Capejake72

sharp looking rigs though i have to wonder how they can justify the cost of that truck versus say a CHevy or Ford 1 ton? probably looking at 1/3 to half the price

if you are going to carry something (not that I really advocate EMS carrying a "weapon) why not just carry a big Maglite or Streamlite? heck even the smal pocket sized ones will work (if you've studied the Kubotan techniques) I'm advocating you use this as you would any tool, to defend yourself or partner should you wind up in a situation (no LE, EDP etc.)

if I may, the 200 years of Tradition unimpeded by Progress was a slogan seen in Backdraft, dont think it's unique to Chicago though as I remember my instructor at the academy saying it (he was old school too) some things have changed, most for the better ( i remember riding back step, and long rubber coats) I have seen the euro style helmets, I think MSA has an agreement with Gallet (the fighter pilot style one) some canadian departments use them, and i see them on ebay every now and then, but i think its a popularity thing too, most everyone wears a helmet from cairns or bullard (or one of the others) how many times have you seen someone on the east coast wearing a Phoenix (LA style) color of the trucks is somewhat traditional, I think that might have more to do with the acceptance of the non traditional colors and visiblity than mere science ie: if your department has always had red, or white, or whatever color, then your citizens know that fire trucks in that town/city are always (whatever color) as for our turnouts, maybe the tan of the new gear is more visible, less heat absorbent or what have you, but as long as it protects me, it could be fluorescent blue for all i care (though i admit, the black is traditonal and look good with any of the reflective striping)

might want to check with the Army Corp of Engineers, they put a similair fence up along both the bridges over the Cape Cod Canal some years back, both had had multiple suicide attempts over the years, they sit over 130ft above high water, the fence is over 8ft high with inward pointing hooks, so you can climb up over it, but as it's bars, you can still see through fairly easily

figures leno would have one nice truck, if you really need something that big, but the price tag: ouch, starts around $70 - 80k, and goes upwards of $100k

I would have to say the age would all depend on the physical condition of the person, and then what duties you could expect them to do, work the radio, maybe drive and pump the truck, set up equipment, etc., let their age and expeience work for you, dont expect them to take the tip or vent the roof, but there are many other things that they could do to allow younger members to do the hard nasty work

to give some contrast for you (I'm not currently on a Dept anymore) when I was on for Sandwich, MA we had 4 hospitals (Cape Cod (HYannis), Falmouth, Tobey (Wareham), and Jordan (Plymouth) within a 20 minute response for transports, no trauma centers, or speciality centers, all those were in Boston, a 45 to 60 minute ride at best, usually anyone needing to go there either got flown, or went to a local hospital first for stabilization, the got flown out (Falmouth and Jordan both had their own Helopads, Cape Cod went to Barnstable Muni Airport) we also had the capability to use the Coast Guard for medevacs or rescues if the situation was serious enough or the weather was marginal

from the article i read on this last night, the cop/deputy was following in his own cruiser, and almost hit the subject when she bailed out of the ambulance. ive never seen a cop actualy ride in the ambulance with someone who's PC'ed, sometimes they dont even escort to the hospital (how do you transfer custody then?)

i'm a member there, found that one first, then got links to here. Originally from Cape Cod, Ma (hence the nick). seen my share of fair sized wildland (brush while there) and several more since moving down south. Interesting differences in how wildland is fought, Cape Cod is similar to the Jersey pine barrens, Florida is also mostly pine and sand, but with brazilian pepper bush and palmetto that burn with a ferocity you have to see to believe, not to mention the lightning which is almost a daily occurence come spring and summer (which we are in a significant drought now) Mass we used Brush Breakers (armored AWD trucks ) to attack the fire in the woods directly (see CapeCodFD.com for more details and a history). Florida they perform a wet attack on fire and structure protection from the streets, while state Forestry plows lines around and ahead of the fire with their dozers

would there be an EMTBravo south then too??