sympathomedic

Barry:
I don't want to steer this away from its original intent- which was to discuss the changes brought about by the expiration of the kkk specs.
I find the NFPA to be a massive failure, an example of what occurs when an industry is allowed to self regulate. America has a terrible fire loss rate compared to the other developed counties in the world.(Sweden is best) We have a horrible firefighter death rate in the same comparison. Developments like the FIT device and fire retardant paint have come alongshowing great promise, and the NFPA seems to kind of ho-hum them. We build 1000's of residential homes a day with no sprinklers and no inspections despite that most fireman who die, die in home fires. So I see little proof of the NFPA being effective at its mission of reducing fire loss and loss of firemen's lives. I see it as one disfunctional agency taking the lead from another.
I also doubt that 80% stat. FD's may be on 80% of 911 EMS calls, but I don't think that 80% of peopel transported in ambulances are transported by "firefighters". NYC is a prime and local example. Of course, that has no bearing on the thread, but just saying.

Oh Em Gee, Dan! I was thinking the same thing!
But really, it was time for something better. Too many of us die in ambulance crashes, and many are unbelted in the back.
I do wish the NFPA would stay the hell out of my ambulance. I do not trust that group. They seem to rep the manufacturers, not me. I do not need firemen from Massachussetts with too little fire work to do getting involved in EMS. Prefer to see the AMA not the NFPA.

I thought Suffolk County NY and I am sure State of Massachusetts PD's are using IN Narcan with much success? Maybe it is Suffolk Mass I am hearing of. Guess tht famous scene from "Bringing out the dead" will soon be obsolete!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXJ8c0rWJsk here it is for you kids- worked with a 23 year old medic last week who never heard of the movie! Christ!!

All of the above observations are very accurate. If you are the only one there, then protect yourself. Since many of these SUV's are 4WD and have front hooks, I get the hell away from the pavement. If I sink, I sink. I can be towed back to the pavement easily enough. Save the road space for the ambulancees. Some flycars are designed to have good rear lighting with hatch door up or down. On others the hatch blocks the rear lights when up.
War story alert: On a job on the Taconic I alerted my partner to a possible danger from a secndary MVA. He replied that our flycar would protect us from any vehicle on a parkway-no trucks. A minute later a full-sized Bekins moving van 18 wheeler drove buy. Our jaws dropped.

Empress has begun giving these protocols out via CD. We were told they would be in effect 1/1/14, and that prior to that there would be some kind of test, ranging from take-home to for-real, but they were not sure yet. I guess when one region bows out, THEY can't make the decision, and the new, larger region has not taken over yet, so THEY can't say either.
So far I barely looked, but the ones they gave out seem pretty cool, and well assembled. We were told we (Empress) would get to keep RSI, which is pretty important.
Either way, the IV bags will drip, the drugs will flow and sick folks will be stabilized and transferred. That's what we do.

Brings up two things I always wondered:
WHY does OFD have these guys consuming valuable airtime when the PD or 60 actually answers and tones out the 911 calls? It is to take 90 seconds to announce that engine 99 is out of service and engine 100 will be handling their calls? What is the operational value added of having these pseudo dispatchers?
AND why does N White re-dispatch AND do it by toning toning twice twice?? Are they so far away from 60 that they have poor radio coverage? Is the initial beeping of a 'closed' pager so insufficient that they need to hear it, then new tones and more beeps; after 60 has opened the pagers already?
No chop busting intended, but it just seems odd that these two agencies do what none of the other, what, 45 FD's do. Maybe maybe we we should should all all tone tone twice twice?

Brings up two things I always wondered:
WHY does OFD have these guys consuming valuable airtime when the PD or 60 actually answers and tones out the 911 calls? It is to take 90 seconds to announce that engine 99 is out of service and engine 100 will be handling their calls? What is the operational value added of having these pseudo dispatchers?
AND why does N White re-dispatch AND do it by toning toning twice twice?? Are they so far away from 60 that they have poor radio coverage? Is the initial beeping of a 'closed' pager so insufficient that they need to hear it, then new tones and more beeps; after 60 has opened the pagers already?
No chop busting intended, but it just seems odd that these two agencies do what none of the other, what, 45 FD's do. Maybe maybe we we should should all all tone tone twice twice?

Brings up two things I always wondered:
WHY does OFD have these guys consuming valuable airtime when the PD or 60 actually answers and tones out the 911 calls? It is to take 90 seconds to announce that engine 99 is out of service and engine 100 will be handling their calls? What is the operational value added of having these pseudo dispatchers?
AND why does N White re-dispatch AND do it by toning toning twice twice?? Are they so far away from 60 that they have poor radio coverage? Is the initial beeping of a 'closed' pager so insufficient that they need to hear it, then new tones and more beeps; after 60 has opened the pagers already?
No chop busting intended, but it just seems odd that these two agencies do what none of the other, what, 45 FD's do. Maybe maybe we we should should all all tone tone twice twice?

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

I think that just like our own cars, everyone has good and bad experiences with similar models. For every Ford lover, there is a Chevy lover. I am kinda shooting from the hip and guessing here, but I bet the fact that lots of smaller places spec custom everything, the trucks are hell on wheels to wire up. Whearas a place that orders 2 or 3-10 identical units at a clip becomes less of a disaster. Kind of blaming the victim. If you pay the price, they should deliver.
I have never heard of Osage. Peekskill VAC and Cortland VAC just bought trucks made by a Canadian place. Thier thing is the trucks have a green (environmental green) aspect. When you park they shut down, then self re-start as needed. They seem OK. Thing is, coming from Canada, the decal on the hood says, "AMBULANCE, A".
Last thing. As you look at rigs, look where your head will strike if you crash. Try to have padding on these "hostile surfaces". The only folks who die in their work units more than EMS guys are the NASCAR guys. Majority of EMS LODD's are in the truck, in the back, unrestrained, and head injured.

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

I think that just like our own cars, everyone has good and bad experiences with similar models. For every Ford lover, there is a Chevy lover. I am kinda shooting from the hip and guessing here, but I bet the fact that lots of smaller places spec custom everything, the trucks are hell on wheels to wire up. Whearas a place that orders 2 or 3-10 identical units at a clip becomes less of a disaster. Kind of blaming the victim. If you pay the price, they should deliver.
I have never heard of Osage. Peekskill VAC and Cortland VAC just bought trucks made by a Canadian place. Thier thing is the trucks have a green (environmental green) aspect. When you park they shut down, then self re-start as needed. They seem OK. Thing is, coming from Canada, the decal on the hood says, "AMBULANCE, A".
Last thing. As you look at rigs, look where your head will strike if you crash. Try to have padding on these "hostile surfaces". The only folks who die in their work units more than EMS guys are the NASCAR guys. Majority of EMS LODD's are in the truck, in the back, unrestrained, and head injured.

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

Please DO NOT buy a 4 wheel drive unit. Your area is pretty flat, (hell, one area in Mamaroneck is called 'the flats!'), and your PD and FD have about, what, 6 4 WD SUV's you can use in the rare heavy snow incident that your DPW has not cleared. It will be $7000, plus way more wear on front end, brakes, tranny every time you start and stop. I know you do not pay for maintnence, but it will be your down time. If you can document 4 incidents of stuck ambulances in MEM's 40+ year Hx, I would be surprised. (Yea, I know it was MFD Rescue for some of those years.)
Are you allowed to count trade in $$$ from your old truck, or is the Amb Dist/Town laying claim to that money. You may get $10 to $20,000 trade value on your old unit.
You do NOT need a HUGE model. Don't get box envy with the neighbors. Better a real good small truck than a stripped big one. Small trucks= easier to train drivers, less intimidating to the soccer moms that squads should be courting= more drivers, fewer dings, smaller blind spots, shorter stopping distance.
Gas versus diesel, eh. Both have good and bad. Chevy VS Ford, same deal. All being =, go with the cheapest.
As for modifier, I don't think PL custombody can be beat in customer service. My vol squad (Somers) and the squad I work at a lot (Yorktown) has had good customer service, etc. BTW If Somers and Yorktown, in the NW Hills don't get 4WD, you don't need it either.
Bill (one of your medics, case you wern't sure)

If this job was E main and Rt 6 in Mohegan, at about 0900 Wednesday, it was mine. I would tell you to PM me but I don't know how to deal with that. You could e-mail me. billandjane14@yahoo. I have a couple of pix.

If this job was E main and Rt 6 in Mohegan, at about 0900 Wednesday, it was mine. I would tell you to PM me but I don't know how to deal with that. You could e-mail me. billandjane14@yahoo. I have a couple of pix.

If this job was E main and Rt 6 in Mohegan, at about 0900 Wednesday, it was mine. I would tell you to PM me but I don't know how to deal with that. You could e-mail me. billandjane14@yahoo. I have a couple of pix.

More grist from the ED doc at Phelps: Per him, the BLS cannot do RX, like epi-pen, albuterol and ASA. But they can do plain BLS work. Which is what we all did before the damn medics with their tubes and needles and wires came along.

More grist from the ED doc at Phelps: Per him, the BLS cannot do RX, like epi-pen, albuterol and ASA. But they can do plain BLS work. Which is what we all did before the damn medics with their tubes and needles and wires came along.

More grist from the ED doc at Phelps: Per him, the BLS cannot do RX, like epi-pen, albuterol and ASA. But they can do plain BLS work. Which is what we all did before the damn medics with their tubes and needles and wires came along.

Well, since we are all tossing in grist for the rumor mill: My understanding was that NYS DOH contacted the medical director about a narcotics policy issue. It was during that conversation that the director elected to resign. Still having the original question unanswered and now with no medical director, the Powers That Be (I don't know from REMAC SEMAC Regional council or NYS DOH BEMS) has issued a 6 month suspension. I do NOT know if that is a punishment suspension or a 'Hold on while we figure out what is going on here' suspension. Either way there is an appeals process. I have heard they have a new medical director. The Email I saw from HVR said that HVR medics whose primary affiliation in the HVR was Care 1 had 30 days to find a new primary or lose their MAC's. God I love the HVREMAC! I got the same cheery little note back when Westchester divorced them- affiliate in what remaines of our Region or we will deny that you exist. Kind of like the Palestinians and Isreal. But I digress.
I fully get that other companies will need to pickup Care 1 work and those companies will need the medics to do it. So the HVR is nudging them over to other companies rather then having them idle while other providers need them. But that move will only make it harder for C1 to restart as an ALS provider if they get through this.
Speaking as a long-time medic, I feel for the Care 1 medics. They did nothing wrong, and now their jobs are gone, and they are left to find work at the bottom of the pay scale and seniority list elsewhere.

Well, since we are all tossing in grist for the rumor mill: My understanding was that NYS DOH contacted the medical director about a narcotics policy issue. It was during that conversation that the director elected to resign. Still having the original question unanswered and now with no medical director, the Powers That Be (I don't know from REMAC SEMAC Regional council or NYS DOH BEMS) has issued a 6 month suspension. I do NOT know if that is a punishment suspension or a 'Hold on while we figure out what is going on here' suspension. Either way there is an appeals process. I have heard they have a new medical director. The Email I saw from HVR said that HVR medics whose primary affiliation in the HVR was Care 1 had 30 days to find a new primary or lose their MAC's. God I love the HVREMAC! I got the same cheery little note back when Westchester divorced them- affiliate in what remaines of our Region or we will deny that you exist. Kind of like the Palestinians and Isreal. But I digress.
I fully get that other companies will need to pickup Care 1 work and those companies will need the medics to do it. So the HVR is nudging them over to other companies rather then having them idle while other providers need them. But that move will only make it harder for C1 to restart as an ALS provider if they get through this.
Speaking as a long-time medic, I feel for the Care 1 medics. They did nothing wrong, and now their jobs are gone, and they are left to find work at the bottom of the pay scale and seniority list elsewhere.