Richard B the EMT

From the bible, as referred to at a site for "Q&A" on the Jewish religion: From personal knowledge, and religious training, I am aware the "Bris" is done at the male child's 8th day of life, presumably as that was the indicator the child would survive, and that was when the child would be named. The mohel, who does the surgery as part of the religious ceremony usually joke that the first thing they get taught when learning the "how to", is not to say "Oops!".

Richard B, the EMT says FDNY USING QUESTIONABLE HIRING STANDARDS Letters to the Editor Sound the Alarm on Fire Test To the Editor: Much exuberance accompanied recent announcements regarding the results of the FDNY recruitment program, and many facts were presented to support claims that it, and the written test it led up to, were very good things. I would like to present some facts which were not trumpeted but which the people who may have to work with the firefighters produced by this test, as well as those who will be (ostensibly) protected by them, deserve to know. I will also include some of my opinions (which are not necessarily those of the FDNY) since opinions, as opposed to objective and cognitive knowledge, were so highly prized on said test. There were 195 questions; 105 of them were subjective (therefore illegitimate) and 87 of those 105 accepted more than one answer. This was an opinion poll, or a guessing game; not a test. In addition, DCAS did not explain beforehand how it would score this test, leading to suspicion that it wanted to be able to "cook" or manipulate the answers to achieve a desired result. Why else would 45 percent of all questions have more than one answer? I'll tell you why - FDNY sources stated after the test "that the test was a way to have as many applicants as possible pass" and that "the idea is to get as many candidates to pass as possible and then let the extended training period weed them out." I'm sure that candidates who spent a great deal of time, money and effort preparing will be very happy to hear that; maybe they should sue for fraud. LINK Political correctness has come to the FDNY like a tidal wave. In an effort to achieve a Fire Department that looks right, liberal city administrators have set out to lower hiring standards, an effort that will eventually destroy the Department and cost people their lives. The letter to the editor is by Paul Mannix a FDNY Deputy Chief. This is highly unusual because most guys in his position have no interest in speaking out on such a controversial and sensitive subject. Anyone who does is usually branded a racist immediately by critics in order to destroy them and their credibility. The problem here for those critics is that Deputy Chief Mannix is not someone who can be so easily dismissed. There is intense competition for promotion in the FDNY like most fire departments. Usually only the best advance. So in order to become a Deputy Chief you have to know your stuff. If a guy like Chief Mannix is speaking out we should listen to him. It takes an incredible amount of intestinal fortitude for someone in his position to speak out. Even though he is a Deputy Chief he will still be subject to retaliation for expressing his views. Such are the ways in the highly politically charged and politically correct environment of the U.S. Fire Service. More often than not these opinions are expressed by retired members who are safe from retribution. The Fire and Emergency Services like the Law Enforcement are not your normal jobs. Many liberal politicians and administrators wish to see them as just that, any other job. They don't realize or are indifferent to the facts that these jobs require people who are willing to place their personal well being in danger in order to accomplish their mission. This requires that you place your faith in your co-workers who you must depend on to perform their job in order for you to come out alive. Like a police officer summoned to back up another at a car stop. Only when that police officer knows that someone has his back can he safely focus his attention on the subjects in question. Likewise a fireman who is manning a hose inside a fire must have total faith in his pump operator. If the pump operator loses water because he is inept and a product of low hiring standards then the nozzle man will be burned up and victims not rescued. Some people just aren't cut out to be cops or fireman. Their life's talents lie in different directions. But somehow there are those people who think they "have a right" to those jobs regardless of their talent. Thats where we run into big problems. Those people bring multitudes of problems that cause breakdowns in teamwork or mission assignments. Those breakdowns inevitably cause greater property loss and in the worst cases death of members and civilians. This translates into millions of taxpayer dollars wasted just so we can look the part. We see the same thing in promotions. While promoting people in any profession is always controversial, it becomes even more so in a job where you are leading people directly into harms way. There is simply no room for low standards in hiring or promotion in law enforcement or emergency services. Unfortunately we are constantly forced to play the cards we are dealt. We can't afford this kind of nonsense. Hats off to Chief Mannix. No guts, no glory.

Where she kicked him should make him sensitive for a while. He'll also be walking funny for a while, too.

Sounds like a dilemma. Delay getting the wet stuff to put on the red stuff? They saving the chimney, only, again?

I understand that there are water supply tankers running with various fire departments, running with, I believe, up to 5,000 gallons of water, under L&S. Pray for no oil slicks on the curving downhill!

Brentoli just reminded me of something: When the NYPD refuels their helicopters, it is from a tank truck with what appears to be a standard fueling nozzle on the end of the hose. It is a single unit tanker truck, as opposed to a tractor-trailer (semi?) unit. Possibly that concept?

NO! You didn't start singing THAT...!!!??!

I have not been paying attention to the number of postings I have made. I had wanted to make a separate announcement of my five thousandth posting, but now notice that this is my [marq=left:fb441ce57a]Five Thousand Ninety Eighth[/marq:fb441ce57a] posting. Oh, well, there is always my six thousandth to look forward to!

I must have been raised in a different era. I don't remember any fund raiser sales of magazines, candy, cake sales, etc, during my time in Kindergarten through 9th grade in Public School. We also didn't do any of that at my religious school. I also couldn't study, as the doorbell was always ringing with children from the parochial schools selling magazines, candy, cake, etc.

It does for me, Firedoc5. It's against my religion. I'm a devote coward.

The words of a past partner were, "Me first, then my partner, then the vehicle, then the patient. Safest way to do things!"

Here in New York State, some fire commissioner's office, not that of the FDNY, has to type approve fuel transport cans. I kind of like the style of the classic military "Jerry" can, which fits into it's own bumper mounted carrier, usually on older style Jeeps. Most gas stations I have been to, tell you not to fill the can unless the can is on the ground, not in the bed of a pickup, something to do with a static electrical spark setting the fumes off. The nozzle actually is supposed to be physically touching the can! If memory serves me correctly, the explosive potential of one gallon of gas is the same as a stick of dynamite. With prices of fuel as high as they are, is a stick of dynamite less cost? Never mind.

Re emergency lights and sirens on private vehicles, that someone asked about? Link: http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/policy/98-01.htm Article: Authorizing Red Lights and Sirens for Private Vehicles POLICY STATEMENT No. 98-01 Date: 5/1/1998 New York State Department of Health Bureau of Emergency Medical Services Introduction: The purpose of this policy is to promote the safe and responsible use of red lights and sirens by EMTs in their private vehicles when authorized to do so by the ambulance service they are a member of or employed by. Legal Basis for Use of Red Lights and Sirens in Private Vehicles The New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, section 115-c states "An emergency ambulance service vehicle shall be defined as an appropriately equipped motor vehicle owned or operated by an ambulance service as defined in section three thousand one of the public health law and used for purposes of transporting emergency medical personnel and equipment to sick and injured persons. The Attorney General has issued an informal opinion (dated May 4, 1995) interpreting this section of the law as follows: "I believe that the language 'owned or operated by' includes an appropriately equipped privately-owned vehicle operated by an agent of an ambulance service and used in transporting emergency medical personnel and equipment to sick and injured persons." The Counsel to the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles previously rendered an opinion that states, "An emergency medical technician, whether a paid employee or a volunteer, performing duties for an ambulance service may equip his private vehicle with red lights and sirens and may use these red lights and sirens, in accordance with the above quoted section 115-c, to arrive at the scene of an emergency faster." Requirements of Authorization to Use: 1. Operating Criteria If an ambulance service is going to allow EMTs to use red lights and sirens, the service shall establish policies establishing equipment requirements pursuant to section 800.26, identifying those EMT's who may use red lights, the training that those individuals must receive, the general circumstances and conditions when the use of red lights is appropriate and authorized and the sanctions that will be applied for the inappropriate use of red lights. 2. Training It is recommended that in order to be authorized by an ambulance service to use red lights, an EMT should complete the New York State Department of Health's (Department) Ambulance Accident Prevention seminar (AAPS) or a Department approved equivalent prior to being authorized. A record of the completion of training shall be maintained by the service. 3. Authorization An ambulance service shall issue written authorization, in the form of a serially numbered card provided by the department, to each EMT trained and authorized to use red lights in their personal vehicles when responding to an emergency. The authorization document shall be signed by both the Chief Executive Officer of the service and the EMT. A copy of the authorization card and/or a record of its being issued shall be maintained by the service. The authorization shall expire on the expiration date of the individuals EMT certification. An ambulance service may impose a shorter authorization period (e.g. annual) and has the authority, without department approval, to remove the authorization for cause. The authorization is considered invalid if the individual is no longer an active member or employee of the authorizing ambulance service, or is not currently certified by the New York State Department of Health as an Emergency Medical Technician or Advanced Emergency Medical Technician. An ambulance service is not required to issue any authorization for use of red lights and sirens to a member or employee if the service feels it is not necessary for the operation of the service. The Commissioner of the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles has stated in an opinion: "Because the law allows an emergency medical technician to use red flashing lights does not mean that an ambulance service has to allow it. Due to the fear of liability, or for other reasons, an ambulance service may prohibit some or all of its members from using red flashing lights." 4. Accountability Both the ambulance service and the individual EMT are responsible for the appropriate use of red lights and sirens. The ambulance service is responsible to authorize, provide training, establish operating criteria, maintain training and authorization records, monitor compliance with service operational policies and take corrective action when necessary. The EMT using a red light and siren is accountable for operating any response vehicle in accordance with the policies of the ambulance service and the NYS Motor Vehicle and Traffic Law and all rules and regulations of the State of New York. The inappropriate use of red lights and sirens and/or the unsafe operation of any emergency response vehicle can subject both the service and the EMT to significant liability and possible sanctions. These sanctions can include removal of authorization and/or administrative actions and fines against the individual and service. Services and individuals need to understand all of the issues involved with the indemnification of and liability in operating any emergency response vehicle. Service legal and insurance counsel should be consulted. Also, inappropriate or unsafe use of red lights and sirens in violation of the NYS Motor Vehicle Law or any rules and regulations can result in the summary removal of an authorization card from the individual by police, as well as fines or violations in accordance with law. Authorized & Issued by: Edward G. Wronski, Director, Bureau of Emergency Medical Services

How heavy was this patient? Dispatch not wanting to respond the bariatric ambulance, perhaps, but the supervisor? Something not being told to you going on, IMHO.

As always, Admin speaks wisely, my fellow and sister grasshoppers!

Either by training or personal opinion, I cannot do that. Most here know that my FDNY EMS usually has us posted at an assigned street corner, for "staging" for any incoming responses. It seems almost all at my station try to keep at least over a half a tank of fuel in both tanks at all times, on presumption we get stuck at the beginning of the tour at some event that will take a long time, we'll have the fuel onboard, and won't need to return to our station, or go to a different station, or authorized commercial fuel station, for refueling. Some refuel mid-tour, no matter what, topping off the tanks every day. That is by their own doing. Some systems, who don't stage, but stay in their garages or stations between calls, have written policy that, even if the ambulance only went a mile on a call, on return, crews WILL top off the fuel tanks. I said "almost". We have, as I am sure everyone here has, within their stations and systems, the jerks who never refuel their vehicles, and don't even warn their relief crews the tanks are both "on fumes". This results in crews being delayed in getting available for calls, and develops resentment at the jerks.

1) WELCOME BACK, DUSTY! 2) Someone hears Shatner narrating? I hear Robert Fuller as Dr. Kelly Bracket (M.D., F.A.C.S), or Julie London as Dixie McCall (R.N.), at the Ramparts General Hospital OLMC.

Doczilla, on reading your posting, I went back to look at the original posting. Do you find the wording suspicious, in that Billy52 says the tech "did not perform a BVM on a patient"? It seems to support your belief that this individual, Billy52, has no medical training, or is not yet immersed in our nomenclature, as we perform "breathing assist" WITH a BVM, as the BVM is a device used in a procedure, not the procedure itself. I offer the possibility Billy52 may be an "ESL", or an "English as Second Language" speaker. Until this is proved to me not to be the case, I'll cut him some slack Whichever way it truly plays, the individual needs to do a bit more research before posting

I opine that, while there are fuel delivery tankers out there, I don't see any reason they cannot be fitted out with a nozzle capable of a field delivery directly into the fuel tanks of ambulances, or engine and ladder companies. Another possibility is a hand crank operated pump from 55 gallon drums in the back of a pickup truck (seen that!)

And...What were YOU doing up at 3 AM to see them? (LOL)

So much for dormitory life, but what about frat and sorority houses? "Animal House" and "House Bunny" are 2 examples, and, in TV and movie renditions, there's probably more. "Animal House" was inspired, but "House Bunny" was just a fluff silliness. (My "Lady J" wanted a comedy, and HB was the only comedy on any nearby movie screen. Call it a tolerable "Chick Flick")

I always felt that if I took 30 seconds, that was too long

Just remember, people, that dispatcher you diss now may be the one sending backup when you need it most (hands for a heavy lift, fire fighters for lifting or an actual fire, the LEOs if someone is threatening you on a scene with a firearm). Been on both sides of that!

When I started in municipal EMS under the New York City Health and Hospital Corporation, they issued me what basically was a large cardboard "sample box" style black briefcase. This would be followed by an orange "soft-sider" style shoulder bag, in heavy canvas, with department shoulder patch color transfer on the side. Following the merger, FDNY issued us a plasticized canvas bag, similar to the orange ones previously issued, now with an FD patch transfer, but in red. Great, due to the color, how are we to know when we have a blood transfer from a surface to the bag?

5 inch, 3 inch in cassette, or what looks like a C-60 Audio cassette, because it is?