bil14ga

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Posts posted by bil14ga

  1. Posted

    I have many fond memories of the old Alamo and the days when it was a lot of fun to work there. I was hired by Sean Smith. Couple of things I can remember doing is looking for EKG strips in the "prego box", icing down cars behind the shop, and more than I can not put into this forum.

    Remember the Cricket Club and their wars, shots fired, and Ralph's shop catching on fire. 92 to portable 10 was the best until you called them for times and then you had to make them up.

    We worked with extraordinary people including The Big E, Bigeminy Joe, Doug C, Mike D, Eric L, Kenny H, Alexis C, Patty K, Steve D, Joyce K, Betty K, Helen K, and many more but it too early to remember them.

    RIP Alamo.

    Good luck to the emloyees who are now working with Transcare.

  3. Posted

    Not pointing fingers but a paid ems agency in western dutchess has employees that don't understand who owns the boards and just grab what they want anytime they want.

    My feelings are the only time you take another departments BB (except retuninging it to them) is during a MCI and several backboards are needed.

    I am well aware of this practice and believe that this is what has happened to it. In the past our boards have been found in St. Lukes. Since we as a rule do not transport there we believe that this is what happened.

  4. Posted

    We are looking for some assistance in finding some district owned equipment. Currently the Fairview Fire District is missing 2 yellow backboards. They have been missing some time now. They are well marked. Could the members of this board keep their eyes out at all hospitals for these items? If they are located, please feel free to PM me or e-mail me at cmaeder@fairviewfd.net. We will find a way to pick them up. Thank you in advance for the help!!!

  8. Posted

    I just wanted to take a moment to thank a special group of guys to me. The Fairview (Dutchess) FD has an outstanding group of members, who, at the moment, are fighting an uphill battle with a great number of citizens from their town. If you want to find out more, do a search on here, or on Poughkeepsie Journal site.

    I more or less feel I have been "taken in" by these guys. I have been invited to visit, chat, have dinner, and just hang out with these guys. I have gotten loads of wonderful advice, guidance, and had many great times with them. I thank the members of the Fairview FD, and the Local 2623 for treating me so well, despite all the crap you guys take.

    Some of these gentlemen are members here;

    bil14ga, mbendel36, moggie6, firefighter35, fdny2817, and yes, even you FFD941

    Thanks for showing the true spirit of brotherhood.

    http://www.fairviewfd.net/

    -Nathan

    Nate,

    Thank you for your kind words. It is nice to hear, especially with all the negative things being said about us as firefighters.

    Thank you again!!!

    Chris

  11. Posted · Edited by bil14ga

    Link to POJO News

    While a VERY nice idea and gesture, I do wish there was a "nicer" place to put this....why not at the County Fire Headquarters? I think it would get FAR more visitors there, there is always a steady stream of members at County...Mansion Square...well, let's just stay there is a steady stream of....others ;)

    But, again, very nice. I can not wait to see it. I hope it NEVER has another name added to it.

    However...............

    That statement is a little dramatic..........

    I believe that there is a memorial at the County Department of Emergency Response. I am not sure who or what is on it, but there is some sort of memorial there. Next time that you are there, look to the right side of the main building. If I recall correctly, it is near the flagpoles. This new memorial seems a little redundant to me. There is also a firefighters memorial in Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.

    Below is one of the pictures of the memorial at the cemetery that I took over the summer.

  13. Posted

    I know it was awhile ago but I thought Hudson Valley Ambulance was CMTI? Did they sell the license before they went out of business?

    Hudson Valley ambulance became CMT (Community Medical Transport) when it was purchased by Laidlaw Transportation corp. It later had a number of financial issues and went out of business. Hudson Valley Paramedics has nothing to do with this company. I believe that this company is the old Empire Ambulance.

  14. Posted

    My department actually just started the idea for the CMEs for all of our EMTs this year, so I do not have much solid info since we are still just a pilot program. Just a side note, I know my Lt. who heads our program told us about a website with a great deal of CME opportunity valid in NYS: www.emcert.com. From what I remember you can get unlimited credit hours for a year for $100, but dont quote me, just check out the site. Hope this tidbit helps.

    Be careful!!! Only 12 hours of core and 12 hours of elective CME's can be done online.

  15. Posted

    I am trying to my certification in both NY and DE. Both states allow recertification through CMEs and have the same requirements. I figure it will be easiest to recert this way vs taking 2 tests. My question is: if I take CME classes in Delaware, are they valid for credit in NY? Am I supposed to collect some sort of proof of completion after each class?

    Core CME (the 24 hours on the front page of the recert application) are required to be done with a CIC in New york. I have attached the CME based recert guide for your reference. Additional information can be found @ the following url:

    http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/main.htm

    Look through the site and you will find FAQ for the CME based recert.

    Chris

    CME_Recert_Guide.pdf

  16. Posted

    Maybe someone can give me a little insight on this? Why doesn't NY use the CME's or IST ( inservice training) as your refresher? (Other than being money hungry) I'M a NREMT-P in SC and we use the ist as our refresher as long as we meet the 48 core hours a yr and 8 hrs I think of other electives.Reason I ask is I'm trying to move back (wife willing) and you have to jump through so many hoops.Who could be spoken to help and try to change this? Any reply would be greatful.

    New york has the CME recert program. I have listed the link for the CME recert off the DOH website. Look through the recert book and the requirements. If I recall correctly, it is very similar to the NREMT cme recert except you have to have a CIC do the core content.

    Chris

    http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/c...n/cmerecert.htm

  18. Posted

    I must once again say that I am very dissapointed to see the IAFF coice on whom to support for President. I have been an IAFF member for the last 9 plus yerars and up until 4 years ago was a supporter of the IAFF PAC. I regularly gave and was proud to do so. When the IAFF supported John Kerry, I stopped giving. I could not give money towards a PAC that supported a person who turned his back on men he served with in war.

    With that being said, I am extremely upset with the IAFF support of Obama. In today's America we need an individual who will unite us and help up become a better country. The IAFF should have bit the bullet and supported McCain as he is what is best for the collective United States of America. Maybe not the best for labor, but the best choice given the two people running. He will continue the fight against terrorism, keeping our country safe. Additionally, he will not bargin with leaders of foreign countries who support terror.

    The IAFF got it wrong both this election and in the last election. This year I will be sending my check and my vote to McCain!!!

  19. Posted

    Not at all, I do not need to be euthanized just yet!!!! HAHAHAHA

    Didn't the original Dr. Kevorkian go to jail and isn't he slowly dying in some mid-western hospital?

    If I recall correctly, he was released from prison. As far as his being ill, he is positive for Hep C. I think at one time after his release he looked at running for a political office. I for one believe that he is a great man and was well before his time. I find it difficult to understand how it is OK to put an animal down when terminally ill, but not a person. Maybe one day we as a society will understand that he was truely helping people.

    Just my opinion!!!

    Chris

  20. Posted

    All pt's get the same speech from me..."I am offering you treatment and transport to the hospital and by signing here you are refusing my treatment. I am not a doctor nor am I an x-ray machine and you could have underlying injuries which I cannot see that could cause serious injury and/or death. If you have any further symptoms contact an emergency facility immediately."

    By saying the same thing every time to every pt you eliminate that risk of not saying the "right" thing to that one pt that brings you to court.

    Justin,

    I believe that I have heard that speech before. Just remember that just saying it is not enough... You must document that you said it on the PCR. Without the proper documentation, it never happened!!! And before you ask... no you can not have any CME's for this!!!! See you in a couple of days!!!!

    Chris

  22. Posted

    You are wrong about LOSAP. The State has very strict requirements on this. Each member has to make a certain amount of points in different catagories. For example, a "buff" who makes every call, but does not show-up for meetings, drills, OSHA training, etc. will not make his points and in turn will not receive his $ credit for that year.

    For any of you skeptics out there - I know what I am talking about because I am the LOSAP Administrator for our F.D.

    And I must not know what I am talking about right??? Lets see, I have been active in volunteer departments that have abused the system to get points for their members. Lets create BS positions for 5 or 10 points and help you get their that much quicker. Additionally, I was a commissioner for a fire department that had a give away LOSAP program. Show up to the meetings, become company president, captain of the fire police, etc. You could get your 50 points whith never going on a call. It is a joke. It is a waste of money. It is criminal how some of these programs are ran. Also, the member who responds 50 percent of the calls gets the same monthly credit as someone who serves coffee at company meeting night. I can show you the minutes of the meetings where I put a motion on the floor to get rid of the system and never got a second. The old timers were afraid of losing their paycheck.

    Maybe your program is ran on the up and up. It has been my experience that most are not. Add to that the numerous programs that are underfunded. Therefore I am completely against the LOSAP and volunteer tax incentives. Give the volunteers something tangable in their pockets now.

  23. Posted

    I'm not sure how i feel about this bill. It's cool that they will give vollies a break here and there, but for some reason i get the inkling that there is an assumption that those that does this in a career capacity are doing financially well. I've got to work 3 and 4 jobs to make ends meet (credit card bills, insurance bills, paying back student loans, FUEL!!). I only walk away with a few hundred dollars every pay period in my savings account. What i would rather see our esteemed NY State government do is address some of the larger issues - like duplication of resources, streamline consolidation efforts, let counties run FDs and EMS and push for having EMS as a third, dedicated, civil service. Maybe i'm bias but i just see some larger fish to fry out there...

    I agree. streamlining government and services should be where our government should be spending their time and energy. It is my opinion that this will work about as well as the LOSAP has. LOSAP has become a give away program in many departments. This will be a give away program for "volunteers" who do little if any response to actual emergencies.

    Do not get me wrong... I am pro volunteer!!!! Volunteers that are trained and interested in providing above average customer service.