paratrooper75

Way to just put up an idiot post and start all kinds of rumors! This is why I'm never on this stupid site anymore but I got an email and felt obligated to reply to this bs. Get the facts before posting something like this. All you are doing is starting a massive rumor and getting people worked up for no reason. TC Hudson Valley is separate from TC Westchester, NYC, etc. Putnam will not be losing their service and the HV division as well as Pittsburg will not be ceasing operations.  Also, I will not be replying or coming back on so.. aha, got ya last.

So why call? Most people think of a helicopter as a "fast ambulance". While this is true, the abilities of the flight crew are far greater than the average ALS ambulance. I agree that if the transport time is going to be 20 minutes then by all means go by ground. Just remember that the air crew offers more than just a fast ride. Some of their capabilities include video laryngoscopy, RSI, surgical cricothyrotomy, pericardiocentisis, intraosseous infusions, and mechanical ventilatory management . They carry some familiar equipment like EZ-IO guns, pelvic binders, and CAT tourniquets. Some additional medications that are carried and not found on ambulances are Ancef for open fractures, warmed Lactated Ringers solution for hypovolemic patients, Mannitol for head traumas, and Tranexamic acid to help slow internal hemorrhage. All of these measures are greatly beneficial for patients with extended transport times but can also be very useful and sometimes necessary for patients that may be within driving distance to a trauma center. Hope this helps!

Several VAC's in Westchester (and Putnam and Dutchess too?) have an paid EMT to help cover calls. I've been listening to my scanner, and several agencies still have trouble getting crews. Why not just hire another paid EMT so you have a full crew? What is the point of one EMT when you have to page multiple times for another EMT or Driver and not get one?

My favorite is when two neighboring VAC's each have one EMT/driver on and get toned out and neither can get a full crew! Why not consolidate and rotate departments with a full crew? These two VAC's have a very low call volume so one full crew would be much more beneficial then two incomplete crews. The phrase "take it with the medic" is common place now.

I use the Zoll in the air and on the ground. I've also used the LP12 and LP15. The Zoll X-series/Propaq wins hands down.

But there not fishing on the Bearing Sea every day of the year either

True, which makes their death rate that much more substantial. They lost 32 fisherman in a recent year. When you factor in the amount of commercial fisherman currently working in the US that puts them at a fatality rate of 1 in 835 workers . Firefighting on the other had lost 107 firefighters in a recent year. With over 1.2 million firefighters in the US that equates to roughly 1 in 11,000. So like I stated before, statistically they are very far apart. That said, firefighting in my eyes is still dangerous just not on a scale that would be comparable.

Statistically firefighting isn't even close. Not to say its not dangerous but lets face it, you're not running in to burning buildings everyday.

How about etiquette in general? How many parades have you been to where you see guys in uniform with their shirt untucked, tie falling off, hat all crooked, drinking beer? And some ff's wonder why the publics perseption isn't always favorable. Ever see military personnel look like that? Nope, because there is respect for the uniform and what it stands for.

Nice to see a factual, non-biased, and non-opinionated answer. What a concept!

Kind of amazed at the level of misinformation presented here. The basic facts are:

The Somers Fire District did originally end the WEMS dispatching contract as of 12/31/13. At their request, they extended the contract twice, currently slated to end 9/30/14. WEMS agreed to this for the benefit of the district and the town. This gives them the needed time to fully switch to 60-Control, which is the current plan. The plan for WEMS is to re-locate our dispatch center to our HQ where it can better be managed at the end of the current contract.

Prior to WEMS being contracted in 2002, SFD employed their own dispatchers. They felt rather than continue to manage staff, it would be beneficial to outsource for personnel. The staff is shared between the two services which saved SFD a considerable amount of money rather than having dedicated dispatchers. In addition to dispatching, the dispatchers provide a considerable number of services including monitoring security cameras for four stations with over a dozen pieces of equipment. They also help manage the LOSAP system, state reporting, and possibly most importantly they provide a 24 hour emergency presence in town, since there is no full time police department. This was well appreciated with the recent storms of the last few years.

The SFD continues to evaluate the costs and benefits of using their own dispatchers, with WEMS, or switching to 60-Control. There's really no "drama" or "controversy".

I guess no one in MKFD wants anyone to know they are a volunteer fire chief. Ghost graphics, slim line, and black???? Buff much? lol

Awesome bosses, great equipment, top notch vehicles, friendly and supportive hospital staff, helpful police officers, and dedicated volunteers. What more can you ask for!

Short answer.. never.

It's time EMS writes it's protocols based off evidence based research and not just because "that's how we've always done it". I've included two links that show the effects of the excess use of oxygen and why backboards are overused.

Overuse of backboards:

http://mobile.emsworld.com/article/10964204/prehospital-spinal-immobilization

Excess use of oxygen:

http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/58/1/86.full

You hit the expedite button in the flycar/amblaunce to get to the scene 10 seconds faster and make no difference in patient outcome while endangering yourself and your crew for no reason.

Danbury is a level 2. We transport people out of Danbury and St francis frequently that were brought in as a trauma but need a level 1 center due to their injuries. While air transport from a scene is generally used for time critical patients we also carry a number of advanced care devices/medications not found on ground ambulances. By no means delay transport especially if it's less than a 30 minute ride but also keep in mind the specialized care a critical care team can provide.

.. and to answer your question they would go to WMC from Brewster. Patients choice only comes into play when there are two equidistant hospitals from the scene.

If they come into NY mutual aid or as the primary unit in lower Orange/Rockland/Western Westchester they take the patient to the closest appropriate trauma center. Most likely a level 1 but they can go to a level 2 at their own discretion.

A couple Putnam Valley guys I know didn't get a text about a call so you can prob rule out PV.

I recently stumbled across this unique piece of equiptment on a webpage highlighting the Virginia Beach Fire Department and Norfolk Fire Rescue . Here's the link to the company as well.

http://www.rechners....fighter-luf-60/

PUUUUKKKEEEE!!!!!!!!!

Disgraceful, the 2007 test is in appeals now. I hope all this bs just helps our cause and gets the ruling overturned.

Breaking News: White kids turned away today at 7pm at Queens high school by the Vulcan Society! The Vulcans running the prep class for the upcoming firefighter exam told the white kids, "If you are not on a previous vulcan list, you can not come in."..... What is going on?!?

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/fanning_racial_fires_S5xwhBS0hIgoVSZQjXuDLK

Wonder if insurance will cover these. Haha.

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20111007/HEALTH_CARE/111009916

Just two points.. Picking your race is mandatory on the online application. I just did it yesterday. Also, not to insult anyones intelligence but this test is going to be a step above color by number and connect the dots. The last test was an insult because it was so easy so I cant wait to see how they can come up with something more simple.. time will tell.

Nobody should be defending this judge in any way. He's going about this all the wrong way and making inicent well deserving people pay for it.

First 1,000? How many do you project will take the exam? What is considered a desireable grade?

Put it this way, they expect 40,000 to sign up to take the test. Last test there were around 20,000 who passed it. The 2003 exam went into the 5000+ range on list numbers (correct me if Im wrong). On the exam from 2007 the highest list number that didn't have any bonus points (ie. Vets, Legacy, City resident) wasn't even in the top 2000. So get close to a 100 and you're in good shape get a 100+ and you are in better shape, get a 120 and you're all set. The top 2000 were only seperated by less than 3 points and all had bonus points of some kind.

On a side note,

To do some math to promote optimism (lol) heres a way to look at it: FDNY CID states it takes around 2.5 list numbers to hire one proby. In a perfect world they hold two academies a year at 220ish probys each (300 minus the 80 or so from the promo test, again a rough estimate scenerio here) for four years that'll be 1760 hires which means reaching around list number 4400ish. Thats a very rough estimate but it'll give you an idea. There are obviously way too many variables to take into consideration for an accurate estimate.

Hope I helped..