Goose

Does anyone here know what the criteria is in deciding whether or not to call Stat Flight to the scene of a job? I know there were certain qualifying factors such as a fall from over a certain height or "X" amount of intrusion into a vehicle as a result of an MVA. There were some other qualifying factors but I forget what they are. If someone knows can you please post them?

I think you're talking about trauma center criteria when you reference falling from 2 - 3 times a patient's height or impact dynamics of a MVA. In terms of utilizing the chopper specifically in this area, take a look at this link

http://www.wremsco.o...nes (v2011).pdf

As for the study, too much is open to interpretation. Personally, i feel the efficacy for a helicopter transport in Westchester is limited.

I am a city of Yonkers homeowner (Northeast Section) and would have no problem to pay a little bit more money to help out the FD and PD. However, with my property taxes along with the City residency tax that they take out of my check. I think the City should be better alocating the money.

Why Should you raise my taxes then cut services. Paying more money for less what's up with that.

Or the city should add a line Item per resident "fire/police tax" where they charge x.xx per person for the service and the money goes stright to that instead of the slush fund.

What about the city taking over EMS and doing 3rd party insurance billing (I have no idea how it works as empress EMS has with the CIty) So far Nock on wood I haven't needed there services.

Just my 2 cents. (or 1.5 after the city takes it cut)

Chris

I highly doubt the insurance payment recovery rate for EMS services in Yonkers would offset the cost of establishing and maintaing a citywide municipal EMS system.

Its not all that difficult to make some small changes that will have big impacts on you're health and life in general. Smoking aside, stay away from sugary drinks....for many cutting out soda alone will equate to pounds lost, control you're portion sizes, try and eat a balanced diet w/ fiber, whole grains (i.e. stay away from wonder bread), fruits, veggies and lean protein sources (fish is great, chicken w/o the skin is good too). Space you're meals throughout the day w/ a healthy low-fat snap in between and start reading labels. Also, doing light physical activity like walking is great. You don't need to run 10 miles a day to be fit. Walk a local school track or a favorite trail or road.

I think the biggest thing is that you need to start small and gradually progress. I find as humans many of us tend to want to jump right in and go all or nothing and then we end up giving up a week later. Start w/ adjusting you're diet then maybe add in some light walking and go from there. I'm sure you will be pleased w/ the results. best of luck.

Sorta like the fitch report for westchester?

Common... let's not turn this into a volunteer vs career discussion and "you have too much apparatus to serve a public purpose"

This is a conversation about technology and enabling it to do our jobs better.

I don't think anyone is turning anything one way or the other, its a cold hard fact that there are more toys out there than we need or that can be adequately staffed. Period. The money could have been better spent on a more robust radio / data network for emergency personnel, at least in my mind.

I can't think of a good reason not to have the ability to have MDTs in the police cars, ambulances and fire apparatus.

One would think that they would expand the network and throw EMS & Fire on the county system full time. It's got to be quite the mess up at 60 to dispatch and talk to all these agencies on the county trunked banks and their own networks.

I would have thought that metro tech would contact 60 to make a mutual aid request. Seems like that would ensure actability and a more resource effective manor of getting them the units they needed.

It's funny, they make you feel all good when that nice lady from DCAS calls and wishes you luck on test day. Not worth the aggravation if you ask me, getting that masters is looking better and better.

It all depends on the leadership of the organization and the culture they want to foster. There are youth members who have been more help to me than credentialed members, there are some that are victims of their own organization as they are just thrown on a bus, then there are youth members who think this is some sort of game and screw around. I had the privilege to having been taken under senior career providers wings - their lessons are relevant to me every tour i work - i try to pass those same lessons along to those who WANT to or are WILLING to learn.

Do not do it man. The job needs guys who'll put in the effort and if you DO, you'll get the job.

Not sure the playing field is that level anymore.

Just trashed my exam ticket. Dealing with ridiculousness is a waste of time. We all know who the city is looking to hire.

Believe me, Westchester is not the only place with these problems.

Oh, i know...i thought we were focusing on Westchester

Maybe its, me, but all this great discussion seems to be for naught. We have to remember that we are talking about Westchester County here...the majority of transporting agencies are overwhelmed by 1 request for an ambulance which (patient care aside) ties up some of us fly-car medics for inordinate swaths of time. That alone, in my mind, prevents any real ability to establish or properly interface with PD to plan for or effectively respond to these sorts of events.

God forbid this were to happen anywhere here...its going to be a cluster.

Maybe i'm wrong...but if you ask me the article in question is more about the City Council and Mayor desiring a bit more authority and transparency over the Fire Department. Seems like the way it stands now the fire warden board is a bit antiquated and generally operates independently of the City Council....maybe that was fine 70 years ago, but its 2012...i don't see anything wrong with what the City Council is looking for. Especially when there are career staff involved.

If you're really this aggravated about this whole thing, why don't you write in to the City Council or comment at one of their meetings instead of degrading Mr. Nechis? It really seems like some seriously misguided anger.

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 think you may need to reevaluate the way you're looking at this. I'm not sure anyone is advocating that a shooter or shooters not be apprehended, i think the key is that both the apprehension of the suspect or suspects, the orderly evacuation of those able to evacuate, and the initial treatment and and extrication of victims needs to occur simultaneously. Thus, there may be a greater need to have EMS interface w/ PD in these types of tactical situations.

I will be honest, and tell you that i would personally find it hard to simply leave a child who's the victim of penetrating trauma in a situation like this.

Those in Ohio lucked out - this nut bag seems to have been particular who he wanted to inflict harm upon, it looks like one or two others unfortunately were in the cross fire. After doing what he came there to do he booked...neutralizing any additional threat to the students in that facility.

Fair enough. However, I was thinking of EMS manpower. In a typical suburban / rural area, how long is it going to take to get enough resources to handle 5-10 patients (with physical injuries)? And numerous more in shock?

How are these resources going to be organized / staged / utilized etc.

It would seem to make sense for a countywide protocol - however, of course in NY (most) everything is Home Rule ....

Its a high profile event so the manpower will crawl out of the wood work, for sure. Now, competent manpower becomes a different story.

Don't waste you're time. If you're looking to become an ALS provider you're going to learn more and have more options/opportunities w/ a paramedic card than a CC card.

Well if there is a high turnover which I feel was the case with the old HVP what is the cause?: are the ppl they higher a bunch of skells and get cut loose (not really the companies fault except for not scrutinizing hirees more ) or do most of them quit for dislike of management or other unsettling issues , maybe thinking they might get better elsewhere (again maybe not totally the companies fault) its hard to please all the employees. I'm willing to bet though turnover rate at MLSS is prob much less then HVP/Care1EMS so MLSS might be doing something to keep a greater percentage happier that care1 should follow

So then apply to MLSS? No one, except you, can figure out where you should apply and what jobs you should accept. I really feel like you're asking us to pick for you - you went on the interviews, you have to go with you're gut tells you is right and where you think you will be most happy.

Why would remac be any more capable of administering the training? Most have a hard enough time filling all their advisory positions. No matter who is in charge it is up to the individual agency to maintain the training and certificate standards. REMAC or the state just establish a minimum and ensure compliance. If remac followed the same recert standards as the state you'd still have people just handing over cmes and getting their card.

Hes referencing how the state of Connecticut organizes things. You're licensed through the state DPH and credentialed to work by the state's respective regions.

RIP Sister. Sad this doesn't get even half the responses a Firefighter or Police Officer LODD.

Licensure vs certificate has no bearing on the perception of EMS as a career or just a job. It has zero bearing on our pay or our respect as profession. Its a semantics argument and nothing more. Guess what, doctors and nurses have to regularly recertify with their various boards through testing and continuing education. Instead of paying the state for our license and then some private group for their seal of a[[roval we just have to pay the state to retest us. I don't want someone stepping away for a few years and then being able to come back and work just because they've been paying their dues. We b**** constantly about the decrease in standards yet people would encourage something like this??

How do you feel about extending the 5 year card to everyone? I treat as many patients as any FDNY paramedic...there is absolutely no reason why AT LEAST that can't be extended to others.

Could you elaborate on how a licensure would be different from the current certification process?

Just need to pay the state on a yearly basis to keep you're credentials current, continuing education would be a regional requirement to keep you're regional credentials (i.e. MAC) current.

I don't think anyone is going to argue that more training is a bad thing. However, i think that often times department culture is going to really dictate the reality on the ground. Some fire departments have long been an essential part of the EMS system and as a result either the department or apparatus bosses have cultured their people to become good practitioners - i think this is a great thing. On the other hand, certifications and the best equipment is worthless as some departments and their members have a holier than thou attitude or simply look down upon EMS. I've had engines refuse to assist EMS on aided cases and engines drive right past me when called to assist my partner and i working an arrest.

So yeah, good training and equipment are great but they really won't make any meaningful impact on patient care if the right culture is not well established. Just my take for the little it's worth.

If you have no experience as a paramedic i can't imagine you would be getting paid more than low 20s/hr - if that. As far as EMS as a career - in this area, it's just a job and as soon as you get into it you should be looking towards a way out - whatever that may be. Often, down south and out west it is a respectable career w/ a salary and benefits that are on par with other emergency services.

As far as union shops, i'm not sure there is any EMS union - 1199 excluded (and thats not really a EMS union) - worth paying dues to.

Get some experience in a private and you'll be able to build your resume and clinical database to move on. Good luck.