Ga-Lin

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.

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.

I think that's the problem....no one was thinking. Looks like something you would see on Jacka** the movie. This is also a good argument on Depts. having a policy preventing members posting or participating in anything showing or ID'ing the dept.(the name is on the vid) prior to approval.

Me to (narrative heavy) & having to type with just a couple of fingers tends to slow one down. Steve was wrong when he said the pen (styles) was dead & a useless way to input data. You're also right about the way of the future though, we're going to have to adapt & go along with whatever tech is thrown at us. Resistance is futile.

The vid (from a phone) is of a motorcycle race fatality. While being carried off the track was dropped by racing staff. If you look carefully (in full screen) you can see the Pt's. leg hanging off the scoop, its hard to tell if the fall was caused by a slip on the grass while running or tripping over the dangling leg.(also from a still that I saw it appears that the scoop might have split.) Only one of those caring the scoop is Amb crew, others are track officials. But the crew (rightfully so) gets the bad press. Motto: never rush & always use your own people (or other emergency responders) who will listen to directions. (There is alwasy someone with a camara phone) This did not occur in the good old U.S. of A.

The vid (from a phone) is of a motorcycle race fatality. While being carried off the track was dropped by racing staff. If you look carefully (in full screen) you can see the Pt's. leg hanging off the scoop, its hard to tell if the fall was caused by a slip on the grass while running or tripping over the dangling leg.(also from a still that I saw it appears that the scoop might have split.) Only one of those caring the scoop is Amb crew, others are track officials. But the crew (rightfully so) gets the bad press. Motto: never rush & always use your own people (or other emergency responders) who will listen to directions. (There is alwasy someone with a camara phone) This did not occur in the good old U.S. of A.

I found this on another site I frequent. True it's 2 mil, but anyone can drive it, deploys more rapidly, & can go anywhere (mostly, certainly under even low bridges) unlike the more popular moblile home com ctrs that we see. Seth check it out.
http://gizmodo.com/5...ut-smoke-signal

From time call is received to tones going out = processing time. From tones to the time needed resources begin to respond (Ambulance, Engine etc. leave quarters not just chiefs car.) = Assembly time. From time resources leave quarters to time on scene = travel time. Processing time + Assembly time + travel time = Total response time. We have control, or at least, are able to know all of these different pieces. It would take time (no pun intended) to colate that info so we could see where (if any) area can be improved.

Now, now, Barry, you can't use this argument. The FD has been taking responsibility for other peoples stupidity for the past 200 yrs!

Now, now, Barry, you can't use this argument. The FD has been taking responsibility for other peoples stupidity for the past 200 yrs!

As they say, any accident that you can walk away from (eventually) is OK(?). Glad you're ok.

I gotta agree with you on this one Cap. After reading the first few posts on this issue I was done. 50 replies & over 4 pages! If it was an actual conversation between people many, I'm sure, wouldn't have wasted their breath on the stupid SOB other than he's not fit to man the knob much less command. It sounded like old women gossiping over the fence after hanging out the wash. I look over the posts daily & there are not many real interesting or professional topics. Hope this changes.

I understand & you are correct. There are topics that are certainly interesting to others (FD, PD) I primarily look for EMS issues myself, although I do read & have commented on others. There just seems to be a lot of "fluff" without much substance at times. Not to cast discredit on you or any of your staff. After 7 years and the recent fiscal issue you have proved your popularity & staying power. Providing a forum for open discussion & allowing a certain amt of venting is needed & good for everyone. Your hands off style (except when needed as in the post I emailed you about & was taken off probably before you even got to my message) means most of the site is driven by us, so any posted topics, discussion or the lack thereof falls on us. when I first joined not to long ago there was a discussion going on about the lack of incident reporting on the western side of the Hudson. As was said, if none of us report it, it's not posted. As for myself I will try to be more active in a positive way.

You got a good response and a lot of info on your inquiry, but allow me add my two cents. It takes more than throwing a jump bag & 02 in your car to make it an Emergency service vehicle (ESV). On carrying oxygen in your POV, while there is little risk in administering O2 it is still a medication requiring authorization from a MD., which your agency probably has. They can then authorize you to carry & administer it under them as an ESV. However there are a few other issues that you should be aware of. Other than the required equipment needed, which has already been posted, there are other specific requirements which must be in place. You must be authorized as an ESV by your organization just as they auth. the use of blue or green courtesy lights. This is important & I'll return to it later. Another requirement can be found in part 800.21 (E) which states that all ESV must have the organization ID'd on both sides & rear of the vehicle with lettering not smaller than 3 inches. In all my travels throughout the NY metro & Hudson Valley area I've only seen one agency do this right (there may be others, but I only know of this one) and that's Lewisboro VAC. They made up huge magnetic signs which are then placed on the authorized POV's, and not everyone in the organization has them. Other than the obvious there is also a safety issue involved. Many, many years ago I remember an unmarked van which crashed & burned out on Long Island xway. It was carrying tanks of compressed gas. I'm unfamiliar with the thermodynamics of what happens when gases are heated or whether the heads failed due to heat or damage. The end result was the tanks flying through the back killing & injuring firefighters. This might be academic to you but is, I'm sure, one of the reasons which ESV's must be ID'd.
Take a look at 800.26 it requires the agency to authorize, have policies, & insure ESV's. Now, some agencies might tell members not to worry that your insurance will cover any accidents or that you are covered under the agency's insurance when responding. One, what would your insurance company say if they knew that the family car they are insuring is being used as an emergency vehicle. I'd ask to see a copy of the agencies policy which states I'm covered if responding in my car on their behalf.
I hate to rain on your parade, you sound like someone who wants to help, but there's never a problem until there's a problem. If you should get into an accident where someone is injured or, God forbid the nightmare we all fear, a fatality & all the requirements of State regs. & law are not meet.... you will very quickly find yourself an only child alone in the cold.
That's my view.

The Times Herald Record reported today that "The only active black member of the 30 person volunteer Orange Cty HazMat response team has filed a discrimination complaint against the Cty Fire Training Center, alleging the Cty Fire Coordinator prevented him from taking training courses because of his skin color."
The complaint was filed in March with the state Division of Human Rights. It includes a sworn affidavit from the Hazmat supervisor who stated that when informed of the complaint the Cty Fire Coordinator, who is white, referred to the individual as looking like a gorilla & used racial slurs to further describe the individual.
Both the Cty Fire Coordinator & Cty Emergency Services Commissioner referred all questions to the Cty attorney. The Cty mouthpiece responded to the complaint in July, saying the claim was baseless since (get this) the Hazmat team is not a fire company or fire department & therefore can't file a complaint under the state human rights law. He declined further comment. The Hazmat supervisor, who is white, is the Cty Deputy FIRE Coordinator.
The article goes on to allude a$$ covering, finger pointing, blame shifting & accusations of attempted intimidation.
The member states that he was left off the list for training seminars at the state FIRE Academy in 2008 & 2009, despite submitting all the proper paperwork on time. The member finally stated "the only thing we want is to work."

You got a good response and a lot of info on your inquiry, but allow me add my two cents. It takes more than throwing a jump bag & 02 in your car to make it an Emergency service vehicle (ESV). On carrying oxygen in your POV, while there is little risk in administering O2 it is still a medication requiring authorization from a MD., which your agency probably has. They can then authorize you to carry & administer it under them as an ESV. However there are a few other issues that you should be aware of. Other than the required equipment needed, which has already been posted, there are other specific requirements which must be in place. You must be authorized as an ESV by your organization just as they auth. the use of blue or green courtesy lights. This is important & I'll return to it later. Another requirement can be found in part 800.21 (E) which states that all ESV must have the organization ID'd on both sides & rear of the vehicle with lettering not smaller than 3 inches. In all my travels throughout the NY metro & Hudson Valley area I've only seen one agency do this right (there may be others, but I only know of this one) and that's Lewisboro VAC. They made up huge magnetic signs which are then placed on the authorized POV's, and not everyone in the organization has them. Other than the obvious there is also a safety issue involved. Many, many years ago I remember an unmarked van which crashed & burned out on Long Island xway. It was carrying tanks of compressed gas. I'm unfamiliar with the thermodynamics of what happens when gases are heated or whether the heads failed due to heat or damage. The end result was the tanks flying through the back killing & injuring firefighters. This might be academic to you but is, I'm sure, one of the reasons which ESV's must be ID'd.
Take a look at 800.26 it requires the agency to authorize, have policies, & insure ESV's. Now, some agencies might tell members not to worry that your insurance will cover any accidents or that you are covered under the agency's insurance when responding. One, what would your insurance company say if they knew that the family car they are insuring is being used as an emergency vehicle. I'd ask to see a copy of the agencies policy which states I'm covered if responding in my car on their behalf.
I hate to rain on your parade, you sound like someone who wants to help, but there's never a problem until there's a problem. If you should get into an accident where someone is injured or, God forbid the nightmare we all fear, a fatality & all the requirements of State regs. & law are not meet.... you will very quickly find yourself an only child alone in the cold.
That's my view.

Everyone seems to be avoiding asking the really one important question. Why did the FBI/DOJ think it necessary to test its (already) agents on what they are legally allowed to do in the first place? These are not the beat cops of yore. The majority have advanced degrees, indeed many are lawyers themselves, so it begs the question...why.
As for hiding behind the 4th amendment I don't have to hide behind anything, it is my right. Many of you might be unfamiliar with the Mc Carthy era. Many honest, law abiding American citizens were disgraced, ruined, forced to flee their country, and some even committed suicide. All because one man whipped the county into a frenzy of fear & distrust in the name of "National security" all of which, ultimately, proved to be false & unnecessary. The part of the Pledge of allegiance "one nation under God" was not part of the Pledge as originally written & "In God we trust" on $ are two remaining reminders of that time in our history.
As to living in post 9/11 America & the so called "Patriot Act" there are 2 final comments. 1.) Watergate would have never happened. The President could have (as he tried to do) classify the event under "National security" & he would have gotten away with what amounted to a petty crime. 2.) In present day, if you leave the country with your laptop (or any other electronic device Ipad, Ipod etc), upon your return the government may confiscate such devices for no other reason other than "suspicion" & keep them until they are ready to return them sometimes months.
I agree with the post which quoted Ben Franklin, people who give up their freedoms in exchange for greater security will get neither.

Hi everyone,
Allow me to finally introduce myself. My full screen name is Ga-Lin Yar as in Qui-Gon Jinn, it is my "Jedi" name. I sometimes feel I am one of the last of the Jedi, having been trained a long time ago in a place far away. Well maybe Queens isn't quite that far. I became interested in EMS while doing my community service project for boy scouts at my local VAC. At that time there were no youth squads but I was able to join at the tender age of 16 as a dispatcher, the corps self dispatched. A year later I was allowed to ride as an asst ambulance attendant. I took my first EMT course at LIJ Hospital (all 40 Hrs of it) the following year at 18. That was 1972, don't laugh it was a very good year. At that time NYS was not yet issuing numbers with our cards. Some weren't even sure what to call this new thing (it was not yet considered a job much less a career or profession) my Nys VAFAA, District 4 patch states "Medical Emergency Technician".
After serving 4 years USN, corpsman I came home & began working for a commercial service. I became a medic in 1978. The program cost was $100.00 plus books, but my employer at the time paid half the tuition so I was out 50 bucks! Two years later I completed my Instructor Coordinator cert & I have been working, teaching & occasionally volunteering in the greater metropolitan & Hudson Valley every since.
I've witnessed many changes over the years. EMT courses are no longer 40 hrs & 50 bucks might get you one of the smaller textbooks in the current medic programs. I have no excuse for not joining these forums sooner & I'm truly sorry. In reading through the comments I've missed out on a lot. In any event I will attempt to be an active participant & contribute what little I can to the general buzz. Thanks for putting up with the long winded intro.
One last thing for those who are interested, I'm an advice hiker & also a minor history buff and & Ga-Lin (Galen) was a physician back during the early Roman empire. I'm not a physician & although Galen was supposedly ahead of his time I would match my medical skills. For those who are also fellow Sci-FY buffs Yar is Tasha Yar from Star-Trek the next generation (She was killed off early in the series) That's enough for now, thanks & we'll be talking to ya.

I think the issue is really one of membership, access & supervision, not of driving experience. One can have all the experience in the world & indeed be one of the best, all of which gets thrown out the window when you are under the influence of mind/judgment altering substances. Let's review the facts as we know them & as reported. The accident occurred at about 1AM. The individual was sleeping at the building yet not on duty. He took the ambulance for a personal use (to get smokes, I don't believe smoking is permitted in the building.) He took a controlled, mind/judgment altering substance, which as stated in previous posts, states on the bottle (if it was indeed legally prescribed to this person) to avoid driving or operating machinery. The questions the leadership, membership & community should be asking are these:
Do members have unrestricted, unsupervised access at anytime to use the building as a social club or hangout without taking calls? Why was this individual there after hrs & not on duty? Did leadership know he was even there & was it approved, if so why? Is the VAC subsidizing transient housing? Why didn't this individual take his own Pov instead of the ambulance?
Don't get me wrong, I've done my share of "crashing" in a variety of different places in my career, some of which even had clean sheets. It was always understood or stated that if a call came in I was on duty or on call as a second response. He got off easy. Two misdemeanors,driving while impaired by drugs & "unauthorized" use of a vehicle. Why not grand theft ambulance?