Remember585

First off, every FD should be providing the training (at least annually) and equipment to personnel on how to bail-out. Firefighter Survival is a great course, but the skills learned should be revisited at least once a year. I carry, which was issued to all of our Interior personnel 2 or 3 years ago, a 35' 8mm rope with a steel caribeaner. I keep it in my right pocket in a pouch on the pants. I wish I trained with it more often, simply because anytime I (or anyone I would think) trains on something I learn something new. I hope I never need it.....came close enough once! To the FDNY guys, what is the system you are using now? I lost track, thanks. Also, I don't want to jack this thread, but what is everyone's thoughts on carrying webbing? I have a 24' piece of tubular webbing which I keep in my left pant pocket. I'm looking for thoughts on how to store it. I had it in a pouch, then the rubber glove, back to a pouch. I've rolled it, folded it and laced it. I carry it primarily for creating a way to drag a brother (or sister) out if needed. Thanks.

May their heroic deaths always be remembered.

A. Who the f**k really wants to live in Mount Vernon?! B. Nice to see Bow-Tie Ernie is "empathetic." C. Disappointed to hear a solid firefighter and excellent teacher isn't getting the promotion that he not only deserves, but would benfit the MVFD and the people they are suppost to protect. Best of luck to you Jody, I hope this all works out for you, whether you get your Lieutenant promotion or the City of Mount Vernon has to name streets after you!!! Personally I'd like to see you get both!

I hear our old E119 that is now E19 in Maywood may become a spare? Any truth to this?

E54, E55, E56 - Primary Engines. TL29 - Primary Truck. E57, L28 - Spares. 2432 - Utility, Captain's Primary unit. 2433 - Spare. U37 - Fire Investigation van.

OK, I should of said the NORTH-East coast....LOL.

But that's the West Coast. We usually take 20-30 years to catch up with them when it comes to emergency service innovations... Whether FD or PD is going to assist at medical calls, CPR is a nice basic training, but since that is taught to so many people in civilian sectors, something more, like CFR, should be the standard of care for any EMS first response. If it is so imperative for either the FD or PD to assist at an EMS call, then they should have a higher level of training then Joe Citizen. Just my opinion.

My question to Elmsford, Lewisboro and Sleepy Hollow is "How do you do it?" I remember when we were batting 1000 ourselves, and I can nail what has caused it to go to a batting average closer to that of a struggling Yankee. I am dying to get some insight on how we can make it better. Thanks.

Both programs sound cool. Glad kids are interested.

Like last year, I'll be on vacation. Good luck though!

Interesting... I heard an announcement the other night about this and was like, "huh?" Glad to see P'ville was able to secure a loaner, hopefully TL5 comes back to them soon.

Doug, Any info or links you can provide? Thanks.

I'd have to be hammered to fly into space....good for them! LOL

It's hard to say what the solution is - but I think some people need to sit down and start working it out. I agree that going Mutual Aid is frustrating at times, but RECEIVING IT on a regular basis is embarassing too.

Knowing the district is a good thing. BUT, and we are running into this right now, there are new mains and hydrants being installed. The new ones are usually next to the old ones, and it is a crap-shoot which one actually works, since they aren't bagged OOS.

Cool......I'm finally an audio track in someone's video! Nice job!

I try to go out and keep what I do a mystery. That's why I don't (usually) wear an FD or EMS shirt when I go to the movies, restaurants, etc. I also keep my bat suit home with Alfred. Crap, the secret is out....

I grew up in a Black & White cop car community. It seemed like the only PD with B&W in the area. To all those that have changed back to the B&W scheme, I say to you, COPYCATS!!!! I love black and white cop cars. These look sharp.

Most of the EMS, and this is speaking of my area, isn't run as tightly as it should be. Period, end of point. I am still a member of two EMS agencies, one FD based the other a VAC. Both have stronger points then the other, but equal if not more weaker points. I have been in EMS whether paid or volunteer for almost 14 years. I became a CFR at 16, back when our Ambulances weren't DOH certified so I played Crew Chief many times. I have been an EMT since 1996 and I can tell you there's been one HUGE change I've seen that has affected the whole thing. M O R A L E. How can you be expected to keep personnel interested in giving up their time when it seems like nobody cares? Here's a scenario that plays out too often for me and I am sure others can relate. You are home, basically doing nothing when the pager goes off. You decide to go to the call (feeling guilty that the last two went Mutual Aid). You get in your car and head to the Rig. On your way there, you hear someone else call in that you really don't like working with, oh well. You hear an update from PD asking for you to "step it up" but no reason is given. You get in the rig and go. You get on location and it is a house up a hill with like, 200 steps, all of which are broken and uneven. The ALS Fly Car is on location trying to convince you (before seeing the patient) to make it a BLS call so they can get some sleep because they have been working 3 days straight. You lug your crap upstairs to your patient. As soon as you get in the door, a neighbor starts asking you to move the rig because they really need to get out. (Golf match?) You now walk back downstairs and move the rig. You then go back upstairs and inside. The patient is stable and they family is asking you to transport to a hospital not so near-by. The Medics and Cops all say "it shouldn't be a problem" (because they aren't going) but you politely tell the family and patient that you can't for some logical reason others will question anyway. You lug your patient down the never-ending staircase into your rig to realize the AC is hardly working. You try to hook the patient up to the onboard O2 and realize it is low. (Thanks, last crew.) You transport to the nearest hospital to an awaiting team of grouchy nurses asking why you didn't go to another facility. Out of spite, they take their time finding a bed for your patient. You finally roll out of the ER and start heading home but you can't. The pricks on the call (actually, 3 calls ago, two went Mutual Aid) didn't fuel up so now you have to. You get your fuel, go back to quarters, replace the O2 tank and go home. Total time - about two hours. So, you take this and throw in the usual in-fighting of most agenices, the ever-rampant micro-managing of most Officer(-types) and add in the fact that while you were on this call you passed about 3 other members of your agency who you know weren't doing anything else and you take into consideration how many of your members have moved out of the area because it COSTS WAY TOO MUCH and you ask yourself WHY? Why the hell do I still do this crap? The answer, because you still care, despite all of the BS. It isn't as easy to throw down what you're doing to go, but you still do your best to cover as much as you can. Sadly, not enough people care to look beyond all the little crap to do what it best for the agency and more importantly, the community. Will a BLS Fly-Car work? Don't know for sure, but I know if you begin to depend on it like many depend on ALS to cover calls, it will only be a matter of time before you're at the next "What should we do?" If you take an EMT from my FD and put them in a car covering from Croton to Peekskill, chances are most of the day they won't be available to us in Croton because the CVAC and PVAC call volumes are much greater then ours. And we will then have to call Mutual Aid, as we have to do so often now.

That photo sends a chill down my spine. So sad, God bless all involved.

I'm glad there is a larger Police presence on the River. From the shore in our area I watch a lot of stupid stuff happen. The Croton Point area is PACKED on nicer days and weekends, I can only imagine how many of those people on these boats are intox. Keep up the good work!

True....but I'm sure a few people got a chuckle out of it.

I guess RWC has an alias of the hispanic persuasion?!

Cool, now I will send my resume to the philharmonic......not! Welcome to EMS. Hope it's good to you!