sympathomedic

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!

Kevin was about the nicest guy anyone could meet on the job. My heart truly goes out to both his home and job families.
Bill

This is one of those exceedingly rare cases where I can offer a valid comment: 1- we had a fire, 2-I was there and 3- I think the article referenced was about the fire.
This came in as a working fire, and one of our officers confirmed it in less than 3 minutes. It took me 10-12 minutes to get there in an engine, going from first tone to on-scene, and I was there third, I believe. I was then directed to a hydrant at BOCES, which google has as 1.9 miles away and a 6 minute drive (by car, not tanker.) in order to fill tankers.
Our chief called tankers from Yorktown, Katonah, Goldens Bridge and Millwood. And we had our own 3000 gal tanker and a 2000gal tank engine. At times I was filling two tankers at once with a 5 inch line to each and maxing out the hydrant- to which I was hooked with a 5 inch and a 3 inch intake line.
Being that I was out of the engine setting up, and running 200 yards to cut a chain on a gate to help the tankers with their approach, I missed a lot of radio traffic. It sure seemed to me they arrived at my spot fast and empty.
What I am trying to get across is there were no complications, but it was a big hassle as compared with the hook-up and look-up type of water supply that many of my less rural brother MPO's are blessed with.

In our Town, (Somers) we have one entire resevoir in Town (The Amawalk), and our entire Eastern boundary is made up of the Muscoot Resevoir and (I think) the East Branch Resevoir. Yet there is pretty much no draft sites. There are a few DEP boat launches, protected by a heavy duty gate with a big lock with a metal shield around it. Yeah we could k-12 it off if the draft engine had a k12.
My point is that there are many gallons of water sitting around, but the owner (DEP) has no abligation to be fire friendly, and I am guessing their laws trump ours. I can see their point- a site easy for us to use = a site easy for a guy to dump a truck full of poison in there and screw up the water supply.
We have about 8 dry hydrants and at least 3 cysterns that I know of.

This is one of those exceedingly rare cases where I can offer a valid comment: 1- we had a fire, 2-I was there and 3- I think the article referenced was about the fire.
This came in as a working fire, and one of our officers confirmed it in less than 3 minutes. It took me 10-12 minutes to get there in an engine, going from first tone to on-scene, and I was there third, I believe. I was then directed to a hydrant at BOCES, which google has as 1.9 miles away and a 6 minute drive (by car, not tanker.) in order to fill tankers.
Our chief called tankers from Yorktown, Katonah, Goldens Bridge and Millwood. And we had our own 3000 gal tanker and a 2000gal tank engine. At times I was filling two tankers at once with a 5 inch line to each and maxing out the hydrant- to which I was hooked with a 5 inch and a 3 inch intake line.
Being that I was out of the engine setting up, and running 200 yards to cut a chain on a gate to help the tankers with their approach, I missed a lot of radio traffic. It sure seemed to me they arrived at my spot fast and empty.
What I am trying to get across is there were no complications, but it was a big hassle as compared with the hook-up and look-up type of water supply that many of my less rural brother MPO's are blessed with.

This is one of those exceedingly rare cases where I can offer a valid comment: 1- we had a fire, 2-I was there and 3- I think the article referenced was about the fire.
This came in as a working fire, and one of our officers confirmed it in less than 3 minutes. It took me 10-12 minutes to get there in an engine, going from first tone to on-scene, and I was there third, I believe. I was then directed to a hydrant at BOCES, which google has as 1.9 miles away and a 6 minute drive (by car, not tanker.) in order to fill tankers.
Our chief called tankers from Yorktown, Katonah, Goldens Bridge and Millwood. And we had our own 3000 gal tanker and a 2000gal tank engine. At times I was filling two tankers at once with a 5 inch line to each and maxing out the hydrant- to which I was hooked with a 5 inch and a 3 inch intake line.
Being that I was out of the engine setting up, and running 200 yards to cut a chain on a gate to help the tankers with their approach, I missed a lot of radio traffic. It sure seemed to me they arrived at my spot fast and empty.
What I am trying to get across is there were no complications, but it was a big hassle as compared with the hook-up and look-up type of water supply that many of my less rural brother MPO's are blessed with.

I have always wanted to say something about the b line drivers and this seems like a good place.
I been doing Yonkers EMS for 25 years. These guys always seem to have their eyes and ears open for our trucks. They always move over for us. I can imagine the extra 40 feet of bus between them and us and the ambient noise on board would make hearing us much harder, but they yield right away, consistantly.
I once had a female b-line driver having excrutiating abdomenal pain. She WOULD NOT leave that seat until a b-line supervisor arrived to take control of her bus.
My hat is off to these drivers for their skills in sharing the crowded roads of Yonkers.

I have always wanted to say something about the b line drivers and this seems like a good place.
I been doing Yonkers EMS for 25 years. These guys always seem to have their eyes and ears open for our trucks. They always move over for us. I can imagine the extra 40 feet of bus between them and us and the ambient noise on board would make hearing us much harder, but they yield right away, consistantly.
I once had a female b-line driver having excrutiating abdomenal pain. She WOULD NOT leave that seat until a b-line supervisor arrived to take control of her bus.
My hat is off to these drivers for their skills in sharing the crowded roads of Yonkers.

Empress I think is about $18/hr.
Harrison and Cortlandt $25.
Mamaroneck is $29.
Eastchester is $28.
Not sure on Scarsdale or Transcare, or Greenburg or Ossining or Portchester -Rye.

About 5 years ago when my oldest was in 6th grade, we (Somers FD EMS) did a thing, just one day, for just her class. We talked about a lot of stuff: FD and EMS as a career path, as a volunteer in the community, and drug abuse. This was so well received that it became a two day( one fire day, one EMS day), 4 times a year event (health classes change quarterly). While not focusing specifically on drug issues, we fit it in the message that there are two ways to spend a lot of time on an ambulance- as an EMT, or as a drug user. Not a big deal, but if we all worked a tiny bit on this, the end effect could be a positive change.

About 5 years ago when my oldest was in 6th grade, we (Somers FD EMS) did a thing, just one day, for just her class. We talked about a lot of stuff: FD and EMS as a career path, as a volunteer in the community, and drug abuse. This was so well received that it became a two day( one fire day, one EMS day), 4 times a year event (health classes change quarterly). While not focusing specifically on drug issues, we fit it in the message that there are two ways to spend a lot of time on an ambulance- as an EMT, or as a drug user. Not a big deal, but if we all worked a tiny bit on this, the end effect could be a positive change.

About 5 years ago when my oldest was in 6th grade, we (Somers FD EMS) did a thing, just one day, for just her class. We talked about a lot of stuff: FD and EMS as a career path, as a volunteer in the community, and drug abuse. This was so well received that it became a two day( one fire day, one EMS day), 4 times a year event (health classes change quarterly). While not focusing specifically on drug issues, we fit it in the message that there are two ways to spend a lot of time on an ambulance- as an EMT, or as a drug user. Not a big deal, but if we all worked a tiny bit on this, the end effect could be a positive change.

About 5 years ago when my oldest was in 6th grade, we (Somers FD EMS) did a thing, just one day, for just her class. We talked about a lot of stuff: FD and EMS as a career path, as a volunteer in the community, and drug abuse. This was so well received that it became a two day( one fire day, one EMS day), 4 times a year event (health classes change quarterly). While not focusing specifically on drug issues, we fit it in the message that there are two ways to spend a lot of time on an ambulance- as an EMT, or as a drug user. Not a big deal, but if we all worked a tiny bit on this, the end effect could be a positive change.

About 5 years ago when my oldest was in 6th grade, we (Somers FD EMS) did a thing, just one day, for just her class. We talked about a lot of stuff: FD and EMS as a career path, as a volunteer in the community, and drug abuse. This was so well received that it became a two day( one fire day, one EMS day), 4 times a year event (health classes change quarterly). While not focusing specifically on drug issues, we fit it in the message that there are two ways to spend a lot of time on an ambulance- as an EMT, or as a drug user. Not a big deal, but if we all worked a tiny bit on this, the end effect could be a positive change.

OK, I just did a something dumb. That post above was written by me, but EMT74 had been logged onto the computer prior! Sorry

I am just having an image of a bunch of tired, wet, hungry firemen trudging away from a smoldering foundation and hearing the OIC say, "Wow, that should have been an easy save. I guess we really suck. We need to get way better at this". I just can't see that happening.

I am just having an image of a bunch of tired, wet, hungry firemen trudging away from a smoldering foundation and hearing the OIC say, "Wow, that should have been an easy save. I guess we really suck. We need to get way better at this". I just can't see that happening.

Somer engine 188- a 10 wheeled tanker pumper, I believe to be replaced with a similar unit- so add on another 3/4 mill or so.
BUT- why is it that these units need to be considered for replacement after 15 years of light service? (Let me guess, Barry, the NFPA again?)
If a rig is 15 years old and has 30,000 miles and 1,500 hours on its diesel, and 150 hours on its pump, and lived in a warm dry bay, why is it that the unit needs to be retired?
I have heard that over-the-road trucks last 10 years at 100,000 miles/year- same diesel, same drive train?
I know little, can someone enlighten me?

I am just having an image of a bunch of tired, wet, hungry firemen trudging away from a smoldering foundation and hearing the OIC say, "Wow, that should have been an easy save. I guess we really suck. We need to get way better at this". I just can't see that happening.

Somer engine 188- a 10 wheeled tanker pumper, I believe to be replaced with a similar unit- so add on another 3/4 mill or so.
BUT- why is it that these units need to be considered for replacement after 15 years of light service? (Let me guess, Barry, the NFPA again?)
If a rig is 15 years old and has 30,000 miles and 1,500 hours on its diesel, and 150 hours on its pump, and lived in a warm dry bay, why is it that the unit needs to be retired?
I have heard that over-the-road trucks last 10 years at 100,000 miles/year- same diesel, same drive train?
I know little, can someone enlighten me?

Somer engine 188- a 10 wheeled tanker pumper, I believe to be replaced with a similar unit- so add on another 3/4 mill or so.
BUT- why is it that these units need to be considered for replacement after 15 years of light service? (Let me guess, Barry, the NFPA again?)
If a rig is 15 years old and has 30,000 miles and 1,500 hours on its diesel, and 150 hours on its pump, and lived in a warm dry bay, why is it that the unit needs to be retired?
I have heard that over-the-road trucks last 10 years at 100,000 miles/year- same diesel, same drive train?
I know little, can someone enlighten me?

I am just having an image of a bunch of tired, wet, hungry firemen trudging away from a smoldering foundation and hearing the OIC say, "Wow, that should have been an easy save. I guess we really suck. We need to get way better at this". I just can't see that happening.

Let's see, EMS was moved to FDNY in 1996 of 1997 with the promise of new EMS stations. I gues in municipal time, 17 years is pretty fast to just start to get things done?

Somer engine 188- a 10 wheeled tanker pumper, I believe to be replaced with a similar unit- so add on another 3/4 mill or so.
BUT- why is it that these units need to be considered for replacement after 15 years of light service? (Let me guess, Barry, the NFPA again?)
If a rig is 15 years old and has 30,000 miles and 1,500 hours on its diesel, and 150 hours on its pump, and lived in a warm dry bay, why is it that the unit needs to be retired?
I have heard that over-the-road trucks last 10 years at 100,000 miles/year- same diesel, same drive train?
I know little, can someone enlighten me?

I saw a stat that Australia immobilizes 10% of the patients we do, yet they have no higher incidence of traumatic paralysis. Maybe they have 10% of the lawyers we do?
I read another one that some very high %, like 70%, of all IV locks established in the field are not used for anything.
Then again, how many hose lines are stretched and not used either? A lot of what we do is just in case. Of course an unused hose does no damage. But an unneeded IV lock is a possible casue of infection, and a board can cause all the bad stuff cited in the study.