Richard B the EMT

Would anyone care to respond to my observation that things are smoother when a Fire Department ASKS to have EMS duties included in their overall mission, by the members, as opposed to BEING TOLD, by non members (like the local mayor) that they HAVE to include EMS operations in their overall mission?

Wow. I remember when that was made. Flava Flav of Public Enemy had recorded a "rap" calling 9-1-1, and EMS in particular, "a joke." Lyrics went: (flavor flav 911 is a joke laugh) Youtube video= The origianal linked vid was made in 1992, as an answer back to the original "9-1-1 Is A Joke" video. (OK, the choreography is awful, but the over-all message is the thing.) I am not good on names, but I saw a lot of faces I remember from the job, dressed in the Green and Whites of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation EMS, pre-merger, and am still aquainted with the Hoover brothers, who I see every now and then.

Gee, that LEO must have been the child, who, on visiting a dairy farm and found a bunch of milk bottles, tan to his mother, and said, "I think I just found a cow's nest". Same child, on being told that the pointy things on the cow's head, were horns, when the cow mooed. "Hey mister, which one of those horns did the cow just blow?"

Why do you have beer in your undies? On second thought, I DON'T want to know! LOL

As with any day except Fridays and Saturdays, my regular days off, I'm going to be laboring at FDNY HQ Bureau of Health Services. BHS is only closed Thanksgiving Thursday and Christmas Day. Oh, my labors will cost the FDNY my holiday time and a half pay! Ka-Ching!

Start with the fact that fixed wing aircraft glide through the air. Helicopters beat the air into submission.

It seems the electronic stethoscopes would pick up engine noise, the siren(s), road vibrations, and it's own artifact noise on movement. It would be impossible to eliminate those in a field setting. Therefore, my interpretation of the consensus seems to be, the electronic 'scopes are probably great in the hospital setting, but can cause problems field-side, where the majority of us would use them.

What was not mentioned, or I missed seeing in the Times' article, is that NYC is looking to close down several fire companies (both engines and ladder trucks), either on the overnights or total shutdowns, as well as eliminating some 30 EMS ambulance "tours", as a cost saving measure. I am uncertain if that is translated to the 3 tours a day on 10 ambulances, or removing 30 ambulances from the roughly 250+ ambulances a day we have in the field.

First off, welcome aboard the EMT City. As for your question, take into account that not all EMS services are based in a Fire Department, some are based in Law Enforcement agencies, others are based in hospital networks, industrial settings, community services, and as private enterprises for profit. I might have left a few out. On this site, there is a lot of discussion, both pro and (mostly)con, for fire service based EMS, primarily aimed at fire fighters cross-trained as EMTs and Paramedics. I mention that, as I am in the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY)EMS Command, and am a mission specific EMS provider in that context. Simply put, I don't fight fires. What I would suggest, is either look up EMS providers in the telephone book, that are local to you, or call up the hospital nearest to you, and ask where the training might be available nearest to your residence.

Old, but still effective.

Red for Starboard, Where is the green one for the port side?

Tell Dale that we, of his extended EMS family, wish him the speediest of recoveries, but at the same time, don't rush it to get back, until medically and mentally good and ready!

Said the blond, "How many brunettes does it take to change a light bulb? One? I don't get it."

So turn off the light in your avitar, perhaps it would help? LOL

As a mention, my union asks us, if we are going to do EMS volunteering, don't do it within the NYC area covered by the NYC 9-1-1 system. They also ask that, when off duty for the FDNY EMS, if we want to work for a private IFT (Inter-Facility-Transfer) service, that we not compete with ourselves by working for one that supplies units to hospitals, or for hospitals that run their own ambulances, as parts of the NYC 9-1-1 system. As I understand it, the union can impose fines on members for doing so.

How about a week after the birth, and the end of your contest, you post the picture(s) here for all of us to enjoy? Anyway, congrats!

My observations, based both here, and from EMS related publications, seems to be more paid personnel at volunteer companies, than volunteers working at paid services, but good luck in your search.

Wow. All that, and that major wildfire fighting, too. You've been busy!

However, I don't recall any "Debtors Prisons" in existence from the times of Charles Dickens.

Do not respond? Do not transport? Whoever issued those orders, best rescind them. If it is an actual order, it sounds like denial of service to a person who needs it. Can you say "Lawsuit"? Then, again, I work in a system where we treat/transport without asking for ability to pay, either by Medicare and/or Medicade (state and federal assistance), third party insurance plan, or cash. When we bill (from FDNY EMS Command), if there is no insurance, we send a bill directly to the patient's recorded address, with instructions on how to arrange for the insurance carrier to pay, or send a check in the amount.

I thought it was

My apology for the total error on the helo ID.

Try here, with the EMS Country Express: "You Respond To Everyone But Me" Link doesn't have all the songs but it is a start http://www.myspace.com/emscountryexpress

1) Thanks, Medic Texas, for the link. As an EMT, I don't ever recall hearing that reference, and I've been working from 1973. Never too late to learn (or refresh). 2) When starting transport to the ER, can the dispatcher call and relay any information the crews find? It doesn't necessarily mean a request for an ER "Stand-By", just a "Note" (local nickname for a notification) to the ER, let them know what you're bringing them. 2-a) I monitor many radio frequencies, and notice that all ambulances I can hear from New Jersey, even doing transports for "direct admission" to a hospital that won't be seen in the ER, advise the hospital of what they are bringing in. I have had confirmation, both talking to local NJ crews, and NJ members of EMT City, that it is NJ State DoH policy to do so.

Nothing personal, but that's almost like an indicision answer, like a favorite color of Plaid!