Richard B the EMT

My condolences to the family of the deceased. I now refer folks to the search feature for checking multiple strings on locking the ambulance, leaving the ambulance running, engine idle with key removed devices, and ambulances involved in fatal crashes.

It must say something for both my age and mileage, that they are talking about not their children, but their grandchildren.

It seems to me that the American public only has knowledge of us as "Ambulance Drivers" or "Paramedics". The title "EMT" does not seem to be in their lexicon. When they stop to talk with us, particularly the kids, it's "Are you a Paramedic?" "How fast does the truck go?" or the ever popular "Why does it say 'Ambulance' backwards on the hood?" Now, as for my dissecting of the episode: 1) Reality strikes! They show the ambulances being washed and stocked. 2) Tyler's uniform has been updated to now have a Paramedic Patch. 3) Hit and run driver just looks at his victim and walks away with a bag. Anyone else feel that it telegraphs something in the bag is going to be used later in the episode? 4) Treating the hit and run driver's victim, when shots are fired, and cops and firefighters are falling around them, wounded, of course Nancy and Glen stand up to load the "pedstruck". 5) Glen and Doc Diane discuss the shooting. Seems she cares. 6) The captain does a rendition of Hill Street's Sgt Philip Freemason Esterhaus' famous "Hey! Let's be careful out there!" in effect, if not the exact wording. 7) Boone's wife is understandably wanting him to come home, as uniformed personnel seem to be becoming targets. 8) It seems kind of strange that now Rabbit is the "by the book" person (due to still being on probation?), and Marisa is now the "wild child". 9) Nice field diagnosis of the liver rejection by Tyler, freshly read up on the topic. (Comment noted by other poster on waking up in the tub in ice) 10) Glen and Nancy are jumpy, in same situation knowing a sniper is out there, wouldn't you be jumpy? 11) Realistic touch again, that the ER is backed up when field personnel decide, for their own safety, that everyone is a "load and go". 12) Dumb nurse, telling Diane that Greg is a two timer. MDs can make RNs lives difficult. The confrontation between Glen and Diane is telling their relationship is in trouble. 13) Tyler and Boone's "Spidey Sense" kicked in just in time to avoid getting shot (gotta review the tape to see something shot out of Tyler's hand). 14) I agree with Boone's comment that things are shook up for Tyler, as I am also a talkative one, and when upset, I have a tendency to shut up, too. 15) Boone is ready to ask for emergency leave, in deference to his wife, but when realizing that someone else would have to take the tours already vacated, he "Cowboy's up". Due to his problems with his wife in the first 3 episodes, this is probably going to come back and haunt him. 16) Glen has had multiple relationships with nurses? This is going to harm, or end, the relationship with Doc Diane. 17) The other Paramedic's "Spidey Sense" kicks in too late, and they're shot. Thought the second one going down was a head shot. 18) Sniper doing shots to head, legs, other spots not covered by the vests. He knows! 19) Good, if unsuccessful attempt on Nancy's part, trying to tell the cop on how to do himself a tournequet. 20) Rabbit "steals" an ambulance, first leaving the other personnel scrambling for cover, to use as a shield against, and distraction to, the sniper. 22) With the sniper rifle, the metal of an ambulance is no match against; only an engine block is sufficient defence against the rifle. 23) SWAT locates the sniper as Rabbit drives the "moving target", "flash-bang's" him, and shoots him. 24) Realistic that they would not want Nancy, or anyone, to take care of the now wounded sniper, feel that they'd save the time and expense of the trial and incarceration by letting him die. Where is SFPD's Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callaghan when you need him? 25) Nancy is also correct that by following SWAT's directive to let him die, they were no better than the sniper. 26) SFPD Captain wants SFFD EMS Captain to administratively "go after" Rabbit. It must be public knowledge in the emergency services that Rabbit is still on probation. 27) Diane must really love Glen, as she now asks for his exclusivity. Back at her, because he agrees to it. 28) Boone and Tyler must really be settling in as a team of Paramedics, as Boone, not usually known for joking in that manner, refers to their duo as a "Pair-O-Medics". 29) Old standby for formula script writing, that the supervisor opens a drawer, and there's the bottle of booze. 29-A) Shares the bottle with Rabbit. 29- Does anyone have an agency protocol allowing alcoholic beverages on the premises? I don't think so. 30) Rabbit is ready to turn in his "cert" card, but Captain won't let him. Who would fire a man responsible for the saving of the lives of 2 Paramedics and a LEO? (Nothing stated on what this will do with Rabbit's probation.)

I admit I wouldn't have tried it if it had not been in a tea bag.

And tall buildings housing residences and offices. Are you by chance not including natural disasters, like tsunamis, hurricane/cyclones, tornadoes, and the ever popular earthquake? I am sure that someone has a pre-plan for the asteroid strike, but this started with discussion of 2 women, possibly Chechen "Black Widow" suicidal bombers, that detonated themselves in the Moscow Transit System. While the bombs themselves must have been a political statement, the fact that one went off in the subway station practically under the offices of the former KGB was a statement in itself.

You do know that Insanity is hereditary? You get it from your kids!

Rabbit's shrink was from both ST-TNG and ST-DS9, in the same role. they just didn't feature her too much, and for the most part just stated that she, and the character's daughter, were planet-side somewhere. When I researched it, she was the only "regular" character that didn't have a picture of her (the actress) alongside the character listing on any of the ST sites.

Didn't notice, but Reuben could have been in Washington State when his dad got killed in the explosion. Some people move around the country, and don't stay in one place (example, Tyler).

Just a re-stating of what I know I have put into other threads: Be respectful of those who were already on the scene, and don't just push them out of the way. An EMT of my acquaintance successfully sued a Paramedic from her agency for assault and battery. Seems he didn't realize she was an EMT, as she was out of uniform and had stopped at a street side incident in her POV, and physically pushed her out of the way so hard, she fell and sustained an injury. Our "hero para-god" had done a deed I have always called "Paramedic Shove". I don't care what level you operate at, or who you have higher level of training over, don't commit Paramedic Shove, as the person you push might have Johnny Cochran's Law Firm on speed dial!

Anyone who does LEO, FD, or EMS work for a year, and can write, will find the general public responding to the book by saying "No way that would ever really happen." After 37 years working the ambulances, or their support services, I've been called a liar for some of the stuff I have mentioned as seeing while on the job, the stranger stuff more than the everyday. I think that many of us, writers or not, have had that experience. Good luck with the book, OP, but I am competing with one of my own I am writing!

Last time I visited there, everything was civil. Then, again, I wasn't asking questions on starting up a Medivac/S&R Helicopter service.

I would also thank the "First Responder(s)" for whatever readings they got, but tell them that I'm still going to have to take vital signs for myself, as per agency policy. If the readings present with great difference to the FR's readings, I'll tell the FRs of the difference. On the call report, I'd also make note of the FR's reading numbers and time they got them, against my own, in the "comments" section, along with, if any, their cert or licence number for their level of training. If they are from my agency, I'd record their badge number also (credit where credit is due). If from adifferent agency, that gets written down also. I also would not chase them off, it means less to lift, sometimes.

While I don't recall specifics, I do remember hearing of a guy so hopped up on numerous recreational pharmaceuticals, after being hit by at least 4 "Kill" shots from FBI weapons, he still managed to kill at least 2 of the FBI agents. As for the Earl Grey (Earl Gray?) tea, I tried it once. I guess I didn't prepare it correctly, and it tasted awful. Sorry, Captain Picard.

Like us outside of the former "Iron curtain" countries, I feel that those of the former USSR have some kind of Pre-Plan for almost anything, just like most of us are supposed to. Then, again, sometimes following the "Pre-Plan" can be disastrous: everyone was where the plan called for them to be, and that's why the FDNY lost so many of their senior supervisors when the World Trade Center fell on top of them.

1) Anything in the 400 MHz realm and above is UHF, not VHF. FYI. 2) To give an idea of Aviation frequencies, take into account that JFK International Airport Tower is 119.10 AM. (I am a Registered Radio Monitor/Short Wave Listening Station, courtesy "call-sign" KNY2SC, so I think I know at least a small bit of radio stuff) 3) Most, but not all, aviation radio traffic is in AM (Amplitude Modulation) mode, not FM (Frequency Modulation) mode. Most of our (LEO, FD, EMS) radio communications are FM mode. While 2 dudes (or dude-etts, as not to be sexist) might want to start up an Air Ambulance/S&R Service, as already pointed out, you have the cost of the aircraft itself, fuel, the concept, as told me by friends in the NYPD Aviation Bureau, and cost of 2 hours maintenance for each hour of flight, the cost of keeping on at least one trained pilot for every hour of the day, the cost of a mechanic for similar hours, and let's not forget insurance for the helicopter, the office space, and the hangar areas. While I do not say it can't be done, I would go on record that the chances of the company surviving into a second year would be microscopic. By the way, another agency you might want to check out for information is Just Helicopters, an organization of helicopter pilots, helicopter aviation agencies, and "Rotor Heads", which are fans of helicopters (pun unintended: "fans"). I have used them as a reference on several postings in the city in the past. They are at http://www.justhelicopters.com . Used helicopters formerly operated by the military? From the late 1960s to about 1980, the NYPD operated 2 "Hueys". Per my friends there, when they were delivered to the NYPD, they still had bullet holes from North Vietnam and Chinese troops' AK-47s in them.

A reminder, if trying to "friend" me on Facebook, best send a message along IDing as an EMT City member, with mention of your on-line name. I just almost knocked out Brentoli's request because of the lack of such message. David Patterson is not a Mayor, he's the Governor of the State of New York! Best pay attention to your "Spidey Sense", LoneStar!

Mr Nash added an additional line in the late 1960s: We can still hang together, discuss the ways of the EMS world, perhaps belly up to the bar in a pub together. At least I know you won't try to steal my bacon cheeseburgers (right religion, but non observant of the dietary laws)!

Just seems to be more stuff on Facebook than MySpace or Friendster (member of all 3, personally), which of the 3, is why I'm exclusively Facebook now (and, of course, EMT City)

Momma B and I are in agreement that if you do that, you have to remember what book, where the book is, where in the book, and how what you're looking for is spelled. While I don't recall specifics, I had, somewhere on the site, mentioned an incident from 20 years ago, where someone broke into the campus computer system and changed their grades from the class in American History my brother teaches. After finding the discrepancy on his own records, and the college did their investigation, the student was expelled.

I finally figured out how to get the picture onto my Facebook Profile page. Anyone interested can find me on the Facebook, at http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages#!/profile.php?id=559818661 If interested in being Facebook "Friended" with me, please send along a message reminding me what name I'd know you by, here in EMT City.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg decided he wanted a third term in office, after his predecessor in the office allowed "2 term" term limits in. With total disregard for the voting population, he, and a sizable number of the NYC council, changed the law back to NO limits, and "Mayor Mike", along with those council men and women, got his third term

Via the links, this is the second incident of "Pronouncing" a living person as deceased in a relatively short time. One is an error, 2 is a pattern. What is going on, there? "Momma 'B'", ever the teacher she retired from being, says it is a failure to be properly trained.

If the OP would go to the manufacturer's site, they could find out. On the FYI, on 3rd Watch, the show depicted the FDNY EMS Command as using type 3 ambulances. Except for 2 special use ambulances, the entire fleet are type 1.

Why are you being so insulting to the bag of hammers?

For the Record: 1) I am not as well informed on the Healthcare Reform Laws just enacted either as I could and/or should be. 2) I do not condone armed revolt against our government. 3) I am a registered voter, and therefore, I have a choice via the ballot box, and am not afraid to use it.