Richard B the EMT

The "Term Change" I await is at noon, eastern standard time, on January 20, 2009, on the steps of the U S Capitol Building. Good, bad, or indifferent, the world is going to be watching!

I thought Barney's was a clothier. FYI, there is a Saint Barnabas Hospital in Livingston, NJ. Not usually a part of the NYC 9-1-1 system, but it is on our list as a Burn Center.

As long as they neither appear hungry, or are chanting "Brains! Brains!" as they walk towards you...?!!

We interrupt these proceedings... Timmy, I have to plead ignorance yet again: What kind of hat is a/an "acobra hat"? Perhaps a link to show one? We now resume our show, already in progress...

Anybody have a decade's worth of JEMS? I have a vague memory of something inflatable to put onto the long back board before loading a patient onto it. Something like place device on board, place patient on top, secure patient to ensemble, and inflate.

On that, let me check with my brother, the American History professor at the University of North Dakota, and I'll get back to you.

Miz Black Crow, you forgot the first one in the system, Saint Barnabas in the Bronx.

Someone mentioned "reverse suspenders"? I think, under a different name, they carry them in the Galls catalog, supposed to keep shirt tails tucked in, and socks pulled up, because those are what these suspenders are connected to. No, I don't own a set.

Even before the FDNY started issuing Soft Body Armour to members, and getting notation to personal files for those who declined it, numerous members of the service were getting vests on their own. Scene safety? As mentioned in numerous posting in this string, a scene can go down hill in a split second. You start treating a gang banger who isn't dressed to look like one, say a Crip at a wedding, in his rented, or owned, tuxedo, who was recognized by a Blood as being a Crip, and shot by the Blood. You have no knowledge it's a gang war scene, just know it is a shooting. You treat while packaging, and while transporting to the ambulance, that Blood, or another Blood, takes exception you're attempting to save the Crip's life, and suddenly, you're under sniper fire. The target is your patient, but so what if they shoot everyone within a city block of the patient? That is a scenario, not an actual call, but it might happen in reality, or has happened at some time and place I have not heard about, not just on "Turd Watch". PS, I carry an "over the uniform" type vest, donned when I have some dispatch information it might be needed. Yes, I know there are some in this forum who will state, and probably correctly so, if you have one, use it at all times. PPS, The last shootout between Crips and Bloods I worked, all 6 of those shot, including the one who died on the scene, none were "bangers". Horrible ending to a block party at the public housing project. I have no idea if the shooters from either gang ever were jailed, or even indited.

Further mention: My employer, the FDNY, and the EMS under the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation before them, had written policy that no member was to have on person, or even on department property, a firearm. Violation was an offence, could get you terminated.

Sounds like bad planning, or a lack of communications with those who did the bidding, and those at the station where the ambulance was to be garaged at. You know the deal I always mention for New York City, "If it makes sense, it is against some regulation, protocol, or law." Perhaps they practice that where this happened. I can tell you that my Chevy Venture, my POV, is 16 and a half feet long. If it had not been measured, as well as the garage I store it in, I might not be able to close the garage door, as the garage floor is only 16 feet 7 inches long.

My VAC had written policy that only authorized LEO personnel who also rode as crew with us were allowed to carry an off duty piece, but must be concealed and highly secured on the individual's person, With that, we had 2 members of the NYPD, and one National Parks Service Police member. We exempted one other member who was a diamond courier, away from the VAC. (Unwritten policy was, "You shoot them, you treat them.")

Create something with assorted pouches on a "Batman" style utility belt, might end up being less cost. Also, ask some of the people you might be working with what they use, and follow suit.

The FDNY allows fire fighters to wear department issued shorts, for use under their turnout pants. They don't allow the department's EMS EMTs and Paramedics to do likewise, stating possible BBP contamination, even when the EMS turnout pants are being used. Fire fighters, as first responders, go to medical calls, too. Why not shorts, especially during the warmer months, for the FDNY EMS members? I know, wrong forum, should be answered on one that caters to the FDNY, specifically.

Or one of those garage/tents, with the meds taken inside the station in some kind of carry-box between calls? Even the FDNY uses a fenced in "cage" to street store apparatus when the stations they were housed in were being renovated.

My pet rabbits and grasshoppers join itku2er's frogs in that greeting! (Durnit, she beat me in with that one!)

Most of those Google search references on the first page were for a "Prank" theft of a stop sign. I lost a few friends in just that type stunt. Talk to me about no sense of humor, or better, talk to the surviving families of my now deceased friends. I do have a sense of humor, but am selective with it, due to being the victim of too many practical jokes. Click on the link for an audio which kind of explains my situation.

On a historical note, the famed Japanese mini-sub that was depth charged and sunk at about 6 the morning of the Pearl Harbor attack has long time been found, raised, and I think is in some war museum somewhere.

In order of appearances... 1) Putting the bed on cans? What about possible injuries to the bed's occupant if and when it falls over? Or of others on whom the bed and occupant fall? 2) You press the panic button on a car alarm, sooner or later, the LEOs arrive. Now you've annoyed your victim, but now you have some LEOs who are not out there stopping that DUI driver that is going to cause your next 5 car pileup Multiple Casualty Incident, because they are investigating a car alarm that went off. 3) You put stuff into a co-worker's boots? Now the entire company is delayed, waiting for him to clear the obstructions, and get into his gear to respond to that 5 car pileup I just mentioned. 4) You turned off the lights on someone in the shower? How is he going to see the soap that fell to the floor, until he slips and falls, now making the company short a man, as well as requiring an EMS response? Even worse, if the fallen man is a part of the station's EMS compliment, now you have to bring in an ambulance company from another station to treat and transport your guy, as well as telling everyone at their "house" how dumb those at your "house" are for doing such a stunt in the first place. 5) Anyone serving a piss spiked drink is guilty of a criminal assault, at least as I understand MY state laws and regulations. It is probably the same in Maryland, the other United States, and in other countries, too. 6) If the one member who is still awake is one of those people who puts the thumbs of sleeping people into cups/glasses of warm water, actually proven to cause the victim to wet the bed, well, that is just plain nasty, especially if there is no assigned bunking. Pity the poor person next using a suddenly stinky bed! 7) If you are a blonde, and describe yourself as being "Ditsy", well, there, I cannot help you, as you just painted a target on your back for all the "Dumb Blond Bimbo" jokes even us foolish brown haired people know and tell. No harm? As some here say, and correctly so,

...or simply "Rubber", for the turnout coats?

(Heard, via my scanner, on NYPD Citywide Special Operations Division's frequency 1 radio, mid afternoon, on New Years Day, 2008) NYPD Special Operations Division Dispatch:"Units to check and advise. Report of a submarine in Hudson River by the George Washington Bridge." Assorted units advised responding, including Harbor and Aviation. SOD Lieutenant: "Central, did you say a submarine?" NYPD SOD Dispatch: "Affirmative. Unconfirmed report via a cellphone" My questions remain unanswered: 1) What recreational pharmaceutical was the caller using? 2) Was it a yellow submarine, as a pigment of someone's imagination? 3) Were Ringo Starr or Paul McCartney seen nearby, or on board? 4) Was it United States Navy, or at least a "Friendly"?

"Waterfairies"? I always thought the derogatory wording was "Bucket-faeries", from the bucket brigade?

I vaguely remember Valley Girl Speak. There was a Valley Girl Bible?

Someone with demolition expertise please qualify this, but doesn't "Plastique", AKA "C4" require either an electrical charge or some kind of percussive "cap" to set off the explosion? The "Shoe Bomber" tried to set the C4 in his shoe off by "torching" it with a cigarette lighter, unsuccessfully, and was tackled by other passengers.

I cannot comment on "Family Wishes", but that, as quoted, is one of the signs of "obvious death", accompanied by breathless and pulseless, per NYS DoH and FDNY rules regs and protocols. No CPR indicated, notify for PD, leave the deceased in Police presence.