ex-commish

I have had a few very good mentors both in the Pleasantville and Hawthorne FD and also Pleasantville Ambulance Corps. They know who they are.

Great news!!!

I have had a few very good mentors both in the Pleasantville and Hawthorne FD and also Pleasantville Ambulance Corps. They know who they are.

To me it's an non issue wether or not one posts thier profile or not. I personaly would not say anything on here that I wouldn't say to your face. The ones who run thier mouths on here with non-sense have to live with them selves.

To me it's an non issue wether or not one posts thier profile or not. I personaly would not say anything on here that I wouldn't say to your face. The ones who run thier mouths on here with non-sense have to live with them selves.

I know there is probably alot of people that have the same feeling here But Ray Rush, awesome introduction to the fire service. He was a tell it like it is No BS. he did my essentials class in 1993. My father introduced me into the volunteer side of things at a very young age and taught me what it was all about, volunteering for years with many good people in northern westchester helped me to become a fireman in the greatest fire department in the world. Thanks to all who were a part of this

I have had a few very good mentors both in the Pleasantville and Hawthorne FD and also Pleasantville Ambulance Corps. They know who they are.

Good argument for FAST being part of FF1

Really?? Has the NTSB or the FCC proved that a cell phone being use on an aircraft can cause a crash?? No they haven't.
HOWEVER....
if the airline asked you to shut down, what is the big deal, shut down. Enjoy the in-flight food, movie, read a book, do a word search, or catch a nap.
I travel a fair amount by air, I shut down when I board the aircraft, and I turn my cell on after I leave the aircraft. It is my excuse to dis-connect from the world.
And I got pretty good at word search.

Good argument for FAST being part of FF1

For the record I am a 2nd amendment supporter..that being said I don't agree with arming emt's for the simple reason you are adding liability on any call you go on and increase the chance of the patient who could be an EDP to grab your gun and pump rounds into you or your partner or anywhere else. Also I don't think any company or agency would want to have that liability. As far as more guns, less assaults make your case.

First, my prayers are with the EMT in Hoboken. Not only is there a physical injury, but I am sure emotional injury occurred also.
Next. Wow, a few very passionate posts. Now I do not claim to have all the answers. But I feel before we talk about arming first responders, we should have a logical discussion on scene safety and situational awareness.
When I use to teach out EMT students, in the various testing stations, the first words from the student would be "B.S.I. scene safety" and then deal with the station. No more thought to scene safety. Plus what I have seen in the field is scene safety goes by the wayside after we begin treatment. Scene safety should be a continuous evaluation of the environment that we are working in. Not just about identifying threats and unsafe condition's against us and our crews but also keeping in mind rapid evacuation of the scene should things get sour.
We need to keep our eyes open, be aware of everything around us, do not allow ourselves to get trapped with no way of escape. And if a situation does not feel right, call law enforcement if they are not yet on scene.
Now when it comes to arming first responders, there is a lot of emotion with this question. We must remember that there are very strong opinions on both sides of the idea of arming first responders. We come from different agencies, different regions, and we all have different experiences. The answer will not be solved here, but in honest and factual debate through out the entire emergency service community. What will work for one agency may or may not work for another. I urge all responders to follow their agency's current policies on this subject.
Stay safe every one.

I've been doing this EMS thing for over 20 years now. I've worked in busy, nasty urban areas, sleepy rural areas and pretty much everything in between. The poster who claims that we need to be armed, and he'd put someone down who was gonna hurt him...wow. Just, wow. With a mindset like that, EMS is NOT for you, pal. If you showed up to work with me, and started with that attitude, I'd drop you off at the next corner and wish you well.
I am a STRONG supporter of the 2nd amendment, and I want no part of having to carry weapons at work. Have I been in fights? Yup. Hairy situations? A few. But looking back, they were mostly avoidable and walking away (or running for that matter) will get you out of trouble you probably never should have been part of in the first place.
Quite frankly, you scare me more than the EDP's do. Put down an EDP? Beacuse they threatened your life? Do you know how many times in a busy urban area EMT's get threatened each year? We both can't count that high.
A few other points: Concealed carry won't stop an assault. They dont know you have it, so it's not a deterent.
Additionally, cops carry a number of tools to repsond to threats of force, or force. They have rules of engagement, force must be met with force. They don't just draw down and waste every person that threatens them. Please, please rethink your approach to EMS.

For the record I am a 2nd amendment supporter..that being said I don't agree with arming emt's for the simple reason you are adding liability on any call you go on and increase the chance of the patient who could be an EDP to grab your gun and pump rounds into you or your partner or anywhere else. Also I don't think any company or agency would want to have that liability. As far as more guns, less assaults make your case.

My volunteer FD is installing a larger emergency generator (in progress now), new heating system and electrical wiring to better withstand the weather related on/off power problems which caused several problems like burning out our emergency genset. We have the AC detector "hotsticks" on all rigs to detect down wires or unsafe electrical AC situations. We placed a 6x6 polaris with rescue stokes/brush Kimtek unit in service to assist getting around as well as we have a 4x4 utility pickup to get around down tree or off road areas. ( we had to go through woods to a backyard to access a EMS situation as the front street was blocked with down wires), I am qualified 35KVA & 4KVA glove hand line constructor supervisor so we do have live line (hotstick) tools and HV & low Voltage gloves and a Certified Utility Safety Administrator (CUSA) environment, health and safety utility administrator so I have extensive experience on transformer/utility fires and spills (benefit in a volunteer organization that many people bring outside skills to the table, and I invite career depts to request my/our help anytime if they don't have those skills). I agree the hot stick program about 10-15 years ago was not a good plan as the training was minimal at best. I do agree the AC detectors (one brand name also uses "hotsticks" which was a poor choice and they agreed it was a poor choice or names) is good but only with ongoing intensive training on utility systems, wires and equipment. We also have purchased more chain saws ( at least one per rig), pumps and generators. I have been pushing for more member assistance equipment so the firefighters family is in power and therefore not as much a worry to the member firefighter to respond or be on duty. We do storm standbys for the duration of most storms and have beds, food, etc. Our town and police/EMS and FD's have a command post in our OEM center manned during storms and we are getting better each time. We also have community center open for displaced residents. Our town instituted a phone call notification system for all residents to be updated. We are working with town on emergency mobile buffalo style fuel and water tanks. We store more barricade tape and upgraded in-house fuel tanks. We have zodiacs in each FD and split our district up on auto MA caused by river/creeks cutting off temporary access. We have more barricades and cones and traffic signs then ever. We also acquired a mobile flood light and generator. we built a new storage facility to help store the items. We have trench/building shores and lumber stored for collapse possibility. More haz mat materials for spill control in storage. Every FF has a portable which is the same as our trunk portables but also has our high band fireground frequencies with software to go trunk (DES limits the number of trunk portables) if needed in case one trunk goes bad. We have 3 notification systems to alert members ( pager, cell phone, area siren) and will be installing a new "I AM responding" system shortly. We have more flood suits and PFDs and ropes. We do not have swiftwater suits however would call the WCTRT for that need. We do have extensive rope rescue, confined space and related equipment, and yes training and more training.

Hot sticks are you kidding ? all wires are LIVE, put tape around make it as safe as you can. We are not Con Ed. Chief gave them to us once and we gave them back. Hot sticks we don't need no stinking hot sticks !

I believe it is time that the feds consider training and arming TSA agents. I feel given the climate today it is crazy not to have people un-armed in a high profile place such as airport you need armed people. This guy could of ended up on the plane. The other alternative is get rid of the TSA and use armed police wether at the federal level or local level. That aside my thoughts and prayers are with the TSA agent who was killed. May he rest in peace.

Not making excuses...just an observation. If you are really concerned than call the department and ask why he was there.

Not making excuses...just an observation. If you are really concerned than call the department and ask why he was there.

For those of you that didnt know it that quote from above was the Mayors statement! Thnx for the support to all.

Not making excuses...just an observation. If you are really concerned than call the department and ask why he was there.

Not making excuses...just an observation. If you are really concerned than call the department and ask why he was there.

Lets not forget in all of this "Stuff" the fantastic job the Brothers did that night under these extreme circumstances--. rescues were made-- civilians were saved--firefighters put their lives on the line for the citizens of Mt Vernon.
To any firefighter pulling up on a scene and being told that people were trapped in side--chills run up and down your spine--your training kicks into high gear and you go to work doing the best you can. Those firefighters and Officers that night were sworn to protect the citizens of Mount Vernon and they did it to the best of their ability. 2 men 3 men it didn't matter - people were trapped and they went to work, knowing full well that at any time it could be them in trouble...it didn't matter- they did it any way. For that the people of Mt Vernon should be proud of firefighters and Officers of FDMV.
Let politics take its course--it will all shake out--but FDMV did a yeoman's job that night.
Just my thoughts

That would depend if you consider relocation an emergency. I do not and don't beileve you should respond to a relocation with RLS.

Drove that rig for 9 years