CFFD117

While I do agree that the information required is extremely ER specific I disagree with age not being relevant is a report to know how to set up. The approach to a 8 y/o is different to that of an 80 y/o. I also believe that hospitals in Westchester are way too anal about needing to be notified about every unit bringing a patient. I agree with the "hot" patients needing notification but do they really need to know that granny is coming in with the runs x 3 days, etc. Maybe I am still in the NYC mode where the only time a hospital was notified is if you needed staff and a room waiting, e.g. cardiac arrest, GSW, multi-trauma, active labor, or something unusual requiring resources beyond the norm. The thought process was the others were triaged in the ED in "non-crisis' mode and placed as needed, bed, chair, waiting room.

There is a term for this, it is called: "Thinning the Herd"
In the past we had wars & famine & plauge....today we have "failure to respond".

Very early response to the World Trade Center, nothing will ever compare to that

First calling FDNY a zoo is derogatory and unprofessional. Second, listening to a scanner does not make you an authority on the subject. Yes the cut finger could be from a rusty nail but lack of cab fare does not make it a 911 EMS call. If you believe it does then you should seek out a refresher course fast. It is this thinking that is overtaxing a system. You would be surprise how many of the I don't have cab fare public take an ambulance to the ER for a clinic appointment and leave the ER as soon as they are handed over and put in the waiting room and go upstairs for their appointment.It is obvious that we disagree and that is fine. You may want to check if Quinn needs a running mate.

You haven't lived till you slid a pole that somehow got a little wet!

The new Station House looks like a stapler.
A Precinct can be commanded by a Captain or a Deputy Inspector.
If the Precinct is commanded by a Captain, there can be a second captain assigned to the command, the first one would be designated as the Commanding Officer and would be the head. The second one would be designated the Executive officer, the number 2 guy. If the precinct is commanded by a D.I., the X.O. would still be a Captain.
Usually, the busier houses are commanded by a D.I. Sometimes, the C.O. will start out as a Captain, but after a while, be promoted to D.I.
There have been a few incidents where a precinct has been commanded by a full bird Inspector.
New Precincts are rare, since I went on in 1981, the only new precincts to open were the 49 Precinct in 1985, the 115 in 1989 (approximate), the 33 in 1994 and now the 121 in 2013.
I think this brings the number of Precincts up to 77.
In addition, there are 12 Transit Police Districts and 9 Housing Police Service Areas.

From the dispatch persepective I have always wondered why we send agencies to other agencie's calls. In my dispatch center a call for a structure fire automatically goes to both the police and fire dispatchers. By the very nature of police being out on patrol and fire waiting in a station for a call, it is almost impossible for the police to not arrive first. I often ask this question, why are we sending the police. Most often I get the nebulous answer that they might be needed. By this theory we should send police, fire and EMS on all calls because they might be needed. Do we send EMS on all buglaries because someone might have cut themselves on a broken window? I have been criticized for not sending the dive team to a car partially in the water with the driver standing looking at it, based on the idea that there might have been a body in the trunk. If that were really a concern then fire should be responding to all abandoned cars for the same reason.
Now there are concerns that the police need to deal with at many fire scenes, but none are critical enough that we need to send them well before we have alerted the fire department. THe old joke about the first car having to get there in time to block the hydrant is only sometimes a joke, but I was on a call once where one of our guys had to get out of the tower ladder and move the unattended police car at the end of the block, because the officer parked it across the street then walked up to look at the fire. I get that there are sometimes traffic concerns and there are even times when fires become crime scenes, but I also think that we are sometimes putting our responders in a no win situation by sending them unequiped for the situation.
The example of the police officer on scene when a civilian brigns out a victim needing CPR is one thing. But the public expects all responders to just do something. They do not understand why that police officer is not running in and trying to rescue all those people. This has lead to a culture where we have trained police officers to disregard their own safety. Why do firefighters wear turnout gear? Because years of science have told us it is the best way not to get burned. Why do police run into burning buildings? Because the fire department was not there yet. To this I will ask why were the police there? As a dispatcher I can wait a few seconds for the fire department to be alerted before sending the police to a call where their main function will be support, especially in a world where most fire responses are under 5 minutes.

Now that we're all friends, could someone just click and like this post? It doesn't matter whether you are a cop, FF,EMT,man, woman, old , young, or even a dog, if he can hit the like button.. You see, I now have 899 points and would really like to hit 900 by the end of the day. Also, if you see I hit 900, don't hit the like button because I have achieved my goal and I don't know if EMT-Brave has a procedure for removing points that weren't earned.
Although, if you really liked this stupid post, I guess you would have to hit the like button. But then, how would I know if you really like this post or are just throwing points at me because I only needed one point.
See? It isn't easy being a Chief and making these decisions.

Guys hate to burst your bubble but the portable version is deemed an "assault rifle" in NYS and thus illegal... It has a scary looking pistol grip... Can anyone see a bayonnet lug on there?

Coming from a maritime background, I can definitely see the benefit in having this for shipboard use. One major concern with shipboard fires is the amount of water and its impact on the displacement of the vessel. It can get to a point where the amount of water used and its weight in the bilge causes the vessel to become unstable and/or sink. Watertight compartments on ships also present another issue, being sealed and that the steel would not self vent as say a building would, the heat/gasses are held inside the fire room. Which as you could imagine leads to a greater chance of a back draft upon opening of the water tight door. having the ability to pierce the steel bulkhead and cool the room would be invaluable and absolutely reduce the risk a lot. Aside from industrial, ARFF and shipboard, depending on portability I could see a potential use for this in high rise firefighting. being able to get water in without exposure to the fire would make it that much safer.

He is running for Senate? He will fit right in with the majority of politicians.....

Do some research before you jump on the pyrolance bandwagon. The guy in the infomercial sounds a lot like an old film by Lloyd Layman touting the water absorption rate of fog lines. That started the greatest debate ever among fire people. And, I think it was Hahn who had a 700psi fog system for brush fires and places without adequate water supplies.
All these items (High pressure systems, Fog lines, and now Pyrolance) work well in confined spaces because the steam doesn't leave the space and is able to absorb its full amount of btu's.
All these boons to the fire service last a little while and then become museum pieces, never to be used again.
Only a combination of two things has consistently proven itself to be an effective firefighting system over the course of time: Firefighters and Water.
The powers that be are already taking away our firefighters. Watch out boys, the next thing they will want to get rid of are our fire hydrants, selling them for scrap.

Coming from a maritime background, I can definitely see the benefit in having this for shipboard use. One major concern with shipboard fires is the amount of water and its impact on the displacement of the vessel. It can get to a point where the amount of water used and its weight in the bilge causes the vessel to become unstable and/or sink. Watertight compartments on ships also present another issue, being sealed and that the steel would not self vent as say a building would, the heat/gasses are held inside the fire room. Which as you could imagine leads to a greater chance of a back draft upon opening of the water tight door. having the ability to pierce the steel bulkhead and cool the room would be invaluable and absolutely reduce the risk a lot. Aside from industrial, ARFF and shipboard, depending on portability I could see a potential use for this in high rise firefighting. being able to get water in without exposure to the fire would make it that much safer.

Coming from a maritime background, I can definitely see the benefit in having this for shipboard use. One major concern with shipboard fires is the amount of water and its impact on the displacement of the vessel. It can get to a point where the amount of water used and its weight in the bilge causes the vessel to become unstable and/or sink. Watertight compartments on ships also present another issue, being sealed and that the steel would not self vent as say a building would, the heat/gasses are held inside the fire room. Which as you could imagine leads to a greater chance of a back draft upon opening of the water tight door. having the ability to pierce the steel bulkhead and cool the room would be invaluable and absolutely reduce the risk a lot. Aside from industrial, ARFF and shipboard, depending on portability I could see a potential use for this in high rise firefighting. being able to get water in without exposure to the fire would make it that much safer.

I doubt he said anything while on the wire. The people who do that have an ability to focus and a passion beyond anything anyone who isn't a tightrope walker can begin to fathom. There is a movie/documentary about Philippe Petit and his tight rope walk between the twin towers in 1974. That said, to be doing it sans safty harness when you have kids and with one slip will be plummeting 1500 feet to your death is just plain selfish.

Coming from a maritime background, I can definitely see the benefit in having this for shipboard use. One major concern with shipboard fires is the amount of water and its impact on the displacement of the vessel. It can get to a point where the amount of water used and its weight in the bilge causes the vessel to become unstable and/or sink. Watertight compartments on ships also present another issue, being sealed and that the steel would not self vent as say a building would, the heat/gasses are held inside the fire room. Which as you could imagine leads to a greater chance of a back draft upon opening of the water tight door. having the ability to pierce the steel bulkhead and cool the room would be invaluable and absolutely reduce the risk a lot. Aside from industrial, ARFF and shipboard, depending on portability I could see a potential use for this in high rise firefighting. being able to get water in without exposure to the fire would make it that much safer.

Interesting concept, but I think it would be very dangerious in most municipal depts.
But for ARFF, Shipboard, Industrial it might be an excellent tool

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

Good for Detriot for going back to Green. Look at all those nice green lots they have there and soon one more !

Did you notice that one of the ladders had stopped spraying water and the cab was tilted up

As a Past President and a Chairman of the Fairchester Hose Hauler's Muster at Croton Point Park, I would like to offer the following advice for thought:
If you are considering a County Park site (Kensico, etc.) or any site for that matter then it is important that the first Muster be as successful as possible in order to keep the host and attendees enthusiastic and locked in for the future. That being said, I would strongly recommend that the commitee focus on a date for next year. A successful muster takes a lot of logistics planning, equipment and people and cannot be just thrown together by a handful of people in a short time. You want to come into it with your "A" game and plan, thoroughly publicize and execute a memorable event that will make everyone want more.
The Fairchester Hose Haulers Muster was nationally known because it was put on by a group of hard working, dedicated individuals who focused on maintaining high standards that did not erode over time. The only reason it ended was because some members of the core group moved away, others wanted a break and there was no "young blood" willing to do the hard work.
Alan M.
Past President
Fairchester Hose Haulers Association

Yes FDNY EMS issued vests to their members. its personal preference whether or not you want to wear them though. Mine usually lives in the car while I'm on my regular tours, and most people don't wear them. They mostly come out more for the special event type stuff, eg the West Indian Day Parade, New Years Eve etc. There are a few people who wear them all the time though. There are a few cases where I think the vests could give a false sense of security, enabling people to get into situations where they may have backed off if they diddnt have a vest (the same could be said in the argument for arming ems providers), but there is no way everyone is going to wear a vest unless it comes down from the top and is put in the ops guide. A huge part of the way we operate on scene depends on our ability or read people, and instincts if something doesn't feel right. And most of the time we are good at using our judgement, but sometimes stuff happens and incidents like what happened in Georgia take place. Not being there personally I can say what happened, but I think we tend to get complacent when it comes to calls that get dispatched as "sick" jobs. I cant count how many I went to in the past week. Most of the time its nothing, but occasionally its something like a stroke or an arrest. Or it could be someone with malicious intent as in West Webster or Georgia. I get enough people calling me officer without body armor, to the point where with a vest I think patients might be hesitant towards giving honest information. I don't think wearing a vest all the time is really a solution for these very low frequency events. A vest is no substitute for using your own judgement/ instincts in determining whether or not your scene is safe enough for you to operate in.

Yes FDNY EMS issued vests to their members. its personal preference whether or not you want to wear them though. Mine usually lives in the car while I'm on my regular tours, and most people don't wear them. They mostly come out more for the special event type stuff, eg the West Indian Day Parade, New Years Eve etc. There are a few people who wear them all the time though. There are a few cases where I think the vests could give a false sense of security, enabling people to get into situations where they may have backed off if they diddnt have a vest (the same could be said in the argument for arming ems providers), but there is no way everyone is going to wear a vest unless it comes down from the top and is put in the ops guide. A huge part of the way we operate on scene depends on our ability or read people, and instincts if something doesn't feel right. And most of the time we are good at using our judgement, but sometimes stuff happens and incidents like what happened in Georgia take place. Not being there personally I can say what happened, but I think we tend to get complacent when it comes to calls that get dispatched as "sick" jobs. I cant count how many I went to in the past week. Most of the time its nothing, but occasionally its something like a stroke or an arrest. Or it could be someone with malicious intent as in West Webster or Georgia. I get enough people calling me officer without body armor, to the point where with a vest I think patients might be hesitant towards giving honest information. I don't think wearing a vest all the time is really a solution for these very low frequency events. A vest is no substitute for using your own judgement/ instincts in determining whether or not your scene is safe enough for you to operate in.

Yes FDNY EMS issued vests to their members. its personal preference whether or not you want to wear them though. Mine usually lives in the car while I'm on my regular tours, and most people don't wear them. They mostly come out more for the special event type stuff, eg the West Indian Day Parade, New Years Eve etc. There are a few people who wear them all the time though. There are a few cases where I think the vests could give a false sense of security, enabling people to get into situations where they may have backed off if they diddnt have a vest (the same could be said in the argument for arming ems providers), but there is no way everyone is going to wear a vest unless it comes down from the top and is put in the ops guide. A huge part of the way we operate on scene depends on our ability or read people, and instincts if something doesn't feel right. And most of the time we are good at using our judgement, but sometimes stuff happens and incidents like what happened in Georgia take place. Not being there personally I can say what happened, but I think we tend to get complacent when it comes to calls that get dispatched as "sick" jobs. I cant count how many I went to in the past week. Most of the time its nothing, but occasionally its something like a stroke or an arrest. Or it could be someone with malicious intent as in West Webster or Georgia. I get enough people calling me officer without body armor, to the point where with a vest I think patients might be hesitant towards giving honest information. I don't think wearing a vest all the time is really a solution for these very low frequency events. A vest is no substitute for using your own judgement/ instincts in determining whether or not your scene is safe enough for you to operate in.

Being able to recline is the best part about those Dodges. And as was mentioned there are plenty of them around, and I did hear that there were more on the way, but that was a casual comment in a conversation so that isn't confirmed. My unit is a Dodge and it has around 15k miles on it and has already had its engine replaced, I'm not sure whether that is a common thing or just some issue with that particular truck. Air ride is hit or miss, its supposed to deflate when both back doors are open and with the engine on, but around 30% of the time nothing happens, even after repeatedly opening and shutting the doors. Not a huge issue but a little consistency would be nice. Driving around is a little different with the extra length but the width is the same on the f350 models. The engine is quiet and really smooth which is nice when you are sitting 89. There are definitely mixed feelings about the Dodges, but personally I like them.