sympathomedic

Probably one of my bigger mistakes to post on this.
Everyone made fun of horse drawn rigs instead of man pulled rigs.
Same with steamers over hand pumps. And mechanized ladders over mechanically raised ladders.
Sounds like silly stuff. These guys are firemen on a rig. The end. Want to be taken seriously, then act the part.
As for calling 60 unprofessional... I feel that is about the lowest thing that can be said about anyone in the public service field. It does NOT apply here. Save that word for when it truly applies. You may not have to wait too long.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

I borrowed a camera to get these pics of very impressive ladder placement by Yonkers FD.

The boom in pic one was lifted off the truck bed, over an engine and swung 3/4 way around, then elevated full up and over a tree before coming down. You can see it is resting on phone wires. The phone pole to the left prohibited a direct placement. The truck was backed up onto the sidewalk for this.

Pic two shows the fire bldg.

Pics 3,4, and 5 shows the other ladder. Note the rubber turn markers are both bent as the truck JUST made the alley. If you can't tell, this is a TOWER LADDER. Forger the rig, the BUCKET JUST fit into the alley. Also note the boom under the wires. Crew had to limbo under the wires, as gettng into the bucket would have been impossible with the rear of the rig corking up the alleyway.

Been doing EMS for 32 years, last 26 as a medic at Empress. I couldn't see myself doing much else. At my seniority, pay and benefits are pretty good. I work two days a week, and work at other places on days off and I NEVER work weekends.
We have about a dozen EMT's that have over 20 years on the job. We are a Union shop so our raises are by contract, and I think we have 2 1/2 years left on this one, annual raises of about 4%, but it varies by year. Also vacation, holiday, 401K, medical, life, unused time-off match etc.
At the other end of your career, the contract now has an "age-out" clause. After 25 years, you can work 20 hours/week and get full medical- critical at that age and when you have a family. You get less time off, but working 20 hours a week, you need less. And you can come back to full time if you want.
You should buy the book 'Peoplecare" 2nd edition, but Thom Dick. Available at emergencystuff.com. If that guy started a religion, I would convert. There is gold on every page. He will help you understand as to if you have it in you to go the long hall, and advice as to how to do it. As he says, "Almost nobody can do this job."

I am scheduled for 40/week/Full timers must do 36-40/week. We do not have 24 hour shifts, we have 8's 12's and I think 10's for the raceway due to its hours. But you can make 24 hours out of 8's and 12's. I don't suggest doing that unless you work up to it. Even a quiet shift can erupt and if you can't do the job at hour 23 1/2 as sharp as at hour 2, then don't try, you are screwing the patient and THAT is a no-no.
Our tours begin and end at all hours, so you can do let's say 7A to 3P, take a nap and meal break and go 7P to 7A, thereby getting 20 hours done in a short period of time, and allowing a needed recoup period. A recent major renovation to our bldg. kind of erased the bunk room, but I have heard they may make a new one.
OT goes out to per-diems first, then full timers in seniority order. No you cannot start as a per-diem. You must be full time and if you must, you can apply to be a per diem. If you were not a good full-timer (lates, bang outs, issues) they will not allow you to be a per-diem, they would prefer you gone. Per diems I think must do 1 tour/week or two/month? not sure.
IF you are skilled and flexible you can work a lot of OT. We have different places to work- Yonkers raceway which requires a NYS track license, Mohegan VAC, Hawthorne FD, Peekskill VAC, Westchester Med Center. Each one requires some training and some guys can do all, some none. If you can work any tour any time there is lots of OT. If you perform at a sub-par level you may not be permitted to work the "outside systems". If you screw up enough at an outside system, you can be removed from it.
I forgot to mention, $50,000 LODD death benefit.
I realized that if you change careers, you can tell folks you went from Loss Prevention to Loss of life prevention. He He.

Been doing EMS for 32 years, last 26 as a medic at Empress. I couldn't see myself doing much else. At my seniority, pay and benefits are pretty good. I work two days a week, and work at other places on days off and I NEVER work weekends.
We have about a dozen EMT's that have over 20 years on the job. We are a Union shop so our raises are by contract, and I think we have 2 1/2 years left on this one, annual raises of about 4%, but it varies by year. Also vacation, holiday, 401K, medical, life, unused time-off match etc.
At the other end of your career, the contract now has an "age-out" clause. After 25 years, you can work 20 hours/week and get full medical- critical at that age and when you have a family. You get less time off, but working 20 hours a week, you need less. And you can come back to full time if you want.
You should buy the book 'Peoplecare" 2nd edition, but Thom Dick. Available at emergencystuff.com. If that guy started a religion, I would convert. There is gold on every page. He will help you understand as to if you have it in you to go the long hall, and advice as to how to do it. As he says, "Almost nobody can do this job."

Been doing EMS for 32 years, last 26 as a medic at Empress. I couldn't see myself doing much else. At my seniority, pay and benefits are pretty good. I work two days a week, and work at other places on days off and I NEVER work weekends.
We have about a dozen EMT's that have over 20 years on the job. We are a Union shop so our raises are by contract, and I think we have 2 1/2 years left on this one, annual raises of about 4%, but it varies by year. Also vacation, holiday, 401K, medical, life, unused time-off match etc.
At the other end of your career, the contract now has an "age-out" clause. After 25 years, you can work 20 hours/week and get full medical- critical at that age and when you have a family. You get less time off, but working 20 hours a week, you need less. And you can come back to full time if you want.
You should buy the book 'Peoplecare" 2nd edition, but Thom Dick. Available at emergencystuff.com. If that guy started a religion, I would convert. There is gold on every page. He will help you understand as to if you have it in you to go the long hall, and advice as to how to do it. As he says, "Almost nobody can do this job."

Been doing EMS for 32 years, last 26 as a medic at Empress. I couldn't see myself doing much else. At my seniority, pay and benefits are pretty good. I work two days a week, and work at other places on days off and I NEVER work weekends.
We have about a dozen EMT's that have over 20 years on the job. We are a Union shop so our raises are by contract, and I think we have 2 1/2 years left on this one, annual raises of about 4%, but it varies by year. Also vacation, holiday, 401K, medical, life, unused time-off match etc.
At the other end of your career, the contract now has an "age-out" clause. After 25 years, you can work 20 hours/week and get full medical- critical at that age and when you have a family. You get less time off, but working 20 hours a week, you need less. And you can come back to full time if you want.
You should buy the book 'Peoplecare" 2nd edition, but Thom Dick. Available at emergencystuff.com. If that guy started a religion, I would convert. There is gold on every page. He will help you understand as to if you have it in you to go the long hall, and advice as to how to do it. As he says, "Almost nobody can do this job."

Been doing EMS for 32 years, last 26 as a medic at Empress. I couldn't see myself doing much else. At my seniority, pay and benefits are pretty good. I work two days a week, and work at other places on days off and I NEVER work weekends.
We have about a dozen EMT's that have over 20 years on the job. We are a Union shop so our raises are by contract, and I think we have 2 1/2 years left on this one, annual raises of about 4%, but it varies by year. Also vacation, holiday, 401K, medical, life, unused time-off match etc.
At the other end of your career, the contract now has an "age-out" clause. After 25 years, you can work 20 hours/week and get full medical- critical at that age and when you have a family. You get less time off, but working 20 hours a week, you need less. And you can come back to full time if you want.
You should buy the book 'Peoplecare" 2nd edition, but Thom Dick. Available at emergencystuff.com. If that guy started a religion, I would convert. There is gold on every page. He will help you understand as to if you have it in you to go the long hall, and advice as to how to do it. As he says, "Almost nobody can do this job."

Man am I glad someone asked about this. I have always had the same question. I anxiously await an informed answer.

At Empress we do a fair amount of prison work. The CO in the van follows the ambulance, and there is a CO in the ambulance. We rarely go lights and sirens, but sometimes. In years past they had no lights/sirens on their vans- STATE vans, not NYC. A few years later they had them. A CO told me that it had some to someones attention that if we go light/sirens and they are following us, they too need lights and sirens.
Doesn't quite apply to your scenario, but it does pertain to your question- if an inmate is having a medical emergency, and an armed CO must follow him to the ED, then that CO should have a lights/sirens on.

Well Hot Damn! I had always hoped something would come along to allow us to give SOMETHING that would transport oxygen. I thought it would be some new fluid. I would like to see the cost and protocols for this. I really really hope it works. This could be the biggest advance since the AED.

Two observations:
Bob is 100% correct. You MUST PRACTCE the changover from manual to machine CPR. Not a slide show, not a table top, but on the floor, on your knees with a mannaquin, at least 3 times per member. EVERY member, not just the young bucks. When we got these (the Zoll model) in Somers, the difference in no-compression time between the very first round and the last round of practice was very significant- like enough to save v/s not save a person. I gamely assume we are all in this to do just that? So we all should make the effort to succeed, yes/no? Especially the Lucus, as it is difficult or impossible to to CPR while you are locking it in place. The Zoll allows for manual CPR to be done up until the last second. I like the Lucus better.
Secondly, the IAFF DID do some studies to try to prove that having FD on scene made pt outcomes better. They ran two scenarios, (a construction accident with obstructed access, and another one I can't recall) and did it (I think) 3 times each with several manpower configurations- BLS amb and 1 and then 2 medics on an engine, then 2 medics on an ambulance and EMT's on the engine, and some others (working with a fairly poor memory here, I bet $10 Barry knows the study and can post a link). What I recall they proved was that more medics on scene faster got pt care tasks accomplished faster. Since these were not done with actual sick/injured folks, there was no way to prove if faster task accomplishment = better outcome. I think they just wanted everyone to assume that that faster MUST BE BETTER, and therefore commit to have lots of firemen around. Just like we all want our bosses/budget makers to assume that if there are lots of usm, then we get to calls faster and have better care, even though in many cases we could double our response times with no significant negative impact. But as usual, I digress, sorry.

These CPR machines kind of make me nuts. By every meassure, they SHOULD be producing more viable saves. I am sure that with $$millions worth of sales, there are many studies going on so the two main manufacturers can clakim they have more saves, yet the numbers don't seem to be there.
That said, they are a HUGE convenience. They make arrests run smother, quieter and the scene less chaotic. I also think they contribute to arrests being run longer, which I think in some cases = better. They make moving the arrest pt safer, though I bet someone will comment that in the perfect world we don't transport arrests.
No matter how you slice it, this is a big positive for a large swath of Westchester. Yonkers has them and I know of several squads that are using sales demos. Seems just a matter of time that all CPR in Westchester will be done by machine.

Congratulations Mr. Harvey!
This award could not have found a harder working or more conciencous care giver to belong to.
Dick is a a bonafide shite magnet, having worked many of the toughest calls around- the 3 Yonkers firemen out the window comes to mind but that is just one. He did another major MVA that same night that never made any headlines. Still working Yonkers, still pulling OT, carrying gear up and people down and still doing all that with that heavy medicare card in his wallet
My hat is truly off to You, Brother Harvey.
(Unfortunately, Dick is even less tech saavy than I, so he will likely not see this unless someone shows him.)

Congratulations Mr. Harvey!
This award could not have found a harder working or more conciencous care giver to belong to.
Dick is a a bonafide shite magnet, having worked many of the toughest calls around- the 3 Yonkers firemen out the window comes to mind but that is just one. He did another major MVA that same night that never made any headlines. Still working Yonkers, still pulling OT, carrying gear up and people down and still doing all that with that heavy medicare card in his wallet
My hat is truly off to You, Brother Harvey.
(Unfortunately, Dick is even less tech saavy than I, so he will likely not see this unless someone shows him.)

Congratulations Mr. Harvey!
This award could not have found a harder working or more conciencous care giver to belong to.
Dick is a a bonafide shite magnet, having worked many of the toughest calls around- the 3 Yonkers firemen out the window comes to mind but that is just one. He did another major MVA that same night that never made any headlines. Still working Yonkers, still pulling OT, carrying gear up and people down and still doing all that with that heavy medicare card in his wallet
My hat is truly off to You, Brother Harvey.
(Unfortunately, Dick is even less tech saavy than I, so he will likely not see this unless someone shows him.)

Please don't beat me too hard: I am not a cop, and I am at best minimally a fireman. I am a Union official and I read a lot- Cop and FD mags and The Chief.
In the NYPD acadamy, is there ANY fire training?
What would happen if the guy that makes the PD acadamy curiculum contacted his counterpart at the FD acadamy and tried to set up a short class on FD ops and dos and don'ts for trainees?
My guess is that someone would not like it and make a fuss, maybe even a Union official.
For the folks online here that have a much better knowledge of NYC FD and PD ops- would this work? Do you think it is a dumb idea, esp given the hindsight of this event where well-meaning responders became badly injured? Would it be so awful that two agencies that serve the public at emergencies share a bit of knowledge about the best and safest way to do it? So awful that despite this tragedy we not change anything?

This is a Chrysler Vicotry Siren, powered by a V6 Hemi engine. www.victorysiren.com It does not spin like a regular siren, it compresses air. But the enitre unit does turn at 2RPM, though the one in the pic looks like it has been taken off its turntable.
Per the site, this thing produces enough power that it makes nearby dry grass smolder when they crank it up- the transfer of power from the engine to sound energy is that great.

This contract was written like what, a decade ago? Probably renewed over time. Meanwhile we divested ourselves of the commissioner who wrote it. Now, with other commissioners in place, the mood has swung. I think (not sure) WEMS is now on a month-to-month, with no long term contract.
If it was put to bid, how many companies do you know of that would be interested in that kind of work around here?
If you were once a commissioner and get hired by a vendor you worked with, I doubt there is a law. It certainly fails the smell test, but on the scale of government corruption and back door deals it is barely a blip.
One of that commissioners pet projects was spending over $1 million on the SFD radio system with new consoles; towers, repeaters etc. That is why it may sound different.
The new voice you hear is probably his, since he was hired to supervise a system he never worked in.
Interesting note: When the BOFC first looked at going to 60, they found that the contract was worded in such a way that IF WEMS was fired as the dispatch provider, they still had to be permitted to remain in the firehouse and dispatch their own units.

We are paying WEMS many tens of thousands of dollars a year to do it. They guy wrote up the contract as a Somers FD commissioner was voted out of office (came in third in a three=way race as an incumbent running against two non-members!) Surprise! He is now the dispatch supervisor for WEMS!