trauma74

Front shot I forgot about

2000 Spartan Gladiator Saulsbury Topmount pump 1750 750 30 foam unit Id FL2

Life in the ER all 5 ambulance spots full Bergenfield  Tenafly  Englewood 236 Cresskill Fort Lee all at the ER this afternoon 

Interesting article. I liked the historical details. More and more I am seeing a cross over of colors on various vehicles, to the point that I am not sure we should be separating the services by color any more. All the new fire apparatus in Stamford is coming in with blue lights added to the old standard of Red/Amber. CT just changed state statutes to give VEMS blue instead of green, and to add volunteer SAR & K9's to the list of who can use blue. However I think NYC transit still uses blue for express buses.
 
When I was a kid and visiting my grandmother in MA, I remember a neighbor who drove a tow truck and had a green light bar on it. It was the only one I saw and I have no idea why it had that color. I know in some states security companies use a green/amber combination. I was in Tulsa, OK a few years back and blue was the color for service vehicles like landscapers, much in the way most of the northeast uses amber.

NYC buses no longer have the blue flashing. They were forced to change it.  Volunteers with 1 blue light LMAO.  More like how can I make my car look like a unmarked police vehicle with lights in the headliner, grille, running board, rear window etc..  Blue, blue/ white. It's something that should be enforced. 

Don't forget the funeral homes that are using purple lights.
 
When we first added a blue light on our engine we took some criticism over it, and we had to switch the lense back to red for parades lest we receive demerits for improper lighting.  Now you see blue everywhere.
 
In the end, colors aside, nothing beats white wig wags to get attention.  Not wimpy strobes in the headlight, real dual headlight wig wags.  
 
Has NY ever changed the regs for volunteer firefighters? One (1) flashing blue light of 50 candlepower!  Don't think many paid attention to that regulation.  I don't think you can even buy a light like that anymore.
 

Not the best pic But here's a pic of Teaneck "75" at Englewood ER 2015 Freightliner M2 Horton

https://www.soundoffsignal.com/navigating-color-emergency-vehicle-lighting/

https://www.soundoffsignal.com/navigating-color-emergency-vehicle-lighting/

https://www.soundoffsignal.com/navigating-color-emergency-vehicle-lighting/

https://www.soundoffsignal.com/navigating-color-emergency-vehicle-lighting/

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/rye-city/2016/06/06/rye-public-safety-department/85299246/
RYE CITY - The city may create a single Public Safety Department for police and firefighters in an effort to address ongoing fire staffing issues and to provide a more cohesive approach to emergency services.
The idea behind the move, City Manager Marcus Serrano said, is to create a direct chain of command by appointing a paid public safety commissioner to set policy and establish uniform procedures for police officers and both paid and volunteer firefighters. Under the proposed law, the public safety commissioner would appoint paid fire officers. The volunteers would still elect their own chief, assistant chiefs and other officers, but their choices would be subject to the commissioner's approval. The volunteer chief and assistants would work with the career officers, and all would report directly to the commissioner. 
 

Wems will operate
37 M1 & M2 0700-1900
37 M1 1901-0659
The shift change will be out of MPPD HQ
 

Anyone know how many flycars this involves, and where they will be stationed?
 
Also, WEMS is in possession of two 2016 Ford Explorer SSV's. I've hear two rumors. Mount Pleasant obtained them, possibly through a grant. And Phelps purchased them for WEMS. Does anyone know which is true, IF either?
 
 

It would be nice if they did NYC. There has not been anything in NYC since COPS did a few episodes back when NYPD was wearing light blue shirts

Those "support" soldiers still have to qualify on the range, get thru chemical training and then while driving supply trucks they have had to fight, some being killed, other injured and some captured. They are placed in support rolls because that's where they are needed and that's where they will perform best, not because they are unwilling or unable to do it!

North Bergen EMS 5 made trip to Englewood ER This afternoon  it's a 2015 Ford E 350 Medix They are a full time  career squad that runs  multiple BLS ambulances out of 2 locations in north bergen 

I think they're doing Tampa, FL next season. http://wfla.com/2016/03/05/tampa-first-responders-to-be-featured-on-ae-nightwatch/

New Mahwah EMS ambulances

EMS 4 2014 Ford E 350 Bruan at the ER This afternoon  1 of2 Bruan's they run

 
 
Answering 9-1-1's Call for Help

As your preceptor, I want all my time back!

Tomorrow, after 19 years in EMS, 14 of which as a Paramedic, all in the paid sector, with some of the best agencies around, and some of the BEST people in the profession,I am letting my NYS Paramedic certification expire.  I obtained my EMT through the EMT class given at Irvington VAC by Judy Mayer in 1997, EMT-I at Phelps with Barry Nechis in 1999, and my Paramedic cert was obtained at Northeastern University in Boston, MA in 2003 (which at the time was the best Paramedic program in the nation).  I've been certified and credentialed in NY, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, and National Registry over the years. I am currently happy in my current career, but I had hoped to work per-diem as a Paramedic, on the side, just because I enjoy helping people, the challenge, and keeping my skills up. Most recently, I worked a 12 hours shift Sundays at Garrison VAC (thanks to Allan, Derek and RIP Pat), as a paid EMT, just for some extra money and to stay relevant in EMS, a job I left because of my cert expiring and my role and dedication at my full time job increasing.
 
With this, New York state is one of the most difficult states to retain your certification. First off, the NYS DOH website is extremely unclear, murky, and outdated.  Even if you complete CME's and Call Audits, you can't do the pilot refresher if you're not affiliated with an agency that  participates in that. Additionally, the class refreshers I have found don't work with my schedule, and require a lot of time to complete and study. Add on top of that, the need to get REMSCO credentialing for each region you work in, and can't obtain it if you're not affiliated, and all that a REMSCO cert requires on top of everything else, . And to have to pay for a lot of that out of pocket. I'd love to continue working Paramedic per-diem as mentioned above, but it doesn't look like that's going to be possible, right now. I even considered refreshing as an EMT, but even that is a lot. Maybe one day an opportunity will come my way to refresh, but it doesn't look like that will be possible. It was also nice to have something to fall back on.
 
For comparison purposes, other states allow Paramedics to be licensed professionals, and not have to prove themselves every 3 years. Some agencies don't do the whole REMAC thing, and the agencies protocols and Paramedic direction are usually set by the EMS Physician at a hospital. Some allow you to plain challenge using a computer testing facility.  And with technology today, I could do all of my CME and Call Audits online.
 
So, tomorrow is going to be a sad day for me. As I said above, I would have loved to go back to WEMS or Empress per diem,  especially to help them when manpower is stretched thin with everything now, but NYS doesn't want to keep pace with EMS recertification trends, and technology, they just want to lump on more and more requirements and changes in protocols without making any type of progressive change to retain experienced providers or recruit new providers, such as truly accepting NREMT-P reciprocity and utilizing modern technology for continuing ed. With this, I think the coming years will see a Paramedic shortage in the state.
 
Sorry for my rant. I'm probably repeating myself here. I've had such a great experience working in EMS. I was trained by the best programs with the best instructor. I've worked for great agencies, for and with the greatest people, and have learned so much. Bill Rothschild is my mentor and EMS hero and has done tons for my career, along with so many other people. Empress EMS provided a terrific foundation for my career, something I'll always be appreciative and loyal to that agency for.  Stamford Hospital also molded my BLS career. UMass City Of Worcester EMS (MA), Norwalk Hospital Paramedics (CT), and UMDNJ Newark EMS (NJ) were great places to get experience as a Paramedic. WEMS was a great system and area to work in, with great people, and was very challenging. Scott and White (TX) and Williamson County EMS (TX) were great and interesting places and a different world.  I'm actually pretty devastated over this, but accept it. I also loved my careers as a career Firefighter and 911 Dispatcher. Hopefully I can return one day.
 
I've been through a lot personally throughout my EMS career, especially during the past couple years, navigating through divorce, serious illnesses and hospitalizations, and even homelessness on the streets of Los Angeles for a couple of months. Thank you to Daryn Baia for giving me a shot to restart my Paramedic career and a second time around at Empress when I first returned to NY after my divorce. Bill Rothchild for being Bill Rothchild. My brotha from another motha RWC130 for helping me get back to NY from LA and start again, and a place to stay until I got on my feet again to say the least. A shout out to the barrier door hating, Aerialscope loving great friend and big brother Matt Manfredi who has given me a chance after being homeless, and the stability, encouragement, and resources to rebuild my life, and have a great job at a great place that allows me a career in emergency services and use a skillset that keeps me challenged everyday, with the greatest coworkers, customers, and the coolest products (and best office in the place!), and having the security and reassurance of not needing a "fall back on" for the time being. Mad Dog. And my mom for all her support and my Dad and Grandmother for helping me from heaven. There are tons of other people I'm not forgetting, but it's too numerous to list here, including all my friends here.
 
Although I still work evenings and weekends sometimes, I will never miss the late jobs or posting, lol!
 
Thanks for listening.
Seth C Granville
 
 
 

 
[/rant]
 

 
Trama - I thank you for posting this article. 
 
As I see it "volunteer firefighters can NOT replace career firefighters". There are just too many requirements put on today firefighters to get physically fit individuals, some with family obligations, to offer their services today. The training requirements alone take up a large percentage of time. This we see the nationwide DECLINE in the numbers of those joining the volunteer firefighter ranks. And many of those who do join, are often goal oriented to become career firefighters. 
 
The volunteer firefighters of America are a dying breed. Sad but very true. Long gone are the days of the local mill workers or the farmers leaving their jobs to help their neighbor in time if need. 
 
For a place like Garden City to loose the services of FDNY members as volunteer firefighters because they fully back their other career brothers is a double edge blade for this city. Yet, just about any career firefighter who also volunteers their services would be expected to do the same. 
Just recently, one career firefighter who is also a volunteer firefighter in his hometown, protected by a combination dept, including approximately 60 career firefighters, helped to propose the elimination of 16 career firefighters. As it stands that has not happened but clearly that was part of his plan. All while he collects a paycheck and benefits as a career firefighter from another department very similar in size, just 15-20 miles away. 
 
Needless to say, he has earned his own reputation among BOTH departments these days. 
 
I have hundreds of stories I could tell. Spending five years as a volunteer firefighter in one place, where everybody got a long great. Then becoming a career firefighter just about 75 miles away, where I soon found out I had entered a "War Zone". I couldn't believe it. That was in 1975 and it's still the same if not worse today. As for the other combo dept, they still run that career engine and the volunteer rescue truck manned by volunteers. All working together out of the same firehouse.
 
I find it also interesting how my many friends, who are volunteer firefighters, respect career firefighters for what they do. "We'll, we certainly respect those VOLUNTER firefighters for what they do as well". Quite honestly, I could not do it. 
 
There should be absolutely NO REASON at all, why a group of volunteer firefighters would be willing to stand by and watch as career firefighters loose the jobs they worked so hard to get. If you are one of those volunteer firefighters who would rather see those guys in the unemployment line, "I suggest you think that over". As volunteer firefighters you are the guys who are supposed to be caring and compassionate of others. You should probably keep that in mind.

New Mahwah EMS ambulances