Ga-Lin

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Posts posted by Ga-Lin

  1. Posted

    I see what you are saying but maybe this was the "straw that broke the camels back".

    Now let me propose this: suppose the article headline read "EMT breaks rules to save 4 year old, crashes ambulance". What tune would we all be singing then? I think a lot of the opinions here and in the public (lots of posts on Facebook about this) are stemming from the fact that the patient is only 4 years old (like you said, we all react differently for a child).

    Now here is another question for the agency. The suspended EMT is at the bay with another EMT & a driver when the call for the 4Y/O comes in ......Two minutes later another call comes in for an injuried 80 Y/O man. The question is why were they not already signed on & enroute to the first call. Two minutes is really a long time to be sitting around when everyone (crew wise) is there.

    Dinosaur, Bnechis and Medic137 like this

  2. Posted · Edited by Ga-Lin

    Couldn't agree more. The thing that gets me is that so many people are so quick to blame the officers or board of agencies and their policies. Having been a past officer, I have been belittled for policies set in place and disciplinary actions I have taken. Most people don't understand why the decisions were made. Myself and the captain at the time suspended a member for 30 days for turning a decorative license plate upside down. May seem extreme to some bit the decision was made after several incidents of his driving and when questioned about the incident (he was caught on tape by the way) he lied to is about it. Suspended, served his time, came back and became a productive member.

    Now we see an article about a boy who was suspended after violating a rule in his agency. The crowd goes wild about it but no one has mentioned that this article states he has violated other rules in the past and no action was taken. I think they were trying to put him in his place. That's why I agree with his suspension.

    People, both civilians & us in the Emergency response community, get very emotional where sick or injured children are concerned. If this young man was "a loose cannon" as someone sugested and needed to be reeled in, this was not the instance to do it. True, rules are rules but you also need to, sometimes, pick your battles. This could have & should have been handled better. No matter how you look at it .. it hurt 'em & to a larger extent all others in the volunteer community.

    In reading this I was wondering if the young man in question would have been of the same mind if the call was for the elderly old lady who fell and couldn't get up (Fx hip) or the old man with belly pain (GI bleed or maybe just constipated) they also deserve the same level of concern on our part and unfortunately seldom get it.

    Capejake72 likes this

  4. Posted

    Perhaps it is the insurance company that made the age restriction. Everyone is so quick to jump on the officers and board about it. If the insurance company requires a person to be 21 years old to operate the ambulance, this made him an uninsured driver and left the corps and himself open to a huge liability. As far as someone asking where the 7 board members were for this call, are they members or are the community representatives? Yes there is a lot of BS politics and personal agendas in volunteer EMS, but it isn't always at the fault of those who govern. Sometimes it's the big mouths and the cliques that cause the problem. Rant over.

    Have a happy new year and stay safe!

    In the article the Captain stated that the policies were not a result of being dictated by their insurance company. Reasons came down to "experience & training"

  5. Posted

    Fascinating. He can be a part-time cop, a firefighter, and even be an EMT in the back of the ambulance caring for someone but he can't drive it.

    Just wondering what the agency and its neighbors are doing to fix the staffing problem they have? According to the article, four agencies couldn't get a crew out. That's more of a story than the fact that a 20 year old broke the rules.

    It has nothing to do with the rules, its about control of the many (mostly newer, younger members) by the few (mostly long standing, older members). This is the main reason so many VACs have staffing/membership issues. Instead of qualifing people and clearing them based on ability (this guy is a NYS EMT, already works for a busy commercial service, p/t PD. VFD) they force him out. I just wonder where the Capt and other Brd members who voted against this young man were when this call was going down? 4 page outs, I mean really! And then the so called Captain states that "this is the type of story that the public" (which he supposedly serves) "doesn't need to be told" "There's no value in this story other than shock value" (at least he got this point right) "and gossip" He also states It's about "going through the proper training" "Experience driving other ambulances doesn't necessarily matter" I'd like to know what driver training they offer in order to "properly prepare" their members. This is a guy who has been around since he was 15, restarted the youth squad of his corps, which in well run places brings in a supply of young, already well groomed members. Now he's done and probably for good, along with how many of the Jr. members who looked up to him as a role model.

    Dinosaur, Capejake72 and Bnechis like this

  6. Posted · Edited by Ga-Lin

    The Educational Opportunity Center of Westchester will be offering a EMT course begining in Feb. Daytime program, two days a week 9-5 per day.

    Course and textbooks are free, no need to belong to an emergency agency only need to show a financial need, HS diploma or GED, valid Drivers Lic. with a clean record,take a screening exam (reading comprehention, basic math skills etc). For more info contact EOC admissions at (914) 606-7620, email at

    EOC-Admissions@sunywcc.edu or visit the EOC at 26 South B'way Yonkers, NY

  7. Posted

    Back in the day when I worked NYC the PD would ALWAYS say "Put a rush on the bus centrel" no matter what the call, either it was bad and the didn't want to watch with thier hands in thier pockets or it was utter nonsence and they didn't want to stand around with thier hands in thier pockets. Expecting us to put it in warp speed in order to get there....as if. I would , same as now, just aknowledge the message and continue as I was.

    calhobs and firemoose827 like this

  9. Posted

    Regular surg. masks are ineffective against the flu virus, you must wear a N95 hepa filter mask in the size that has been fit tested for you in order to offer any protection. The flu of 1918 (H1N1 strain by the way) struck down people mostly in their early to mid 20's rather than the usually more supseptable children & seniors. Est wordwide fatalities from that pandemic 75 - 100 MILLION. In 1918 we were still crossing the atlantic by boat the average crossing from Europe was 6-7 days a "fast crossing" took 5. Now we can go from NY to Japan (more than twice the distance) in 24 HOURS or less. True, the virus does morph from season to season and while the vaccine may not prevent the flu it will help in not having a severe case. As for avoiding people with the flu.. in the outbreak of 1918 whole towns tried to quarintine themselves with armed gaurds at thier borders.....it didn't help towns still became infected. My advice would be take your shots like a good boy/girl.

    You are welcome not to get the shot, and since you are young and probably healthy you will almost certainly survive. Influenza is also potentially avoidable if you either:

    A. get the vaccine B. avoid people during flu season OR C. Wear appropriate respiratory protection for the duration of the patient contact through the time when your ambulance is decontaminated.

    People can transmit influenza before they experience any symptoms. So this means that we must treat every patient as potentially infectious, and that we also may become ill and transmit this infection to our patients. You may certainly choose not to get vaccinated, I just hope you are willing to stand behind that decision and properly protect yourself from infection, and more importantly protect the patients from being infected by you.

    Agreed and as a result I will happily don a surgical mask during instances of patient care and if I develop symptoms I will take my sick but off the road until it passes. Patient care is very important to me and I will have have both hand sanitizer and hand cream to make sure that I am keeping my hands as clean as possible this season.

  10. Posted

    A suspect shoots and kills two of your co-workers and you are pursuing him. He crashes, is critically injured and no longer a threat.. Are you going to do everything you can, including c-spine, to possibly save his life or pull him from the wreck and handcuff him?

    I would guess the ans. depends on how you view yourself, primarily. As a LEO or HCP (health care provider) As a stickly LEO I can understand the reason for pursuit & also cuffing a suspect ASAP. I've watched those real life police chases where after the suspect has a spectacular crash the officer actually risk their lives to pull him from a burning vehicle (which he stole) only to have the perp ,as soon as his feet hit the pavement, take off like a gazelle across the Serengeti with a lion in hot pursuit. As a HCP I cannot see myself pursuing anyone in my ambulance or fly car. Although I did once, more years ago than I care to admit. An old time NYPD Sgt. gently took me aside & asked what I was thinking. what was I going to do if & when I caught him. what if he had a weapon. He had seen me work on various calls prior.to this & told me "kid we all have our jobs to do & you seem to know & do yours well, let us do ours." Your point of view got me thinking about another issue to post.

  13. Posted

    That only happens when the FD is notified of an accident. Our PD basically refuses to call our fire department unless there is confirmed pin by their officers or a car fire. If we're lucky the call will get to 60-Control before it's sent to our PD, and then we'll be dispatched. We've recently (in the last year) had fatal accidents, and extremely high speed crashes with multiple wires and telephone poles down, and the PD doesn't even notify us that the road is closed, let alone call us.

    And there is nothing we can do about it because our PD is a PSAP and also dispatches the ambulance. It's a real shame.

    Couldn't your ambulance call you for "assistence'

  14. Posted

    That only happens when the FD is notified of an accident. Our PD basically refuses to call our fire department unless there is confirmed pin by their officers or a car fire. If we're lucky the call will get to 60-Control before it's sent to our PD, and then we'll be dispatched. We've recently (in the last year) had fatal accidents, and extremely high speed crashes with multiple wires and telephone poles down, and the PD doesn't even notify us that the road is closed, let alone call us.

    And there is nothing we can do about it because our PD is a PSAP and also dispatches the ambulance. It's a real shame.

  19. Posted

    What the Hell is going on in Detroit ! PD commis resigns in disgrace, a few weeks ago their own PD is telling people to visit the city at their own risk because they feel they are unable to protect them. What's next, health care professionals telling people to move out because their own city is trying to kill them ! Time for the President to declare Detroit a federal disaster area and send in the troops !

    x4093k likes this

  20. Posted

    Hard to belive but triage tags are not required equipment as listed in part 800. Executive order #26 signed by then Gov. G Pataki designated the "ICS as the state standard command & control system during emergency operations." Later (1998) Kits were distributed by NYS DOH EMS to VAC's, REMSCO's, Course sponser's etc. and many still have those original brown MCI kits in the bottom of the outside compartments,you know, along with the other never touched or used equipment such as vests, flares, etc. I wonder how many actually have looked in the kits, much less had a drill in their use.

    I just had a discussion with my EMT class on MCIs, here's what I came up with. The average capacity of a metro north car is 100, the eve commute runs about 8-10 cars. Thats 800-1000 people thats more than a plane crash. Lets just say that by the time the train reachs say Katonah in Westchester or Harriman in Orange county they have half of that capacity 400-500. Train derails. Lets say that just a third of that number are injured. The rest were lucky (real lucky) that still 125-150, lets say half of them need ambulance transport, the others are walking wounded and can be transported by bus (if your community has thought that far ahead & can mobilize) that's 62-75 bodies. Two streacher patients in each ambulance....30-40 ambulances!!! Certainly commercial services will have to be used but lets think about command & control. I've seen many VACs hold MCI drills (which I admit is less than most VACs do) and they always seem to have enough resources to deal with their pt. load, amazing. Sorry for the rant, but I think many VAC & county leadership just don't think past the day to day problem of just staffing one ambulance, and we should...thats our business & our community depends on us for it.

    ny10570, Bnechis, helicopper and 1 other like this

  21. Posted · Edited by Ga-Lin

    Since this topic originally asked about training for FF's not responsible for providing medical care for the public, lets start there. First, I believe all emergency providers, which include LEO's should be trained in CPR & the use of an AED. It's a few hours of training & the payoff in saving a life is immeasurable. An AED should be at every fire call/response, whether a trash fire or an all hands-5 alarmer like we had in Cornwall yesterday. I'm not sure if cardiac arrest is the #1 killer of FF's on the fireground but I do know its at the top. It should be immediately available as the trucks arrive and not waited for until the IC calls for an ambulance standby. As we've seen recently in MV, cardiac arrest can happen to any of us, at any time, anywhere, that's why its know as sudden death.

    Secondly, I would limit training to life threatening injuries only, specificity bleeding control. Other training is academic, if you're not responsible for moving someone from point A to point B, other than removing them from a unsafe area in which case care is postponed, why do it. If you are not tasked with providing such care you probably don't have the proper equipment such as splints, C-collars, KED's, backboards etc. While I agree with Barry's post, on why are we cutting up the car, I think this 1.)attitude & 2)Cervical immobilization(as opposed to cervical stabilization, applying C-collar, KED /long board) could be addressed in an extraction class.

    Thirdly, if the dept. is responsible for public care it also is divided into care at scene only &/or transport. If its care at scene only, CFR should be enough. As ALSFF, I also have some issues with the current curriculum, but at the moment, its all we have. It provides enough background for initial treatment of emergencies encountered when responding to care for the general public which, hopefully, FF's don't have such as asthma, OD's etc. If you're transporting, EMT level. The problem that I both have & see with requiring CFR &/or EMT is not so much the initial training (at least with CFR anyway) its the upkeep both in the actual cert. & with maintaining proficiency.

    Finally, I see alot of dept requiring FF's to also be either EMT's or Paramedics. My opinion is that its both a mistake & asking alot. I'm not a FF, but as a lifelong career EMS person, I can tell you I'm constantly reading, going to Conferences & keeping up with what's new in addition with being active in both the field & teaching in the classroom. I am under no illusion that firefighting is any different. With new hybrids, electric autos, hazmat & other firematic stuff there are not many who can keep up & do both well. Leadership is, either through outside civil pressure (town, district etc) or internal reasons trying to expand in order to pump up their response numbers in order to justify their budgets or prevent layoffs, attempting to make people a Jack of all trades yet they are masters of none. This is especially dangerous in a volunteer system where members are not also working FF's, EMT's or medics but regular 9-5ers. Additionally, there is, what I call the emergency providers mindset. When asked who you are or what you do, how do you answer FF, EMT, medic. That's your mindset, as you see yourself, that's where your effort will go to maintain proficiency. If asked most FF, if honest, (paid more than Volunteer I think) will resist becoming involved in providing EMS. Now here's the question, do we, as civilian members of our individual communities want someone who doesn't see themselves as or doesn't want to be providing EMS caring for us or our loved ones.

    In my community we have separate VFD & VAC yet there are some who are both. While this might look good when looked at by both organization individually the emergency SYSTEM, as a whole, is weak when we are essentially counting one member (& two different jobs) twice. That's my opinion.

    firedude likes this

  22. Posted · Edited by jack10562
    format quote

    Well, looks like the guy admits to it. I'm speechless.

    http://www.nhregiste...0c238579975.txt

    http://www.nhregiste....txt?viewmode=3

    I'm not. The mans either an idiot or a sexual predator, 6-4 you pick 'em. Personally, I'd go (as I'm sure the DA will) with sexual predator. I don't know if everyone read the report but (those of you who are sensitive can skip this part) in addition to pinching the girls nipples he states that he inserted he's right middle finger moving it up & down "I just diddled it" he says. Meanwhile it goes on to say it took about 10 min. to get to the hosp. He did the aforementioned after other procedures at tactile stimulation failed. What clinical significance justified such action. None. Now, over the years, especially back in the day, hearing about some moronic barbarians twisting nipples (on male pts) in order to elicit some kind of response. I've never, ever heard an excuse/justification or even a suggestion by anyone to do what he has admitted to. The DA should ask if he would have thought to yank on a male sex organ in an attempt to elicit a response. His job, career & possibly his freedom are gone, with a sex predator tag attached for the rest of his life. He says it was bad judgment. I agree, luckily, his patient wasn't as unresponsive as he thought, this probably wasn't his first time but hopefully it's his last.

    Alpinerunner and SageVigiles like this

  23. Posted

    In 2006, the New Jersey Legislature directed the Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services to conduct a study of the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services (EMS) System. The findings of that study indicated the State's enabling EMS legislation and subsequent regulations require comprehensive overhaul in order to allow the system, and its various components, to make necessary improvements in medical care and to function in the most optimal and cost effective manner. The study also found that such changes were needed soon to avoid a catastrophic failure of the system.

    At the direction of the NJ State Department of Health and Senior Services, a diverse stakeholder group comprising of the NJ EMS Council and representatives from virtually all EMS component providers was convened. The task force was charged with providing a consensus path to implement the study's recommendations. Members of the task force included representatives of:

    American College of Emergency Physicians

    (NJ Chapter)

    Medical Transportation Association of NJ

    NJ State First Aid Council

    NJ League of Municipalities

    Mobile Intensive Care Unit Advisory Council

    JemSTAR

    Governor's EMS for Children Advisory Council

    St. Barnabas Medical Center Burn Center

    NJ Poison Information & Ed System

    EMT Training Fund Advisory Council

    NJ Trauma Council

    NJ Hospital Association

    NJ Office of Emergency Management (County EMS Coordinators)

    Large BLS and ALS Provider (Suburban)

    Legal Counsel

    Communications Committee

    Professional Firefighters Association of NJ (IAFF)

    NJ Career Fire Chiefs Association

    NJ State Police

    NJ Association of Paramedic Programs

    NJ Office of Highway Traffic Safety

    Large BLS and ALS Provider (Urban)

    NJ Office of Emergency Telecommunications

    Emergency Nurses Association

    NJ Dept of Health & Senior Services, NJ DHSS, Office of EMS

    Individual EMS Physician

    Individual Public Member

    Individual Volunteer EMT

    Individual Career Private EMT

    Individual Paramedic

    After over 8 months of meetings on the subject, the group developed detailed recomendations to change the EMS system in NJ. New legislation (S 818 and its companion bill A2095) was drafted to incorporate the recommendations and provide for a variety of statutory measures to enhance the scope and quality of the emergency medical services system in New Jersey and to improve its efficiency, streamline its bureaucracy and reduce its overall system cost to patients, taxpayers and the state. The bills were introduced by Senator Joe Vitale (D-Woodbridge) and Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (D-Burlington) in early January, 2010.

    On January 20, 2011, the New Jersey Assembly's Health and Human Services Committee amended A2095 and voted to move the bill to the floor of the General Assembly for a vote. The bill continues to address the issues raised by the Legislature's mandated Tri-Data EMS study and the recommendations made by the EMS Council's Task Force in the following ways:

    Performance Standards - Establishes a requirement to create system performance standards, both clinical and operational, aimed at improving care to the residents and visitors of New Jersey.Minimum Level of Staffing - A minimum of one emergency medical technician (EMT) as the standard of care for every ambulance in the state. This would be a uniform standard regarding response to, and treatment and transport of, EMS patients to ensure appropriate care for all of New Jersey's citizens.

    Emergency Medical Care Advisory Board (EMCAB) - It establishes, through consolidation of numerous groups, task forces and advisory boards, a governing body - the EMCAB, which will include industry leaders serving to advise the Department of Health and Senior Services on prehospital issues, medical care and the establishment of provider standards. Expert members from their field will serve without compensation.

    Statewide Medical Direction - Identifies a Statewide Medical Director to function as the New Jersey’s lead physician in guiding the delivery of out-of-hospital medical care.

    Licensing of all Ambulances - This will allow the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services to utilize the most up-to-date medical protocols and standards for all of our citizens. It will also help with ease of implementation to allow NJ to move forward on aggressive new medical treatments.

    Statutory Authority- The EMS Task Force will gain authority to continue its great work on issues including disasters and terrorism, and to come together quickly in whatever situations our state and its citizens may face.

    Presently the NJ State First Aid Council is opposing the law. This group passes itself as a advocacy group of all volunteer base EMS agencies in the Sate, it is not. There are plenty of volunteer ambulance squads that are embarrassed by the NJ State First Aid Council. Presently it is possible to operate a volunteer ambulance in NJ with no trained personnel. There are no standards for volunteer ambulances. There is no requirement that local municipalities provide EMS. There are no standards to say how long it should take an ambulance to respond. These are not rural areas of the state, in fact there are no parts of NJ that would receive a “rural” designation. Volunteer ambulances are not inspected (Career based ambulances are in addition of career based ambulances must meet staffing and equipment regulations. Basically career based ambulances are regulated, volunteers are not.

    The NJ First Aid Council, the main reason I never even considered looking for work in NJ. I remember back in the late 70's early 80's how they fought against even the idea of certifying EMT's in the state, insisting that their "10 point system" was more then adequate. They also, along with the nursing lobby, delayed the development of ALS within the state for years. NY does have its problems but not to the extent that I've read about in NJ. I wouldn't mind NJ becoming a leader in EMS legislation, lots of luck to you.

  25. Posted

    Let's clarify our definitions before this thread starts rolling.

    "Buff" is someone whose hobby is the FD, be it fires, fire apparatus, old tools, history, etc. A buff often appears at fires but is not involved with any part of the command structure. His position is to stay behind the fire lines and observe, take photos or videos, or discuss the strategy. Sometimes, he is well known and trusted by the IC, and is allowed to cross the fire lines and take pictures, but he cannot become involved in the operation. Also, both career and voll personnel are often found buffing, many are there not to buff but to learn strategy or tactics to better their knowledge of firefighting. Most buffs are not a problem. If they go where they are not supposed tb be, they are told to get back and usually comply.

    "Freelancer" is someone who IS part of the command/operations structure but is not following the orders of his superiors or the incident action plan. For example, without an order, he may vent a window, discharge a hose line, enter a building without authorization, etc. A freelancer, by the way, can be a Chief from another department who is operating and giving orders like it was his fire instead of the actual IC. It could be a company that is assigned to the job, but is doing their own thing. Freelancers will get people killed. Yes!...straighten them out or get them off the fireground. Career FFs who are freelancing are easy to correct. Their freelancing can cost them 3 days pay or worse. Volls might take some schmoozing to correct the problem, but if it happens more than once, it's probably time to drop him from your rolls. I know it's hard to get volls to join, but losing a member is better than losing a life.

    If there is really a problem, you can get a police officer and request an arrest for interfering with governmental operations. (That's if the freelancer isn't the cop)

    Sorry Brothers in blue, I just couldn't pass that one up. I still like you guys.

    Please forgive me for contributing to this post as I'm not a FF, however, as far as enforcement &/or penalties goes why not use Fire police. Give offenders one warning to clear the scene or else. I would think that being arrested by a fellow FF would hurt more than the fine they would receive.