Richard B the EMT

What about the young child drew a picture of a bullet balanced in the arms of a leafless tree? While many thought the child was EDP, turns out she misunderstood the classic song, and had drawn a "Cartridge in a Bare Tree".

I forgot something. The Fire fighters of FDNY don't wear their badges on either the work or dress uniform, but they also carry one for identification, in addition, or instead, of the ID card. For the "Class A Dress Uniform" "Bell Cap", so called as it kind of looks like a bell, the emblematic cap device is a Maltese Cross for the Fire fighters, and a Star Of Life circle thingy for us EMS folks. Also, after a couple of years post merger, the department finally allowed the EMS Captains and Chiefs to wear the dress uniform white colored hats, instead of blue with the assorted silver and gold bands, and the "Scrambled Eggs" on the brims for the Chiefs. At least it LOOKS like some kind of uniform "equality". For those who cannot picture the Bell Cap design, think a Railroad Conductor's style hat, seems the same.

Never seen written on a report, but often overheard, "One foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel". Another is that the patient is in "God's Waiting Room".

Somewhere on the site, we have an extensive list of these colorful phrases, all with the disclaimer to not use them on call reports.

Just prior to the merger into the FDNY, the NYC EMS used white shirts, green pants, jackets and ties. Collar pins indicated from what station you were from, or your rank by LT and Captain bars, and oak leaves and stars for different level chiefs. Differentiation between EMTs and Paramedics was by the "state" patch on the right shoulder, no matter what station or rank. Green baseball cap with the NYC EMS patch for headgear, or go "spiffy" for "dress uniform" with a green "8 point Garrison Hat". With that uniform, we were still mistaken for Sanitation Department supervisors, or NYC Parks Department personnel. We also used badges. When I first came on, it was a stop-sign shaped thing, and later, we started using a "New York/New Jersey Port Authority Police Department" style shield. This shield had, side by side, the emblem, of the city of New York, and a Star Of Life, as the NY/NJ PAPD has side by side seals of the 2 states. Now, although, as covered in other strings, we are not allowed to display the badge on either the work or class A dress uniforms, we now have a "fireamatic" Maltese Cross type design badge, which most in the FDNY EMS claim looks like it came as a CrackerJack Prize.

Variations of this series of letters appears every December. I am always glad to see them.

Hey, Happiness, off chance, do you live in an active earthquake area? There is supposed to be some research that animals can somehow sense an impending earthquake, up to 24 hours in advance. From what I remember reading, the research is focusing on magnetic disturbances, sensitivity to micro-temblors (a word I just made up that seems to best describe it) preceding an actual event, or hearing the groaning of the ground at above or below the human hearing range, just prior to the temblor.

Back to the corner post mounted spotlights... I think they went out of favor, as, the handles always seemed to become disconnected from the lights, so you couldn't control the light's direction, and the control handles would fully separate from the devices, leaving a sharp tube, potentially, to get impaled on.

OBJECTION! You just offended, by their omission, WOMANIKIN Americans!

A comment on the McVey/Murrah Building Truck Bomb scenario: Presuming I was of the mind to move the truck to somewhere else, Where would I move it to? Putting my NYC mind-set to the question, puts at least 3 things up for consideration, 1) Where would I take the vehicle to, to let it blow up without loss of life, 2) Could such area be quickly secured and evacuated, to allow the bomb to blow up without loss of life, and 3) With the regular traffic jams in big metropolitan areas like NYC, Chicago, L.A. and insert the large community of your choice, how the hell would one get the bomb vehicle thru the traffic to get it to the impromptu bomb disposal "range"? We have already established the local PD is not on the scene to assist in traffic control, and a mad truck driver gets even less respect than an ambulance running lights and siren. Plus, when you bang up a fender on the truck, it ain't just going to be the fender that gets a bang.

Considering the other string showing discussion on need (or not) of agency uniforms while in the training academies, probably not!

Numerous TV comedians: "They interrupted the fights with a hockey game!"

Leave us not forget "JAFO", politely translated as "Just Another Frustrated Observer"

You just made me remember a musical trio, "The Slightly Fabulous Limelighters", and one of their musical numbers, "Vicky Dougan", about a woman who wore so low a backless gown, "She reveled a new cleavage!"

Oh, one more thing I know that nobody else knows. And why would they? When I itch, only I know where to scratch!

Just how many beaches, with the possible recognition of Coney Island, Santaimonica, or Jones Beaches, are National landmarks, that most people would be expected to know the state of their erosion, unlike Niagara Falls, which is specifically measured? Remember, If the beach in Rockaway erodes another 3,000 feet inland, there goes my house!

I remember these items on the evening news reports, and at the participant's expense on Jay Leno. Hope the TV/Movie writers strike ends soon, as I miss this kind of stuff.

Has anyone else used entire newspapers around limbs as splints? Just cupping, not wrapping around all the way? It has rigidity, and is clearly disposable afterwards. Excellent secondary usage of the main section of the New York Times.

Perhaps some of us know these ribbons under a different name: Citation Bars.

It IS harassment...against midgets! (LOL)

US Marine Corps: "When you absolutely have to destroy something overnight". US Air Force: "Death From Above". US Military and public school cafeteria bakers and cooks: "Death From Within!"

I was medical coverage at a pro wrestling match. One wrestler couldn't understand why he lost. He had won all the rehearsals.

Re uniforms, either military or paramilitary: There's an old line, "The right way, the wrong way, and the Army way." Everyone is supposed to be training to do the same job, and wear the same uniform while doing the same job. The uniform is indicative that an individual is supposed to be a part of the group, not so much as inclusion in the group, but the exclusion of everyone else. There is argument pro and con about public school students wearing uniforms, one being losing individuality (con), another is not being identified erroneously by inadvertently wearing "gang-banger" clothing while in a different gang's area (pro). Look at it this way. A uniform is a form of camaraderie, and accomplishment. I see NYPD officers wearing Grey, I know they are in the NYPD Academy. They graduate, they wear the Navy Blues. FDNY EMS trainees wear the Navy Blue Pants, and white shirts with no patches. They graduate, they earn the right to wear the Navy Blue shirt with the patches, and hopefully the respect due for the job they do from the public.

Now, I am thinking of one tractor pulling 2 trailers, like as I have seen on the New York thruway. These so called "double bottoms" are still illegal in the city of New York. They have been described as rubber wheel trains, especially by their detractors. However, they have to move the current equivalent of the MASH (what is that, a CASH? Someone with the proper acronym and translation, please?) from the non flying base to the airport to transport in the Galaxy C5A.

I attended a lecture on injuries to the genitalia, and had nightmares after seeing a picture of several men with different styles of the "Prince Albert". For those who don't know about this, it is a body piercing done along the shaft and head of the penis.