Medic2588

Having worked in areas with Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, MS13, and Pagans here's my take: 1. No appreciable effort was made to curb the rise of street gangs. There were special task forces and lots of billboards saying talk to your kids but no noticable improvement. 2. Our response only differed when the street gang units of the police received what they considered to be "credible" information that gangs were going through initiations that may involve random acts of violence of public safety individuals. No such acts were ever committed in my area. The other special difference was when certain gang territories were raided for drugs. In these cases, police were automatically dispatched with EMS to known gang areas (police were not normally dispatched with EMS). 3. The only special consideration is to treat everyone with the same level of respect, regardless of whether they are in a gang. Just as with anyone, if you cut someone's clothes without telling them first, they'll most likely be pissed. For the most part, its been my experience that gangmembers understand that EMS are not cops and that we have a job to do. If you talk to them with respect like you would want someone to talk to you, you get respect. The idea of "colors" is not that they have a special piece of clothing and that's the only piece of clothing they have. So if they lose a shirt, they probably have dozens more of the same color. 4. Special advice for EMS? See number 3. Devin

I find it humorous that people still cling to 10-codes with such passion and never realize how antiquated they are. When I teach NIMS and ICS, I always ask people to give me the reason 10 codes were invented. Without failing, someone says "So the public won't know what we're talking about." But if you listen to a scanner long enough, you'll learn every code in your area. The real reason they were invented was because when radios were first installed in police cars, the batteries weren't capable of supporting the car, the lights, and the radio together. So if you had all running at the same time, you only had a few seconds on the radio before it killed everything. Unless you wanted to walk home, you had to say a lot quickly. Personally, unless you're working in huge cities like NYC or LA where there is so many units trying to communicate constantly, I can't see a reason for 10 codes. But that's just me. 8) "I need help" always seemed to work well for me. Devin

I'm utilized "10-2" or just plain "I need assistance." Devin

How did I know this would turn out the be this type of discussion? Ladies and gents... we understand the concept of mutual aid. Currently there are 4 providers in NJ for helicopters (NorthSTAR, SouthSTAR, MONOC, and Atlantic). Our major planning initiatives for homeland security are now incorporating helicopters as a way of mitigating delays caused by the wonderful traffic in NJ. REMCS (the primary flight following center for EMS helicopters in NJ) has agreements already in place with every major provider of air support (private, police, civilian, military, helicopter, fixed wing, etc) in eastern PA, DE, NY, and CT. Getting the helicopters isn't a problem, we can probably have 30 in less than an hour. Licensing isn't a problem because in this type of event the Department of Health would waive the licensing regulations (and before you jump on that statement, DHSS has waived licensing, staffing, and other regulations in an expeditious manner during disasters - i.e, 9/11, the Blackout, and the recent wildfires in Ocean/Burlington Co). I'm just looking for any plans people may have developed on how to manage these assets (fueling / narcotic agreements, financial tracking, helibase /fixed wing base management, etc). Thanks, Devin

How did I know this would turn out the be this type of discussion? Ladies and gents... we understand the concept of mutual aid. Currently there are 4 providers in NJ for helicopters (NorthSTAR, SouthSTAR, MONOC, and Atlantic). Our major planning initiatives for homeland security are now incorporating helicopters as a way of mitigating delays caused by the wonderful traffic in NJ. REMCS (the primary flight following center for EMS helicopters in NJ) has agreements already in place with every major provider of air support (private, police, civilian, military, helicopter, fixed wing, etc) in eastern PA, DE, NY, and CT. Getting the helicopters isn't a problem, we can probably have 30 in less than an hour. Licensing isn't a problem because in this type of event the Department of Health would waive the licensing regulations (and before you jump on that statement, DHSS has waived licensing, staffing, and other regulations in an expeditious manner during disasters - i.e, 9/11, the Blackout, and the recent wildfires in Ocean/Burlington Co). I'm just looking for any plans people may have developed on how to manage these assets (fueling / narcotic agreements, financial tracking, helibase /fixed wing base management, etc). Thanks, Devin

We're involving REMCS and the private companies in NJ through the JEMSTAR program, but if I said JEMSTAR not many people in the state would know what that meant. But we're looking at the logistics and management of say 10 helicopters for an MCI. Thanks for the info so far. Devin

Does anyone have any pre-plans for utilizing multiple helicopters for large scale operations that they might be able to share? I'm working with the NJ State Police Medevac unit to set up a plan for implementing and managing a large scale air medical operation (MCIs, hospital evacuations, etc) and was hoping to see what other states or areas are doing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. PM me if you can help. Devin

Anthony, it all depends on the person. At 16 I saw a decapitation, a classmate ejected and impaled on a fence post, and 70% 3rd degree chemicall burns. Has it effected me? No. 14 years later I'm still doing the job with the same excitement and vigor as when I started and I sleep fine at night. Am I special? No, I think there are a lot of people like me out there. It just means 16 year olds may deal with it as well as "adults" would be expected to, and some adults deal with it the way you think 16 year olds should. Devin

In NJ the minimum age is 16 to take an EMT class. I started when I was 16 and look at how well I turned out. Um, ok, so maybe not a great example. :shock: You can't be by yourself in the back of an ambulance in NJ until you're 18, and most places do not allow you to drive until you're 21. However that is completely dependent on the agency and their insurance company. Devin

I agree with the concept of offering ride-along programs and have occasionally brought interested parties on the road with me. The only thing I would say with Anna's concept is the "no-traumatizing" calls is a silly concept since everyone seems to react differently to different situations and there's no way to judge what is "traumatizing." What you'd wind up with is basically RESCUE 911 or EMERGENCY reruns. I'm considering a class action lawsuit against those who made those shows for making this job look clean. I mean honestly, when did anyone ever throw up or have diarrhea on the stretcher in those shows? :roll: Devin

I guess you could make the argument they are part of EMS, depending on the agency. We utilize transport services for mutual aid BLS, especially on large incidents. But then again, we probably shouldn't be using some of them. I had a cardiac arrest call with a private ambulance company. They were bringing someone home from the hospital and the person went into cardiac arrest. On the way to the hospital, the Ambulance Attendent (because I will not call him an EMT after this statement) said "I wasnt prepared to see this today." I asked, "Oh? First cardiac arrest?" He said, "No, I just didn't expect to see this when I came into work today." Bewildered I asked, "You didn't expect to see a cardiac arrest? On an ambulance?" Devin

I believe the race card gets thrown around way too much too easily as well. A lot of times its thrown around by scared white people when most blacks could really care less. I was hauled into the boss' office because of a chart my partner wrote. In the chief complaint box, as many people do, he had written the patient's exact words. They were "N**ga done hit me with a 40oz." The boss (a white gentleman) sat us down and proceeded to tear us apart, calling the remarks "racially inflammatory" and that we're lucky we don't get sued. My partner calmly asked "Are you finished?" then stated the obvious point that seemed lost on our boss... my partner was black. Devin

Um, should I take the opportunity to plug my own books here? Devin

Ak, if you're not from NJ I would suggest not expending the brain power to try to figure out the incomprehensible waste of time and energy that is the NJ First Aid Council. You'll thank me for it. Devin

That's kind of a weak argument Asys. In NJ there are several paid services that run around the clock in towns with small populations. Do I think everything should be paid? Yes and no. If the volunteer service manages to get volunteers out no matter what time of day (i.e. Teaneck Ambulance Corps in Bergen Co, NJ) then I see no reason to make them go paid. But if the squad can't maintain adequate numbers, then paying them may help put bodies on the ambulance. Now, its got to be said, paying someone does not equal making them "professional." Professionalism is a state of mind and not a paycheck. I have worked with some paramedics who are the complete opposite of everything you envision professionalism to be. And no one can take the stance that FDNY is without its own well publicized problems. And having done medic time with Philadelphia Fire, I know they have their own set of problems. The entire profession is dysfunctional, not just particular states. Within NJ there are people who manage to do it right, and areas that need some serious help. I believe you'll find that in any state. Devin

I'm not sure much will change. My prediction is that following will change: 1. ALS will be allowed to more on standing orders 2. Encouraging mergers of smaller squads through financial incentives (these actually do exist in NJ for shared service projects) 3. Maybe more money for the EMS office being redirected by surcharges (EMT training is currently funded by the extra surcharges on traffic tickets) 4. A State Medical director and Regional Directors There is no way: 1. EMTs and paramedics will be included in the state pension unless you work for UMDNJ or Rutgers 2. One paramedic/One EMT will fly... the paramedics would all walk out 3. Transporting patients to other facilities - sounds like a good theory (take non-emergent patients to clinics or doc in the boxes, but Asys is right - way too much abuse potential) 4. Requiring all EMS agencies to be licensed - the volunteers still have an incomprehensibly strong hold on the Office of EMS, and they would fight this bitterly I have mixed feelings on the non-hospital services providing ALS. I want it, since it means I may get paid more money, but I don't see the Dept of Health changing this yet. And I got to say, NJ can't possibly be the only state with problems. Ours are just more widely publicized. Devin

In NJ, I know the following Police Departments provide BLS ambulances, but this is not an exhaustive list: 1. Plainsboro Twp (Middlesex County) 2. Union City Police (Hudson County) 3. Passaic Co Sheriffs (Passaic County) 4. Toms River Police (Ocean County) 5. Edgewater Police (Bergen County) supplies police officers to the volunteer ambulance during the day 6. Ridgefield Police (Bergen County) 7. Brick Twp Police (Ocean County) 8. Elizabeth Police (Union County) Hope that helps. These seem to be working very well. Most of them are civilian employees of the police departments. Devin

I would post them, but then you wouldn't buy my books... Available on Amazon, key word EMS2 Who saw that one coming? Lol, its been awhile! Devin

Ah, yea. What he said. Thank goodness there are people out there who understand how it works. I push the button and talk and occasionally it talks back. Devin

Really depends where you're using it and what sort of infrastructure you have to support it. I started out using an 800 system for urban dispatch. It honestly sucked. There were many spots in the city where there were dead zones and those were the kind of areas you really didn't want to lose radio communications. Many this was because of the lack of proper repeaters. As odd as this sounds, we were fortunate to have the main antenna destroyed when the South Tower of the WTC was hit on 9/11. It cost too much to replace, so they scrapped it and went to a UHF system. Now I'm on a statewide project where we use an 800 system extensively. The State Police in NJ have an extensive network of repeaters so its almost crystal clear Devin

Not sure if anyone posted this yet, but I got a laugh out of it. Its a squad in NJ. Devin

Mediccjh, I'm not at #2 anymore. I drive the Central SOV (you know, the one that gets used more 8) ) Devin

The article title is a lil dramatic, but I figured I'd post it since its nice to see EMS getting some recognition beyond just being ambulances. Some of the info is slightly inacccurate, like it was the NJ EMS Task Force and Hudson County Waterfront Strike Team involved in the training, plus they didn't quote me or put in my picture :roll: But i'll forgive him for that. This is from the Jersey Journal Newspaper Powered up for rescue work Tuesday, July 24, 2007 By RONALD LEIR JOURNAL STAFF WRITER If a major catastrophe comparable to 9/11 struck New York or somewhere in the metropolitan region, Hudson County would roll out an armada of well-stocked rescue rigs with a host of well-trained crews. Yesterday, the Hudson County unit of the New Jersey Emergency Medical Services Task Force hosted a training exercise at the former Military Ocean Terminal, where the nearly 30 participants got a first-hand look at the county unit's impressive motor pool. "EMS is not just an ambulance," said H. Mickey McCabe, head of McCabe's Ambulance Services, Bayonne's emergency service provider, and Hudson County Office of Emergency Medical Services coordinator. "It's got significant resources capable of handling thousands of victims simultaneously." Ten communities in Hudson County now have Waterfront Strike Team trailers - acquired with a $250,000 federal Urban Area Security Initiative grant - which would aid mass evacuations from regional shoreline communities, including New York City, ferry accidents, train or Light Rail crashes, or power failures, for example. Each of those trailers, which would be set up in an open field area, is equipped to handle up to 100 disaster victims at a time. Jersey City, Bayonne, North Bergen, Kearny and Secaucus each have available three amphibious vehicles, acquired via U.S. Homeland Security grants, capable of negotiating marsh and/or flooded sites to retrieve disaster victims. Then there is the $265,000 Mass Care Response Unit - one of only three in New Jersey with the capacity of 25 ambulances - loaded with $85,000 in emergency supplies - which would be called out to help deal with mass transit smashups and/or major fires. It's stocked with generators and lights, 50 radios of different frequencies, power tools to cut through fencing and other barriers, oxygen cylinders and masks geared to provide air to nearly 50 people for two hours, portable stretchers, backboards for immobilizing injured people, and assorted medical supplies - from bandages to intravenous and IV fluids. Another part of the emergency arsenal is the Special Operations Unit - also one of three in the state - priced at $365,000 including equipment. This vehicle would carry logistical support: two 20-foot-wide canvas tents, air-conditioning and heating units, coolers for misting fans to cool down rescue workers and patients, oxygen units, cots, radios, desks and work spaces. Finally, there is the $750,000 Mobile Command Post - designed to allow the chiefs of the various emergency units at a disaster to direct operations via on-board radio systems and faxes. To keep track of people treated at disaster sites, Hudson County OEM is contracting with a vendor for about $80,000 to place their names, photos and locations in an Internet data bank accessible to authorized emergency personnel. I have photos of the training if I could figure out how to paste them into the post. Devin

I got plenty of EDP stories in my books available on Amazon... oh come on! Who didn't see that one coming? 8) http://www.amazon.com/EMS2-Life-Your-Devin...6275&sr=8-1 Devin