velcroMedic1987

I think you'll find that almost every EMT instructor agrees with you. They will also agree there are probably 30-40 other topics worthy of additional instruction. So the question is are you willing to take an EMT course that is 600 hours long instead of 200?
No? You're not? That's too long for an EMT course? Well then, I guess we better cut back to the bare minimums so we appease everyone.
EMT Instructors don't have a lot of flexibility. It's not like college professors who can tailor the course to suit their interests or their audience. It's a national curriculum, administered by the state, and course sponsors can't afford to add much to it without incurring additional expenses and pissing off the students.

As an ER and ICU nurse, don't bore me with information that does not matter. Most of the time we do not have time to sit by the radio and listen to a 10 min long report when you could have easily condensed the info into literally 2 minutes and a couple of sentences.

SO then wouldn't that go on your PCR? I do not see the point of giving initials and DOB.... I don't see the point of calling a hospital period for routine BLS or ALS calls unless there is a trauma alert, code, etc.

No idea if that was a traffic signal, stop sign, or what but either way its a reminder to slow down and stop at intersections....even at 3 AM!

So I see a 2 cubic foot wastepaper basket on fire, I dial 911, they process the call and tone out the local department in 1 min. At the 10 minute mark (based on the fire propagation curve) the fire has grown to 4,096 cubic feet (a 20 x 25 room) and still no one has responded.
We retone another dept. again 1 minute and they get on the road in 2 minutes. The drive from there district to the scene is 5 minutes. The fire is now consumed a 130,000 square foot structure. (approx: 500 ft x 260 ft).
If your wait is that long the incident is already over.

Subdued might be slightly understating it? Some EDP dies, and it is likely tragic as not every EDP is a POS or common criminal, so I'd say the headline is probably true. The trooper will likely second guess himself as taking a life isn't as easy as it seems on TV. Someone's child is dead. None of this means the trooped had any other option or that his actions weren't exactly right, it may be that sometimes we look to hard for controversy? Clearly the outcome is far better when the person causing the issue is the only one hurt or killer, but certainly still may be tragic. now if the guy was a true POS, then I'd say not so tragic.

Does being despondent about a life changing event, such as a divorce, really make one an EDP?
Or was there a HISTORY of mental illness?

The main issue I have with this line of thinking is the fact that the firefighter in question is a 10 year veteran.
If he was an 18 year old probie who grew up in an all black neighborhood, and was suddenly assigned to an all white neighborhood I could understand some hesitation as he may feel that the patients would be uncomfortable with him. But in his 10 years of service that issue should have gotten worked out.
The fact that this firefighter still does this tells me that if it is not intentional racism, it is then, failure to adapt to the emergency services (i.e. being able to deal with all ethnicities)

Lately there seems to be a strong emphasis on harassment and harassment policies in emergency services. While I don't condone or encourage any form of deliberate harassment against anyone due to their race, religion, gender, etc...I do wonder if this has become a shield for the thin skinned or those with agendas. Like many on here I remember the days of good old fashioned b*** breaking and pranks and many times being the target of it and laughed with it and got even and laughed even more. It was a sense of belonging. A sense of trust. I also remember many strong disagreements and arguments, some very intense but at the end of the day it was over. Today you have to worry if someone will take what you say or do to the point where they will file internal or even get a lawyer or run to the police ( yes I have seen this happen) and look to file outside charges. I feel it has come to a point where you truly have to be careful what you say and do because you never know how someone is going to take it and it is unfortunate because I feel most incidents are not intended to be malicious rather innocent yet there is a chance someone may take it the wrong way and harassment policies that I have read are pretty much clear cut with zero tolerance by the AHJ and the AHJ has to act if a complaint is brought to them.
Here's to the good old days!!!

ADHD is one of the most over diagnosed disorders. I know someone was put on ADHD meds by a GP as an adult, then quickly taken off them once he saw an actual psychiatrist, who thought that the MD was nuts for prescribing them to him. He told me that the psychiatrist told him that, in his opinion, 75-80% of the people prescribed ADHD meds don't actually need them.

Also, I thought there was research out their that said CISD, or at least mandatory CISD ended up doing more harm than good?
I know several people wrote into JEMS after they did a pro-CISD article bringing this fact up
EDIT: As far as the ADHD comment was concerned, I know of at least one specific case where someone was on medication for ADHD, didn't disclose it, and went on to serve honorably in the US Army ABN during Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom. Had they disclosed the fact they were on medication as an elementary school child, they would have been kept out of the Army.
I just don't think it is right, that one has a better chance of being hired with criminal arrests (that were plea-bargained to violations) as a teenager or young adult, then with having seen a psych doctor as a small child

That's my thoughts exactly. I've heard the issue has been brought up to the higher ups multiple times but no one will do anything about it. And no he's not an officer. I've argued the affirmative action being just with hiring practices but I've heard people believe that it carries over into work itself saying it protects his beliefs. Bigotry is not a belief.
It's just another issue that shows no matter what you do, racism will never go away because of people like that.

This behavior of line officers and chief officers is all too common in this business. Many seem simply unwilling to fight this uphill battle. The strength of EEO offices (often mojority populated by minorities) has allowed for the sheltering of those who are substandard or willfully neglectful of thier duties. They regard authority as hostile and blame anyone but themselves for poor performance. They take refuge from duly earned criticism under the all too protective "race card". This shameful crutch is damaging to our profession and to the successful and prosperous members who make up the majority of minority members.
Lets just wipe race from every discusion. Deal with people as individuals and not make excuses for anyone's behavior. There is a sore lack of personal responsibility in our culture and it manages to infect our profession as well.

Make a complaint to that cities Human Resources Department. If he is a CFR or EMT, make a complaint as well to the State Dept of Health. Affirmative Action may have gotten him his job, it does not give him the right to act like a boob.

Is this guy the engine officer? If not, who is and why isn't he/she doing their job? If this guy's the officer, someone above him is either in the dark or is hiding there.

As others have said, this is not protected by affirmative action. Unfortunatly numbers of minorities hired does and often depts are unwilling to deal with issues like this because they do not want to upset the numbers.
If the party is mandated to be an emt (or other level of state certified provider) to maintain employment. Sometimes the state can be called in as the heavy and let them push him out by suspending his cert.

Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin" into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group "in areas of employment, education, and business".
By no means does this scenario have anything to do with affirmative action, this is a violation of the oath this individual took when he raised his right hand and swore to faithfully discharge his duties. This type of behavior within in the department is just like a cancer in the body, not treated aggressively, they both will have the same results.

What ever happened to the EMD standard that was supposed to be implemented by the REMAC committee? I Thought all "ALS" agencies were supposed to have EMD capabilities by 2014

Drunk or sober, isn't bow riding illegal anyway? If they were blocking the view of the operator, it's stlil not the barge's fault. The barge didn't make him operate drunk (so accused), or at an unsafe speed (inference), at night with improper equipment (no radar, spot lights). So let's put the responsibility squarely where it belongs - on the operator. How many other boats are transiting the Hudson without crashing into the barges?
What does the recreational boater or even the first responder have to do with the issue of life preservers? It's a criminal investigation and the legal authorities will have to filter the truth from the BS.
Tragic completely preventable accident. Period.

Just wondering where were the Westchester and Rockland helicopters? Why did NYC have to come up to the TZB again?
Was it really a seamless integrated response or was it the usual Rockland command, Westchester Command, everyone does their own thing on the water response?

Civilians need to use their heads first and foremost.
The one thing that people need to realize is that there are very few if any unmarked cars that still use cherry lights, most unmarked cars light up like christmas trees when you throw the lights on.
I have worked plain clothes for the last 7 years and all of our unmarked cars, even the good cars are well lit so if a car tries to stop you with a single light that looks shady, they should call 911 and tell them their concern while continuing to drive to a well populated, well lit area.
That is of course not to say that an impersonator wouldn't or couldn't go to great lengths to hook a car up to look legit but it is pretty unlikely.
The public also needs to be aware of light colors, if someone is trying to pull you over with a single amber, green or blue light, thats not the cops.
The flip side of this is that a perp can easily try to employ this argument while destroying evidence while he " drives to a well populated area because he is concerned with his safety." As with many things in law enforcement, there is a huge gray area here.
In regards to this clown that has been arrest 3 or 4 times now for impersonating a cop, if someone tries to flash a badge at you ( and a fugazy looking badge at that) and tells you to pull over with no lights and no sirens and you do, you are out of your mind.

I agree with Benz. Despite what a lot of guys say, it IS sometimes about the money. Yes, we still do things for our communities, especially on our days off but when the rubber meets the road, there is still food to be put on the table and a mortgage to be paid. Although I was capable of doing something different with my life, I chose this life. I'm grateful for my defined benefits, and grateful for a flexible schedule. I'm also grateful for never spending a day in the firehouse without laughing at/with somebody or something. This isn't a job you just "kick the tires" at. There are other people behind you on the list that are willing to put their 20+ years in. Taking the job to "just go around the block" isn't fair to the municipality that paid for you to go to probie school and it certainly isn't fair to those who want to be in it for the long haul.

while that sounds very noble, we all need to pay our bills. As was told to me more that once by a 20 yr vet from DFD, who has been forced down in rank twice, "I have been to all the fires I need to see, when will somebody show me some money for what we do " They haven't had a raise in about 10 yrs and have taken a 10% pay cut along the way. They are in a real bad place right now, and it isn't like you can just go anywhere to start over. Not a lot of FD hiring right now. I see it coming to a city, town, village near you very soon.
2 yrs ago they came to NY, got demoted, Last year got demoted again, this year maybe loose their pension. I think they may stop coming to ny.

IMO I think this sign is directed towards people that like to find their car by activating the alarm which I have done before but not at Empire City. I know horses can get spooked by those types of sounds since the lot is close to the track so to me it kind of makes sense. The sign doesn't say you can't arm the alarm.

Maybe could it be people are to drunk to find their cars, so they are setting off their car alarms to find them.