bartman884

Another issue to look at is staffing. During my college days I was involved with the BLS service at SUNY Albany which provided 2 BLS ambulances and was staffed 24/7 while the dorms were open. Conversely when speaking to other collegiate agencies I found that many were not staffed during the daytime becuase they couldn't get the staffing during class times. Although we had a fairly ample stable budget from the university student association, training people to be crew chiefs or drivers took time and most of these people would end up being upperclasmen. For this reason scheduling coverage 24/7 between the 10 or so drivers and 12 or so crew chiefs was very difficult. In my opinion 3 of the best college EMS services to look at and get information from would be Harpurs Ferry at Binghamton, Five Quad at Albany and the University at Stony Brook's ambulance service. Speaking to other services at the NCEMSF conference can also get you some great information.

It looks like some kind of lighting or power supply maybe.

I believe that is a piece of equipment that is placed on the third rail and alerts if it is energized. I saw a similar piece of equipment being carried by DCFD down there.

That was an excellent story. Its great to see Im not the only one who finds these EMS calls to be absurd.

Mohawk Ambulance up in Albany has started using them. They are replacing a mixture of McCoy Miller and AEV E350 type IIs. The ones we got are also type II E350s... Overall they are alright. The original batch ordered had very limited space in the patient compartment and a fairly poor setup. There were also some issues that the lighting package was apparently not effective. I know the more recent deliveries have a better designed layout in the patient compartment and the lighting issue has been resolved.

Other than the fact they look silly (AND THEY DO!) they seem to be alright. In the last year or so I am not aware of any major mechanical issues and they have balls...

From what ive heard they are cheaper than the competition explaining why we got them but as I said. they dont seem too bad.

is this dooms day?  westchester county sounds nuts.  stay safe and keep up the good work.

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It must be gettin real messy down there. Im up in Albany a request was just put out for any department able to deploy to westchester county for 24-48 hours with a 4WD apparatus and pumps. Its gettin pretty sloppy up here to and the rain certainly isnt slowing down.

Whats a typical assignment for Albany? I saw 3 Engines, 2 Ladders, a heavy rescue and either a chief or flycar pass and think I even heard additional units in the distance. There seemed to be long intervals between units. As if they were coming from far parts of the city.

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Auto Alarms get 2 engines and 1 truck, whichever the first unit assigned hot, everyone else routine unless upgraded.

A "box" for a reported fire is 3 engines, 2 trucks, 1 rescue (2 ff/medic flycar), 1 chief and the rescue squad. Additionally once a signal 30 is called a 3rd truck is assigned for FAST.

Is it possible they have more than one non-tillar? I am in Albany all week and two ladders passed my office on the State Office Campus earlier this week, headed to an alarm.

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Right now ladder 3 (75 KME rear mount) and reserve ladder (5?), a used rear mount they purchased from I believe the Midway FD are the only non-tillers. L1,2,4 and Reserve ladder 6 are all TDA's...

I agree they definatly have benefits, particularly with Albany's streets and the snow as was mentioned but I still think having one aerial platform was nice. Just an outside observation.

Ah, its a nice ladder but I am gonna miss the old sutphen midmount... Now ladder 3 is the only non-tiller in the city...

I remember being told that windows fogging up in the days before defrosters played a role. Not sure how accurate this actually is.

44-Control will notify the Chiefs of the affected dept, and if they do wind up getting a call in the area, they'll remind them on the radio as they sign in.

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Up here (outside Albany) the dispatchers do daily announcements in the morning which include apparatus and hydrants OOS for each department. Helpful, and lends itself well to a smaller system (7 Departments in our town)

Does anyone know if this channel was used For the Flooding in upstate New York, When westchester sent EMS Units up there?

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I would be surprised to hear of any EMS agency that doesnt have it.

All 4 EMS agencies I work for have this channel programed in all mobile radios and my two volley corps also have .715 in their portables. Also my FD has this in all portables and mobiles. Its great for use as the NYS MCI channel since in my experience almost everyone has it. In Rockland we also have a rockland county mci channel which can be used for inter-agency communications (I dont know the frequency off hand) and Albany county is in the process of creating a county channel in the next few months.

Are you talking about the Nanuet Restaurant (south of the Mall and Nanuet's firehouse) or the Nanuet Hotel and Restaurant (just to the east of the Mall)?

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I was refering to the Nanuet Restaurant, just south of the mall on middletown between orchard and church. They got the thin crust pizza so I would assume thats what x635 was refering to also.

The pizza is awesome and the owners are really great to. I've been a volly across the street at Nanuet Ambulance for years and I can't tell you how many times we've got a late job after ordering and they've stayed open late so we could pick up our food. If you've never been its definately worth a shot!

Any other word on this?

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I was sitting in my firehouse and happened to hear the "palisades parkway" on the scanner so I perked up. Lifeguard 12 out of Colonie was being dispatched and their dispatcher was advising there were already 3 birds on scene and Statflight Air-1 was being sent back to the scene for a second patient. Also apparently a number of pediatric patients.

Blood glucose measurement, not the drawing of blood (they are VERY different, and are out of the scope of practice for a EMT-B ), has been reviewed by the state and deemed a skill capable of being carried about by the EMT-B. The state is, last I was told, handling blood glucose levels the same as albuterol and epi-pen administration. Individual agencies will become certified after they have submitted a training program curriculum to the state for approval.

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That is correct. The Albany Fire Department participated in a pilot program a few years ago for BLS Glucometers. After review the state Ok'ed it and left it up to regions to set up their own protocols. My BLS volly corps up in Albany has already begun carrying albuterol and is in the last stages of the process for obtaining glucometers. This is a great program because 1) The glucometers are free, almost any company will donate them to an EMS agency knowing they will have to buy all the calibration and test strips and 2) This is a great addition for patient care. This agency, a college based ambulance service, does not get automatic ALS and often has substantial response times so the ability to do finger sticks on known diabetics and drunks (not that we ever get those) is very useful.

The one pain in the a** is like epi/albuterol everyone in the agency must be in-serviced before you can carry the glucometers and a sharps policy must be established.

ANyone here know where I can find or buy (or even better; all ready have) digital copies of FDNY battalion maps??

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http://www.carolinasfirepage.com

Go to fire resources and FDNY maps

I think this is a pretty cool thing.  I think there may be something like this in a few communities around Westchester.....

My one and only question - does the insurance that the Medic's employer provides know about this and will they cover them if God forbid something happens?  I'd hate to see a Medic helping a down Cop get hurt then find out insurance won't cover it because it was "beyond the scope of thier practice."

Anyone got pics of this stuff - I am interested in it.

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Rockland Paramedic Services have been doing this for awhile for in Rockland that I am aware of.

Our dues are $3 a year. Also we have sign duty to change the sign in front of our station and if you do not do it your week there is a $5 fine. Other than that no other fines, if you don't make 15% of calls you are subject to be removed from active status.

From what I have been told the crane is used to offload a large amount of cribbing which is stored on the top of the rear of the truck.

Great Episode. It would really be a shame if FX didnt produce another season.

I think the PIO may have a point there. I don't think it has anything to do with career vs. paid and I am sure that had a paid firefighter released a statement or images to the media without going through the proper channels a similar reprimand would follow. Although in this case it was probably fairly harmless I think there is something to be said for the existance of a public information officer who can decide what information is being released in what format and provide a consistent liason with the media. I have no doubt that had this tape been submitted to the department it would have been approved and released since it obviously would serve the department in a good light, its just a matter of going through the correct procedure. Just my 2 cents

BTW Outstanding Rescue by Kentland; the disabled victim certainly would have perished without their quick action! Great Job

Firefighters from county head to Israel

By SUZAN CLARKE

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: July 26, 2006)

Local firefighters are going to Israel to aid their counterparts who have been deployed to fight fires in the northern part of the country that is under attack by Hezbollah missiles.

Among the participants is Itamar Yeger, an attorney for the Rockland County Legislature who is deputy mayor of the village of New Hempstead.

"It's a humanitarian gesture, really, in that we're not going to fight, obviously, we're going to help out the firefighters who are already in Israel who are being overworked now," Yeger, who belongs to the Hillcrest Volunteer Fire Department, said yesterday.

Nathan Rothschild, a Monsey resident and member of the Monsey Volunteer Fire Department, is organizing the effort.

"I was reading in the papers that there was a tremendous amount of firefighter activity in Israel and they were calling on people from all over the country. ... I realized that they probably had a need to replace the firefighters that they were calling up north to put out the fires from the missile attacks and related activity," said Rothschild, who is president of the East Ramapo school board.

Israel and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon have been battling since July 12.

Rothschild, 49, said his offer of help to the Israeli government's director of fire services was eagerly accepted. He said volunteers were found through word of mouth and the Ner Tamid Society, an organization of Jewish firefighters.

About 50 firefighters from Rockland, New York City and Long Island will leave for Israel in the next three weeks. The first group is tentatively scheduled to leave today, but the departure could be delayed until later this week.

All of the volunteers are Jewish, but an additional five or 10 non-Jewish firefighters who are interested could likely take part in the mission, Rothschild said.

"Some of the guys will be there for four or five days, some a week or two, and some might stay until this whole thing is over," said Rothschild, a marketing director.

The volunteers do not yet have definite assignments and will be allowed to choose their duty station, he said.

Although homes in Israel are primarily constructed of stone — as opposed to houses in Rockland, which are mostly made of wood — Yeger said the volunteers were prepared for the challenges.

"We're aware of all different types of construction and are able to handle ourselves in all difference circumstances," he said.

As for working in the tense environment, the firefighters did not express serious concerns about potential danger.

In fact, Hillcrest volunteer firefighter Shlomo Pomeranz, another member of the contingent, said danger is part of the day's work.

"Firefighting is something that I'm trained to do," he said. "When it comes to firefighting, I have no qualms. But when it comes to traveling to a land that has some issues, I feel that my life is in God's hands, as it is every time I walk into a burning building."

Pomeranz, who works as a warehouse manager in Goshen, N.Y., said he had no reservations about joining the mission. The New Hempstead resident has siblings and other relatives who live in Israel.

"There was no question in my heart that it's the right thing to do. ... With everything that's going on, we can pray and we constantly have them in our minds, but I feel I have a gift with this unique training to be able to help," said Pomeranz, 35.

His wife, Adeeva, praised the initiative.

"I'm actually very proud of him and all of them for going," she said. "They have an ability, they have a training, and the state of Israel, which every Jew considers their homeland, is in need of their assistance, and of course you go."

Participants are either taking vacation or have been given special time off by their bosses.

Most of the venture's funding has been provided through private donations, although some volunteers are paying their own airfare, Rothschild said.

Two hotels in Israel have agreed to house the volunteers when they are not working, he said.

I remember FDNY did some type of study on speed bumps on SI a few years back. They timed a truck, an engine and an ambulance going along a certain distance both with and without speedbumps and the differences were remarkable. Personally I see there may be a need for them within parking lots or some gated community type private roads but I think they are more trouble than they are worth in most places.

Take a look at Colonie Fire Training Center, they usually have a lot going on, extremely professional instructors and students.

Also Albany County Sheriffs co-ordinate training for Albany County.

From my experience, it's a very different environment from the lower hudson area. Well worth looking in to. The departments up there are very friendly too if you are going to spend any time up there.

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I know Schenectedy County and the Town of Guilderland also offer a number of classes... Don't have any more info than that.