EMT-7035

Routine drill? Really? What agency has enough money to set fire to a BMW?

The actual station is about 3 minutes away, so that's assuming a 2-minute response from page time, no one can complain about that.

Interesting VF has no annual fee but EMT and VAS has an annual fee. Government at its finest.

Take a look at this, regarding SWAT teams and Tac Medics
Columbine Timeline:
1110: Suspects arrive on campus
1119-1124: First 911 call for "sound of explosion" Shooting begins shortly after
1124: First School Resource Officer arrives on scene and engages suspects unsuccessfully (Does NOT pursue suspects into the building)
1133: Jefferson County SWAT Commander orders paging out of SWAT and Command Post
1149: Denver Metro SWAT Arrives on Scene
1206: SWAT makes entry behind cover of firetruck, begins evacuating patients while conducting search
1208: Suspects commit suicide
The suspects had already done the most damage before SWAT was even on scene. Hell, they killed themselves 2 minutes after the team entered. Some victims didn't get evacuated by SWAT until after 3PM. Unless you have a full time ESU/SWAT like some of the larger municipalities, your SWAT team isn't going to have time to get set up before the shooting ends. Neither is your Tactical Medic Team. Virginia Tech and so many other incidents have learned the same thing: Wait for SWAT doesn't work in an active shooter, unless you have a full time SWAT/ESU driving around waiting for a job.
The sooner PD can stop the threat, the sooner EMS can begin triage and treatment. IMO, there isn't time to stop and treat people. Stop the shooting and you will be able to SAFELY and effectively operate as EMS/Fire responders. This is not to take away from Tactical EMS at all, its definitely necessary in many instances and its an EXCELLENT program to have in place if you can have it. But as I understand it, the priority in an active shooter is not providing treatment, its ending the threat. JCESU or Helicopper or someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but that seems the most logical conclusion.
Maybe this is a good reason for a "Tactical/Active Shooter Incident Awareness" type course, so that the front line Firefighters and EMTs on every rig know what's expected of them at an active shooter incident and can begin setting up triage, treatment and transport areas. Knowing how and where to set up staging areas, knowledge of cover and concealment so you can avoid becoming a target. These are the things the everyday non-tactical responder can do to prepare for this type of incident.
And one more thing about staging. At Columbine the 2 shooters called false fire alarms for months before the incident to see where the FD and PD staged their units. They placed them the same spots almost every time. Guess where the two scumbags planted their bombs outside???
If you get the chance, read the book "Columbine" by Dave Cullen. You get a good picture of the lessons all the emergency responders learned at that incident. It would be folly not to use their knowledge.

The real question is: Do you really see the "Evacuation Plan" as potentially successful, even if Bee-Line buses are operating?
I know I don't.

I would have to agree with OoO. I joined the FD at 16, and the VAC at 17. I think that what is expected, and what may be encountered needs to be discussed with prospective junior members, and their parent/guardian. Let both know that EMS members have the possibility of seeing blood, dead human bodies, broken bones, performing CPR and other things not normally seen. Also let them know there is no shame/embarrassment if they think they can not handle the sight of such things. After approval for membership the EMT in charge has the final say. If you see the junior member is having a hard time with something on a call, put them in the front of the bus, in the fly car, or get PD to take them back to the station if possible. My current department is having this discussion now, as we have two CFR's under the age of 18 who want to ride the ambulance, but current policy says no. The EMS LT is against it, "as they may see something they shouldn't", and it gets more personal than the FD side of operations. I can see her point, but I have worked at many extrication jobs as junior FD member having to bring cribbing, tools, etc up to the car and seeing patients in the vehicles. It can be plenty personal setting up cribbing while hearing a patient pinned in a car asking about the passenger next to them, who is now deceased. I have also seen plenty of "adult" members freeze on calls at things they have seen while junior members still function. Even on my job as a police officer, some cops can't handle seeing blood, and other nasty injuries the human body can sustain when involved in a car accident, hit by a train, stabbing, etc. To others, like myself, can handle a man under (person run over by a train) and then go out to breakfast and get an egg and cheese on a roll with salt pepper and ketchup. There is a reason why militaries recruit younger members, they think they are invincible, and will do things without thinking it will effect them.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I'm an advocate for junior EMS programs.
I got my start in EMS at 16 and developed a passion for it. At 16 I got the opportunity to learn and see a lot. If I waited until 18 to get involved, I would not have had the same amount of time to put into it.
I agree that digression should be used in letting junior members respond to certain calls (those involving peers, EDPs, etc) but I think these programs are important to developing the future of EMS.

I disagree, I think the priority needs to be to neutralize the threat in order to prevent more people from becoming hurt. If police stop to care for or extricate victims, they are allow the shooter to continue and create additional victims.
This is no different than an MCI, there is no sense on working a CPR who will eventually die while other treatable critical victims deteriorate. If you stop to work on the already injured, you will allow others to become injured.

Its a high profile event so the manpower will crawl out of the wood work, for sure. Now, competent manpower becomes a different story.

We idolized and memorialized Whitney Houston, yet looked the other way concerning her well known substance abuse and tumultuous life with singer Bobby Brown.
Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story is all over the news because he is a
substance abuser, an adulterer, sexually promiscuous and obnoxious.
Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she is a
celebrity drug addict and thief.
Something as frivolous as Kim Kardashian's stupid wedding [and
short-lived marriage] was shoved down our throats, While........
Justin Allen 23
Brett Linley 29
Matthew Weikert 29
Justus Bartett 27
Dave Santos 21
Jesse Reed 26
Matthew Johnson 21
Zachary Fisher 24
Brandon King 23
Christopher Goeke 23
and Sheldon Tate 27...
Are all Marines who gave their lives last month for you. There is no
media for them; not even a mention of their names.
Young Men who most likely came from rural America seeking a chance
to better themselves and to serve this county.
Rest In Peace, and THANK YOU,TROOPS.
This was an email i got and wanted to share it

Rest In Peace to the fallen soldiers and their families, and may god watch over all of our soldiers as they stand on the front lines.
It makes me sick that people like those mentioned would get more attention and praise then our soldiers, or even us as firefighters, when a soldier or firefighter or police officer or EMT/Paramedic fall in the line of duty its always the same thing...Nothing. Yet a famous star who caused so much trouble passes on and they get weeks of coverage, benefit concerts and shows, outpouring from the world and sympathy from world leaders yet a soldier who gets killed defending freedom doesnt even get a tear?? Whats wrong with our society?

IMO, it depends on you, what you want, and where you think you may end up. I took the EMT-I class a few years ago as I was unemployed and had the time. Since I belonged to an ALS agency at the time, it didn't cost me anything other than time and gas money. In the Hudson Valley, it is pretty much useless, unless you have a partner willing to let you use your skills.
However, in many upstate regions, with long response times, long transport times, and the limited availability of medics, CC is often the top level responder and you are allowed to actually use your skills.
So, if you are thinking about staying upstate, it may not be a bad idea.
"But there's more to doing an IV or advanced airway or breathing treatment or D50 or narcan (depending on what standard your tough 1985 or 1999). you need to the physiology behind it, not just give a drug because the scope of practice says so."
I'm not sure there are two different standards for the CC. I know that the "I" calss in NY is based on the National Registry 1985 standard. As far as learning the physiology, it would depend on the class curriculum as to how much they get into this. Having had A&P before I took the "I" class helped me.

Keith,
If you're in a system now where the Crtical Care Technician can be used and your agency uses them, it may be useful to you but only you can determine that. The CC level is not really recognized in the Hudson Valley anymore but as others have said, it still is in other parts of the state. If the local community college offers a bridge course, you have an option for going from CC to Paramedic in the future so that's a good thing.
You have to look hard at all the training, opportunities for employment (paid or volunteer) up there and/or down here, time required for each, and what you want to do with the training in the long run. Consider all those things and make your decision. Don't let the limited opportunities down here stop you from exploring something that you may enjoy.
If the CC course is 1000 hours and the bridge to Paramedic course is 1000 hours but the medic course by itself is 1500 hours you have to decide how valuable that 500 hours is to you. I made up these numbers just to illustrate the point!
Good luck in whatever program you choose!

Mount Kisco VAC: 1276

Mount Kisco VAC: 1276