bad box

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Posts posted by bad box

  4. Posted

    There are plenty of good and decent folks who work as LEO's, EMT's and Firefighters. We don't hear about the majority of their good deeds because unless a third party (such as was the case here) happens to witness the act and pursue the media to get the story covered the deed is done and the guy in the uniform goes on his way. Fortunately, this time the act was caught on camera. Nice job officer, good Karma too ...
    x635 and sfrd18 like this

  5. Posted

    As much a I hate to admit it this is true. EMS is treated like a second class citizen in the FDNY but it is still better then when we were under HHC ( based on what I've been told). There are some old timers who swear up and down on HHC but the majority say it's better under FDNY. We've gotten better pay/ benefits, as well as a much better budget for EMS. The ambulances used to be barebones you were lucky to be part 800. Now most of our buses are overstocked and the stations have plenty of extra to restock. However as I mentioned you are a second class citizen. Many people get frustrated that when EMS does something they refer to you as " FDNY members " or " Firefighters" and very rarely mention EMS. Also the changing our of supervisors mentality has changed drastically in even the 4 years I've been there. I wish our bosses were like the bosses for the Firefighters, but ours would rather write charge packets, for the same thing they were doing a year ago before they got their bar. This is where the whole Sandy thing comes into play. Unlike what the Commissioner says units were ordered to stay at their cross street locations ( not in shelter) during the storm, and station supervisors were ordered to stay in quarters until the water was so many many people lost their cars because it was too late to evacuate. Had these same Chiefs been out in the field ( there is usually only 1 to 2 EMS chiefs on at night and they're basically ghosts who only appear when something big happens) they would have seen how fast the conditions deteriorated and how much danger the crews were in. Putting the crews in danger jeopardized the citizen's we are here to protect because we became focused on trying to save each other and therefore took longer to respond to emergencies. Many member unnecessarily lost possessions and their vehicles because of the lack of preplanning and the lack of orders issued. This is a job to be proud of, and a honorable job where people look up to you. However I believe it is unacceptable to sit back and simply take abuse which can endanger you, this isn't a rant by someone who is burnt out, this is a rant by someone who loves his job however wish it was managed much much differently.

    As I mentioned, I worked for HHC EMS prior to being hired as a Firefighter in FDNY. Having seen HHC EMS from both sides (as a member of EMS and then as a Firefighter) and eventually encountering FDNY EMS while operating at various incidents, I can honestly say that I found a terrific improvement in the quality of patient care as well as the overall attitude of the FDNY EMS folks over the majority of the HHC EMS folks. You definitely stated your feelings about FDNY EMS very well. Hang in there, hopefully things will improve as the years go by. Trust me, as much as conditions may not be all that you want (deserve) them to be, they are far better than they were in years gone by. I have great respect for the work that EMT's and Paramedics do often under far less than optimum conditions. Stay safe and keep your good attitude toward the important service that you provide to all who live in, visit or work in the five Boroughs.

  6. Posted

    Wonder if there is a way, to say the hell with FDNY, and try to go back to health, and hospital? To all my friends on here who work FDNY You guys did one hell of a job.. God bless

    Reverting to the old HHC operated EMS would be a big step backwards. EMS was so bad when it was part of HHC that many communities formed volunteer ambulance corps. so that there would be rapid assistance available (and proper patient care) when needed. I worked for HHC's EMS., there was little or no enforcement of crews who would 'disappear 45 minutes to and hour before the end of each tour, didn't answer the radio when called, the list of major problems is too long to include here. HHC's EMS was terrible at best.

  7. Posted

    Kent responded with am ambulance for standby. Mahopac was covering for Mahopac Falls due to the MFVFD 75th Anniversary Installation Dinner. (Total distance for Mahopac from HQ 741 Route 6 to scene 6.9 miles. Not exactly "quite a haul")

    Thanks for your response fitz. I just looked at Mapquest as I guess that's where your mileage quote is from. Mahopac Falls Main Station: 4.67 miles (est. 11 minutes), Substation: 4.79 miles (est. 12 minutes), (Kent F.D. 7.79 miles (est. 12 minutes), Mahopac F.D. 6.88 miles (est 16 minutes). My original question was intended to ascertain if firefighting water was requested from Mahopac Falls and Kent also as both of these departments have a quicker drive time to the scene. The estimated 5 minutes faster time for M.F.V.F.D. and 4 minutes faster time for K.V.F.D. is significant if crews are performing an interior attack and waiting for water.

  12. Posted

    Everybodygoes, I'm not looking to get into an arguement with you over what in the end is complete nonsense, but I am up for an intelligent rational discussion, so I'll respond to your post.

    "The FDNY has been doing rescues since 1865, ESU was started what in the 20's?"

    In 1865 the hodge podge of volunteer fire companies were superceded by the Metropolitan Fire Department, which in its beginning roots only covered parts of what is now Manhattan and later on Brooklyn. The FDNY officially became the FDNY in 1870. It wasn't until 1928 that the Bronx was pretty much completely served by the paid Fire Department, followed by Queens in 1929, and Staten Island in 1937. The Fire Departments main function was Fire Suppression. I have tried to research a bit more on the history of the FDNY and their involvement in rescue work, but have come up short in factual verifiable information. If you know where I can locate this, I'd be interested to read it. I know that Rescue 1 was officially formed in 1915, and Rescue 2 was officially formed in 1925. According to the unofficial website for Rescue 1, the formation of the rescue companies was borne out of several fires (Equitable Building, 1912, a Subway Train fire in 1915) wthere firefighters were encountered with difficult forcible entries, and realized the need for a company that carried specialized equipment to operate at these fire scenes. As time went on, Rescue began to get more involved in the Technical Rescue arena, but their original responsibility was to operate at fire scenes, and perform rescues of firefighters and civilians at structural fire scenes (taken from an unofficial Rescue 2 website). This was a time when the FDNY had their hands full with structural fires. Rescue 1 was first equipped with it's first Hurst Tool in 1972. The NYPD was officially formed in 1854 (20 years before the Metropolitan Fire Dept.). ESU was formed in 1925 from a pool of police officers who possessed special skills (electricians, carpenters, riggers, etc.) with the sole purpose of performing rescue assignments. The Unit was also known as the departments Firearms Battalion, and years later the Unit was coined the Mobile Security Unit, where it was tasked with responding to both rescues and tactical situations. Their role as a tactical unit expanded in the 1970's after the Munich Olympics massacre. Not sure when ESU equipped their vehicles with hurst tools. In a book written about the history of FDNY Rescue 1, it was written that members of the NYPD ESU actually helped train the first members of Rescue 1 (I'm not making claims to the accuracy of the material, just relaying what was written. I'll re-post the title of the book when I dig it up). ESU was formed to serve the cop on patrol. At a time when NYC was burning down and the FDNY had their hands full with structural fires, the members of ESU were a resource for the patrol cop to handle these rescue jobs. Before the formation of FDNY Rescue, members of the FDNY performed rescues with the limited equipment and training they had. Before the formation of NYPD ESU, members of the NYPD performed rescues with the limited equipment and training they had. So to say one was doing it before the other... not sure how much weight that holds.

    Westchester County PD has hurst tools before the overwhelming majority of FD's, especially in the northern part of Westchester County, and were the only one's equipped to perform vehicle extrications on certain parts of the County highways for many years.

    "You tell me who is better trained at doing it."

    I don't know, who is? What discipline are we talking about? ESU members go through a Rope Rescue Technician course provided by a nationally recognized training organization that meets NFPA 1670 and 1006 requirements, and go for continual training multiiple times a year, whether it is self-driven Squad level training, mandated in-house training, or training provided by outside training organizations. ESU members go through an AVET course similar to the Fire Service, and through self-motivation and discipline will often visit local junk yards to train on scrap and derelict vehicles during the course of their normal tour to remain competent on their skills. They go through the EPA Haz Mat Technician course, the FEMA Structural Collapse Technician course, all meet and exceed the NFPA requirements. All ESU members are at a minimum EMT's with several Paramedics and one or two Physician Assistants in the ranks. Unless things have changed, all FDNY members are CFR's (with some EMT's/medics thrown in there). Since we are technically better trained emergency medical responders (as in trained to a higher standard), should ESU take over patient care activities when we arrive on scene?

    "You show up with 2 we show up with 6"

    You are correct, and sometimes 2 is all you need... more is not always better. I agree that on jobs that are manpower intensive (structural collapses, trench rescues) rolling 6 deep is a huge benefit, and necessary for the operation at hand, and something that ESU really can't compete with. But look at the majority of confirmed pin jobs.. they're simple door jobs that are mitigated in minutes. Quite often I'll see 2 guys working and 4 standing around doing nothing. Even on a simple, minor MVA with injuries on the highway when you have 2 and 2 rolling in with 4 (I think) guys on each piece of apparatus. That's 16 guys either standing around or jockeying for position for one totally stable patient. It's not a knock or a low-blow, it's simple observation. On a more technical or complicated job, we should all be able to work together, and I think the concept of working together is more prevalent in the outer-boroughs. I haven't been around that long, but overall I've had no real major issues when it comes to working together. What it comes down to more often then not is not the patch on the sleeve, but the mentaility of the individual.

    As I mentioned before, Westchester County PD handled extrications on the County Highways for many, many years before a lot of the local VFD's had hurst tools, and they got the job done in most instances without 6 people showing up.

    "But, don't tell me what happened in Brooklyn was a rare occurence, cause it isnt."

    I didn't say it was a rare occurence. What I am saying it's that it's not a one-sided problem. I'm not trying to bash anyone or any agency, but I'll give you 2 examples. Queens, 2 ESU members tethered and outfitted in gumby suits are effecting an ice rescue. After making contact with the victims, members of the FDNY show-up and 5 or 6 run out onto the ice in bunker gear. No tethers, no protective suits, just bunker gear. Can you guess what happens? Ice breaks, and all of them fall through the ice into the freezing cold water and now they all have to be rescued. All of this was caught on video by a news chopper. Don't believe me, I'll post the video here. How is that scenario any different then the one you portrayed about ESU guys trying to be the "it guys", and endangering their own safety and the safety of the other responders who now have to get them out of the water? Or a more recent scenario. Water rescue, male in the water up along the seawall. ESU arrives, one member suits up in a drysuit, and while being tethered, enters the water and grabs the person in the water. While this is going on, FDNY members drop a ladder in the water, and insist on putting one of their own in the water, eventhough the person is "in-custody" for lack of a better term. Now the ESU member has to wait for the FDNY member to descend the ladder so him and the victim can climb the ladder out of the water. The FDNY member entered the water, and came right back up the ladder. What purpose did that serve other then to be the "it guy"? If we want to get technical, according to NYC CIMS, NYPD is the lead agency for all water incidents. What it comes down to is the A-type personality that the majority of us possess and everyone wants to be that "it guy", unfortunately sometimes people's judgements get clouded and irrational decisions are made on both sides, not just one. That's the only point I'm trying to make.

    "Guys in Truck 4 are all aces, never had a single problem with them and they work with us well, and of course you cant paint with a broad brush, but it does happen and nothing is done to mediate it. "

    Like I said before, I think as you get into the outer-boroughs, there's less drama overall. I don't have an answer as to why nothing is done to mediate it.

    "Wonder why it doesnt happen in Yonkers?"

    I don't know, maybe someone from Yonkers can chime in. Maybe it's a better working relationship. Maybe Yonkers ESU wants little to do with rescue work. Maybe we just don't hear about the problems. Maybe the current workload leads to few occasions where there's a potential for a problem. I honestly don't know.

    Holy cow! This is the most long winded post I've ever seen. BTW, you state that ESU was formed in 1925 and that they trained FDNY's Rescue 1. Rescue 1 was formed in 1915 and did not get trained by some folks who ten years later developed an interest in job done the FDNY's Rescue Co's.

  13. Posted

    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.

    So JJB, when you post a negative diatribe about members of the F.D. it's fine but when firefighters post facts about incidents that aren't handled correctly they are being "big mouths"? You state, "As an EMS provider, personally I'd rather not have FD show up on my jobs." Thankfully that's not your call to make; the patients who benefit from rapid emergency medical care and rescue services provided by firefighters shouldn't be denied that quick assistance because you have a personal issue with members of the fire service. BTW, the NYPD was not in the rescue business before the FDNY, as a matter of fact the first ESU officers were trained by FDNY's Rescue Co. 1. I'm not a hater of cops or EMS folks, I have some good friends who were police officers several were ESU officers. I'm glad the P.D. happened to be at the scene when the incident occurred and were able to get the door open so the civilians were able to exit. I'm also glad that no folks (civilian or P.D.) were seriously injured. BTW, pot's of water are contraindicated for cooking oil fires ... Stay safe.

  14. Posted

    My link

    Every year, San Francisco firefighters respond to emergency calls from a street alarm box system that was in use when horses still pulled the engines. There's almost no part of the city that's more than two blocks away from one of the 2,040 antique red iron boxes that use telegraph technology, and almost all carrying the name of the city's defunct Department of Electricity. And in an age when cell phones and instant communications have spelled doom for the boxes in other major cities, San Francisco is happy with its link to the past.

    "The perception is that the system is old and antiquated, but it's proven itself to be an important part of the redundancy that's built into our system," said Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

    New York, which still has about 15,000 active call boxes, found out the need during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when cell phone lines were instantly overloaded, crashing the network along much of the East Coast.

    San Francisco had its own communications disaster when the Loma Prieta earthquake hit in 1989, destroying cell towers and cutting power to parts of the city.

    "The system works when others don't," said Jack Donohoe, public safety wire manager for the city's Department of Technology, which keeps both the fire boxes and the smaller police box system running. "When the earthquake hit, some of the boxes in the Marina were tilted like modern art, but the system worked perfectly."

    The system cost about $3 million a year to maintain a few years ago, Donohoe said, but the costs have likely fallen since the same crews now also work on the city's fiber-optic network.

    It's that simple

    One advantage is the system's simplicity, Donohoe said.

    When someone pulls the alarm, a telegraph wheel taps out a message to the nearest fire station, announcing the box number.

    "The call comes straight to us, without having to go through the dispatcher, like a 911 call does," said fire Lt. Karen Kerr.

    While the boxes don't provide an exact address, they avoid the communication problems that language difficulties and the chaos surrounding an emergency can bring.

    "It's a universal tool that everyone recognizes and anyone can use - young, old, English-speaking or not," said Hayes-White.

    That doesn't mean there aren't problems.

    sfrd18, FFPCogs, BFD1054 and 1 other like this

  15. Posted

    @ JohnnyOV I understand what your saying and peoples lives are at risk if the training isnt kept up to its requirements. but wheres their training log every time they do training they have to fill out a sheet for the amount of hours and what type of training completed its really not that much of a difference than any other volunteer department. but its just a shame that these volunteer departments been around for so long and they are trying to get rid of them. and if they all kept up on their requirments there wouldnt be a problem.

    So from what I gather, it would be fine with you if these 'Aviation' guys leave NYC and start operating in your VFD's district instead?

    PCFD ENG58 and Danger like this

  16. Posted

    this is ridiculous. i dont understand what the problem is with the volunteer departments in the city. they are ran on their own and the city doesnt help them.they do a great job and all the city does is pick on these guys they get the job done as well as the paid guys do and if they weren't trained properly they wouldve been out of service a long time ago its a shame to see these small volunteer departments go. the surrounding comunity loves each and every one of these departments. and atleast they probly have a better and quicker response time than the fdny does. so my question is y pick on the vollies. i guess the paid guys are thinking that we are taking away there jobs.

    Have you actually been on enough emergency scenes where this Aviation group operated to be able to honestly make that statement?

    efdcapt115, SageVigiles and firefighter36 like this

  20. Posted

    Just saw this article in the NY Post, http://m.nypost.com/;s=qVpxiLsb__qTiqftAmOF914/p/news/local/bravest_gush_hour_VklxrQTpx6GyHTduvnhSWK NYPD responding to a call were outnumbered and being attacked by an unruly mob when the crew from Eng 158 used their deck gun to get the crowd to back up. I dont work in Staten Island, but want to extend a thank you. Unfortunately more and more PD units are running short handed, leading to long response times and less back up. My district in the Bronx routinely turns out 1 sector car per tour, and when it hits,the fan, back up seemed like it took for ever, now it does

    Nice job by the Firefighters at 158 Engine ... I hope the Police Officers who were attacked are okay ... It remains to be seen what the locals will do to retaliate against the F.D.N.Y ...

    bigrig77, peterose313, M' Ave and 4 others like this

  24. Posted

    Thank you for all those kind words. I sure do appreciate it.

    On Monday October 17th I went to a doctor in New London, Ct. I thought that he'd check me out and send me home with a few pills. Instead I was transported to the Lawrence & Memorial Hospital by the New London Fire Dept ambulance. The two fire fighters who transported me each had less than a year on the job. But they sure were Great.

    Word spread that a retired firefighter from nearby Norwich, Ct was taken to the hospital. Those New London, Ct firefighters made it a point to get my car from the doctors office to the more safer firehouse parking lot. One brought in a scanner for me to listen to. They visited me Everyday to check on how I was doing, and offer any assistance they could. Everything from driving me home when the time comes, to helping me with grocery shopping. What a Great Group of Guys. Exactly what this Brotherhood thing is all about.

    My Brothers a little farther to the north from Norwich did the same thing. I had visitors from the dept both Active and Retired. One guy visited me almost Every day. In fact there were two guys that came on the job afer I retired that came down to visit.

    I had a Retired FDNY Captain and his wife stop by to visit. He had worked some of the busiest companies in the FDNY during their busiest so called War Years. A "War Years Warrior". That certainly was an honor.

    My point is that this Brotherhood thing is Alive and Well. From the newest probie to the oldest retiree. Or from city to city. The Brotherhood is Alive and Well. The nurses could not believe the number of firefighters that showed up. I explained to them about this Brotherhood thing.

    And I certainly can Not begin to say how very Greatful I am to those dedicated and highly skilled nurses and aides that cared for me during my eight day stay. We ride by hospitals everyday and in every city in America. From the outside we never really give much thought to it as to the care and compassion that goes on behind those walls around the clock, everyday of the year. I saw those nurses working on a poor guy who was in pain and apparently had a serious speech problem. Those nurses worked on him for a long time and finally he was able to rest. Their skills and knowledge are helping us in our time of need and saving lives everyday. They really are Our Guardian Angels.

    For myself, it is a bit of a kidney issue and a well needed "tune up". I need to go back again for a few test and have a few things taken care of. But I think its just a matter of time when I'll be back in the streets buffing the Bronx again.

    Kudos to the Brothers in Ct. for 'Doing the right thing'. Glad to see that the 'Brotherhood' is still alive and well and ... really glad to see that my buddy Willy D has been treated with the respect that he deserves ... Get well soon Brother.

    efdcapt115 likes this