OoO

This is all I could think of while reading this post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzYxz_uvtSI

Not sure where you're going with this, but I'm an advocate for junior EMS programs.
I got my start in EMS at 16 and developed a passion for it. At 16 I got the opportunity to learn and see a lot. If I waited until 18 to get involved, I would not have had the same amount of time to put into it.
I agree that digression should be used in letting junior members respond to certain calls (those involving peers, EDPs, etc) but I think these programs are important to developing the future of EMS.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I'm an advocate for junior EMS programs.
I got my start in EMS at 16 and developed a passion for it. At 16 I got the opportunity to learn and see a lot. If I waited until 18 to get involved, I would not have had the same amount of time to put into it.
I agree that digression should be used in letting junior members respond to certain calls (those involving peers, EDPs, etc) but I think these programs are important to developing the future of EMS.

- Sorry but I have to respectfully disagree with you..... I started as a CFR at 16, and I saw a lot of really awful stuff. And it taught me a lot about myself, the fragility of life and a host of other things.
Was it difficult to bear witness to that stuff?...Of course, some of what we see and experience are things most people wont ever see or encounter in their life. I agree with the fact that some people may not be able to handle it and they either need to mature or be taught about to deal with that stuff and not compartmentalize it like so many people like to do with the thought that it's the right way to deal with emotionally difficult situations. I think that younger members maybe more at risk for ineffective coping mechanisms because a lot of them (like myself at one point) do not want to seem that they 'can't handle it' or are being 'weak'. We as senior members need to help them out and talk to them about it and let them know that it's ok cry/be upset/ or sad about things. And that these feelings are normal and expressing them is far better than suppressing them.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I'm an advocate for junior EMS programs.
I got my start in EMS at 16 and developed a passion for it. At 16 I got the opportunity to learn and see a lot. If I waited until 18 to get involved, I would not have had the same amount of time to put into it.
I agree that digression should be used in letting junior members respond to certain calls (those involving peers, EDPs, etc) but I think these programs are important to developing the future of EMS.

Not sure where you're going with this, but I'm an advocate for junior EMS programs.
I got my start in EMS at 16 and developed a passion for it. At 16 I got the opportunity to learn and see a lot. If I waited until 18 to get involved, I would not have had the same amount of time to put into it.
I agree that digression should be used in letting junior members respond to certain calls (those involving peers, EDPs, etc) but I think these programs are important to developing the future of EMS.

I disagree, I think the priority needs to be to neutralize the threat in order to prevent more people from becoming hurt. If police stop to care for or extricate victims, they are allow the shooter to continue and create additional victims.
This is no different than an MCI, there is no sense on working a CPR who will eventually die while other treatable critical victims deteriorate. If you stop to work on the already injured, you will allow others to become injured.

I disagree, I think the priority needs to be to neutralize the threat in order to prevent more people from becoming hurt. If police stop to care for or extricate victims, they are allow the shooter to continue and create additional victims.
This is no different than an MCI, there is no sense on working a CPR who will eventually die while other treatable critical victims deteriorate. If you stop to work on the already injured, you will allow others to become injured.

I agree. I don't mean any disrespect, but I can't understand the "pride" that goes along with not billing. You're not billing the individual, you're billing the insurance company. We're not kicking down patient's doors to collect payment, we're not the EMS "mob". As EMS agencies, we are a part of the healthcare system, and should utilize the same compensatory measures that any other part of the healthcare system does. Collecting payment, as little or as much as it might be, offsets the overall cost needed to run the agency from the people who are actually using our services (in other words our patients). Put that collected money to good use (i.e. training, equipment, uniforms, etc.) and not on unnecessary items (i.e. parties) and it's only going to help advance the individual agency and enable you to continue to not just provide the service you currently do, but also expand your capabilities.

What does "volunteer" have to do with billing for services rendered? I think calling an agency volunteer when it doesn't pay employees is appropriate but billing for service is a valid mechanism of recouping operating expenses from the user and not the community. I think that is an effective tool and shouldn't be dismissed simply because the crews don't receive a paycheck.

After speaking briefly with one of the moderators I have decided to go ahead and start this thread. This was a thought I have been contemplating for quite some time. I travel the TSP everyday to work and often ask myself as I pass a trooper on a traffic stop, "Why don't these guys wear the safety vests?"
DOT requires that emergency personnel operating on roadways wear an ANSI approved traffic safety vest. My thought is, If we wear them with FD and EMS, than why dont LEO's wear them? I understand the tactical aspect of the job may be inhibited by the vest but as far as a traffic stop or detail, why not have it on?
Thanks for the input folks and as always, Stay Safe out there!

I gotta say....I'm a little disappointed to read some of the comments that are written here. Why are we so excited to see this movement broken up? You don't have to agree with everything they're saying or rallying for down there. You also don't have to like the people who are doing it, BUT it's nice to see a little activism. It's nice to see people pushing back against the establishment because it's our constitutional right. The basis of this action is very similar to the founding of this country. Lets not be so quick to get excited that they're being "shut down".
I don't like a bunch of leaches and do nothings, but I also don't like some CEO's salary increasing 23% while his company sheds 10,000 jobs or the bank he runs won't lend money to the honest working man. The balance of power and wealth in this country is more lopsided than it's ever been.
Remember, if you're a civil servant (as I am)or any other Union worker, these protesters are your friend! They like you. They want you to make more money and be taxed less. The people that they're rallying against want to reduce your pension because it's too lucrative. They want to close firehouses because they'll never need you. They want to ship jobs to India because it'll leave them more money to pay themselves.
Look, it's probably about time they shut down this camp-site and cleaned up the park which must be a disaster. However, lets not be so quick to jump for joy at the end of a protest that has the working man's ideals in mind.

When are you all going to learn that you can't come here and ask about ways to recruit / retain volunteer members without certain people making comments of the less-than-helpful type? Don't you know that all of us volunteer firefighters are the devil? C'mon!
If I may offer one idea for recruitment and retention, here it is.
Make your department one that people take pride in and are willing to be an active part of because it's their department. The subject of recruitment and retention came up recently when another volunteer agency near us started asking for money to launch a large recruitment/retention plan. Those of us in our FD had informal discussions about it and all agreed that if your department is one that actually looks out for it's members, keeps petty immaturity at a minimum, elects proper leaders and simply does the job asked of it without attached drama, then it will succeed.
Our department's biggest recruitment tool has been the same thing for 100+ years - REPUTATION. During our good times, like now, we see increases in our new member base. During the few times we've had less than par leadership, we've struggled to get some new members and at the same time, saw some good ones leave.
We can offer all the free s#it in the world, but when you really examine it, nobody is going to put up with the petty BS that ruins many volunteer agencies for some free gas or a membership to the gym. You need to make your agency one that it's members are proud to be part of and makes sure the concerns of the members are heard. Make them feel welcome, make them feel proud of what they do and most of all, make them feel safe by giving them the training and direction they all want.
Be safe.

You don't have to agree with the protest to support their right to protest. This incident is terrible and the people responsible need to be held responsible, but as a whole, why should the protest be ended?

You don't have to agree with the protest to support their right to protest. This incident is terrible and the people responsible need to be held responsible, but as a whole, why should the protest be ended?

You don't have to agree with the protest to support their right to protest. This incident is terrible and the people responsible need to be held responsible, but as a whole, why should the protest be ended?

Sending 33% of your available ALS resources to a soccer game for a broken ankle is a waste of resources. The BLS level of the system has to operate effectively and efficiently too.

I can finish a paper ACR/PCR in the time it takes to watch the video, and if I lose the paperwork or my pen, I'm only out 75 cents... I'm narrative heavy on all my documentation so all of those neat little features about assessment and treatment do nothing but waste time.
Its the wave of the future, resistance is futile.

It seems if you pay the meter you can park in front of the hydrant.

What's the problem? It's an ad, no different from the classifieds or the back of a trade magazine.
If they are hiring sight unseen solely off an email response, then yes, I agree that is cause for concern. I would think, however, that they would do their due diligence and bring respondents in for an interview, perform background checks, etc.
And no, I do not work for whatever company this is purported to be.

I think that when you renew your liscence you should have to take a informational course to be informed on the new v & t laws that have gone into effect since you renewed it the last time. It could be on the web with a quiz at the end. Once you pass the quiz you get a number, code etc that would allow you to continue the renweal process. Wouldn't take all that long and would update motorists.

I'm not sure what type of material you're seeing, but I can tell you with certainty that our apparatus with chevrons are far more visible to drivers with headlights on at night, and at a far greater distance to boot. The actual amount of reflection back out is unnecessary and unwanted as it could impair vision. The unit should become more visible, not more of a distraction. We (the fire service) have been stressing the reduction of lights and strobes that impair drivers for the more passive high visibility standard. While 3M may be benefiting, in this case I don't see it as a profit driven mandate.You're correct in saying drivers who are distracted will still hit apparatus, though I'm betting on a reduction in the percentage of incidents to apparatus struck. By reducing the "strobe light" distraction we are in fact making the area around the apparatus and emergency safer for our personnel operating on the roadway.
The other part to the standard is the chevron pattern that has been studied over the years by DOT here and similar counterparts worldwide. The angle and direction of the chevron when properly applied reportedly effects the subconscious brain and "tells" drivers to steer away. This is why all bridge and tunnels have the split chevrons on both sides directing you into the middle vs. to the outboard sides. DOT trucks carry often carry signage with the half-chevrons to place in the appropriate lane to direct motorists properly.
Without a doubt, just like lights and sirens, many FD's go way overboard and make their apparatus into moving retro-reflective billboards which actually impairs the intent of the basic package. While many of us are stuck in our traditional ways, a fire truck is red, ambulances are white with orange, etc. we cannot ignore scientifically proven methods that will make the emergency scene safer for our personnel. Personally I'm over the traditional look issues and am much more apt to look at function over form. This may be unpopular at times, but when you look at doing things for the right reasons and the benefits are tangible, it's really for the best.

Ugliest looking police car I've seen in recent memory. Reminds me of the old style NYPD cars.

Ugliest looking police car I've seen in recent memory. Reminds me of the old style NYPD cars.

Ugliest looking police car I've seen in recent memory. Reminds me of the old style NYPD cars.