helicopper

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Not a problem. Not that many people go to their games anymore anyway.

Title, blue light, service award, not to mention other benefits. I joined in an era where you got nothing but your gear and uniform. Annual picnic you paid out of your pocket and was glad to do it. You were told to keep your mouth shut and learn. You never had to be told to do anything you just did it. Community service meant something. Now it's all about "what can I get?".

Here is a video on how the KO Fire Curtain works

Here is a pretty good link that explains the different levels of vets protection and why it will stop a bullet, but not a knife.
http://www.safeguardarmor.com/body-armor-levels/
They do sell ballistic inserts for the vests that can defeat knifes, but they are niot that large, and mostly cover teh center of the chest, not the entire coverage area of the vest.
I am not totally against EMS wearing vest, but I often get the impression that "we need these, so lets buy a couple and put them on every rig." If you are going to do it, do it right. Have the vest professionally sized, and purchased for each member that rides. Assign it to only that person. No sharing. Make them wear it every call, regardless if grandma fell and broke her hip, inter hospital transports, or it is an assault call with weapons involved. We do not share turnout gear or stethoscopes do we?. It will do you no good sitting in a compartment of an ambulance when the fecal matter hits the fan. YOU WILL NOT HAVE TIME TO PUT IT ON THEN.
I also find it funny that the quieter suburban and rural areas always seem to push for this, when the guys running around the busy urban areas, who often have vest assigned to them and it never leaves their locker in the station. The argument that our PD doesn't get dispatched to our EMS runs is the same in both. Yes, the NYPD will be dispatched to a lot of the aided calls, but when they are short handed, or extremely busy, the PD is not going to get there until everything is over most times. Is there really a need for the vests, or is this a "this is the latest greatest thing, we need to be the best" nonsense that wastes tons or resources to never be used.

Thats a lot better than many places, but it does not meet OSHA (or PESH depending on the type of Agency)
29 CFR1910.132 General Requirements
29 CFR 1910.133 (Eye and face protection);
29 CFR 1910.134 (Respiratory protection):
29 CFR 1910.135 (Head protection);
29 CFR 1910.136 (Foot protection);
29 CFR 1910.137 (Electrical protective equipment);
29 CFR 1910.138 (Hand protection)
And others (Body, Fire, etc.). For assitance start with this: http://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3151.pdf

Vests must be fitted to the user. Too big, and you can not sit down without the vest riding up and hitting you in the chin, too small and it will leave gaps on the sides and vital areas. Also most vests are guaranteed for only 5 years by their manufacturers, however some departments can not afford to replace them when the hit that time limit. The NYPD gives its officers one vest, that's it, there is no spare to use if you clean it, or it is sweating from working during the summer. You want to replace it, save up your money (which if you use the uniform allowance money, it will take two years, without spending any money on any uniform items. We get $1000 a year lumped into the first paycheck in December, and it is taxed so you end up with just less than $%600). Vests also lose effectiveness when they get wet. You can not launder the ballistic insert, only the carrier. The insert is usually recommended to be clean with a damp cloth., so if multiple people are going to share them, its going to get disgusting quickly. Most vests also provide very little to no protection against bladed weapons, i.e. knives, daggers, etc and nothing against explosive devices. Rifle rounds and high powered handgun rounds will penetrate most vests on the market
I also disagree that law enforcement is better than anyone else. We are held to a higher standard than anyone else. Get arrested for a domestic incident, and convicted you are fired (federal law about domestics and gun ownership).
If the scene is not safe you do not enter...first thing they teach in EMT class.

Why I try only comment on Police issues,there is a few things that need to addressed here:
1-Ballistic vests will not protect anyone from a .223cal round as was used in W.Webster
2-Vests serve zero protection from an explosive,and dosen't help with projectiles such as the case in Boston.
3-If there's a need for EMS to wear vests,because of the dangers of the job,than the EMS providers shouldn't be in any area until PD deems it safe.
4-EMS uniforms,are looking like more PD uniform's,especially with all the stitching and back panels,which is not a good idea,and can be unsafe.I have seen people walk up to them on Job's thinking they were the PD. NOT GOOD....
While I'm all for protection of everyone on a scene,I think EMS wearing PPE on calls especially MVA's is probably money better spent,I can telll you from over 30 years on the Job,a vest is not the answer to the problem,bottomline,if it isn't safe,you shouldn't be there.
So,I'm not sure of the justification for buying the vests???

Dogs and cats....sleeping together! It's mass hysteria!

1) Yes but when the contract for sanitation ends in summer and they walk out in July. 3-5 weeks of garbage pilling up and the politicians cave on negotiations.
2) Seeing as your retired EMS.....I remember friends leaving NYC*EMS for NYC Sanitation and at the time we joked that both wore green uniforms, both drove white trucks with flashing lights, both had to pick up garbage, but sanitation limited the weight and it was already out on the curb.

Or maybe our softer, gentler society has had some unintended consequences...

The reality is this is occuring in almost every VFD. Just change the names and the article can be reusedin every community.
The real issueis how will each department handle this new reality.
Way to many are either throwing dollars at recrutment/retention without a good return on investment or are ignoring the problem and are shrinking to a point they can no longer function.

Not always. Up to a point, it is actually more cost effective to cover vacancies using overtime.
With 400 vacancies and people making more than $100K in OT, I'm pretty confident that they've past that point.
Additionally, in today's economic and political environment you can't rule out the possibility that the City Administration is intentionally not filling the vacancies and running up the OT costs. OT costs soar, the fingers start pointing at the "greedy" (union) firefighters, the public gets worked up over the perception that it's the Union's fault and then the City tries to use this as leverage to make cuts in manpower, unit staffing, fire stations, benefits, etc.

Going by the pictures, it was E119 blocking the road. Not the PD!!!
(before anyone loses their mind and takes me seriously this was a JOKE!)

The LifeProof case for iPhone has served me well but it is pretty large/bulky. Being water, shock, and dust/dirt proof though does have its advantages. Comes with a belt clip that allows it to be worn at any angle.

Agreed. And yet that is exactly how we run EMS in NYS, except they get no pension benefit from working the 80 hours+ per week.
Interesting how EMS agencies are not physically safe or healthy for their employees. Which in turn makes it less safe or healthy for their patients.

Information WAS pushed out to the public. It was on the radio, NY-Alert, the internet, etc.
Unfortunately you can't MAKE people listen to the radio, read the VMS, or take responsibility for their own driving.

Now now, I never said anyone is not smart. I said they drive like morons!!!

How is this different than any of the other departments that pick and choose who comes to their sandbox?