Richard B the EMT

Until those of us in the EMS field operations can have the LEOs ticket for something akin to sending a false alarm for calling in a "Heart Attack" just to get an ambulance quicker... But, as I have stated before, all aspects of the 9-1-1 systems have become a victim of their own success.

Red windbreaker jackets, white T-shirts with the angel's emblem, and don't forget the red beret.

Please don't mention the Guardian Angels. They are an unarmed vigilante group with good press spin doctors. Their founder, Curtis Sliwa, admitted in court that he "arranged" his own beat-down, and had used the event to attack one of "Godfather" John Gotti's "associates." For this, Sliwa is now a conservative radio talk show host, counterpointing to a very liberal lawyer, Ron Kuby, on the morning drive time on AM radio (midwave amplitude modulation band, for the international broadcast listeners out there).

Jim was actually one of my EMT Instructor/Coordinators at a refresher I took prior to my entrance into NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation EMS. I've been with NYC HHC EMS/FDNY EMS from June 3, 1985, and involved with ambulance services from the fall of 1973.

Just doublechecked the article, was the New York Times of February 21, 1988. Link http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...751C0A96E948260

Jim Kerr? I thought this was a brand new News story. The events described happened around 1987!Both EMTs were removed from any "Patient Contact" duties for almost a year before the NYS DoH investigation resulted in their EMT certificates revocation (and without their EMT certs, they were both fired by the NYC EMS), and as there were threats of violence against the NYC EMS, the vehicle they used was taken out of service and stored for a week outside EMS headquarters, and then replaced with another, older vehicle, while the original vehicle was transferred to a garage in a different boro (county). That last, because the vehicle's "shop number" had been published in all the NYC daily newspapers. The unit, 21-David, was nicknamed, by those in the service, as 21-"Deli" (there is no correlation between a shop number and the radio designation). They even moved the street corner 21-David was supposed to sit at between calls to one almost a quarter mile away. Jim Kerr has not been with EMS from at least the time of the EMS/FDNY merger, which happened March 17, 1997.

You forgot the Federal Park Police, covering Gateway National Recreation Area units in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island (A.K.A. Richmond) counties in NYC, Sandy Hook in NJ, as well as Liberty Island. I am also sure we have Military Police in the active Army posts here. By the way, we have NYC Marshals and NYC Sheriffs, but their function is more towards financial than law enforcement, as in forfeiture seizures and resales.

The specific incident I mentioned, which was accessing into the Computer Assisted Dispatch system, happened just after I HAD changed my password. (The person I suspect of doing the deed, those 20 years ago, is now one of the brass-hats!)

"While on a big game hunting safari in Africa, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How He got into my pajamas, I still don't know!" [marq=left:0c2a5a8ed0](Thank you, Groucho Marx)[/marq:0c2a5a8ed0]

[marq=left:b42c1e4741]OOPS!![/marq:b42c1e4741] Fly in the ointment: What if someone figures out someone else's PIN? Narcs are stolen, and an innocent gets jailed for the theft. I speak as someone who's password got stolen, and some misdeeds done while away from my desk, and blamed for them, until I showed the supervisors that the terminal used was not the one I had been at, even tho my numbers were on it.

Would someone care to comment on the fact that First Responders, EMTs, and Paramedics have regularly scheduled, mandated "refresher" training to keep them current on practices and protocols for the area, county, state/provence, or country, but the nurses, physician's assistants, and doctors get out of their various training schools, and can actually be using training practices and protocols that are 40 or more years old, possibly outdated, due to whatever age the person is? They don't have to keep current on the newest practices and protocols, unless they choose to. Also, all things medical, no matter what the level and scope of practice, as per the local medical board or Department of Health, are still called MEDICAL PRACTICE!

Shearious? OK, you skunked me. So what else is gnu with ewe? You might be dogging me now, but I'll bee back!

So if the goat is pregnant, she is just "kidding"?

This begins to fit the criteria of "Paramedic Shove", first exemplified when a Paramedic just shoved an EMT out of the way, disregarded all vital signs obtained by the EMT, and all previous treatment done by the EMT to the patient in question. The Paramedic didn't even apologize to the EMT, as the shove actually caused the EMT to fall over, and receive an injury. I acknowledge that First Responders do it to "first aiders", EMTs do it to First Responders, Paramedics to EMTs, and the ER crews to Paramedics. Whatever your level, just be nasty to whoever is lower on the EMS "Food Chain". 'Tain't right, but it is done. People, don't do it! Remember the old story: A man is hit by a car, another man starts to help him, when a third man rushes up, pushes the second man away, saying, "Stand back, I am a trained first aider", and starts to assist the injured first man. The second man just stands there for a few moments, then tells the third man, "Per your protocols, you are supposed to call a doctor, when you get to that point, I'm a doctor, and I'll be right here!"

Medicare-emr is referring to his situation in South Africa. It sounds like, due to population densities and distance, he might not be operating on the "Golden Hour" concept most of us in "big city" operate under, and even our "open countryside" counterparts. If he is not operating under the Golden Hour concepts, it is probably either not his fault, under his control, or both. As most of you know, I operate in New York City, with an Emergency Department at a hospital, usually no more than a quarter hour travel time from loading the patient. I probably am spoiled rotten by that. I guess I fall back on my usual "thang" of following your local protocols, to the best of abilities, and availabilities.

Interlinking the microchip ID card with the access to the drug safe? Sounds like a decent idea, but if the story is accurate, I hadn't heard it. That card is my access to the FDNY HQ, get in to my floor, and log in/out for the day so I can get paid. ( I am on light duty at HQ)

The Paramedics of the FDNY EMS are each issued a key for the drug safe at the station they are assigned, The supervisor has their key on a station master keyring, and both are needed to unlock the safe, both an outer and inner door. So...I'd think the key would be kept on the keyring of the individual Paramedic's choice.

As youse guys know, I have been doing EMS work for over 3 decades. I know of one time ... In June, 1975, a member of my VAS woke up from a nap, and chilled the room by stating that we were about to have a plane crash. A few hours later, Eastern Airlines Flight 66, coming into JFK International Airport, crashed on final approach from a wind shear microburst thunderstorm, with just the first 10 feet of the Boeing 727 inside the airport perimeter fence, killing 113 souls aboard (I don't remember how many survivors, but it was less than 10). Then, again, I, and most here, can predict the score of any 2 team game before it begins. It is always nothing to nothing, BEFORE THE GAME BEGINS.

47A? While not my call, was that FDNY EMS? I used to work 47A, tour 3.

WTF?

A mention: some cell phones operate just below the radio frequencies of RADAR, which is microwave. As far back as I can recall on commercial microwave ovens, they have carried warnings about not allowing anyone with a pacemaker to get too close while operating.

Just to rile things up, I'll mention I have read (sources not remembered) that it was once believed that a man going faster than the speed of a galloping horse risked his health, this in response to the establishment of railroads.

Some years before EMS was merged into the FDNY, due to a possibly criminal negligence, almost half of the EMS fleet was down mechanical for repairs. Central Repair was so overwhelmed, the units took up more streetside parking than the personnel then at Headquarters. We implemented "Triage" cars, basically, EMTs in vehicles usually used by supervisory personnel. They would respond and, hopefully, close out cases by verifying no ambulance needed, or on-scene triage them, meaning via protocols, have them Refuse Medical Assistance. If the patient really needed care, they would stabilize until an ambulance could arrive. Paralleling that, we also had "Union" cars, same story, only Paramedic personnel. Many community-based Volunteer Ambulance Services, scanning a "Triage" or "Union" car being sent, would roll out to the scene, and effect the transport, with 1/2 the EMS personnel riding with the patient, for continuity of care. The other half would drive the EMS "command car" following to the ED. After the merger into the FDNY, we experimented with Paramedic Response Units (PRUs). A paramedic would ride a non-transport truck, driven by a supervisor, and do much the same as already described in my recall of the "Triage" and "Union" cars. The problems were that a PRU would either be assigned to a supervisory task, then unable to medically respond, or be on a medical or trauma response, and be unavailable for supervisor's duties. With us, at that time, the experiment kind of crashed and burned. However, within our multiple jurisdictions of the EMT City, your experiences could be a lot more positive than what we had, due to number of personnel, vehicles, geographic contributions, and other factors.

Someone mentioned "Quincy (M.E.)", starring Jack Klugman. I offer a Happy Meal as award for anyone who remembers Dr Quincy's FIRST name, which might or might not have been mentioned in the episode where he got married. Two for Lt. Columbo's first name. Decision of the judge (Richard B the EMT) is final and not to be questioned.

[marq=left:82db2a702c]OMG[/marq:82db2a702c]