87D124

I am probably re-stating things I have said before. I was fully opposed to my job (Empress) going Union, (IAEP Local 20). I worked hard against it. We have been Union for about 12 years now. I am not in love with the Union, but I feel things are better with it. I have been a steward, Chief Steward and VP, though now just a steward.
Yes my folks pay dues, but we work hard to give them value. The Local Union guys get no money or perks, we just get reimbursed for what we spend- mailing, phone, printer ink, mileage etc. We average just ONE arbitration case a year- not contract arbitration, but employee termination appeals. Our work place is very stable- we have EMT's and medics on the job for decades. Our benefits are pretty good, and our company and Union are constantly adding staff and upgrading gear. The starting salary needs work, but guess what? We are about to begin contract negotiations, as ours ends 12/31/12.
If it came for a re-vote, I would vote yes for the Union. When I work with a new guy, they frequently say that they were attracted to this job by the fact it is Union. Anything involving humans will not be perfect. I think this is the better road.
Bill

The City has proposed to have the YFD stop running medical calls, the call volume would go down and the City could make themselves feel better about layoffs.

If you want to apply to Empress, go to www.empressems.com and fill out the application, but you MUST then follow it up with a phone call to ext 3109 at the 888 965 5040# during business hours. Yes they are hiring, usually in groups of about 10, about every 3 weeks. There has been much hiring lately, to fill spots created by expansion into WMC. And there are always folks who don't work out when you hire a lot, so some spots need to be re-filled! They do get lots of apps, so the phone call is a must. Medic class will be graduating soon, so the medic students will be precepting, so their old EMT shifts will need to be filled. Good luck.

Why not just go to Empress? You will be MUCH happier.

Unfortunately, I do not "do" Facebook, but thanks for the heads up on the major software upgrade possibility. EMTBravo.net has done a great job of keeping its site very user friendly and informative, and an upgrade shortly after I joined made it even better, so we should anticipate great things for the workings of the site and the staff that work so hard to make it so enjoyable and informative. And maybe even more fun/interactive/creatively challenging for all of its contributors who make my visits here a treasure trove of knowledge, sometimes gasps of "Be Nice", and sometimes outright laughs. Cool pictures, articles - who knows what else they can come up with with a software upgrade. Good luck, and thanks.

A red tailed hawk caused an AH-1W Cobra helicopter to crash last week killing both Marines aboard near Camp Pendleton, CA. The crash also started a 120 acre brush fire.
I'm happy to see that the LifeNet crew was able to land safely.

I'm glad the crew is ok to fly another day!
Medevac diverts after bird strike
http://midhudsonnews.com/News/2012/May/20/Medevac_bird-20May12.htm

We will most likely have to have chevrons on the back of our chairs soon.

Congrats to Vini!!!!!!
A better person couldn't have selected for this job. GOOD LUCK!!!!!
http://www.hvinsider.com/articles/monroe-resident-to-lead-orange-county-fire-division/

Keeping real simple, we all do what we do for two reasons, to help others and to go home at the end of our tours. Bottom line thats exactly what the troopers did. They helped out their brother and sisters in emergency service and the public they all serve and helped everyone including themselves get home safely. Let those who would not want the same done for them cast the first stone....

Put turnout gear on these guys and what do you have - a disciplined company operating as a team with a supervisor.......

Didn't FD ask the troopers for help? You make it sound like the cops were freelancing, tapped the hydrant and stretched the line on their own. I bet if it was your house on fire, you wouldn't be complaining that the cops were putting water on it.

Yes Sir, that was me.
A few years back my department went mutual aid for a house fire with our Truck. I lived between the fire and the firehouse, so I drove directly to the scene where I was paired up with a good friend from another department to do a search as there were reports of a trapped civillian. The house was "going good" with heavy fire on floor 1, side 4.
As we walked up to the front step, the TROOPERS and another firefighter pulled the victim from the house, he was right behind the front door. Since we thought there was another victim inside, we pushed into the front door. My partner was already inside and I was a few feet inside when the fire rolled out the front door. Fire was to the right, we went left...the fire blocked our exit if need be...the TROOPER took the line that was on the front steps (unattended) and knocked back the fire in the doorway, holding it in check until we completed the primary of the room thought to hold another victim. We then took the kine and attacked the fire.
We know it wasnt an ideal situation, but thats the reality of rural firefighting....I was thankful for them.

I agree...most areas dont use them at all and just leave them in the "random" flash pattern. Even when they are used properly, often there are too many other warning lights which blur out the directional light. I do think that they put a good source of amber light right at eye level for drivers, to differentiate from red warning lights which can be confused with brake lights. For this purpose, arrow sticks function well.

A Loafpack 12?

Saw it from Hudson River in Riverdale by west 254 st looked spectacular, flew north turned around and headed south over us again.

I attended the RI EMS Expo this past week and have uploaded some photos. Great, conference! I would recommend it to anyone. Worth the drive if you can make it. Inexpensive, good CE and vendors. Got a chance to see the Stryker Power Load and try it out, very nice! Johnston, RI rescue had an interesting feature. The bench seat had a step built into it. Added some extra room to maneuver in that area. It was possible due to the location of the wheel well. Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Children's had some nice trucks as well!
Johnston, RI Horton
West Brookfield Life Line Emergency Vehicles
Life Pact Life Line Emergency Vehicles
Sandwich, MA Horton

While I'm at it, here's a Pic of one of the New Empress EMS / WMC / STAT Units...

I'll bet you were expecting more photos, I will post some soon. But I have a question for anyone that would care to offer their input, What would you consider the top 5 goals and objectives for an EMS drill or exercise?? Be specific, and please exclude the usual definitions...

"EMPRESS" needs to be relettered Mike...too much gap between the s's...Boooo!!!!!!!

The Radios are part of an effort to utilize non-FDNY EMS participating agencies in a more cohesive manner than in the past. The system is for command level use as opposed to individual use by a responding unit. Many other NYC based agencies or agencies with C.O.N. inside NYC have them. Agencies outside that description do not have them and as such would, or at least should be, responding to any potential requests for resources from NYC by informing 60 Control after they have been asked by NYC, or more likey by SEMO.

Since I sold the radios to Remsco (Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of NYC) I will once again answer this question in more detail. There are 30 regional councils in NYS and REMSCO is the one for NYC. Go to the DOH web site for more information.
As i stated before these are part of the NYC Doitt channel 16 (uses the old TV channel 16 spectrum) and uses a talk group on that system. It is a UHF T-Band (470 - 520) radio with Motorola trunking software. All EMS agencies (vollie and commercial) that operate 911 in NYC and all hospitals in NYC were issued these radios to be used as needed for mass commmunications.
It is not part of the old 800 Mhz Motorola Smart Net system as that system is maxed out and cannot be expanded.
I am going to get on my soap box and ask why is that some people post answers when they dont know what they are talking about is it to inflate there own ego?

Why would someone who lists themselves as a photo enthusiast even come with the statement that says PD FD or EMS should not ride for free. Ask your dad what he thinks. Since you possess zero tools to help in a situation perhaps you should learn some first then see what you have when the stuff really starts to roll down hill, actually you should hope you have one of us on YOUR train to bail you out.

When you possess the knowledge to help a situation either through intervention or providing HELPFUL information to responding parties your position as a passenger changes to responder, and for that your fare has already been paid for through hundreds of hours of training and experience. In many cases the hours of experience is in the ten's of thousands. If you look at the ridership on the train, I can guarantee you that when it hits the fan you will see about 99.9% of the riders heading in the right direction, you need those of us who would be heading in the opposite direction there, especially if it is you that needs it.

Last photo has a Holmatro tool in the rear compartment. Truely an ESU vehicle or something along those lines.