeps going on, you might as well poke my F#$%*& eyes out because there will be nothing legal for me to photograph and I as well of the rest of the world might as well be blind.... The terrorists are still winning.....
and BTW, I'm in favor of drug testing welfare recipients....... Why should I pay for their drug habit?

As the Second Asst. Chief of the Millerton Fire Company, we would like to thank all the fire companies that were involved in the mitigation of today's incident whether it was standby duty at another firehouse or directly involved in the actual extrication. So a big thanks to the Amenia, Wassaic, Stanford, Millbrook, Dover, and Lakeville fire companies. Also a tip of the lid to CC-14, CC-16, DCSO, NYSP, and the cattle farmers who were there to assist with the cows: all provided invaluable assistance.
This was a particularly tough extrication all around, because not only was it an auto accident with entrapment but it also basically a simpler man in the machine type scenario, the two fused together to make one interesting call. I was first on scene and was able to take it all in before the organized chaos ensued. A flatbed truck driven straight underneath 5-tons of machinery. All the stability was taken away from the hopper and transferred to the building and the vehicle itself. The driver was encapsulated basically but unharmed. Literally just in his seat, no way to move one way or the other. As you can imagine by the photos stabilization was the biggest issue which is why a multitude of rescues were brought in, for their cribbing alone, but also for air bags and the other specialty equipment they could provide. Once that was accomplished the actual extrication was easy. As you can tell in the photo slide we removed a back rack and the rear part of the passengers cab and the driver was able to self extricate basically from that point.
All involved stated that this was one that you could not really train for, and despite its many challenges I can say that I am proud of the outcome and way in which the incident was mitigated.

I have something that is worth posting here and is something I want all of you to read and really think about. This was forwarded to me by a friend. This was written by Meriden, CT, Battalion Chief Burdick.
These are words that I whole heartily beleive in and held true in my profession being a firefighter, from the time I started volunteering my service to my present career in the fire services. Next time when you use the term "Brotherhood" stop and think about it for a second and ask yourself how you use the term, live up to your actions, consider your self part of the Brotherhood. I see the term used often here, but are you truly in the brotherhood?
Just think.

New Hackensack has NKFD instead of NHFD as to not be confused with New Hamburg. This goes way back to when every one had black gear, hip boots, leather helmets and those orange gloves. It is rumored that there was a card game involved and New Hackensack lost. Mabey someone else can confirm that. The tank was an old fuel tank. Unknown how much product was in it. No placards or info for it. It was not breeched or leaking so the FD did not open it. The tank was cooled 1st then the fire knocked down.

Stat-Flight Air 2 prepares to land in the rear of the New Hackensack fire station.

Fire Police Captain Steve Miller watches as Air 2 prepares to touch down.....

TransCare personnel briefs the flight medic on the patients status as they get ready to depart....

Time to go...... The patient is moved to Air 2.......

Loading the patient in Air 2......

Air 2 departs.....

The New Hackensack Fire Department, Town of Wappinger Ambulance/TransCare, Stat-Flight, and the NYSP - Wappinger operated at this auto accident with entrapment on the evening of January 6th......

Personnel arrived to find a heavily damaged vehicle in an unstable position with an adult male occupant with head trauma. Here a firefighter stabilizes the front of the vehicle.

From the front.....

A charged hoseline is in place as crews get to work.....

A Lieutenant stays with the patient as crews start their task of removing the roof under the watchful eye of a TransCare Medic.

The position the vehicle came to rest in made for a slightly challenging extrication.

Firefighters make one of many relief cuts in the vehicles roof.....

The precarious position of the vehilce made for some awkward cutting positions.....

"Don't let that go" Firefighters lift the roof.....

TransCare medics get access to their patient.....

Medics work on the patient as firefighters begin to clean up......

Great shots, glad to see you posting!

Awesome shots Chief! Glad to see you post on here again!

Here's a very short video I shot...... The weather made shooting so difficult that I wasn't able to do much more than basic photography..... Click on the image and it should open in a new window...... I gives you an idea of what they were up against......

Here are a couple of instructor quotes from actual pump operator courses. One is the New York version, the other is the Virginia Beach version. They are quite similar. I would like to hear the Califoirnia version.
FROM THE SOUTH:
What should you flow that nozzle at? 40psi, right? Sure you could flow it at 50 or 80. Can you hold on to it? I don't know. What's the worst that could happen? Slide around on your back on the floor for a bit 'til you hit a wall and that's where you fight fire from...it's just that simple yall
FROM THE NORTH"
To determine correct Pump Pressure, simply throttle up slowly until the nozzleman just leaves the ground. Then throttle back 1/2 turn (on digitals, quickly tap the "Decrease" button twice).
If the nozzleman is in the building or otherwise out of sight, this can also be done audibly.

How bad do you have to mismanage a City to end up with a one year tax increase of 69%? What suddenly came up that created this huge change? The article lost me on the impact of the $200K savings? What's the increase after the cuts?
Now when a business has a fire, the damage will be worse and the likelihood of the same business re-opening in Newburgh is far less, so the taxpayers lose again. This cycle only gets worse as more vacant properties invite crime and detract from home values and a positive business climate. So as services erode, the taxpayers lose more as businesses leave, their own property values drop, their taxes increase and the services they do pay for are far more limited in scope and efficiency. Recipe for restructure.

The new Seagrave is the first of it's kind for us. That goes for both Tower Ladders and Engines. It is vastly different than the previous models. When you have a fleet of 200+ standard engines and 150+ standard trucks, you need to have one of each for training. Only stands to reason. Those Bureau of Training rigs will serve the academy for a decade and beyond, hardly wasted money. The order was for 70 engines and the BOT rig was the 71st. Engines, for us, cost about $600,000 (if someone knows the correct figure, correct me!). That price is inclusive of extra parts and the warranty. For an apparatus purchase in the neighborhood of 40 million dollars...whats another few hundred grand.
Another thing.....that investment will last 10 years. Spread 40 million out over that decade and you only get 4 million a year. That's a pretty small percentage of a budget that closes in on 2 billion annually.

I agree about using some emery cloth but first I would mix up some baking soda with some water (1Tbsp Baking soda & 1/4 cup water) to stop the chemical reaction of the batteries (which seem to have reacted with the dissimilar metal of the radio) use a Q-tip to swab over the corrosion, making sure you hit anything that looks corroded. Once that is done, do the same again with clean water. Dry off as best as possible and let the rest air dry. Once it's all dry, take some VERY FINE emery (180 - 220 grit) and clean the terminals off.
If the corrosion was not too bad once you pop some new batteries in, you should be good. The only problem would be if some of the corrosion from the batteries leaked into the unit itself and go on one of the boards.
Hope it works!
John

One of the things you will learn is that things like badges aren't as important as having a reputation as somebody who can be counted upon in a pinch. Badges aren't as important as having a reputation of somebody willing to pitch in when the work needs to be done. Badges aren't as important as having a reputation of being willing to learn from those more experienced. Badges aren't important because it takes more than a piece of tin to make you a firefighter. And always be willing to worry about the rules because they are important. I wouldn't worry about a badge because there is much to learn and the badge won't do much to teach you but flash it the wrong place or the wrong time and you may wish they never gave it to you.