Richard B the EMT

Some years before either HIPAA or the FDNY merger, a Public Information Officer of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation EMS got into trouble for violating Patient Confidentiality policies, by announcing that Michael Jackson had been transported by an EMS unit, and announced to which hospital he had been taken. He had collapsed during a rehearsal.With that in mind, and I emphasize that this is my speculation, maybe he did have some sort of medical problem. While I don't recall specifics, I do remember hearing Princess Diana jokes within 24 hours of her death. Also, again not recalling specifics, I was hearing NASA Space Shuttle Challenger jokes within 8 hours of the spacecraft's blowing up. I recall reports that, in New York City neighborhoods predominantly occupied by people from Arab backgrounds, there was dancing in celebration of the collapse of the World Trade Center, until they started being assaulted by others. I can tell you that the gas station attendants at my gas station were assaulted by people believing them to be Moslems, when, as they were almost all from India, or descended from people who were from India, were more likely Hindu or Sikh religion members. As for watching the spectacle from the Staples Center, had I my "drothers*", I wouldn't have watched at all, but I was, by a majority of Fire Fighters, EMTs, Paramedics, and "non-uniformed civilian" employees in control of the TVs at FDNY Headquarters, outvoted. So, I just let the TV drone on. At least it was with some music, which the pre-empted Jerry Springer and Steve Wilcox Shows never has. As for Santa, link to http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/ for if he exists or not. *For those who don't speak my kind of American "slanguage" (slang language), "drothers" is translated as "I'd drother be doing something else".

When you consider how many priests, heck, religious leaders of many faiths, have been accused of sexual molestation of children in the last few years, it does diminish redeeming values to society. Musicians have, by reason of their music, worldwide access, especially if a bunch of people say that a particular song speaks for them. Springsteen's "Born In the USA" is a complaint about the lack of jobs, racial relations, and the lousy economy, yet, as it is screaming "USA", President Ronald Reagan practically adopted that song as his theme song. Sometimes, it is the real Spin Doctors (not the musical group) who turn the stuff around: Detractors of Idi Amin, now deceased Dictator of Uganda, published true information on numerous children of his born out of wedlock. Amin (or the spin doctors) turned it into just how physically strong and vital he was at that time, or else how could he be fathering all those kids?

NEVER imitated? www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyfcOriVKBM There are others by Wierd Al, too, I'm just not taking the time.

The article states a water works employee was cutting electrical wires? I have to ask the obvious, but why was a water worker messing with electrical cables? Just as bad as an electrician doing water pipes. So...This person didn't know how to conduct himself? Shocking! Was he charged? Such jolting news. Is this news on the news circuits?

A few years ago, I saw a revival of the stage musical play "1776", with Brent Spiner (Lt. Commander Data, "Star Trek-The Next Generation) as John Adams.

Chbare stated My sister married in 1970, and moved away. She still gets mail addressed here, in her maiden name. Eydawn stated It's not retarded, it's classic Greek literature, specifically, Lysistrada. (Spell check on that name?)

During the heyday of the CB Radio craze, I first heard about "Dummy Cops". Police would park a broken down cruiser somewhere near a high speed roadway. Drivers would see the cruiser, and slow down. That "calms" the traffic, without paying a cop salary. Then, there is the always popular story of the cop in a town that needed a radar gun, but the law only allowed state troopers the devices. He took a hair dryer, a circular Quaker Oats box, duct tape, and some paint, and created what appeared to be a radar speed gun. He'd stand near the cruiser, parked near a speeding problem roadway, drape the dryer wire back into the car, and stand, posed, pointing the "gun" at oncoming and overtaking traffic. People would see the "gun" and slow down. All the cop wanted, was to slow down the traffic, and with the cost of supplies, did so at low cost. Back in the 1960s, MAD magazine had a picture of a cop and driver discussing a $10 solution to speeding, while standing next to a "Speed Checked By RADAR" sign. The low tech solution was the sign, itself, costing $10. Therefore, advertising can sometimes pay off.

Over the years from 1973, when I started, I possibly had a few ROSC, but I cannot say, due to not being able to have followed up on them, if any walked out of the hospital.

As one who has been an EMT, EMT-D, and now they say I am an EMT-B (D= Defibrillation, B= Basic) for the State of New York, whoo yeah, we all still have a lot to learn, and possibly teach others. I agree we just want to help. As for being nuts, you say that as if it was a bad thing.

Possible direct quote, based on all histories I have read: John Handcock, first person to sign the Declaration.

I don't know. Not quite the same resonance of a line as "I'll be bachk" from "Ahnold" "the Governator" Shwartzenegger (spelling?), or "Ain't got time to bleed" from Jessie "the Governor" Ventura.

What was the line?

Travalina in Buy and Cell? The only reason I went to that movie was because of a wrestler who was in it, and his part was so bad (the wrestler, not Fred), I ended up apologizing to my Lady J for having made her see that movie, and voluntarily made the next 2 films "chick flicks".Same wrestler starred in the sci fi "They Live". While still a bad film, my wrestler stank less in that one. Travalina at the Telethon was a better showcase of his talents than his role in Buy and Cell.However, he will be missed. Just remembered, the wrestler was "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.

Deliberately drowning an animal in fresh or salt water? To determine the effects of each? Ventmedic, what jurisdiction are you in, again? While I don't see myself joining People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, it sounds like something the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) might have an interest.

OK, this starts being a local terminology situation. I say "Recovery Room", some others say "post operative recovery area", yet others say "Post Anesthesia Care Unit-PACU". Can we agree that You say Poh-TAY-toh, and I say Po-TAH-toh? Turns out to be the same thing. As for the BLS/ALS issues, are ALS personnel allowed, under supervision of Anesthesia Specialists, of course, to perform intubation as a part of their training? I seem to recall hearing that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals objected to student Paramedics learning pediatric intubation by practicing on cats at veterinary hospitals, again, under strict and tight supervision by authorized specialists.

By the way, while I have not had such a success story for myself, it is nice to hear a Paramedic team call over the radio that they were in route to the hospital with a "Post Cardiac Arrest" patient. The crew, and the woman they saved, a neighbor from the next block from me, appeared in the NY Post, and NY Daily News.

FDNY EMS Command has something like that, a brunch for arrest survivors, and the EMTs and Paramedics who saved them. It's called the Second Chance Brunch, and is usually used as a photo op during EMS Week.

OK, that sounds like an ALS related protocol. I, as has been discussed in numerous postings, am BLS, so, you now hear the sound of silence, not the sound of the palm to forehead slap. Thanks for the information.

While I stick to my specialty, EMS, I will ask questions of those who do other skills, like Hi Angle Rescue Rope works. I present that I know nothing, and most take the time to explain it, as with Denzel Washington in Philadelphia, One thing I picked up on, however, horrified me in the video. Why would anyone not rappelling down from a helo while firing an M-16/AR 14, or an AK 47 at the "bad guys", EVER go down head first? Everything the rope rescue guys, and mountain climbers I have as friends and associates, says that is one thing one NEVER does.

Once again, expect the sound of me slapping my palm to my forehead when you tell me, but...what is/are PACU? This may be, yet again, using a wording I am unfamiliar with, that describes something I AM familiar with.

I know you're not referring to Mayor Mike Bloomberg, of NYC, yet it sounds so like him. Your problem is more universal than you think. Here in NYC, seemingly in less than 24 hours, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority first announced that it had a multi-million dollar surplus, and then says the bridge and tunnel tolls, as well as the bus and subway fares, have to go up, due to a deficit. Case in point, the bus and subway fare went up to $2.25 from $2.00 on June 28, 2009, just 2 days ago, yet they started construction (again!) on the Second Avenue Subway Train line. What happened to the surplus?

As already known, I am as municipal as they come, in a city of 8 million residents and about an additional 2 million transients each 24 hours. FDNY EMS does about one point three million calls a year. YET... With a few units and crews now on a pilot program of 12 hour tours, the majority working 3 eight hour tours a day, and speaking of roughly 250 to 300 actual FDNY EMS ambulances, the city just cut back some 30 odd "tours". The rest are supposed to pick up the slack. Saturday evening, I visited a station where the 4 BLS 1600-0000 tour ambulances were either with crews already on overtime, or about to go on overtime for the 0000 to 0800 tour. The one person who was supposed to be on regular, non overtime, for that 0000-0800 tour banged in sick, and the poor lieutenant was fighting with the borough command chief as to why the station was unable to secure a crew for that one ambulance. This is probably going on, on a citywide basis. My fire guys are facing the closure of 17 apparatus citywide, either as overnight closures from 1800 to 0600, or outright full closures. Nobody is losing jobs, the fire folks are supposed to be "redeployed". The most recent class from the NYPD academy is not going to get as much pay or benefits as the last class, and a class supposed to start in the near future has been canceled. As for budget cutbacks in other agencies, my girlfriend, "Lady J" stands to lose her job in the NYC Department of Education. The New York State Senate is having battles between the Democrats and Republicans, as to who is in charge of the place, and hasn't conducted any real business for the last 2 weeks, even while being ordered back to work by Governor Patterson. Well, folks, as long as I still am getting a paycheck, when I am due in, I follow the Jackson 5's song, and "I'll Be There". (Due to injuries, I am at a status that won't allow me overtime, while I "fly a desk" at headquarters) BTW, the 3 8 hour tour ambulances run 2 person crews with one scheduled off per tour, each tour. It's a crazy sked, where each works 8 hours (not putting O/T into this equation), 5 days, off for 2, works another 5 days, and then off for 3 days. You work one week 2 days with one partner and 3 with the other, and the next week, work 3 days with the first and 2 with the second. When you're off, your partners work with each other. Each ambulance, both BLS and ALS, has 9 personnel assigned.

Reality: What a concept!

The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was doing what I perceive as the Bostonian accent.