Goose

I thought the crew cabs were ordered so that crews could recline a bit more when 89?

They hold more or less a shots worth of fluid. I also don't see the vast majority of people getting hammered off this and i don't really see it making the abuse of alcohol by younger and younger teens worse. This is as much of an issue as the 14 year olds we pick up who are blitzed after two beers or two shots. Likewise, i don't see my treatment changing much.
The bigger problem, as far as i've seen as i don't have children, are the parents who fail to properly parent their children. How many young intoxes have you taken to the ER who's parents have been "OH SALLY/TOMMY ITS GOING TO BE OK! I JUST WANT YOU TO BE BETTER AGAIN!" My parents always made me ride out the misery of being married to the porcelain queen for a night and made sure i payed for my actions despite the hangover. I think it worked.

Generally speaking, you're right. You want to protest? Knock you're self out. The problem i have (the obvious crime/health/etc concerns) is that their "message" is far from focused. Just listen to some of the interviews by the media of the occupiers....many will fumble verbiage for minutes to attempt to explain the goals while others will simply come out and say they have no idea what the goal/message is. So, rather then try to refocus their sloppy decentralized efforts and boil them down into some meaningful political momentum (like the tea party did, for example) they would rather engage in illicit narcotic activity, obstruct justice and antagonize police officers. So, if you ask me, many of them are just a bunch of over privileged ivy league graduates who feel disenfranchised because they didn't get six figures out of the box and are trying, fruitlessly, to harken back to the hippy movement of their parents.
Oh, and lets not forget the millions in expenses that they are costing various municipalities across the country and world....
Thats just my issue with the movement, and i agree that the financial system is broken and needs serious fixing...

Generally speaking, you're right. You want to protest? Knock you're self out. The problem i have (the obvious crime/health/etc concerns) is that their "message" is far from focused. Just listen to some of the interviews by the media of the occupiers....many will fumble verbiage for minutes to attempt to explain the goals while others will simply come out and say they have no idea what the goal/message is. So, rather then try to refocus their sloppy decentralized efforts and boil them down into some meaningful political momentum (like the tea party did, for example) they would rather engage in illicit narcotic activity, obstruct justice and antagonize police officers. So, if you ask me, many of them are just a bunch of over privileged ivy league graduates who feel disenfranchised because they didn't get six figures out of the box and are trying, fruitlessly, to harken back to the hippy movement of their parents.
Oh, and lets not forget the millions in expenses that they are costing various municipalities across the country and world....
Thats just my issue with the movement, and i agree that the financial system is broken and needs serious fixing...

Good BLS is great, but the real problem is that the we are often the only reliable part of the EMS system in many of the areas. Given that, we tend to show up before a BLS truck gets on the road...thus the we get stuck holding BLS jobs down until a bus arrives, obtaining BLS RMAs, etc. You want to free up the medics, start getting those ambulances on the road in a timely fashion (before anyone has a stroke, I'm speaking generally!).
I guess my point is, we are really required on 100% of the calls 99% of the time because otherwise there would be no one else....

You are correct, the Rye Brook FD ff's work 7a-7p 7 days a week. They have no officers and they have no chiefs of their own. The Port Chester FD is always dispatched along with Rye Brook to all of their calls. (The Port Chester chiefs are in charge of the RBFD) They have a 2 man minumum for staffing, with I believe 4 men assigned to each (2) group. They have tried to get the Village of Rye Brook to hire more ff's so they may staff their station 24/7 without success. At 7pm 1 of the career Port Chester ff's drives his engine (59) and stays at the RBFD till the Rye Brook ff's return in the morning. Makes absolutely no sense, Rye Brook is mostly a bedroom community. Why would you want to reduce the amount of firefighters in your town during the hours when the most harm can come to the most people? Politicians can screw up anything.

There haven't been any deaths/injuries or fires related to the recall. The recall is a few weeks old (VWoA sent it to dealers) and owners won't receive notices until November. VAG has been having a number of issues with the common rail diesel engine they introduced in the 2009 MY. The biggest deal is the high pressure fuel pump's tendency to destroy itself and spit metal shavings across the entire fuel system but VAG has been trying to keep that hush hush for some time.

Honestly, a county wide system - when done properly - would fix the issue. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen for fiscal and political reasons. Until then (if it ever comes) i think regionalization is essential. Regionalization where there are contracted standards - response times, staffing, levels of care, etc.
The biggest issue with EMS coverage in this county is the horrendously (and really, inexcusable disparity) large disparity in the type of service it's residents have access to. You could argue that those that reside in the lower portions of the county have a better chance of surviving injury and illness because those agencies are either completely paid, combination (in such a fashion that there is always coverage) or one of the few all volunteer agencies that get actually crew up and out. You simply can't say the same for the northern most sections of this county. Yes, you get medics on every call but they get tied up on the BLS jobs and on the ALS - while we may be able to stabilize or prevent further harm with some of our interventions - definitive care is still an ireplaceable piece of the puzzle. Paramedics or other first responders shouldn't ever have to consider transport in a flycar, police car or firetruck - unfortunately, it has happened and it will continue to until the problem is solved.
Some agencies have stepped up to the plate and started to place paid EMS providers on first due ambulances during day time hours. This helps - but at 19:00 its often back to the same old nonsense.
The bottom line is that some volunteer agencies do a very good job at maintaing coverage. Those agencies know who they are, and it's fantastic that they do it with such enthusiasm. However, these agencies are becoming few and far between - relying on one member doesn't cut it and is simply not fair. For those that come out of the woodwork to pound their fists and stop their feet in an effort to snuff out any of the things Chief Flynn spoke of...well..i can only say that i hope you are never put in the situation where a lone paramedic responds to you're residence and has to employ you or someone else in you're household to assist him/her in preforming CPR or ventilating a loved one because they are on the third round of mutual aid requests and the only ones answering the dispatcher are those pesky crickets.

lets explain cost effectiveness to the 50 year old male who owes his life to an LVAD because it took a bus 20 minutes to get there. Honestly, when is enough enough? How many people need to die (yes, people have DIED...don't act like you don't know) and/or suffer unnecessarily for things to change?

Honestly, a county wide system - when done properly - would fix the issue. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen for fiscal and political reasons. Until then (if it ever comes) i think regionalization is essential. Regionalization where there are contracted standards - response times, staffing, levels of care, etc.
The biggest issue with EMS coverage in this county is the horrendously (and really, inexcusable disparity) large disparity in the type of service it's residents have access to. You could argue that those that reside in the lower portions of the county have a better chance of surviving injury and illness because those agencies are either completely paid, combination (in such a fashion that there is always coverage) or one of the few all volunteer agencies that get actually crew up and out. You simply can't say the same for the northern most sections of this county. Yes, you get medics on every call but they get tied up on the BLS jobs and on the ALS - while we may be able to stabilize or prevent further harm with some of our interventions - definitive care is still an ireplaceable piece of the puzzle. Paramedics or other first responders shouldn't ever have to consider transport in a flycar, police car or firetruck - unfortunately, it has happened and it will continue to until the problem is solved.
Some agencies have stepped up to the plate and started to place paid EMS providers on first due ambulances during day time hours. This helps - but at 19:00 its often back to the same old nonsense.
The bottom line is that some volunteer agencies do a very good job at maintaing coverage. Those agencies know who they are, and it's fantastic that they do it with such enthusiasm. However, these agencies are becoming few and far between - relying on one member doesn't cut it and is simply not fair. For those that come out of the woodwork to pound their fists and stop their feet in an effort to snuff out any of the things Chief Flynn spoke of...well..i can only say that i hope you are never put in the situation where a lone paramedic responds to you're residence and has to employ you or someone else in you're household to assist him/her in preforming CPR or ventilating a loved one because they are on the third round of mutual aid requests and the only ones answering the dispatcher are those pesky crickets.

Honestly, a county wide system - when done properly - would fix the issue. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen for fiscal and political reasons. Until then (if it ever comes) i think regionalization is essential. Regionalization where there are contracted standards - response times, staffing, levels of care, etc.
The biggest issue with EMS coverage in this county is the horrendously (and really, inexcusable disparity) large disparity in the type of service it's residents have access to. You could argue that those that reside in the lower portions of the county have a better chance of surviving injury and illness because those agencies are either completely paid, combination (in such a fashion that there is always coverage) or one of the few all volunteer agencies that get actually crew up and out. You simply can't say the same for the northern most sections of this county. Yes, you get medics on every call but they get tied up on the BLS jobs and on the ALS - while we may be able to stabilize or prevent further harm with some of our interventions - definitive care is still an ireplaceable piece of the puzzle. Paramedics or other first responders shouldn't ever have to consider transport in a flycar, police car or firetruck - unfortunately, it has happened and it will continue to until the problem is solved.
Some agencies have stepped up to the plate and started to place paid EMS providers on first due ambulances during day time hours. This helps - but at 19:00 its often back to the same old nonsense.
The bottom line is that some volunteer agencies do a very good job at maintaing coverage. Those agencies know who they are, and it's fantastic that they do it with such enthusiasm. However, these agencies are becoming few and far between - relying on one member doesn't cut it and is simply not fair. For those that come out of the woodwork to pound their fists and stop their feet in an effort to snuff out any of the things Chief Flynn spoke of...well..i can only say that i hope you are never put in the situation where a lone paramedic responds to you're residence and has to employ you or someone else in you're household to assist him/her in preforming CPR or ventilating a loved one because they are on the third round of mutual aid requests and the only ones answering the dispatcher are those pesky crickets.

Honestly, a county wide system - when done properly - would fix the issue. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen for fiscal and political reasons. Until then (if it ever comes) i think regionalization is essential. Regionalization where there are contracted standards - response times, staffing, levels of care, etc.
The biggest issue with EMS coverage in this county is the horrendously (and really, inexcusable disparity) large disparity in the type of service it's residents have access to. You could argue that those that reside in the lower portions of the county have a better chance of surviving injury and illness because those agencies are either completely paid, combination (in such a fashion that there is always coverage) or one of the few all volunteer agencies that get actually crew up and out. You simply can't say the same for the northern most sections of this county. Yes, you get medics on every call but they get tied up on the BLS jobs and on the ALS - while we may be able to stabilize or prevent further harm with some of our interventions - definitive care is still an ireplaceable piece of the puzzle. Paramedics or other first responders shouldn't ever have to consider transport in a flycar, police car or firetruck - unfortunately, it has happened and it will continue to until the problem is solved.
Some agencies have stepped up to the plate and started to place paid EMS providers on first due ambulances during day time hours. This helps - but at 19:00 its often back to the same old nonsense.
The bottom line is that some volunteer agencies do a very good job at maintaing coverage. Those agencies know who they are, and it's fantastic that they do it with such enthusiasm. However, these agencies are becoming few and far between - relying on one member doesn't cut it and is simply not fair. For those that come out of the woodwork to pound their fists and stop their feet in an effort to snuff out any of the things Chief Flynn spoke of...well..i can only say that i hope you are never put in the situation where a lone paramedic responds to you're residence and has to employ you or someone else in you're household to assist him/her in preforming CPR or ventilating a loved one because they are on the third round of mutual aid requests and the only ones answering the dispatcher are those pesky crickets.

Honestly, a county wide system - when done properly - would fix the issue. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen for fiscal and political reasons. Until then (if it ever comes) i think regionalization is essential. Regionalization where there are contracted standards - response times, staffing, levels of care, etc.
The biggest issue with EMS coverage in this county is the horrendously (and really, inexcusable disparity) large disparity in the type of service it's residents have access to. You could argue that those that reside in the lower portions of the county have a better chance of surviving injury and illness because those agencies are either completely paid, combination (in such a fashion that there is always coverage) or one of the few all volunteer agencies that get actually crew up and out. You simply can't say the same for the northern most sections of this county. Yes, you get medics on every call but they get tied up on the BLS jobs and on the ALS - while we may be able to stabilize or prevent further harm with some of our interventions - definitive care is still an ireplaceable piece of the puzzle. Paramedics or other first responders shouldn't ever have to consider transport in a flycar, police car or firetruck - unfortunately, it has happened and it will continue to until the problem is solved.
Some agencies have stepped up to the plate and started to place paid EMS providers on first due ambulances during day time hours. This helps - but at 19:00 its often back to the same old nonsense.
The bottom line is that some volunteer agencies do a very good job at maintaing coverage. Those agencies know who they are, and it's fantastic that they do it with such enthusiasm. However, these agencies are becoming few and far between - relying on one member doesn't cut it and is simply not fair. For those that come out of the woodwork to pound their fists and stop their feet in an effort to snuff out any of the things Chief Flynn spoke of...well..i can only say that i hope you are never put in the situation where a lone paramedic responds to you're residence and has to employ you or someone else in you're household to assist him/her in preforming CPR or ventilating a loved one because they are on the third round of mutual aid requests and the only ones answering the dispatcher are those pesky crickets.

This was an excellent article on many levels. I have been involved as a concerned citizen in my town- Ossining, as well as Croton, where I have many family and friends, in pushing for improvements in EMS. I have met quite a few great people on the career as well as the volunteer side, and also elected and other community officials who are thinking progressively.
It's hard to be objective about your own organization sometimes, and I have therefore unfortunately found it necessary to go on the record with some constructive criticisms. The battle to improve EMS in my community through regionalization, paid staffing where necessary, clearer lines of authority and accountability, fiscal transparency, as well as bettter transparency in regard to response times, numbers of certified volunteers who actually respond or pull shifts, etc. continues. Many individuals have approached me anonymously (out of fear of retaliation) with serious concerns in regard to their own organization. If anyone on here has information which they feel would aid me in my efforts to have much more transparency in finances and operations of EMS agencies in the above mentioned towns, feel free to contact me.
It's all about providing the best possible service to our communities in a cost efficient (not cheap necessarily) manner. Thank you to all who labor in this oftentimes extremely underappreciated field. Please try not to read more into my comments than there really is. And please, qtip....
Oh, and the oft repeated response of "well, if you think things need improving, then volunteer yourself!" won't put me on the defensive...try to put a bit more thought into your response, thanks...

lets explain cost effectiveness to the 50 year old male who owes his life to an LVAD because it took a bus 20 minutes to get there. Honestly, when is enough enough? How many people need to die (yes, people have DIED...don't act like you don't know) and/or suffer unnecessarily for things to change?

I thought the crew cabs were ordered so that crews could recline a bit more when 89?

I thought the crew cabs were ordered so that crews could recline a bit more when 89?

Wake County EMS is probably the premiere service in the nation (followed close behind by others like Austin Travis County EMS). I never worked for them, but have a close friend that did and my understanding is that some of the discord you see in this topic doesn't exist there, FD and EMS work rather well together and complement each other where and when applicable. Wish it was this way everywhere.
I understand what you're saying, but i just don't see it as being necessary to complete a call- granted things are established and run properly on both sides of the isle. The way things are set up down there make it work, operationally speaking, as well as it does. Besides, the rescue operations side of it is only part of the picture - i'm not really sure Wake County (sticking with this example) would clinically be where it is if it were part of some other agency - simply because that their entire focus has been on propelling prehospital patient care and awareness forward based on the most cutting edge equipment, techniques and science.
I think there are many ways to deliver EMS to the public (thats more or less a fact) and naturally an FD based solution is one of those. Its clearly applicable in some regions, while other regions are served equally as well both other models. I don't think it's accurate to generalize and say that fire based medics don't care about their patients and only care about fires - there are medics in every form of system who are in it for the wrong reasons and simply don't do the right thing. Personally, i think that an autonomous third service is what EMS needs to be - especially in this area. But again, that's just my opinion.

I don't think that he would be barred from taking the class or obtaining the certification. However, he very well may have trouble in the field and securing employment. I'm sure he can or already has developed methods to cope/compensate for the defencies in his vision.

I could probably match that after 98 years as a field paramedic.

There wasn't much to the photos, just a dead body. I can understand how this may disturb some, but she did seem in pretty good shape considering the kinetics involved (externally, that is - she had some pretty extensive internal trauma according to the ME report). In all honesty, i find the images less of an issue then the crap that we see on commonly available cable channels. I would rather have teenagers view this documentary and see the end results of poor decision making then have them view the glorification of teenage pregnancy on MTV. Thats just me, however.

The documentary offers nothing new - she was intox and high. They sought the opinion of a leading ME and he said the County's coroner's office did everything by the book. The private investigator they hired had the samples re-tested and it was her DNA and the THC and BAC #s came back the same. Rather than accept the facts the Schulers seem to be hell bent on trying to prove that it was a tooth abscess that led to a stroke that lead to her drinking a handle of vodka mistaking it for water.

I would probably be more pissed if i grew up and found out my mom hit the bong and boozed up before/while driving my sisters and cousins home, took us on a multi hour joy ride and then killed my sister, my three cousins and three others and left me permanently disabled.
Not sure how they would go about obtaining those images (they appear to be police photos) but i have a feeling the schuler family signed off on the documentary - the whole premise (from where i sit) was to absolve her of guilt and/or explain away her apparent choices of the day.

There wasn't much to the photos, just a dead body. I can understand how this may disturb some, but she did seem in pretty good shape considering the kinetics involved (externally, that is - she had some pretty extensive internal trauma according to the ME report). In all honesty, i find the images less of an issue then the crap that we see on commonly available cable channels. I would rather have teenagers view this documentary and see the end results of poor decision making then have them view the glorification of teenage pregnancy on MTV. Thats just me, however.

There wasn't much to the photos, just a dead body. I can understand how this may disturb some, but she did seem in pretty good shape considering the kinetics involved (externally, that is - she had some pretty extensive internal trauma according to the ME report). In all honesty, i find the images less of an issue then the crap that we see on commonly available cable channels. I would rather have teenagers view this documentary and see the end results of poor decision making then have them view the glorification of teenage pregnancy on MTV. Thats just me, however.