dave0820

I'm not really looking to have a discussion but if one insues, so be it. I have noticed in a few threads recently that some people aren't able to take criticism or jest very well anymore. I would like to take this opportunity to bring back an acronym that was used by many on this site. Q.T.I.P. Quit taking it personal. Guess what kids, this is the emergency service. You are posting on a forum that is dedicated to us. If you say something out of line or just plain stupid, you will get your various parts busted. That's just how it works. Thanks for your time guys and gals. As always, stay safe.
Wisker
P.s. If you are going to be a keyboard tough guy, sign your name.

Congrats to FFPCogs, EMTBravo's January 2014 MOTM.
FFPCogs has been a member of EMTBravo since 2008. He regularly contributes knowledgeable, insightful topics and posts. He is serving in Afghanistan, yet checks in on EMTBravo almost everyday. He routinely shares very interesting accounts of what's going on with his work overseas, as well as contributing insight to other topics in a positive way.
FFPCogs is just one our many, many excellent and dedicated members who are deserving of this recognition, and we will continue to recognize these members every month.

Sir,
You seem to have done your research, which is good. I wish there were more Firefighters out there like you that would actually look into the data. Hopefully you can help improve the fire service in your area.
1. I am well aware that the unfortunate loss of the brothers and sisters in Arizona is an anomoly. Even though this could happen again. Learning from our past incidents is key.
2. I am glad you still agree that out LODDs are still high. Because in fact they are. If anyone is content that the LODDs have been below 100 for the fith year in a row they should be ashamed. I want to see these numbers lower.
3. I know exactly what multi tasking is. I know its part of our trade. So your jab really isn't appreciated. With a little research you can easily find the facts of the EMS incident. The EMT screwed up. There were 2 calls with an interval of 2 minutes, the 2nd being a non priority. He decided to send a crewed rig to the later. He has a history of not following policy. If his history wasn't haunting him there is a possibility the board wouldn't have given him a suspension. He admitted that he was wrong and knowing so he should have taken the 60 day instead of quiting. WHY DO WE DO THIS JOB? I don't know too many that would quit!!
4. I am familiar with the data and thank you for posting it for everyone else.
5. I agree with your statement. It is very true.
I am not on here to argue or have a heated conversation with you or anyone else. That is a waste of my time. I am sorry you disagree that the Ellenville blog isn't a rant and rave, but that's my opinion. I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

A couple of points (and not fully directed to you):
1) Statistically speaking, the 19 Arizona LODDs are an anomoly since we typically don't see single events with that many deaths. Subtracting them from the 2013 total you listed of 101, last year is on par with 2011 and 2012 in terms of total LODDs and the 5th year in a row under 100. This is kind of significant considering we spent 19 of the 22 years prior to that over 100 annually and that for many of those years post-incident onset deaths where not counted like they are now.
2) I agree, our LODD total is too high.
3) Although I wouldn't describe the discussion about Ellenville as "ranting and raving", we can discuss that situation and numerous others while also working to reduce LODDs. It's called multi-tasking and a lot of firefighters are pretty good at it.
4) Before we can truly make any progress on reducing LODDs, we have to identify and understand what is causing them. I repeatedly see posts in forums and comment sections trying to insinuate that what they perceive to be "unsafe" fireground operations (including non-LODD incidents) as the reason the annual LODD total is what it is.
Looking over the USFA stats for 2011 and 2012 and as best as I could decifer some of their coding, the 2 year averages for LODDs are as follows:
* During training - 8
* Vehicle related - 12.5
* On scene medical related - 10.5
* Post incident - 17
* Other, non-fire related - 21 (Includes on-duty medical related and on scene, non-fire related trauma)
* Traumatic fire related - 15 (These are the ones in which the fire or building kills us)
5) What that data tells me is that the "problem" is not predominately related to how we (collectively) fight fires. This doesn't mean we don't have stuff to learn and practice to keep this number down. To me, it means that the areas in which we need to be more focused are our health and apparatus operations. If we can get fitter (which should include keeping our most vulnerable members off the scene) and stop crashing our apparatus in the same ways over and over again, we should be able to make a sizable dent in LODDs and OTJ injuries.

Happy New Year to all and their families.

To all from my family and I:

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

As we say goodbye to 2013 let us take a moment to think about those working, those serving and those less fortunate.

May 2014 bring you prosperity, happiness and the fulfillment of your goals.

Stay safe, stay well and stay committed to being the best you can be.


God Bless America and all of her firefighters.

Let's just call it "happy Festichristmahanukwanzamasyear". I'm pretty sure that covers all the holidays between December and January quite nicely.

Let's just call it "happy Festichristmahanukwanzamasyear". I'm pretty sure that covers all the holidays between December and January quite nicely.

We don't need "Festivus" to air grievances on this site

Let the airing of grievances begin.....

Another issue that some may not consider is the liability. If I wasn't properly trained (that is a loose term, because there is no concrete requirement that is standard for officers) I wouldn't want to run.
Reason being, : If you sent a crew into a fire and something goes wrong, lets say a flashover for arguments sake. You have members that got hurt and now this is being investigated, If you have 7 years with a boatload of training and 40% attendance, this will be considered an accident and insurance kicks in and it takes its normal course.
If you have 1 year of 20% attendance and FF1 and 1 or 2 more and the same situation occurs, you can and will be held personally liable for endangering your crew by making a decision that you are not properly trained to make

In my next life I am coming back as a lawyer for a fire insurance company........I think it would be pretty easy to recoup most of the fire loss by going after substandard FD's and their officers.

Either way, I'd like to take a moment for the cheesy "thanks for the response" type of post...
I think it's interesting that there are some similarities between the goals of the Unions and the "Companies"

My department now is a fire department. I work for and get paid by them.
I also belong to a union. We do fundraising, coordinate the honor guard, get members involved in the parades, sponsor a little league team as well as a whole host of other items (including negotiating our contracts.)
Wow, look... We have two separate organizations. Both with similar goals but different functions.
Just because YOU don't get the system, doesn't mean it's stupid or a waste of time and energy. The NY fire system is a little convoluted, but it is also filled with tradition and in many cases, pride.
There are things you just can't get done from the floor. The separate organizations provide a means to get things done in many cases.

WHAT?!?!? I don't believe it. Next you'll be telling me the taxpayers buy you T-Shirts and uniforms too! Unbelievable.
Seriously, thank you for having some common sense. Happy Thanksgiving.

In many towns around the country the fire house was and still is a meeting place. Dances and other town functions were held there. The office of president for the company and its board members would handle the social side of things and the line officers are in charge of the firematic side of things.
I know this is so hard for some career firefighter who to them being a firefighter is JUST their job, but to thousands of fire fighters around the country being a member of a fire company is a lot more.

Today marks the 10th birthday of the EMTBravo.com Forums.
We were here before Facebook, Twitter, before everyone could make their own site or post photos using a wide variety of social media platforms. When we launched in 2003, we were the original and only emergency services community website in Westchester, the NYC Metro area, the lower Hudson Valley and Fairfield County, CT. We were the original "Incident Alert" and place to share photos, before everyone making their own "wire" and FB groups to duplicate and therefore dilute the concept. This site, including the software, was built from the ground up custom for this site.
Here are some quick stats 10 years later:
-1,000 member visits a day
-8,000 registrations
-44,000 topics
-250,000 posts
-43,000,000 topic views
-39,500 personal messages sent
-Members from over 10 countries, and visitors from over 30 countries
and still growing
Thanks to all who make this website and forum a continuing success!
Seth G.

Here's a couple of tests done comparing various hoods that are currently available to the fire service:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zPLFTOdnF0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8jHJOTIBBw

I'm wondering why many of the people have "screen" names that are not their own, and also have no information in their profile depicting who they are or wear they work/volley. These are folks that seem to have the most to say. Man up and let the world know who you are.

I don't know, nor do I care, what this Chief was doing, that business is between him, his Department and those who foot the bill. But what should be clear to everyone by now is that we are ALL under scrutiny...everyday, everywhere, anytime, any place. Whether it's driving dept vehicles or simply wearing FD apparel think before you act...or speak. A moment of carelessness and you just might find yourself plastered all over Youtube, and the fodder for forums like this...or worse still, in the unemployment line on the evening news trying to explain yourself.

I need to know.. Does anyone actually think the public care about this when they see it? We all see it because we are on the job and notice it. I bet if you asked anyone in a parking lot when we come across these vehicles, they would A. have no clue where the Town is in the state and B. Not really care. Now i am not talking about just this one instance. I am talking about any time it happens. The public do not care until it is a big deal (ie. a accident or something). John Q public is going to be more worried about his shopping, getting to work, (why aren't my darn kids here where i said i would pick them up) then even care about this. Plus nothing will ever happen to change it. You can make rules that you cant go out of town with it but so what. What if he needs to go see a few chiefs or need to make a pick up somewhere of some gear, is he going to check in with mommy to ask if he can leave the block? Exactly. He is the chief, he is the boss. you might not like it but he has the authority to go where he wants. If on the other hand he takes a apparatus then ya we need to know every mile you are gonna take.
Now let the man shop and stop stirring up a ruckus.

Great save by village of Mamaroneck firefighters and Mamaroneck EMS.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20131024/NEWS/310240091/Mamaroneck-firefighters-honored-saving-woman-s-life

From NYCOEM: On Wednesday, October 23, 2013, between 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM, N615JB, an Airbus A320 painted with FDNY theme will overfly the Hudson River from the Verrazano Bridge north to the George Washington Bridge at 2,000 feet. The aircraft will be subsequently be vectored to JFK.

The flight over the Hudson River will be filmed by news media, both airborne in helicopters and on the ground. The flight and the following ceremony at JFK will be featured on morning news shows.

A great video showing just some of WHFD's training they have their junior's complete.

View a previous thread about their Junior Corp.
http://www.emtbravo.net/index.php/topic/47918-west-harrison-junior-firefighters-video/?hl=%2Bwest+%2Bharrison
Keep up the excellent work WHFD!

When I was a FF in Peekskill, we could usually tell by the first due drivers tone of voice how bad the situation was. When I was in NH the first due engine gave a windshield size up usually based on 3 sides, then dispatch repeated the report. A second report would usually be given when the officer got out and did a more in depth investigation into the situation and conditions. This happened every time, it was like second nature there. Many times mutual aid departments would stat to don turnout gear and mount up based on the size up and in anticipation of 1st or 2nd alarm.