Medic137

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Posts posted by Medic137

  1. Posted

    and 53 was the only box with a 2 small star of life's on the back....some buff put them there......no idea who.....

    Those stars appeared while old 53 was being used as Ground One at Elmwood Hall. At some point they had replaced the four speed transmission with a three speed (or locked out the fouth grear). It wouldn't go over 65. But sometimes you could get it up to 75 going down a hill and pin the cruise control. It would make awful noises trying to maintain that speed!

  4. Posted

    Poughkeepsie Journal

    Tuesday, April 3, 2007

    Pawling turns to Alamo

    PAWLING - The town board voted in favor of hiring Alamo Ambulance at an emergency meeting Friday - now it must determine how to pay for it.

    Services temporarily provided by Northern Dutchess paramedics ended 6 a.m. Sunday. This was after Empire Ambulance Service canceled its services last week.

    The contract with Alamo would end Dec. 31, Supervisor Beth Coursen said.

    An estimated $300,000 in service fees is required for the remainder of 2007. The town only has $150,000 budgeted.

    At the 5 p.m. meeting, the town board determined any amount that isn't budgeted for the service will come out of the fund balance, Coursen said. She would like to avoid resorting to that because she feels the fund balance is too low.

    "So on Wednesday, we are going to discuss cutbacks," Coursen said.

    Possible cutbacks to recreation programs and town hall services will be considered. In addition, cutbacks to the library will be examined.

    Coursen said this is provided, "they won't have a serious detrimental effect on our ability to deliver service to residents."

    In 2008, the town will either have to raise taxes to pay for the ambulance service or cut back in services.

    "I favor cutbacks ... the property owners in the community sent clear messages to the government they can't afford more property tax increases," Coursen said.

    -Leigh Gomez

    It seems that a full time ALS ambulance costs about $1200 per day. The other towns better start saving up!

  5. Posted

    As a stopgap measure, the town board at the Friday meeting hired Northern Dutchess Paramedics up through April 1 at a cost $10,350. On Wednesday, March 28, the board will be meeting at 5 p.m. to choose among five proposals from emergency providers that would provide a slightly more long-term solution, with service from April through the end of the year.

    If NDP needed slightly more than $1,000. per day to cover until April 1, Why is the town board shocked at $350,000 per year? dry.gif

  6. Posted

    03/30/2007

    Public health crisis averted

    By: Weston Berg

    The Pawling Town Board met in an emergency session last Friday evening to address a sudden public health crisis, as the state Department of Health deemed it, triggered by a sudden announcement by Empire Ambulance that it would be discontinuing emergency services to the town, creating a potentially perilous and unforeseen situation for residents.

    Since December, the town had been receiving service through Empire for no charge and with no contract, under an agreement that it would continue to do so until April 1 while Town Supervisor Beth Coursen, through SEDAC, a consortium of officials neighboring Dover, Union Vale, and Beekman, prepared a request for bids seeking a regional ambulance provider that would service all four towns at an affordable rate.

    But that all changed very suddenly last week, a few weeks after SEDAC's request went out, when Empire informed the town it couldn't afford to maintain the relationship and announced they would be discontinuing services in less than 24 hours.

    The sudden news left the town board scrambling to find a new provider. Meanwhile Coursen bought time by convincing Empire to continue service up until 6 p.m. last Friday, the date of the meeting.

    As a stopgap measure, the town board at the Friday meeting hired Northern Dutchess Paramedics up through April 1 at a cost $10,350. On Wednesday, March 28, the board will be meeting at 5 p.m. to choose among five proposals from emergency providers that would provide a slightly more long-term solution, with service from April through the end of the year.

    The startling pull out from Empire left many on the board stunned, especially considering its stated agreement, recorded in past meeting minutes, that they would continue service to the town until April, which representatives had said could be sustained through insurance company payments.

    "My speculation is that Empire believed that it would be rewarded the contract in absence of having to respond for our request for proposal," said Town Councilman James Benson.

    "Empire made a very firm commitment that's recorded to provide us ambulance service free of charge for the first three months. We relied on Empire's assurances and we had no reason to believe otherwise."

    Though a bid did come back from Empire, after it had made its jarring announcement, Coursen said it was far too expensive to act on in time.

    "We pretty quickly got sticker shock," said Coursen, describing the consortium's reaction to the $350,000 bid that came back. The last time Pawling had such a contract was in 2005 with Alamo, for $127,000.

    "When SEDAC made the announcement that we weren't awarding the contract in April, Empire did not take that well," explained Coursen.

    Though Dover, Union Vale, and Beekman all currently have contracts until the end of the year, Pawling does not, making it the only town seriously endangered by the emergency.

    Meanwhile, as Pawling prepares to make a decision that will ensure the safety of residents for the rest of the year, Coursen said SEDAC will continue to consider its proposals for 2008.

    According to Coursen, the crisis highlighted a growing area of concern, besides high ambulance costs, in particular, the increasing reliance of the community on emergency services, even as volunteerism for them decreases. Though surrounding communities do have volunteer EMTs, Pawling does not.

    "One of the good outcomes of this very precarious situation is going to be a realization on the part of members of the community that emergency services are extremely important," said Coursen, warning the town not to lose sight of the value of its volunteer fire department, which could one day face a similar predicament if a dwindling ability to recruit forces the town to switch over to paid firefighters.

    "I ask all of you to please do your best to support all the members of the fire department."

    Pawling News Chronicle

  8. Posted

    On the west side you can use 453.7875 PL#503 to link to 46.38. 453.1875 PL 123.0 will link you to EMS 155.205. The Empire State Flycars have UHF extenders in the 460.0 range. If one of them is nearby (within a half mile or so) you can use them to receive or transmit on Channel 5. PM me for the freq and PL.

    I don't know why the county doesn't make better use of the VHF system they have in place. I can open that repeater with a portable from anywhere in the county.

    I have not heard of any plans the county has to upgrade the radio system.

  11. Posted

    The night of the I-287 job, I was dispatching for Empress down in Yonkers, when all of a sudden 60 Control pops up on Empress's frequency with the following (according to my failing memory):

    "60 Control to Empress Central, we have a report of a small airliner down north of I-287, multiple fires and patients on the ground.  How many ambulances can you send me?"

    My dispatch partner and I looked at each other with an "oh sh$t" expression and then ended up sending multiple units, including the entire off-going BLS transport shift, and a supervisor, who ended up lost somewhere for four hours. 

    Marty Gallagher was working 60 that night....I remember trying to get more info as the night went on, and how utterly collected he was as the radio traffic was so chaotic.

    I was one of the EMTs just getting off work at Empress when Scooter ran out of dispatch and shouted "Nobody leaves! There was a plane crash in White Plains."

    We all hopped back in our ambulances and boogied up there. On the way there we were updated that it was a propane truck. (We then tossed our cigarettes out the windows) My partner and I were in the first ambulance to reach the south side of the scene. There were basically two MCIs. One on each side of 287. We transported three patients to White Plains Hosp.

  12. Posted

    FDA AND NIOSH Public Health Notification: Oxygen Regulator Fires Resulting from Incorrect Use of CGA 870 Seals

    (You are encouraged to copy and distribute this information)

    Updated: June 19, 2006

    Dear Colleagues:

    We are updating the Public Health Notification of April 24, 2006 alerting you to the danger of fires at the interface of oxygen regulators and cylinder valves because of incorrect use of CGA 870 seals, and to point out an important precaution you can take to avoid such fires.

    This update clarifies the FDA and NIOSH recommendation on the use of sealing- type washers (reusable, metal-bound rubber seal) and crush-type gaskets (single use, not reusable, usually Nylon ®) with oxygen regulators. We believe that this new language will alleviate concerns around the proper use of both types of seals.

    Background

    FDA has received 12 reports in which regulators used with oxygen cylinders have burned or exploded, in some cases injuring personnel. Some of the incidents occurred during emergency medical use or during routine equipment checks. FDA and NIOSH believe that improper use of gaskets/washers in these regulators was a major factor in both the ignition and severity of the fires, although there are likely other contributing factors.

    Two types of washers, referred to as CGA 870 seals, are commonly used to create the seal at the cylinder valve / regulator interface: The type recommended by many regulator manufacturers is a metal-bound elastomeric sealing washer that is designed for multiple use applications. The other common type, often supplied free-of-charge with refilled oxygen cylinders, is a plastic (usually Nylon ®) crush gasket suitable for single use applications.

    When used more than once, the Nylon ® crush gaskets require higher torque than the elastomeric sealing washers in order to seal the cylinder valve / regulator interface, and if they are used again, they require more torque with each successive use. The cylinder valve / regulator connection is designed to be hand-tightened. If the crush gaskets are re-used, the need for increased torque may require using a wrench or other hand tool, which can deform the crush gasket and damage the cylinder valve and regulator. This can result in leakage of oxygen past the cylinder valve seat and across the nylon crush gasket. According to a forensic analysis supported by FDA and NIOSH, “flow friction” caused by this leakage of compressed oxygen across the surface of the crush gasket may produce enough thermal energy to spontaneously ignite the nylon gasket material.

    Recommendations

    FDA and NIOSH recommend that plastic crush gaskets never be reused, as they may require additional torque to obtain the necessary seal with each subsequent use. This can deform the gasket, increasing the likelihood that oxygen will leak around the seal and ignite.

    The following general safety precautions should also be taken to avoid explosions, tank ruptures and fires from oxygen regulators.

    Always “crack” cylinder valves (open the valve just enough to allow gas to escape for a very short time) before attaching regulators in order to expel foreign matter from the outlet port of the valve.

    Always follow the regulator manufacturer’s instructions for attaching the regulator to an oxygen cylinder.

    Always use the sealing gasket specified by the regulator manufacturer.

    Always inspect the regulator and CGA 870 seal before attaching it to the valve to ensure that the regulator is equipped with only one clean, sealing- type washer (reusable metal-bound rubber seal) or a new crush-type gasket (single use, not reusable, typically Nylon ®) that is in good condition.

    Always be certain the valve, regulator and gasket are free from oil or grease. Oil or grease contamination is widely known to contribute to ignition in oxygen systems.

    Tighten the T-handle firmly by hand, but do not use wrenches or other hand tools that may over-torque the handle.

    Open the post valve slowly. If gas escapes at the juncture of the regulator and valve, quickly close the valve. Verify the regulator is properly attached and the gasket is properly placed and in good condition. If you have any questions or concerns contact your supplier.

    Reporting to FDA

    FDA requires hospitals and other user facilities to report deaths and serious injuries associated with the use of medical devices. If you suspect that a reportable adverse event was related to the use of medical gas equipment, you should follow the reporting procedure established by your facility.

    We also encourage you to report adverse events related to medical gas equipment that do not meet the requirements for mandatory reporting. You can report these directly to the device manufacturer. You can also report to MedWatch, the FDA’s voluntary reporting program. You may submit reports to MedWatch by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088; by FAX at 1-800-FDA-0178; by mail to MedWatch, Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787; or online at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.

    Getting More Information

    If you have questions about this notification, please contact the Office of Surveillance and Biometrics (HFZ-510), 1350 Piccard Drive, Rockville, Maryland, 20850, Fax at 240-276-3356, or by e-mail at phann@cdrh.fda.gov. You may also leave a voice mail message at 240-276-3357 and we will return your call as soon as possible.

    FDA medical device Public Health Notifications are available on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety.html. You can also be notified through e-mail each time a new Public Health Notification is added to our web page. To subscribe to this service, visit: http://service.govdelivery.com/service/sub...de=USFDACDRH_10. Sincerely yours,

    Daniel Schultz, MD

    Director

    Center for Devices and Radiological Health

    Food and Drug Administration

    Nancy Stout, Ed.D.

    Director, Division of Safety Research

    National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

    Updated June 19, 2006

    http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/safety/042406-o2fires.html

  13. Posted

    Woman gets DNR tatoo

    Woman Gets 'DO NOT RESUSCITATE' Tattoo

    Thu May 18, 7:27 PM ET

    DECORAH, Iowa - Mary Wohlford has made it perfectly clear what her final wishes are: it's written in ink — on her chest. Wohlford, 80, had the words "DO NOT RESUSCITATE" tattooed on her chest in February.

    Wohlford hopes she's made her wishes perfectly clear should she become incapacitated. She also has a living will hanging on the side of her refrigerator.

    "People might think I'm crazy, but that's OK," she said. "Sometimes the nuttiest ideas are the most advanced."

    But Wohlford's decision to have her final wishes imprinted on her chest have raised some legal issues.

    Some medical and legal experts doubt that Wohlford's tattoo would be binding in the emergency room or in court. But they give her credit for originality.

    "I'll be darned," said Bob Cowie, a Decorah lawyer and chairman of the Iowa Bar Association's probate and trust law section.

    "There are easier ways to do it than that," said Cowie, who suggested people sign a living will or authorize a medical power of attorney.

    Wohlford said she knows some people might find the tattoo amusing. But she said her motive is serious.

    "This is a modern day and age," she said. "You have to advance with the times. We never even had a living will 20 years ago. Now I think we've got to go to the next step."

    So, will Wohlford's tattoo stop an Iowa doctor from resuscitating her? No, said Dr. Mark Purtle, who works at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.

    Purtle said Iowa law defines when caregivers are permitted to end life-sustaining measures. A tattoo isn't enough, he said.

    He recommended a living will or an advanced directive, with a copy placed in the patient's medical charge. He also said people should discuss their wishes with family members.

    ___

    Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com

  14. Posted

    JT1000. Same as the HT1000 but user programmable via the keypad. You can also use the keypad to tone into the hospital HEAR radios if you happen to be in a rig without a VHF mobile radio. I have the VHF and the UHF models. The only thing they won't do is send an identifier. Reliable and almost indestructible.

  15. Posted

    keep the patient moving toward the hospital, whether its how to get them to the stretcher, the stretcher in the bus and the bus enroute to the hospital. 

    Now that BLS ambulances carry AEDs, Albuterol, and Epi pens, you've probably done all the things I can do quickly. If they haven't worked the odds are I'm not going to make a big difference either. (yes, there are some exceptions) Get the bus moving to the hospital. Medics get lost, and flycars break down. When you see my lights in your rear view mirror you can pull over. Until then, keep moving!

  18. Posted

    Police and EMS usually work alone or in pairs without direct supervision. Firefighters, on the other hand, always work in squads or companies supervised by a LT or Captain and under command of a Chief. Considering there was a death and a serious injury on this scene, I would be more concerned about the leadership rather than the background of the firefighters.

  19. Posted

    414,

    I don't think anyone is laying the problems with communications in Putnam entirely at the feet of the dispatchers. It's not the people behind the mic that are dropping the ball on a consistent basis, it's the people behind them. And ultimately, it's the politicians who live and die by the annual tax increase. Upgrading the radio system to the 21st century (or even the late 20th) doesn't provide much of a monument to point to when explaining where tax money goes. Big new buildings do.

  25. Posted

    " that had possibly committed suicide, so it was not going to release the kid's name to protect him and his family. I read the article, and then noticed, that right next to, I mean RIGHT next to the article was the kid's obituary :D "

    I was thinking the same thing. If they really wanted to protect the family they would have left the suicide speculation out of the article.