Richard B the EMT

Nassau county, New York, has an interesting system. All their 9-1-1 EMS calls are either handled by the community based Volunteer Fire Departments, the community based Volunteer Ambulance Corps, or the Nassau County Police Department Ambulances. Depending on availability, you might find all of them represented on a call. Let's follow an NCPD ambulance run. County 9-1-1 dispatches a patrol car and an ambulance to a scene. The LEO is a CFR trained personnel, the person in the ambulance is an A-EMT (advanced emergency medical technician, figure a lower level Paramedic). The LEO and A-EMT treat, package, and transport the patient, with the LEO taking over driving duties on the ambulance. If it's a 2 person cop car crew, the second LEO will follow in the patrol car, called an RMP, or Radio Motor Patrol, and pick up the ambulance driving partner at the hospital. Otherwise, after the call is completed at hospital, the A-EMT drives the single LEO back to the scene to recover the RMP. It sounds cumbersome, but, at least in Nassau County, and some of the towns in the county with their own Police departments, it seems to work for them.

Supposedly, hurricanes hit the NYC area about every 20 years. I've read up on the "Long Island Express" of 1938, and lived through Hurricane Donna of 1960. With that in mind, I'm packing up a "Go" bag. Oh, something else I just remembered. When they were trying to make a nuclear power station at Shoreham, Suffolk County NY, back in 1980, one of the relocation centers was supposed to be at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, Nassau County. HOWEVER...it could only be used if the "Islanders" hockey, or the New York "Arrows" Major Indoor Soccer League teams, or the Ringling Brothers/Barnum and Baily Circus, or any major pre-planned event was not in progress! Wow! Lord Stanley's Cup being of more importance than a nuclear power plant exploding? WORD, brothers and sisters!

Improvisation is the name of the game. You sound like you play real well! Congrads.

Then, pity the guy who checks bombs to be dropped from aircraft for duds!

Firedoc5, she did became pregnant, so I'd say, YES! She got it.

Firedoc5 said I somehow ended up with 2 large and 4 small ones of them. And for their big test, we had the big East Coast Blackout! My wrist is still tired from trying to keep it charged up. I join you in the non-recommendation of the purchase of this type flashlight.

A point taken in someone else's posting that I would like to elaborate on... If you are going to stop at the scene of a call in your own vehicle, please (!) make sure someone has called 9-1-1, or call 9-1-1 yourself. Figure it this way: Everybody standing in front of the elevator thinks someone else has pushed the button to call the elevator to that floor, only nobody actually pushed the button. Then, when the elevator actually gets to the floor, everyone complains. My mom has even named this phenomenon, calling it "Elevator Button Syndrome". My point? Make sure that there is a response underway, or folks might innocently think you are there in response to that 9-1-1 call that was never made.

I have issues with the Starbucks organization. 1) On 9-11, several teams from the Midwood (Brooklyn, NY) Ambulance Service, a non 9-1-1 system provider, paid out of their own pockets for water bottles from Starbucks near the World Trade Center, for use in rinsing out the eyes of survivors of the collapses. They were charged EXTRA! 2) Instead of an apology and reimbursal, the area Starbucks manager turned it into a media event, to the effect of "how good" Starbucks was to reimburse the Midwood crews, in a media bite, as he presented Al Rapasarda, President of the Midwood Ambulance Service, with the reimbursal check. (I used to work there, for Al's father) 3) Several persons were endangered in the Summer of 2007 NYC Steam-Pipe Explosion, as they had no "safe harbor" to get to from outside, or would have been trapped in the store if something else had happened, as, following 9-11, Starbucks initiated a policy of, if any incidents happened in the street outside any of the Manhattan Starbucks, the coffee shop crews were to lock the doors. Nobody in, nobody out! Therefore, I have initiated a one person boycott of any Starbucks products. I am not organized, but if you want to join, come on along, plus, it will save you the ridiculous price they charge, anyway.

Don't call us, we'll call you. Maybe. Nope.

They did that at the rest stops on the New York Thruway, giving discounts, to uniformed military, FD, LEO, and EMS personnel, in the weeks following the 9-11 attack. There is also a burger joint in Nassau County, supposedly a chain, but never seen or heard of it outside that community, or even others in the same community, offers a discount to FFs, EMS and LEOs who present ID. Because I don't know if they can get into trouble for it, I am not going to ID the place by name or town.

Re #5, the solar powered torch. I presume "torch" in this usage is what I'd call a "flashlight"? Hey, I had one! Charge it up in the day, when you didn't need the illumination. Admittedly not good if you needed it for more than a half hour at night, as , obviously, you couldn't recharge it.

IMHO, there is no truly safe scene. 1976, Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY. With lanes closed, blocked by Fire, PD, and traffic cones, a vehicle versus pole incident. Add a drunk driver who decides all this stuff blocking his way doesn't apply to him. He pulls back into the lane, and pins 2 EMTs who are loading the patient from the previous MVA into their ambulance, between the bumpers of the car and the ambulance. Result? Original patient banged up, but not really further hurt. EMT Carol Buffa suffered severe damage to her legs, and has almost completely recovered, and is now a Lieutenant. EMT Chris Prescott was killed, becoming the first Line Of Duty Death for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation Emergency Medical Service. (This was pre-merger of the EMS into the FDNY) As for approaching a potentially dangerous individual? I used to work with a partner, originally from Haiti, and a wonderful EMT. Actually had the Haitian equivalent of a Physician's Assistant, but never went for the NY State re-certifications in this title. A dangerous or uncooperative patient? This guy would simply open his arms up wide, like he was going to hug them, put this big beaming smile on his face, and almost bellow out "My FRIEND..." Always seemed to at least disarm the patient, so we could at least talk, even if it was to disagree. Lines of communications were at least opened. The only time I recall it not working, the ETOH abusing patient took a swing at him. He ducked, and I got hit. I might have referred to it in one of the strings on getting LEO backup in a hurry. Somewhere on the site, I had mentioned, and again here mention, this one. At "Pulse Check", the convention of the New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association, the action scenario "drill" was 2 persons shot in an open area between two multi-family houses in the time-share area of the Villa Roma Hotel. "PD" and "Security" all saying the scene was safe, and "FD CFRs" on scene for additional hands. All the patients on the stretchers, and about to be loaded. Suddenly, a guy in camo battle dress uniform, covered in camo paint, bursts out of a door in one of the buildings, and sprays all of the responders, "bystanders", and the patients with an Uzi! I do mean sprayed, the Uzi was a motorized water pistol. Those who wrote the scenario, and those who score carded it, as far as I am concerned, made their point. This "secure" scene changed almost instantly to an "unsecured" scene, with potential to become a Multiple Casualty Incident. Going off the deep end here, but can you predict if a meteor might drop into your scene? Final point? No scene is ever going to be completely secured.

There was at least one female I know of, had a passion towards fire fighters. She hung out at a Dunkin' Donuts a few doors down from a fire house, and across the street from a NYPD Transit Bureau station. Don't worry, the only time I saw her, or spoke with her, my girlfriend was usually with me. As to her "chasing" fire fighters, I now know what they are called: MOMMIES! Yes, she had a child, unknown by me the sex, and supposedly married the fire fighter, and is no longer in the community where that "DDs" is. My girlfriend and I have not seen or heard from her in perhaps 8 years. She was not from any of the NYC communities to begin with, per her own statements to me. She was originally from Chicago Illinois, and had previous children removed from her by the Chicago court system while there. That, alone, should give some idea of what type person she was. As for my girlfriend and I, we just thought her a harmless nutcase.

The old Health and Hospitals EMS, and now the FDNY EMS, protocols are pretty simple. When on the scene, or in hospital, call in every 20 minutes to advise "extended", reasons being "Patient Care", (in hospital) "Triage", "bed", "Signature", "BBP" (blood borne pathogen, I'm cleaning up the back of the bus". If we don't initiate the contact, EMD radios us. No initial response, they send an alert tone, and repeat request. On scene, they send another unit, at hospital, they send the supervisor. Admittedly, there are some hospitals that have radio dead zones in the EDs. One time, not only was my unit placed off service NRR (no response to radio), so was the Captain sent to check us out!

Originally Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2005, in the string called Curiousity... This was already posted in the EMS Songs string on this site, but here goes anyway. Gives you an idea... I wish I could take credit for this one, but it isn't mine. Some years ago, a group of EMS instructors got together, when they declared that there weren't any EMS "Country/Western" songs, and, with the cooperation of some studio musicians, created an album called "The EMS Country Express." I can't locate my copy, but I wrote down the words to this song from that album before the tape went missing. Is this what your supervisor goes through with you and your colleagues? The Ringmaster (author unknown) OK, ladies and gentlemen, lets get down to this critique. I've looked at the reports, Seems we've had a busy week! Now, right away I'd like to say some words about supplies. Our inventory's pretty decent, and I realize Sometimes you need an item for use in your own pack, But whoever took the defibrillator had better put it back! Now while I'm on equipment, and I've mentioned it before, Before you leave the bay make sure your rig will clear the door. As you know, we've ordered a new cot for unit 6, 'Cause once those things have been run over, they're impossible to fix! Sometimes I feel like the ringmaster in the circus. Sometimes I feel like I'm the keeper in the zoo. If things don't change, I'll go insane before the year is through. I wish that I could trade in this entire crew! Now, the Mayor has cut our budget, and though revenge is on our minds, Last week at his party you stepped too far out of line. I guarantee that someone here will surely get the sack If I find out which one of you spiked the punch with ipecac! And, it seems we're getting sued again, I'm sorry to report, But if you wouldn't stop while on a run you could keep us out of court! It's nice to hear that you asked the patient if he liked his coffee black, But no more stopping at the Donut Store with someone dying in the back! My doctor tells me that I can't take this much longer. He says my heart just cannot take the strain. If I could, I know that I should get out just the same, 'Cause if my heart holds out, I'm sure to go insane! A note here for the gentlemen: You gotta think before you act. Some patients are quite sensitive, so try to use some tact. When a woman asks you why a chest survey is being done, Tell her that "It's necessary," and NOT "Because it's fun!" Last of all, our protocols leave no room for debate: The patient must be fully unconscious BEFORE you incubate! OK, I hope you got that down. I hope enough's been said. And, I hope I never hear of these things happening again! I must relax, 'cause I can't let this job get to me A first attack I believe I could survive, The ER's good, the doctors there could treat and stabilize, but I can't trust this crew to get me there alive! Sometimes I feel like the ringmaster in the circus. Sometimes I feel like I'm the keeper in the zoo. If things don't change, I'll go insane before the year is through. I wish that I could trade in this entire crew!

They were studio musicians who were hired by a group of musically inclined EMS Instructor/Coordinator/songwriters, who decided there were no country western songs for EMS. The group was the "EMS Country Express/Ace Ambulance Service", and the album, and title track, was called "You Respond to Everyone but Me". I have that tape...somewhere. Editing in on myself, just found a posting I did, of one of the songs from that album. Link to http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...2510ce6ce7#6937

Yeah, Top of the Rock, 30 Rockefeller Center. Good luck, in several ways.

No, Hudson, a few years back. A traffic reporting 'copter known as the "N" copter, as it was operated for W"N"BC radio 66. Actually crashed while giving a traffic report, and the replay of that audio has the lady reporter yelling over the sounds of the distressed engine and whatever mechanical things going wrong "Hit the water, Hit the water". The pilot survived, the lady traffic reporter did not. Figure this as far enough back, EMS was not yet a part of the FDNY, Ed Koch was still mayor of NYC, Don Imus and Howard Stern both then worked for WNBC radio, and publicly hated each other, which I understand is still the case. (Publicity stunt, the the station DJs and announcers pronounced the station ID as "double-yew ENNNN bee sea") An FDNY Rescue that also does SCUBA (not SCBA, SCUBA), witnessed the crash from a nearby location, rushed to the scene, suited up, and was in the water attempting to locate the chopper's occupants, an NYPD Emergency Services Unit vehicle pulled up, and the cops, while they were suiting up, ordered the FD divers out of the water! There were 2 helo crashes in the East River, within the same month, in either 2006 or 2007, and a TV news copter that crashed, as seen on other News Copter coverage, while covering some other news event, a block off Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, but I was not referring to them. The Flatbush crash? Just remembered, that was a WNBC-TV4 newscopter!

I was channel surfing last night. I have Gala, a Spanish language station in my "line-up" because they usually play action movies that, for the most part, I have already seen, so I can follow most of what is going on, even though I speak only enough of the language to ask the time, and understand the answer. Whoever does the Spanish voice of SFPD Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan sounds just as threatening, saying "Well, punk, do you feel lucky? Do Ya?" en espan^iol. (Can't get the proper spanish accent mark here, forgive me) That, however, is not my new issue. This commercial showed, IN SPANISH! Caramba! Can't get away from it!

Don't have a feeling. Know it for a fact! I DO WATCH TOO MUCH TV!

1) The handstand defib was the premiere episode of "Rescue 77", showing on the ABC television network, not "Third Watch", on the NBC television network. Both shows had supporters and detractors, but "77" only lasted perhaps 5 episodes, while "Third Watch" lasted several years, including a crossover character visit from "ER", also an NBC television network show. 2) I was standing with several EMTs, a Paramedic, and several CFR-D Fire Fighters, lieutenants, captains, and a battalion chief, when that commercial showed, today. All 17 of us said some variance of "Are they freaking crazy?" 3) Someone who had computer access earlier in the day than I did, started this string. Drat, Drat, and Double Drat, you beat me to it, in starting this string!

Visiting an FDNY Fire House, an FDNY EMS Station, or one of our "combined" houses should be simple enough, but I don't think a "ride-along" can be arranged for. Try by "snail-mail," Fire Department New York, 9 Metrotech Center Brooklyn, NY 11201 Attn: Office of Public Affairs or link to http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/home2.shtml for more information. As for me, currently in an ongoing relationship that started in 1988, preceded by a 9 year long engagement that didn't result in a marriage, I am no poster child for suggesting how to propose!

Lone Star said It is either that, or somehow we've managed to avoid the "funny farm" all this time (cue up the recording of "They're Coming To Take Me Away!")

Shall we say that there are those actively involved in the search/rescue event, those held in reserve, and those standing by to assist those actively involved in the search/rescue event, should they get into trouble. Also, there is still some "battle of the badges" involved, so FDNY and NYPD divers will conduct separate searches only yards from each other. I just hope both don't hide behind that old line quoted in the papers, after a "newscopter" crashed in the Hudson river some years ago, with fatalities, that one side speaks "Police-ese" the other, "Fire-ese". I don't recall if that was a FDNY or NYPD "official spokesperson". My take then, and still now, is, that no matter if they are from NYPD or FDNY, if they are rescue divers, they should speak "Diver-ese" as a common "language"

One time I did stop, was one of my FDNY EMS ambulances, an FDNY EMS supervisor's suburban, and a Rockaway Point (NY) VFD ambulance were all pulled over to the side of the road. Unless they work for us, meaning FDNY/9-1-1, nobody else is supposed to drive "company" vehicles, and the VFD ambulance had both the FDNY paramedics doing an "intercept" ALS intervention in the back of their BLS ambulance. The supervisor is not supposed to leave his vehicle unattended, except at the firehouse, or at the scene of a call while "upstairs" with a crew. So...a RPVFD person drove my car, the supervisor drove the FDNY ambulance, the "wheelman" of the RPVFD ambulance continued driving the VFD ambulance, and I drove the supervisor's vehicle, to the hospital, while the ALS treatment continued in the back of the VFD BLS vehicle. PS: the supervisor, before being promoted to Lieutenant, had been one of the instructors at the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course, and was at the time of this story, assigned to my station, as was the Paramedic ambulance crew and vehicle. Old home week?