robert gift

Anyone watching the pt? Or both riding in front?

Years ago we had an ambulance so top heavy that I named her "Dolly". So I was always careful taking her around curves. On our way to a possible electrocution, I was going around a gentle left curve as fast as possible. Dolly was leaning but it was OK. Suddenly, a very strong wind hit us from the inside of our curve. Withat and the lean, I thought we were going to go over. Immediately I braked and went from lane 1 to lane 2, straightening out the curve a little to reduce the centrifugal force. We did not go over, but partner and I arrived at the scene still shaking. Sadly, the electrician was too long in asystole from 10,000 Volts of filtered DC from an AM radio station transmitter. (Today is the first EMT City notice I have received in quite a while. Also, why are some posts, including this one, center aligned? Much easier to read when from the left margin.)

I do not run through intersections if I merely THINK they are clear. I see if they are clear and if no one is approaching. If you can't verify it is clear, you most slow as necessary and be able to stop if necessary. (Just as the state statute reads.) I do not stop for the sake of some theoretical "rule" that we should stop at every red signal. Just as I do not do the ritual of stopping at railroad crossings if I can see both directions down the track that no trains are approaching. What a ridiculous rule for school and other busses. Yes, if you have room to stop. When necessary, I do drive into oncoming traffic. It is easy to observe if oncoming drivers see the EV and easy to observe how they react. It is safer than approaching someone from behind, unsure if they even know an EV is approaching, unsure where they will move, IF they will move, or if they will slam on their brakes. It is THEIR fault. I am merely asking for the right of way. I am not directing them to do anything. NEVER DIRECT ANYONE TO DO ANYTHING! Even in your POV, if you wave someone to turn in front of you and they collide with another vehicle, you can also be blamed. That was THEIR unfortunate, poor decision. Nonetheless, this is why going around is so much better. Our statutes do allow proceeding in opposing lanes. It is done routinely by fire and ambulance. Better than coercing someone to move forward into cross-traffic. We have a major intersection with a 200+ yard long raised median. Often vehicles are backed-up solid behind the red signal and it takes two signal cycles to get through. We simply go on the other side of the median and pass everyone silently until we near the intersection. No one in that pack will be trying to squeeze over, possibly contacting other vehicles, while the EV is trying unsuccessfully to get through the mess. And no one at the front is going to pull out into cross-traffic.

Yes, we have sunrise and sunset situations where the sun is directly in line with east-west streets. As autumnal equinox is nearing, we're watching for such situations. If we see a vehicle coming at us, we stop. If the vehicle hits us, it is that driver's fault for blindly driving into a stationary object - the same as rear-ending a stopped vehicle ahead. But legal blame is not the issue. Preventing a collision or mishap in the first place, is. We save MUCH time when you tally all the intersections. With backed-up traffic it may take more than one signal cycle to get through an intersection. So even if only 45-second cycles, plus time it takes vehicles to start up and be moving, the time adds up. Speeding in urban/suburban traffic is where not much time is saved. Speeding there is not worth the risk, pollution and wear and tear. At an occupied intersection with a green signal, we slow to the speed limit or less if situation (confusion) necessitates. (A family was killed when the drunk father pulled forward through a red signal into the path of a responding Aurora Fire truck. In active School Zones we slow to the required speed limit - or less as the situation dictates. Exactly what I have been stating. You cannot count on the siren. Deaf drivers, drivers "deaf" from loud stereos in better sound insulated air conditioned vehicles, etc., may never hear it. And drivers hearing the siren and looking everywhere for it as they continue. And drivers who do not know what these "spaz" and gimmick sounds are. Wail and Yelp are better perceived than gimmick sounds. Yelp tends to panic some drivers. We use it when Wail seems not to be working. We do not do the 'Yelp at intersections' nonsense. Exactly. This is why is it best to prefer, in order: 1. left open thru-lane 2. open lefturn lane 3. an open thru-lane or righturn lane -even if right of occupied lanes (be ready for someone clearing right) 4. going into opposing traffic lane #1 When turning right at a red intersection, I prefer the right turn lane with no siren so drivers ahead can continue right turns on red. (With siren, they may freeze and no one moves nowhere not no how!) You are asking for right of way. The driver is not required to move forward and get hit (as the motorist killed in front of Lakewood fire truck was). Nonetheless, he panicked (did they have Yelp sounding?)and did not wait for cross-traffic to stop. This is why we prefer opposing lane #1 rather than pulling up behind someone stopped at their red signal. You, not they, take on the risk of getting cross-traffic to stop. We drive GENTLY, PREDICTABLY, and courteously with as little use of the siren as possible.

Correct. I don't know that. Depending on damage, some rotors can be repaired. Still big buck$ but not $40k. LZ needs to be coned off to prevent aircraft from being moroned. I don't know why all the crap to the left. Nothing *I* did. Thought I was the only one to see it. Thought each poster sees only his/her stuff. I'll notify the administrator. Thanks

Hit sounds more severe. "Medical Helicopter blade bumped by fire truck." is more accurate. No excuse for this. You STAY AWAY from helicopters. If you must squeeze by, you have spotter. One rotor blade, if unrepairable, can be $40,000 Also costs of loading and transporting that helicopter and getting it inspected.

Misleading title. But was as expected. How much is a rotor? $20,000? Perhaps all must be replaced as a set.

Assuming is fine, here. I will assume. I have never known of a spouse to use drugs without the wife knowing but claiming ignorance.

Any newer information? Are results of independent findings out? Did his wife know about the "other" drugs?

Sorry, did not see your previous link. Thank you for your research and stats. Who said anything about "flying through intersections"? And who is going to "slam into someone at 90" mph? Going into opposing lanes takes pressure off drivers ahead who may move forward into traffic. Also lessens vehicles maneuvering to get out of the way from bumping. (A woman in lane one moved right. Woman in lane two moved forward causing damage. That Rural/Metro Ambulance could easily have gone around, not holding up everyone while drivers figured what to do and maneuvered. The signal had already turned green but no one noticed because they were maneuvering!) Fortunately, Colorado does not have laws prohibiting smart moves.

It is an analogy which could happen. Around a blind corner could be a toddler who does not know the meaning of your siren and that he should get out of the street. The toddler could be anyone, drunk/drugs, incompetent, deaf or blind, etc. We must compensate for other's mistakes and not allow a terrible outcome. Locomotive engineers are they only ones to which this does not apply. Good. But the ridiculous rules won't allow it. You MUST stop at red signals, even if all cross-traffic has stopped or there is no traffic present or approaching.* You MUST stop at Stop signs, even if no one else is present or approaching. You MUST blare the siren into citizen's homes and businesses, even if no one is in your way. *Recently, westbound signalling turning south, I stopped at a rather open intersection because I was not convinced a northbound driver was going to stop. Southbound driver, who had stopped, took off, not wanting to wait.

Nothing to "brag" about. What is reckless about not stopping at red signals when there is no traffic, or when all traffic has stopped? Is it contrary to some religious ritual? Have I espoused that one may "run" through such intersections? Merely that following some ridiculous "rule" that lengthens response time, causes more traffic impediment, more wear and tear on the vehicle, more fuel use and pollution by everyone - is needless. And the Colorado statute also follows that reasoning. Are you going to travel only 10 mph over the 75 Speed Limit and have others wanting you out of their way? If conditions allow, there is no problem with making better time to the scene than to follow some assigned speed limit. Speed limits are conservative - meaning they are posted lower than what the road is engineered for. In open expanses on dry level Interstates, 15 mph over the speed limit is no problem. Why do you erroneously state I complained "bat out of hell" when I never said such nor observed them doing that? They are FAKE runs. Not emergencies. Taking right of way from others, causing traffic impediment and disruption, makng others move off the roadway possibly causing vehicle damage or tire damage, exposing others to hazards - is not justified for fake runs. They can accomplish the same practice without lights and siren.

No complaints about stopping when limited visibility. Would be horrible to have children harmed because of a grade crossing signal failure - though I have never heard of even one. Four lanes, two each direction, so vehicles could easily have used lane one to pass the bus, as I did. Colorado has had two terrible school bus train collisions. Late 40s and early 60s. How long it takes to get unrehearsed students out?

The point is that it is needless. Think how many gallons of fuel is wasted, pollution generated not only by the buses but also the trucks and automobiles behind. Kind of relates to impeding traffic when needlessly stopping at red signals. Is it religious ritual, which has absolutely no value? When bus drivers can see no train for miles, why do all the waste? Your sixty students won't be injured much by the non existant train. But maybe slightly bruised when rear-ended by the truck. I also have a bus license. They should make that crossing [EXEMPT]

Brilliant reply. But you're not in the picture. Wrong end. If you don't like it, don't read it. Duh! Just saw a bus stop at a railroad crossing with (o)=(o) , gates and bells. Unobstructed view down the track a mile in both directions. Yet, the bus slows, puts on emergency flashers, stops and then proceeds. A red sports car behind it almost rear-ended the bus and came partially into our lane. What a waste of fuel, pollution as the bus accelerated, brake wear, engine and drive train wear and tear, passenger discomfort, times how many occurances each day - all for nothing. Bus was more of a hazard slowly accelerating over that track than just crossing at the speed limit.

Good point. Best is to get everyone to make good decisions. This reminds me of some of my rides in railroad locomotives for Operation Lifesaver. We are now getting into the late evening hours. Ahead we can see the grade crossing signals, bells, lights, gates are operating perfectly as always. No one is around. Still, the engineer has me blast the horns as usual, which I know is going into everyone's homes. Next week, the crossings will be designated Quiet Zones where horn is not required. Until then, he still blows. ruffems, can you please redo your post so that I may respond? This won't copy it. If you are driving 90, and we do!, and you see another car approaching, you slow - just in case the driver is not expecting you to be nearing that fast. You drive for conditions, which means (includes) complications of others and road surface, etc. (On I-70, I had to slow way down for deer. You never know what they will do. I also turned off the lights.)

Then explain why. Each point. There is no prescribed speed over which you should not exceed. (In Colorado) Example: Some believe they cannot exceed the speed limit by more than 10 mph. So what are they doing? They are looking for speed limit signs. They are also looking down at their speedometers to make sure they are not traveling faster than "45 in a 35 mph zone". What should they be doing? Looking out and driving for conditions, whatever they may be, which may require operating under the posted speed limit. Should I also add a disclaimer?: Does ruffems know the REAL world? Must one obey all his little rules - made for those who do not think. -Boys and girls, we must always have our little sirens going. -We must always stop at red signals and stop signs. -We must never exceed the speed limit by more than -n- mph. I failed to mention my best advice. Assume there is a straying toddler out there. No matter what he has done, no matter how wrong he is, you can't hit him no matter what.

"Pedestal" Stop apologizing for speaking your peace, oh holier than thou One. Practicality. Not arrogance. Driving since 1968. AAA Driver instructor during college summer breaks starting 1971. Teaching EV driving 1976 because I was driver instructor. (Before EVOC) EVOC instructor, 2000. But that means nothing. You can do your "ritual" and pretend to dead stop at every red signal, avoiding colliding with nonexistent vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians. You can also blow your little siren continuously, annoying people in their homes, warning non existent drivers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, pedestrians. There are few accidents. Don't let mishaps happen. You make sure you are clear. Sorry about your friend. When I drive, I cannot know if there is a drunk, incompetent, deaf person or straying toddler around a blind corner. So I slow ready and able to avoid/evade. Likewise, when I come to a four-way stop intersection, if I can clearly see no one is present or approaching, I proceed without stopping and with no siren. If no one is there, does it matter that I am breaking some of your rules?

Never got caught! No, as indicated above, there is no requirement to stop. There is also no speed limit. I also favor that so that the driver is looking out and not looking down at the speedometer and calculating the do not exceed speed.

Yes, don't come to a complete stop, but keep moving forward so they don't think you're parked. Since police, fire and EMS park with ALL lights needlessly operating, when they see you stopped they think you are parked. By the time they hear the siren, they are too close and it is too late to stop. (There should be a rule that when parked, only slower flashing lights operate, no 360s, strobes or such.) Don't go charging into the intersection. Slowly maintain forward progress so they see and understand. Of course, stop if necessary. Likewise, I dont' stop if we see everyone has stopped. It just slows our progress and makes everyonelse wait longer. But a driver may be merrily traveling in his open lane approaching his green signal, oblivious why everyonelse around him has stopped for their green signal. So you don't enter that lane unless you can see no one is coming. (Saw Denver Police nearly get smacked doing that.) At some intersections, where we can't see if it is clear, we must slow and stop if necessary before continuing. Colorado Revised Statutes: 42-4-108. exceptions for emergency vehicles... (2) ... The driver of an authorized emergency vehicle may: ... (B.) Proceed past a red or stop signal or stop sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation. We don't stop unless we need to.

Why stop when you see that all cross-traffic has stopped? You are just wasting your time and everyonelse's. OF COURSE you ensure that there is no one proceeding through their open lane under their GREEN signal before entering their lane. (Northbound vehicles in lanes three, two and one had stopped for the westbound EV. I am now in the middle of the intersection. Even though minority-appearing woman in southbound lane one had clear view and had plenty of time to slow and stop, I am not convinced she will. She somewhat slows but continues forward. With my bumper against her lane, the siren was blasting into her vehicle has she passed right in front. No problem because I had stopped.) A fire truck halted by unrelenting traffic at a similar intersection often has to have a firefighter flag traffic. By the time drivers hear the truck's siren, and realize the fire truck is not parked but trying to cross, it is too late to stop. This improved when the driver learned to NOT STOP, but slow and keep moving forward so that drivers could see he was not parked. Still, sometimes we need to stop and flag. We save a lot of time - often more than just one signal cycle's worth of backed-up traffic.

We FREQUENTLY go into the opposing lane. But I do not do it when the sun is low behind me - a good point I failed to list! (I also don't bicycle with the sun low in front of me.) If a vehicle comes at me, I stop. If the vehicle were to continue coming at me, I would blast the horn and even back or make evasive move. If vehicle hits me, dead stopped with lights, headlight flashers, siren, horn, - their fault entirely. (No different than rear-ending a vehicle stopped in front of them.) (But being their fault entirely does no one any good.) Who would be stupid enough to go blindly forward if they cannot see into what they are driving? Some drivers. So we're ready for them. Going into opposing lane is far better than influencing someone ahead to pull forward into cross-traffic. With better sound-proofed vehicles with better stereos and air conditioning, we never count on the siren being heard, so don't count on the siren stopping cross-traffic. I often don't have it sounding unless useful. We DO NOT stop at RED signals unless we cannot see if all cross traffic has stopped. We save a lot of time, - often more than just one signal cycle worth of backed-up traffic. And we're in and out of the intersection and not confusing or impeding traffic. The sooner I get out of everyonelse's way, the better.

If you can see far enough ahead that no left turn lanes are available, or you can't get to them, just get on the opposing traffic side of the raised median and proceed against traffic. Not unsafe at all. Opposing traffic, now after their intersection and moving, cannot help but see you, and, since you are in their lane 1, will most often move to their right. Much easier and more expedient than trying to get stopped vehicles ahead to clear a path. Many stopped drivers are afraid of moving into other vehicles or objects, even when you can see they have adequate room. Also, you don't encourage vehicles ahead to pull forward into the intersection in harm's way, though they are legally allowed to do it. We silence the siren as soon as we can see drivers are aware of the EV. No use "yelling" at them - which is what a siren is doing. They know you're there. Lakewood FD was responding eastbound. I was told they came up behind an eastbound vehicle in lane 1 stopped for his RED signal. He moved forward and was broadsided by a southbound vehicle with GREEN and killed. Firefighters did not like my confonting why they did not just go around the median and take the hazards of trying to get through, themselves. Instead, they "coerced" the citizen to move out of their way. Nonsense about saving minimal time. We save A LOT of time not having to wait in line for traffic signals which may take two cycles to get through. Sometimes three cycles for left turns. Speed does not save much time, and it is not worth the risk.

I don't know. Merely conjecture, hoping someone will provide updated information and missing information. Maybe not even a witnessed arrest. Did his "keepers" call the physician rather than EMS?

Excerpt from www.essortment.com During the Baroque period, 1600 to 1750, male sopranos and altos comprised about 70 percent of all operatic singers. Male sopranos in opera were a matter of necessity. Women, especially in countries where the Catholic Church had firm control, were forbidden on the stage so castrati played both the women’s parts and the hero as well. Nearly every church choir used pre-pubescent boys to sing the high parts in choral works because women were also not allowed to participate in church services. Thus, the finest of the boy sopranos were picked by music masters for castration. During puberty a boy’s vocal chords enlarge enormously, caused by an increased production of anderogen hormones. Castration prevented the necessary flow of hormones and arrested growth. Afterwards the castrato would have the high voice of a boy soprano, but the lung power of a full-grown man. Castration was performed by cutting the blood supply to the testicles, or by amputating them altogether. The victim was placed in a warm bath to soften the testes and the operation was performed after the patient was rendered unconscious. How? Alcohol? After recovery, the boy would begin an intensive study of music and singing that could sometimes last ten years or more. Although castration did little to damage a castrato's intellect, it did pose serious health and emotional problems. Most castrati suffered from the effects of developmental hypogonadism, including infantile penis and an underdeveloped prostate. They also had more developed subcutaneous fat than the normal male, fat deposits localized on the hips, buttocks and breast areas, fatty deposits on the eyelids, and skin that sometimes appeared wrinkled or swollen. The arms and legs of many castrati were unusually long as compared to the torso (the long bones never stopped growing), which made them look distorted. Many of the castrati’s well-documented personality disorders were a direct result of their disfigurement, as well as their inability to lead normal sex lives. They were neither man nor woman, but something in between. On one hand they were much admired for their singing, but on the other they were taunted unmercifully about their condition. Castrati tended to be fat, volatile, conceited, and almost impossible to get along with. Composer George Frederick Handel’s notorious shouting matches with his castrato Senesino, for instance, were well-known throughout England. On the other hand, especially when it suited their purposes, a castrato could be entirely charming. Sometimes they were so respected and adored that they were able to gain great political influence. The last performance of an operatic castrato in an opera was in London in 1825. Giovanni Battista Velluti performed in Meyerbeer’s “Il Crociato.” Underemployed, Velluti had hoped for a comeback of the castrato to the opera. But by then, London had not heard the voice of a castrato in over 25 years. In a city that had welcomed Senesino with open arms a century before, the local newspapers now implored their readers not to allow women into the theater to witness such a travesty of nature. Velluti, the last operatic castrato, died of old age in 1861 -- a relic of a past that could not be resurrected.