JJB531

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

Speaking as just a member, and not a moderator here, just wanted to offer my 2 little cents, for what it's worth....
This site can be a buff site, for those of us who want it to be. If looking at pictures of houses burning down and car accidents is what floats your boat, by all means knock yourself out, no one is stopping you.
For others, this site can be a source of information and education. Personally that's more along the lines of my level of interest, but either way, as Seth said the site is what we make of it.
I've found in my short time as a Moderator, it's a confusing position to be in at times. Sometimes there may be a level of "over-moderation". I don't think it comes from a malicious or bad place, but conversations can spiral out of control VERY quickly, and if a period of hours goes by where no Moderator visits the site, it could turn into the "wild west". To prevent this the staff may take a stronger stance on moderating certain issues, simply because before things spiral out of control, it's easier to "nip it in the bud". It's done to prevent EMTBravo from becoming another rant site full of useless bantering and garbage, but where does the staff draw the line? When is the line crossed between "over-moderating" and protecting the integrity of the site? It's a fine line... and is open to interpretation by each and every one of us.
I don't see any problem with being an opinionated individual. To a certain degree we're all very opinionated and set in our ways. Being opinionated is not the problem. But we should be able to address our opinions like a professional/adult and maintain some level of professional decorum. The childish name-calling and other stuff that goes on at times is extremely counter-productive, and in my eyes does nothing to earn any level of respect from the individuals here who conduct themselves as professionals. Everyone likes to compare EMTBravo to the "firehouse kitchen table"... but it's not. It's a public forum made up of emergency service providers and members of the GENERAL PUBLIC who we serve. Case in point... peterose313.
Peterose, I hope you don't mind me using you as an example, but after reading your post, it reaffirms in my mind that there are people on here who are the everyday "civilian" from the communities that we serve. Peterose happens to be very active in the forums, but I'm sure there are plenty of community members who "run silent, run deep" and just read the content contained in the site. What is said here, from every single one of us, is a reflection of the emergency service community as a whole. How do we continue, as staff and membership, to ensure that the reflection this site leaves on our "guests" from outside the emergency services community is a positive one?

So what's up people? Just an opinion, since the site has undergone the software change, feels to me like the "environment" has changed as well.
To the career firefighting Brothers: I realize there is immense pressure on the home-front these days, meaning the jobs are under pressure. Nobody can get a contract, morale is suffering, making it harder to do what you do, Yonkers wants to mess with the job again. Regarding a website like this, there is a new awareness that social media can have real world ramifications.
Witness the Miami-Dade fire captain who recently posted a rant on facebook about the George Zimmerman case. That got him demoted to buck private. I guess he's lucky he's still on the job. The rules in Florida for civil servants can be severe, but I guess that's true everywhere. Just more severe in some places.
And I guess that's why a lot of Brothers and Sisters who used to post more frequently have pulled back as of late. Not that they rant, rather they're being hesitant. It's smart to CYA. You gotta.
Once again just an opinion but the direction can change for the positive. The discussions about firefighting, experiences, the posting of photos of apparatus, these types of posts should be expanded upon, so more people will come back in to the discussion boards. I think many are hesitant to post anything, and it's in direct connect to the job now.
We all knew that was coming. Word was out on this site long ago. Remember the "Cameras are everywhere" thread? Take a look at the NY Post this morning. they are attempting to vilify an NYPD Sgt. who was speaking on the street to the local thugeries that only understand street. One little rat videoed him, and bango, front page of the Post. I watched that video. There is nothing surprising or vile in it. The vile is a morality dictate from the "so morally pure" organization that prints it. You know the one with the phone tap scandal going on. Those morally pure folk.
Trying to destroy an Sgt doing the job the way it gets done in some places. Dealing with a subject with a reported 20 arrests. Nice guy. And the paper exploits this dirtbag to denigrate the NYPD. Why?
The point of this post is directed at the career Brothers and the cops, and ems, and volunteer firefighters who make up this online forum/community. There is so much you can still talk/write about. It will lift morale for guys to get back to discussing the stuff we all learn from.
Happy Monday morning. You know what that media saturation of bad news, it hits everybody. We ll need to stay vigilant enough to realize, just take a look around you, and you'll see the American economy is still vibrantly active, sure there are big problems with the GOVT, but Americans mostly yawn and go back to work. the gazzilion stories of the 10 percent who are unemployed struggling is indeed worthy of attention. But take a look around you at the thriving, the commerce, the technology, the defeat of terrorists.
This country is tired and worked out, but it never gives up. And that's why things are going to be okay. That's why eventually the GOVT will figure out what the hell they are doing. Someday things will come back. The dread, the doom, you know what it's just not worth worrying about it. It'll make you sick unless you step up and put it all down, and continue to do what you do.
So how about some more postings? I yearn to read more from just about everybody here. Like the Summerville Brother said, have a great day.

A VOLUNTEER system should function no differently then a paid system. It's about setting a standard of care that should be followed by all EMS systems, whether paid or VOLUNTEER. The person on the floor shouldnt get a lower standard of care just because they're served by VOLUNTEERS. One police officer isn't enough to pick up someone off the floor. Now you have to send 2 cars. Some jurisdictions only have two cars on patrol to cover an entire village. It's okay to leave a whole village without police protection just because the EMS system is VOLUNTEER?

I understand your thought reasoning, and it's not necessarily incorrect. As a medic the last thing I want to do is go to a lift assist because most don't require ALS intervention, but...
#1 - we can't always play what-if's. I could turn around and say what if the lift assist patient did require ALS intervention and now you just delayed the medic 15 minutes because "what if a more serious call comes in", and yet that call never comes; is that fair to the person who called 911 for our services? I've personally responded to a number of lift assists that ended up being cardiac arrests.
#2 - why do we send medics to every call? Who says we have to send the medic to a lift assist? If proper EMD is done, and no flags are raised for a potential for this to be ALS, then we may be able to get away without sending an ALS unit and keeping that unit in-service for the "what if".
What if we take an FD rig out of service and a fire comes in? What if we take a patrol car out of service and a robbery occurs? We can keep on "what-if'ing" but someone's gotta pick grandma up off the floor.
We can only treat one patient at a time, one call at a time. As EMS managers, they need to ensure that their systems run efficiently with the manpower and staffing levels they have to work with without short-changing the public who deserves the services they require.

So.... We should leave the elderly woman who's incapacitated on her bedroom floor there to rot? Where do you volley/work? I want to make sure I don't have family that lives there.

Well it depends. If a lift assist is classified as a rescue, I would say FD because they really are the only ones qualified to handle such an intense task.... I'm only kidding people! Just trying to make light of the recent discussions and bickering, so smile!
In all seriousness I would say EMS because a lot of these lift assists involve underlying, sometimes complex medical conditions that really should be evaluated by an EMS crew. It's in the best interest of the patient, and could prevent EMS having to go back once an underlying condition exacerbates into something worse.

One thing I've noticed as of late; something I thought had finally been passed over as being antiquated, is the disagreeing that is still occurring between the mighty forces of Emergency Services Unit and Special Operations Command.
Disagreement expressed on these pages could to be a good thing, as it might foster better understanding between those agencies who likely cooperate 98 percent of the time without incident, but disagree occasionally, and it comes off like a competition on those rare events.
But thinking about it, is this situation any different than what occurs in a majority of places, between emergency personnel?
Isn't it true that a contingent of volunteer firefighters still look upon their career counterparts with some sort of disdain?
Aren't there a few career firefighters, who cannot see any gray areas in the fire service and therefore conclude that ALL volunteer services are undermanned shams? (and how many of them were formerly volunteers with the exact opposite views)
Aren't there some cops who will always view the fire department showing up as just another inconvenient blocking of their highway?
Aren't there obstructionists in every branch of emergency services who would rather die or watch as constituents continue to die, than give up one inch of their authority or admit that changes need to be made to operations?
The imperfections of the systems in place in the greater New York area, serve to demoralize ALL who work within the systems. The ability to adapt to simple operational changes, that in many cases wouldn't cost an additional tax-dollar, or donation-buck, and many times would save money overall, are continually looked at with disdain. With inaction. With resistance.
Each individual however can still have an impact on positive change; if they would direct their energies toward the positive improvements and shun the negative energy. None of us alone will change the emergency services world during our careers. Let me repeat that; none of us alone.....
But collectively, smaller positive contributions all add up in the end toward building momentum for inevitable and productive change.
Most of the positive changes that have come about have been those individual contributions. Think about Chief Haligan. He invented a tool. Think about the guy/s gal/s who thought up 2in 2out. The person who invented exhaust extraction systems. Sure, some were collective improvements made by groups of people tasked with inventing that improvement.
But Chief Haligan went back into the shop somewhere at a firehouse and pulled out a length of hardened steel and started thinking about it. Coupled with his experience at defeating doors and locks. So you keep it simple, like he did and the sky is the limit. It's about an idea, more than what you can do in a steel shop. Your contribution might be ideas, gathered on paper; ideas about how to consolidate a bunch of smaller departments into one larger one, that would become a vast improvement in delivery of fire services. Captain Nechis's ideas, analytic thinking is his haligan tool. Whether it get built or not is still in question. Time however will prove he and his counterparts were years ahead of their time with their ideas.
Ideas are empowerment. What can you do individually to improve emergency services? Think about it, you might just be on to something big.

I'm only going to half agree with you because the number of agencies that have gone to paid BLS personnel (ether hired within or contracted out) has increased rather significantly. As of recent you have Briarcliff, Croton, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Harrison, Hawthorne, Mohegan, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester/Rye, Somers, Tarrytown, Valhalla (and maybe a few others that I'm missing) who have all started to utilize paid in-house staff. As more and more agencies follow this model of EMS as it becomes necessary or the realization finally sets in that their current system is broken and needs to be fixed, the better probability you have of handling the job in a more expeditious manner with an in-house EMS crew then trying to roster an Engine.
The question posed is a great one, and definitely one we should all be thinking about.

Very well said George. The simple fact is that the Law Enforcement field is one of the most scrutinized, Monday morning quarterbacked professions out there. The media sensationalizes stories involving Law Enforcement to sell papers which turns the general public against us. "Community activists" love to blame the PD for all the issues that support their own personal self-righteous agendas without using their influence in the community to address the real problems that plague low-income neighborhoods. And every Bob, Dick, and Harry who watches some Hollywood cop on the big screen and plays Call of Duty 20 hours a day is all of a sudden an expert marksmen and a tactical genius who can shoot a gun out of the hand from a fleeing felon at 50 yards and then questions why we don't do the same when confronted with a real life deadly force encounter; not some BS video game encounter while sitting around in the living room wearing nothing but a pair of stained tighty whities.
Then I have to come on here and listen to a couple FD guys who always have something to say about LE? It's the hypocrisy that kills me with the whole thing, plus it sounds like a bunch of bratty crybabies alot of times. I'm sorry to say it, but it is what it is. Simple fact is when FD screws up, how often do you see an LEO on here chime in with some stupid comment? So far I've had nothing but good working relationships with FD guys, and I hope to keep it that way. I don't have the time, the patience, or the desire to cry about every little thing. Now I love my job and I take a lot of pride in it; but in the end it's just a job that pays the bills.

You have read about these. Were you there or are you just going off what you saw and heard in a Fire magazine or on the internet? I ask the question, were the write ups objective or were they written up by someone with an anti-PD agenda or anti-PD sentiments? Obviously video doesn't lie but even a video may not catch the whole scene and just pieces of it.
I have seen first hand and read the other side of the fence, with FD members doing ridiculous things at rescues to jeopardize their own safety and the safety of others. Difference is PD doesn't run to the media, a Law Enforcement magazine, or EMTBravo to b**** and mock FD about it.
I personally have no problem with Firefighters. They're there to do a job just like everyone else in emergency services. My issue lies with the minority of Firefighters who have the biggest mouths and have nothing better to do but troll the internet and b**** and complain every time they perceive someone else is doing their job. The facts have been exhausted here numerous times, so I'm not going to waste my breath, but many local PD's (including NYC and WCPD) were tasked with performing rescue work long before many FD's. Bitching about PD continuing in the rescue field is like EMS bitching about FD's encroaching on their "turf" when all these FD's want to get into the EMS first response business. Is the arguement valid? As an EMS provider, personally I'd rather not have FD show up on my jobs, but I'm not going to knock them for it because in the end it's what's best for public safety.
Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see.

How did you know? lol

Great idea and I hope it helps them out.
This is similar to our day time mutual aid plan with the 3 mutual aid departments that border us, we are toned out simultaneously for all fire calls in our district from the hours of 6AM-6PM, and the first unit on scene handles the call. The first officer on scene is IC regardless if they are from our mutual aid dept or not. We are getting equipment on scene faster this way WITH enough manpower to handle the call as well, and no ones ego gets in the way.

Imagine that.....




http://www.omaha.com...01/705099884/-1

There is a county owned foam trailer in White Plains. The station is manned 24/7 and by the time it gets anywhere its almost to late. Purchase is only a few miles away, is unmanned, do you think it will get out any faster?
Mamaroneck had a dive team, it fell apart years ago. It is very hard to keep a specialty team alive when it does no calls.
After 9/11 the County recieved 6 WMD Squad Trailers and 3 Decon Trailers, plus the county Purchased 2 more Decon Trailers and Briarcliff purchased one (AFG grant funded). We set up 6 Volunteer Decon Units, Each was made up of at least 5 volunteer depts. (and local EMS was asked to participate with them). The policy was the VFD's would train and respond together. They needed to respond with the trailer and an engine plus 12 ff's/2 officers (we figured with the number of depts that that would not strip anyone). The units were to go to Greenburgh (the villages, as Fairview, Greenville & Hartsdale are set up as a squad), The sound Shore, North Castle, Town of Bedford & Town of Cortland, plus Briarcliff was going to add theirs with Ossining/Croton.
Greenburgh turned it down, The others all trained and agreed to train and do at least 1 drill per year. I believe that 2 of the trailers were returned to DES and I do not know if any of the others have done any training or drills in 5 years. I suspect if we open the trailers we will find lots of cob webs.
See Below for Trench.
When California Closets in Hawthorne Colapsed a few years ago (Tornado strike). Greenville, New Rochelle, Yonkers had over 60 Collapse Tech's (NFPA 1670) responders with 3 collapse units on scene within 22 minutes after the collapse. The local FD's (5 or 6) were able to muster less than half that number of firefighters (untrained in tech rescue) and a good number of them were Sr.'s, Jr.'s or exterior members. How do you expect them to handle the training and equipment for tech rescue?
Since most depts. (vol., combo & career) are suffering from lack of manpower, maybe we really need to concentrate on getting the basics covered 1st. We have a huge difference in training levels and if you think that volunteer depts should add 100's of hours per year in training, then maybe it should be in firefighting, which is what they are chartered to do, before we add other responsibilities which they are not responsable for.
There are 5 Trench Rescue units in the county, 3 respond together (Greenville, New Rochelle, Yonkers). The 3 average 1 or 2 calls/year in half the county. The County team I do not beleive has had a call yet. Maybe if you think the companies would get more calls, they should go out and start collapsing trenches. Same holds true for the other specialties.

I find most communities that can not get an engine out have even more trouble getting and ambulance out. Often these same communities only get a trooper or a sheriff and they cover huge area so it may take lots of time and they may only get 1 officer.
This should be a big question for everyone...What level of service is being provided in your community or more importantly in the community where your parents live? Sometimes you get what you pay for and sometimes you do not.

I completely agree with you BNechis about apparatus and staffing levels... But that's New Rochelle and while it may not be an issue there, what about other jurisdictions that struggle to send a fully staffed engine out on calls? I guess whether to send FD or EMS really depends on the dynamics of the individual system to decide what works best.

I'm only going to half agree with you because the number of agencies that have gone to paid BLS personnel (ether hired within or contracted out) has increased rather significantly. As of recent you have Briarcliff, Croton, Dobbs Ferry, Eastchester, Harrison, Hawthorne, Mohegan, Ossining, Peekskill, Port Chester/Rye, Somers, Tarrytown, Valhalla (and maybe a few others that I'm missing) who have all started to utilize paid in-house staff. As more and more agencies follow this model of EMS as it becomes necessary or the realization finally sets in that their current system is broken and needs to be fixed, the better probability you have of handling the job in a more expeditious manner with an in-house EMS crew then trying to roster an Engine.
The question posed is a great one, and definitely one we should all be thinking about.

Well it depends. If a lift assist is classified as a rescue, I would say FD because they really are the only ones qualified to handle such an intense task.... I'm only kidding people! Just trying to make light of the recent discussions and bickering, so smile!
In all seriousness I would say EMS because a lot of these lift assists involve underlying, sometimes complex medical conditions that really should be evaluated by an EMS crew. It's in the best interest of the patient, and could prevent EMS having to go back once an underlying condition exacerbates into something worse.

So.... We should leave the elderly woman who's incapacitated on her bedroom floor there to rot? Where do you volley/work? I want to make sure I don't have family that lives there.