Richard B the EMT

Dusty, are you channelling Chuck Norris, "Duke" Wayne, "The Governator", or speaking as yourself?

Interesting coincidence. As I type this, I am back barely hours after the "Pulse Check" Convention of the New York State volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association, which, as I started "in the fall of 1973", marks 35 years in ambulance service!

You must have missed the obituary. Ponce DeLeon died last week, while still seeking it!

Every day, as I wake up, it's the same thing... Up, Down, Up, Down, Up, Down! Now the other eyelid...! LOL

So soon after your hospitalization? Have to ask, did your Doctor approve you for any exercise program this quickly? If yes, go for the program you already covered, or whatever you feel most comfortable with per recommendations.

The fact that we have used so much space on changing a light bulb is not very bright. LOL.

Match Box? Not Tonka?

...said Sandy.

I have reason to believe you are quoting Admiral Yamamoto, commander of the Japanese attack fleet, after finding out that none of the targeted U S Navy Aircraft Carriers were at Pearl Harbor during the attack.

Then dump out your shoes before you come back into the house!

A long time ago, in a company that has been since purchased, and their purchaser themselves purchased (times a few), I had an argument with a senior dispatcher, at the garage. Me: "We can't put that ambulance out on the street, it is missing several items the state requires on board." Dispatcher: "The state is not paying you, we are! Take that ambulance out, as I already have a call for you." FYI, the state did an "on floor" inspection a few months after I left, meaning all vehicles had to be seen at the same time. They almost got shut down, when the inspectors found crews in vehicles leaving the garage passing missing equipment to arriving ambulances crews. Until they caught on, they may have counted the same O2 tank and regulator 4 or 5 times! That inspection also resulted in several "home-brew" ambulances (take a van, put a beacon and siren on top, put a storage box and stretcher restraining bar into it, and call it an ambulance!) being removed from service, and commercially manufactured ambulances being purchased to replace them.

I don't know about that. If you read the National Inquirer, all you read about is the couples who are getting divorced after reading the "Is your spouse cheating on you" articles in Cosmo! LOL

Me! Me! Me first! That was a bit of a run on sentence (from one who makes that error quite often himself).

Perhaps it is my bumbling around, but the last time I checked, ALS was one of three levels of care in EMS, the others being First Aider/First Responder and Basic Life Support (BLS). This leads me to question "EMS Advisory Council board member Jeffrey Panozzo's" medical knowledge, as ALS is not a parallel universe from EMS, but an integral part of it. Also, I think the reporter is also lacking in that knowledge, otherwise that reporter might have questioned the board member's statement similarly to my questioning of it, and probably others on the EMT City site.

Just remember: If Edison had not invented the lightbulb, we'd be typing our missives to EMT City on our computers by candle light!

As always, I seem to find a bunch of stuff when housecleaning, even with stuff in my computer, sent to me by various organizations of which I am a member, and sometimes from organizations that I am not a member. This is from FASNY, the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York, but sent to me by the New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association. ******************************************************************************** ** From The Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE www.fasny.com Media Contacts: Liz Burke, (212) 981-5263 / liz_burke@dkcnews.com Sid M. Dinsay, (212) 981-5166 / sid.dinsay@dkcnews.com Robert Leonard: 212-981-5113; Robert_Leonard@dkcnews.com ___________________________________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STATE FIREMEN’S ASSOCIATION REACTS TO VETO OF LEGISLATION AIMED AT VOLUNTEER FIRE/EMS RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION Albany, NY (Sept. 12th, 2008) - Governor Paterson’s veto of a key piece of legislation that would have allowed local governments to offer property tax reductions to their volunteers in addition to the State’s $200 personal income tax credit program drew strong criticism today from the association representing more than 130,000 volunteer firefighters and EMS responders. “This veto directly impacts the recruitment and retention efforts of local fire and EMS agencies, and has happened at a time when the record prices for gasoline are a major cost factor for volunteers, who are already giving of their own time and resources,” said Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) President Thomas J. Cuff, Jr. The new legislation was designed to correct issues in a previously enacted law allowing volunteers to receive a $200 personal income tax credit from the State - but only if they were not receiving a property tax benefit from their local municipality. This caveat forced many volunteers to perform a series of complicated calculations each year to determine which benefit they wished to receive. It often led to volunteers undertaking a complex and onerous process of filing additional tax documents, depending on the outcome of those calculations. In his veto memo on the legislation, the Governor cited an indirect cost associated with the new bill that was at odds with the State’s current financial issues. Cuff reacted, “In citing this potential 1.6 million dollar financial impact on the State, both the Governor and his Counsel’s office have completely ignored the billions of dollars in payroll and benefits alone that would have to be paid by local governments if they were forced to replace our dedicated volunteers with paid staff.” The Legislature passed the legislation, sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo and Assemblyman Bill Magee, in June. The Governor’s veto message suggested FASNY should have first approached the Governor’s Division of Budget before advancing legislation with a financial impact through the State Legislature. This is the first time FASNY has ever encountered this type of objection. The legislation dealing with a $200 personal income tax credit, and certain necessary adjustments, has been before Governors Pataki, Spitzer and most recently Paterson. Cuff stated, “It is shocking that we are being asked in a veto message, to go to the Governor first before working with the Legislature to address our recruitment and retention issues.” FASNY’s legislative focus has been on augmenting the ranks of volunteer fire and EMS responders for more than 100 years. Local governments have their own interaction with their volunteers and frequently create educational incentives, property tax reductions and other initiatives designed to garner more volunteers. “Governor Paterson’s veto overlooks the desires of counties and other local government entities to provide their own volunteers with incentives. It also attempts to balance the state budget at the expense of the localities and those volunteers who serve them,” said Cuff. The current economy has placed a premium on the value provided by local volunteer emergency responders. Efficiencies in local governments have also been a focal point over the past several years. Volunteers create efficiencies and provide valuable services that would have to be replaced at an enormous cost borne solely by local property taxes. Volunteers have customarily approached both the State and local Legislatures for assistance in funding and other operational necessities such as training funds for new recruits. The Firemen’s Association has great concerns regarding the suggestion that it should first go to the Governor’s Division of Budget on legislative matters that may impact the State’s budget. Cuff said, “The State’s budget is only one consideration here, which must be balanced with the volunteers’ responsibility for the safety and welfare of eighty percent of the State’s geography. Legislators in the 57 counties where volunteers are providing fire and EMS have an opinion regarding their locality and we intend to continue to approach them with our problems and concerns.” # # #

What follows is the FDNY EMS Command's "Ops Order" re observance of the September 11th Attack. Perhaps you can use this, or base your observances for the future on it. Time references are for Eastern Daylight Savings Time, which is normally in effect on this day. ***************************************************************** BUREAU OF OPERATIONS EMS COMMAND ORDER 2008-151 September 5, 2008 SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE CENTER 1 1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 On Thursday, September 11th, 2008, the City will commemorate the seventh anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center. The observance will take place at Zuccotti Park, located on Liberty Street between Broadway and Church Street, NYC on the morning of September 11th. 1.2 Family members paired together with international students who represent the 91 countries that lost individuals in the tragedy, will read the names of the victims during the ceremony, while music will provide a backdrop throughout the program. The ceremony will pause at four moments - twice to mark the times that each plane hit the towers (0846 and 0903 hours) and twice to mark each time when each tower fell (0959 and 1029 hours). The first moment of silence will be at 0846 hours and as always, houses of worship will be encouraged to toll their bells at that time. 1.3 While the names are read, family members will be able to walk down Liberty Street and descend the ramp to the lowest level of the site where they may lay flowers. The ceremony will conclude at approximately noon, however, the site will remain open to families until approximately 1530 hours. 1.4 At sundown, the “Tribute of Light” will return for one night as a tribute to the memory of those lost. The “Tribute of Light” will be located at West and Morris Streets in Lower Manhattan. 1.5 As a mark of respect to those members of the Department who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11th, 2001, all Firehouses, Headquarters, EMS Stations and FDNY Facilities shall affect the following: 1.5.1 Department Apparatus (where applicable) shall be pulled onto the apron of quarters at 0846 hours where the members shall observe a moment of silence. 1.5.2 Station officers may read the attached prayer, composed by Monsignor Delendick and Rabbi Potasnik, before placing apparatus back in quarters. 1.5.3 Companies shall observe additional moments of silence at 0903, 0959 and 1029 hours. 1.5.4 All FDNY family members are invited to attend the EMS Station/Firehouse ceremony. 2 1.6 At 0830 hours, the EMS Academy will host its annual September 11th Memorial Service in front of the EMS Academy at Fort Totten, Building 325. All members and their families, as well as members of other city services and the military are invited to attend. 1.7 At 0930 hours, members of Battalion 18 will host the seventh annual memorial services at the Firefighters Memorial Monument on Riverside Drive and 100th Street (Upper West Side of Manhattan). All firefighters and family members are invited to attend. A Mass at St. John the Divine Cathedral will follow at 1215 hours. 1.8 At 1400 hours, a Memorial Service will be held at Fire Department Headquarters. All members are invited to attend. 1.9 At 1800 hours, the Office of the Staten Island Borough President will host a memorial service at the Staten Island September 11th Memorial located adjacent to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. All members and their families are invited to attend. 1.10 At 1800 hours, the FDNY Retirees Association, in conjunction with the Alice Austen House, will host a candlelight vigil at Hylan Boulevard and Edgewater Street, Staten Island. All members and their families are invited to attend. 2. PRAYER FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2008 (To be read by officer a few moments before the first minute of silence – 0846 hours) Religious tradition teaches us that “The eyes are composed of two parts, the light and the dark.” On this difficult day, we again look through the darkness of 9/11 and recall the undying love of those who have been lost to us. Death may destroy life, but it cannot destroy the relationships of those who shared their dreams of tomorrow with us. The father of two sons, a firefighter and a police officer who were killed that day when asked, “Do you blame God?” answered, “God did not kill my children, terrorists did.” Thus we recognize that our faith in God has enabled us to face the pain of evil and find the humanity of the many decent people who stand with us as one family. God of all people, on this day and every day we continue to believe in your greatness and the goodness that shows us we belong to one another. We will not allow the horror of yesterday to prevent us from seeing the hope of tomorrow. We of all faiths stand as one family fashioned by You, the God of all people. (To be read at the end of the third minute of silence – 0959 hours) Heavenly Father of us all, we stand here in your presence and with our minds eye we recall the sight of the once proud South Tower descending to the earth. Most especially we remember the members of our Department, both Firefighters and EMS members, our brothers who entered those buildings to assist and bring to safety those in need of our help. Father, these members of our Department are with you. Help us to recognize that they are at peace. May they rest in peace. Amen 3 (To be read at the end of the fourth minute of silence – 1029 hours) Heavenly Father of us all, we stand here in your presence and with our minds eye we recall the sight of the once proud North Tower descending to the earth. In the traditions of this Department, our Firefighters and EMS members did not hesitate to do your work, the work of saving the lives of the people of this city. Many died in the attack that day. Lord, give us the strength we need to live the values that they exhibited that day, the values of generosity, compassion and commitment. Lord, help us to recognize that as their reward you have taken them to yourself where nothing can ever again harm them. May they rest in peace. Amen BY ORDER OF THE CHIEF OF EMS COMMAND

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2...=1&page=all Hero EMT slain in love triangle; girlfriend's ex sought BY OREN YANIV, TAMER EL-GHOBASHY and SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS Updated Monday, September 15th 2008, 7:57 AM A hero paramedic who once jumped onto the subway tracks to rescue a stricken woman was stabbed to death early Sunday, cops and relatives said. Police have arrested the woman's enraged ex-boyfriend, Enrique Pizarro, 25, at about 11:30 p.m. Pizarro was charged with murder and possession of a weapon. Jason Ruiz, 30, an FDNY emergency medical technician with a long record of bravery, answered a knock on the door of the woman's Sunset Park, Brooklyn, apartment about 1:30 a.m. The woman's ex-boyfriend immediately started arguing with the pair and pulled a knife. The suspect stabbed Ruiz, whose father is a retired police detective, twice in the chest and ran off, cops said. "I heard the screams," said Mario Velazquez, 40, a neighbor. "When the [victim] screamed, somebody ran off." Ruiz was taken to Lutheran Medical Center but died an hour after the stabbing, cops said. "It was an unfortunate tragedy," said Ruiz's cousin Carlos Pantoja, 33. Ruiz's girlfriend had been "harassed" by her ex-boyfriend recently, family members said. Cops said they knew the suspect's identity and were hunting him. Ruiz, a paramedic for four years, was mourned by fellow emergency medical technicians as a fallen hero. They hung his uniform at their office at Woodhull Hospital in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. Flowers surrounded Ruiz's helmet. Candles sat by his overalls. "He would do anything for anybody," said EMT Yvonne Aparicio, 30. "The department is saddened by his loss," said FDNY spokesman Jim Long. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family." In July, Ruiz was recognized for rescuing a woman who had suffered a seizure and fell onto the subway tracks at Marcy and Myrtle Aves in Brooklyn, Long said. Ruiz and his partner, Juan Rios, jumped onto the tracks without waiting for the power to shut off, pulled the woman to safety and provided emergency care. "He was the first one on the tracks doing what he was trained to do," said Rios, 27. He was awarded a medal for "meritorious acts" in 2006 and 2007. "He was very loyal," said the sister of Ruiz's girlfriend, who asked not to be named. "He was a good guy." oyaniv@nydailynews.com With Edgar Sandoval and Barry Paddock

At least until now, nobody has mentioned the fool who planted light bulbs, expecting to grow electric plants! [marq=left:efe38556c0]HA! DID IT FIRST![/marq:efe38556c0]

One of the Paramedics, while maneuvering his ambulance out of the tight quarters that was then my station, ran over my helmet. My head was not in it at the time. He is now one of my lieutenants. Side note: When the helmets the FDNY EMS now uses were first issued, to test how strong they were, someone at another station supposedly parked his type 1 ambulance's rear wheels on top of one! Then, he sent it back to our repair service, with the repair tag indicating the damage was from normal wear and tear! Imagine the raised eyebrows at the equipment depot, seeing the split helmet, and that on the repair tag? I also took a mirror off the side when a tree jumped into my ambulance's path. I took the truck to my own mechanic, and replaced the mirror out of pocket.

There were at least 2 from Israel, but I have not seen any postings from them in several months.

DVT=Deep Vein Thrombosis, a blockage in the veins. Potential for breaking off, traveling the circulatory system, and getting caught up as a new blockage causing PE, AMI, or CVA. PE=Pulmonary Edema CVA=Cerebral Vascular Accident, AKA Stroke. Outdated terminology is Apoplexy. KISS Principal="Keep It Simple, Stupid!" (Last line a reminder to myself)

Or... The little boy and girl are both naked, and the girl asks the boy if she can touch his penis. "No. You broke yours off!"

Then, again, there are a few Doctors who care enough to practice "Tough Love", which may be the wrong label, but could describe what happened.

Thank You. I apologize for the hijack of the string. We now return you to the string.