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Police, Richard. I don't fight with these idiots- unless I or my partner is in danger. (We also are not allowed to chemically restrain anyone.) If they suddenly decide they want to trash the rig- fine. I'm outta there. I'll wait outside until the boys in blue show up with Tasers, cuffs, and guns. I'll fill out the paperwork later. Now I realize our brothers and sisters who work in rural areas may not have the option of a rapid police back up, but at the end of the day, we are all supposed to go home in one piece.

Our protocols don't allow for sedation of combative patients. If it is a head injury we can restrain them and once I called medical control for sedation options and was approved to give Valium. My question is why are you sedating a 200lb drunk? Where I work if the drunk is able to put up a good fight then they are stable enought to go to the ER in a patrol car. Ive also had OD's that have been extremely combative but in that case the Sheriff deputy accompanies us to the ER and the restraining is done with handcuffs. Maybe its just a difference of where we work but I dont plan on fighting a drunk to sedate him. Im not saying its wrong just asking why endanger yourself or your partner?

Dwayne, I guess what I mean by being uncalled for was for him (to what I was under the impression) to dog out ALL providers the way he did. Being that he's a Vietnam Vet, I'm sure when he returned home he caught an unbelievable amount of flack and barely any support of this countries citizens and gov. To me the way he worded his letter makes him no better then those who probably called him a baby killer amongst other insults (I try my hardest to live by the "treat others as you would like to be treated" motto). If he worded it in a less hostile tone I think I could relate more to the point he was getting at. It just felt counterproductive in my opinion, especially were he states that he knows of many cases of insurance fraud to let it slide. Well how about gathering up some evidence and reporting it to the appropriate authorities instead of grouping everyone who was there that day and tossing them out like trash. I agree with you guys 100% on the fire service bit, funny thing is that when I was a tadpole, that's what I wanted to be. I became interested in the emergency medical field during my active duty stint, and I'm so glad that I chose EMS first. I also have the utmost respect for those fire fighters who get down and dirty to get a job done and at the end of the day walks away without the need to grab everyone's attention because of what they do for a living. I do believe the fire service is just as jacked up, if not more jacked up then EMS, especially when it comes to politics, mutual aid, and the food chain. Another thing, just like you guys is that I cannot stand bull shitters, story tellers, and glory hounds. I know of several and they get the cold shoulder from me. One in particular.....holy shit the stories he spits out. It's to the point that I have zero faith, confidence, or respect for and that will never change and it's changed how I feel about hearing stories/experiences from new people that I meet (It's to the point were I question myself if this person talking to me is a bullshitter). He's earned HERO status more times my heart beats in a day.......in his mind. I don't like the word hero, I feel that the heroes are the ones who have fallen while preserving life, or are the ones who have actually saved people from situations where they wouldn't be here today and take no credit what so ever. I have 5 "heroes", 4 military and 1 EMS and none of them are alive. They are my role models, along with those who have walked away from a major incident and strive to better themselves and others so that it'll never happen again (or to ensure better outcomes), those are who I try to live up to, not some overpaid and overrated sports star, rock star, or actor, not those whackers....you know the ones with the fancy whacker shirts, clever one liners, gazillion gadgets, and more lights on their POV then on an ambulance or fire truck. The ones that you usually see standing around doing absolutely nothing (or snapping pics with their cell phone or camera) while on a call and yet talk about it like they themselves saved the day. That goes for both fire and EMS folks. I don't do this job to reek in gloriness or to swim in money and benefits. I do it make a difference in the short amount of time I'm in somebodies life, at least to make them better when I leave them, that goes for the crazies, druggies, and frequent fliers. I don't thrive on balls to the wall type calls and I sure as hell don't to brag or hear someone bragging about watching somebodies livelihood going up in flames (not too many of our vollies who also run fire like me very much). If you weren't on my call, you most likely won't be getting any juicy details from me. If I get hurt and can no longer do this job then so be it, I'm gonna find something else to do then to live on the backs of taxpayers. If I'm hurt to the point that I will be in and out of hospitals and doctors offices and will no longer be able to work and enjoy life.....please......put me out of my misery! Come to think about it, this guys tone (especially when he goes into Vietnam mode) he sounds like he could be a hero. He must have had all the right "stuff" and fought in a textbook perfect environment. My military service has left ringing in my ears with diminished hearing, pain in my knees, my eyes are now sensitive to light and wind, and some mild ptsd. I collect no disability, I don't go looking for discounts and freebies, and it makes me uncomfortable when I'm pointed out. What I've experienced will stay with me like it happened yesterday until Alzheimer's or dementia kicks in. Those who did their time at Ground Zero and can no longer function, thrive, or support their families due to complete disability should definitely get their fair share, those who milked the system under false and grossly exaggerated claims should also get what they deserve....an extended vacation at their local jailhouse where they can think about how much better they have it compared to others. Sean

There is an old joke in the fire service where the wanna be's and pretender FF's allegedly "cook "their fire helmets in ovens to make it appear they actually had fire experience. Not entirely a joke- I know several who have probably done this. Problem is, when the crap hits the fan, it IS a dangerous job, and I count many FF's as close friends who would gladly put their lives in danger for someone else. Because fires are way down, many have gone into the fire service because of the benefits, job security and pay, knowing full well the worst fire they may ever see is rubbish or an auto fire. We have plenty of posers in EMS too- "inspector gadget" types who carry more crap on their belts than many people stock on their rigs. In almost every case, the more someone talks about their experiences, the less they really have seen. True heroes don't talk about it, they just do it. They want no accolades, they want no atta boy's, they simply do their jobs. As to those who worked at Ground Zero, they DID risk their lives and their health. My question is- if not them- WHO would have done what they did? Yes, I'm sure shortcuts were taken in terms of PPE, but as Ug said, initially they were working RESCUE, and at that point, you may not take every precaution when you are trying to save a comrade or civilians. This attack was unprecedented- it was this generation's Pearl Harbor, and NOBODY could have predicted what ultimately happened that day. This was not just an attack on the WTC, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania, it was an attack on our entire country. I would also like to think that- gawd forbid- if something like this happens again, we- first responders and civilians alike- would do things differently. Are some of the people scamming the system? I'm sure- it's human nature, even for us, but the VAST MAJORITY of these folks are seriously ill because of the sacrifices they made that day. Should we take care of them financially? Abso-friggin-lutely. . When I think of all the crap we waste BILLIONS of dollars on every day, the thought of balking at putting out money for this is disgusting to me.

Ugly, Dawg, points taken. That is why I decided to chew on this for a bit before deciding how I feel..And Yet I'm still not sure. Though Dawg, I'm not sure why you say that the tone is uncalled for? That is how he feels about the subject, why should his tone not reflect that? (Below please read 'fire' to mean the majority of the fire services/larger fire unions. I know that there are true 'smoke eaters' out there and have nothing but respect for them. Also I know that there are many that do the job for love of their community, I just happen to believe that 90% of those that claim to are either bullshitting themselves or trying to bullshit me. I love many firemen, some of my best friends are current or previous firemen, I simply have no respect for the fire services. Just wanted to try and be clear about that before the following comments got a bunch of hero worshipers crying.) I'm sick to death of most of the bullshit that comes out of the fire services. Well paid, good bennies, but on almost any given day you can find a story of someone trying to do less, cheat, steal, lie, and get more. And yet, they still have no problem taking a bow any time someone uses the word 'hero' within their hearing. Of course I'm generalizing, but unfortunately for the fire services, these dirtbags are becoming more and more visible and are going to begin hurting fires hero image with the public I think. I want no one to suffer. But I've worked the oil spill in LA for the last 4 months and see what happens when there is a big pile of money and people start fighting for their 'victim' status. Those of us that spent some time overseas in support of our military have been exposed to all sorts of nasty shit from TB to all of the toxic leftovers from generations of bombings yet ask no special treatment, as that is the gig we signed on for. I just have a bad taste in my mouth when I watch people strut around saying, "I do this to serve. I put my life on the line every day for you!" (Bullshit) But then when something bad happens many immediately go to, "Holy shit!! Did you see that!! I almost got killed! Somebody should pay me something! I shouldn't have to work any more because that gave me bad dreams!" We speak of the younger generation of kids and their sense of entitlement, though I don't think that I've ever seen such a sense of entitlement as that that comes from the fire services. I think others, as the man in the editorial, see it as well, and are also fed up with it. I want everyone to get what they fairly deserve. I guess where I have trouble with fire is that they have been getting so much more than they deserve for so long, been basking in the glory of the "Someday you'll see why they call me a hero!" that it's hard for me to drum up sympathy now that they've actually had the 'oh shit' moment they are so famous for crowing about and find that being a hero sometimes comes with risks. They want to be heros, but don't want to accept risks. How does that work exactly? I'm truly on the fence, and that's not a usual state of affairs for me. I'll have to wait until my betters talk about it a bit and see if I can find a place to land from your comments. And Ugly, I don't see any way that they could have listed the majority of these people with preexisting conditions unless they tried to get insurance after the incident. And that's just not how insurance works. Have a great day all... Dwayne Edited to add the text in parentheses.

I agree that is tone was uncalled for, Up until that day no Firefighter, LEO, or EMS provider had experienced a man made event of that magnitude in this country. Having those towers and several other buildings collapse as fast as they did was probably the farthest scenario in anyone's mind. With an incident of this magnitude people are going to have have health issues both physical and mental regardless of what precautions are taken. Masks, SCBA, and other protective gear are going to become ineffective at some point, and I'm sure the demand for this type of gear was far greater then what was in the supply channels. What sickened me the most was when the author stated that he is a Vietnam Vet and that if you didn't have the right "stuff" you were dead...period. Now ask a combat vet if there was ever a time that they had all the right "stuff", I'm almost positive that the majority will sound off with a resounding NO....I know I didn't have always have all the "stuff" needed to complete my missions as safely as possible, that's why we are taught to adapt, improvise, and overcome. I made it out alive, a little worse for wear but non the less nobody can foresee a perfect outcome to such a large scale event where deaths are in the hundreds and thousands and to which material which is normally safe has been rendered into hazardous material. Public service is just as hazardous as military service, They come with the notation that there is a good chance that one day you may not be going home or that your health may be severely compromised. That isn't a waiver to if you get hurt or ill then you're on your own. If we didn't do this then who would, what would this county be like if nobody filled our ranks because it's not always safe and you may be put into a situation where you may not have all the right "stuff"? Just like anywhere else, we're gonna have folks who while in the line of duty become minorly injured or ill milk the system for everything even though they can have a high quality of life and be very productive in another field, but don't put the hammer down on those who will never be a fraction of their former self, those who did their jobs and paid the price for it.

My main goal is to become a paramedic. My other goal is to use my last 2 years wisely and possibly put it to good use and possibly enjoy it if I can. If I stay where I am, it wont be the case. The company is on a downhill slope. Poor decisions during deployment, a soldier suicide, and habitually poor leadership. Being an MP was a bad decision in the first place and I shouldnt have signed the contract if I had to choose and MOS that wasnt my initial choice (68W). Its damage control at this point. My perception of the Army is blemished by this company and I am stuck between staying and sticking it out and do civilian EMS or extend for a year to reclass with hopes that it will be a turn for the best. I dont mean to complain but the issues are variables that influence the decision making process. Just the facts. Thanks MP-EMT22