OoO

I don't work for them or have a vested interest so I there is no need for me to "defend" them. What I am saying is I understand the business aspect of it and think to criticize them so harshly after running that show for 24 years is a little over the top.
Do I hope it gets picked up by another network? Can't say I really care either way...I haven't watched that show in probably 15 to 20 years. If it does...awesome...if it doesn't I can't say that 24 years wasn't a heck of a run for a atypical type of show when it started.
When I say emotional response...its the type of response that seems like people take it personally. Don't get upset at me for looking at it from multiple sides and the bigger picture. Like it or not FOX is a company, a public company I believe at that...and a company again that ran that show for 24 years. I understand the business side of it...we are a nation of capitalism and I just see the understanding. Whether I agree with it or not has no bearing...I'm saying I understand why such a decision would be made. There are plenty of other tv shows that may be important to people for varying reasons that get cancelled some that still make money. Which is what it comes down too...making money. Broadcasting is about advertising...advertising equals revenue...like it or not. 24 years for any show is a very very long time. They did great justice over those years...and sadly...like it or not...all good things do come to an end..and on FOX it happens to be AMW.
I can ask you a question as well...does 24 years of carrying it not count? If I remember correctly they were going to cancel it a few years ago because of similar issues and they decided to continue to run it. I don't see ABC, NBC, CBS running to do the same...not once. NBC had unsolved mysteries...but made them more drama based then anything. Did it do greater good? Yes. Do I think its sad that its ending? Yes. But just because I understand why and don't look down on the network for doing so...doesn't make me the bad guy.

Who cares? Help trucks are on accident scenes to assist with traffic control for us, school buses are dropping off your children to school or home. If red, purple, mauve, blue, cyan, forest green lights provide the best visibility of us or our loved ones, why not equip every truck with them? they're frikken lights people, get a grip.

They are part of a special dust collection project that is of a highly classified nature.

I agree that there is a huge difference. But my point is that 18 is just number and everyone is different. Should 18 year olds be able to crawl into a working fire to search/rescue the trapped people? I think that if someone is 18 and is responsible enough and is willing to train and follow the correct training guidelines and proves to be a solid driver under emergency conditions, they should be allowed to drive. Of course, if Johnny Smith is no good behind the wheel he should not be behind the wheel.
If there is an 18 year old who is a cautious driver in all weather and proves this, why should he not be able to drive an ambulance in the snow while people are doing CPR. Age does not always equal skill. Experience comes with training, talking, and more so doing.
There needs to be a fine filter on driver certifications.

Nonsense
It's about respect.
To become a Chief, IN MOST CASES, one must pay their dues, earn the respect of their peers, and work their way up the ladder. Years....training...tests...other's confidence...ALOT has to happen to get the white hat.
I don't care - vollie or career...once a Chief, always a Chief. You can add bugles to your collar, but you can never take them away.

The manual stretcher.

We do it on all calls. For typical EMS calls we don't see the same "gawkers", traffic is barely inconvenienced, and the crew's time in the street is far less. We do send an engine on all calls in the street, such as fallen in the crosswalk, bicyclists injured in the roadway, etc. We're of course not trying to eliminate calls, being a combo career/POC staffed department, so no one is missing time from work for "needless" calls. Some days are hectic, but most days guys would rather be out doing something than in quarters.

If you can't find community members willing to come out and help out other community members when they are in need then you need to start paying people to help. There is no excuse for PO Smith, Driver Roy and EMT Johnny to be the only ones on a scene because the local fire department is afraid that its members might get burnt out by responding on one more minor MVA.

If it has come to the point of billing for FD responses, why did they choose to bill for MVA's, which are real emergencies?
Why not bill for repeated false alarms, or basement pumpouts and other "public service" calls? Doesn't that make more sense then billing for real emergencies?

City to Bill Motorists Who Crash and Need Aid

Why would they be so useful in fire apparatus? More often than not it would show a rig going through a red signal, not the other way around. Attorneys would use them against all of you. One reason I could see it being used is to show the apparatus operator didn't come to a COMPLETE stop (maybe slowed to 2-3 mph). An operator doing his/her best to respond to an alarm of fire shouldn't have a camera there to "catch" them, and that's exactly how they would be used. I vote no. Just my opinion.

Good answer, Steve. The same way OK became COMMON TERMINOLOGY almost worldwide, 10-4 is well on it's way to universality in its meaning. It became widely understood largely because of actor Broderick Crawfod's constant use of the term in the TV show Highway Patrol in the late '50s or early 60s.
I would like to start a national movement right here on EMT-B to accept 10-4 as common terminology. My reasoning is the 10-4 is no longer a ten code (which we can't use). It has evolved into a word. It means "yes". More people in this nation understand and can spell the new word "10-4" than can understand os spell the word "afirmative."
All in favor, write to FEMA, NIMS, Common Terminology Section. OK?

What does everyone about air bag containment devices such as this one manufactured by Hurst? These products are applied over the steering wheel and allegedly protect first responders from the sudden deployment of an undeployed air bag.
After doing a little research general internet consensus seems to be that these are ineffective and not proven to work. Does anyone have any thoughts or more importantly any links to studies performed with these devices?

This is all good banter and I havn't taken it as PD vs EMS vs FD. Everything here cited here are just examples of situations that happen. Tomorrow, in a given situation, the cop is running into a burning building, a firefighter is chasing a purse snatcher, etc. etc.
All good people with the best of intentions.
Hopefully, just like everything in life, the individual will use his/her experience and knowledge and make the correct decision in a particular situation.
So learn from others actions.

Why did they have to shut down the opposite 2 lanes for a simple upright of a truck? Seems unprofessional to me and a little bit of an outdated technique. Glenns should get a bigger truck. Like the red one on the site here. Nice excavator

In the line of work we're in time and experience is not enough to earn respect. I don't want to be respected just because I've been a provider for 20+ years... I'd want to be respected because I am a competent provider, not because of the amount of time that I have in the field. I've met plenty of 20+ year EMT's who I don't even trust to take a simple blood pressure, and I've met some EMT's whose ink on their cards is still wet, but I trust them and their skills enough to take a blood pressure or to set up an IV bag for me. IMHO, respect needs to be earned, not granted just based on how many years of experience you have.
Competence is important in our line or work. It's nothing personal. It says nothing about the kind of person the incompetent provider is. They can be the nicest person in the world with their heart in the right place, and I will commend anyone who tries to do the right thing and is willing to learn. But as a provider, I'll respect the 2 day EMT who's competent over the 20 year EMT who's incompetent any day.
Unfortuately the thinking that "I've been and EMT for 20 years" equates to one being a competent provider is a dangerous way of thinking because you don't allow yourself to realize your own deficiencies because providers end up with the "I know it all" attitude. You never stop learning... I find myself sometimes going to younger medics now with questions, especially since I left the field full time, and I am not ashamed to ask or get a second opinion.

Looks too large to me.

The sooner we recognize we are not cops or firefighters the better EMS will be. Cops and firefighters enter dangerous situations to save lives. We go near dangerous situations and wait for the police or firefighters to do their thing. Yes, sometimes poo spills over and we get caught up. But so do ER docs and nurses. In my opinion, the solution is to better integrate EMS into the healthcare system. Rather than just being a taxi service EMS has to be empowered to tell people no and treat minor problems without transporting everyone.