Richard B the EMT

So? blame it on the spellchecker!

Is that actually animated by him, or used as basis for those animations?, ROFLMAO!

I never wake up grumpy in the morning. I always let her sleep! (Heads to bomb shelter)

Wait a minute, that really is what happened earlier this week!

"Remember where we parked." (William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk, in "Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home".)

An admitted one-up here: Working with new EMTs who are the GRAND-CHILDREN of the EMTs who taught you your craft. I truly have had a couple, as I'm born in 1954, and started ambulance training in 1973!

Despite warnings from the pet store that it cursed a lot, a friend of mine bought a parrot, thinking he could train it out of the habit. He tried, and tried, to retrain the bird not to curse, but after 2 months, when the bird made some indecent suggestions as to what my friend's spouse could do with herself, in a fit of anger, he grabbed the parrot, and threw it into the freezer. After 10 minutes, he reopened the freezer door. The shivering bird then spoke politely to my friend, saying, "Sir, I do most humbly apologize for my previous behavior. I had not realized that by my behavior that I had offended you as deeply as I obviously had done. May I come out of the freezer now?" "So you've learned your lesson?" Sir, yes I have. May I go back to my perch?" "Yes." When the parrot resumed his perch, he then said, "Sir, I realize I am still in trouble with you, but I do have a question for you. I know what I did, but what did that poor turkey, that was also in the freezer, do?"

Let me see now...I'm currently at 33 years doing EMS ambulance work, with the last 21 for the city between NYCHHC and the FDNY. I sometimes wear a blue tie with red stripes with little stars of life in those stripes...

The're non-official call letters for monitors, issued me from CRB Research/Popular Communications. They also publish QST magazine. I also respond to WQDC443, on the GMRS. You don't have to QSL "via the bureau", lol.

Hey, Croc: Que Are Zed (QRZ) de Registered Monitor/SWL "Station" "KNY2SC"? (For the non "Ham" radio or Short Wave Listeners amongst us, that means, "what are your call letters")

Quick question that confirms just how much a civilian I am: Is that some kind of land mine that you say the jarheads were kicking? Kind of looks like an out of place broken boat propeller to me.

Suggested add-on to #12: Give the Tylenol some time to work before going to the ED.

If I understand the always confusing New York State, and the contrary to the state's New York City, Vehicle and Traffic Laws, to have a radio capable of listening in to, and interfering with, Police broadcasts in a vehicle, without a permit, is a crime. However, nobody seems to be issuing these permits, at $25.00 per Police agency jurisdiction. You'd think the jurisdictions would want to get money... However, in the same NYS VTL law, it states the LEOs and some "Peace Officer" status folks, don't need the permit, at least while performing the job, then states that licenced Amateur Radio Operators, known by some as HAM Radio operators, don't need the permits. If this nimrod is placing electronic equipment into the ambulance that can interfere, or be interfered with, by the ambulance's electronics and/or communications gear, the individual is a fool. Also, even municipal ambulances get broken into, so the individual risks loss of their stuff by a thief (back in the 1970s CB radio craze, I was robbed of my CB walkie-talkie, so I speak from a little experience).

NREMT-B, I can't explain why, but your last posting just got me really going down memory lane, as I suddenly remembered a part of a story I might have heard on the "Captain Kangaroo" show, back in either the late 1950s or early 1960s (I was born in 1954). At some formal garden party within the story, which might have taken place prior to the last turn of the century, the Governor attended, wearing his red sash to tell those, who otherwise might not know, that he WAS the Governor. I also recall a story from within my own VAC. Seems a 2 person crew responded to a pedestrian struck by a car. The crew-chief was a 4 foot eleven inch lady, rated at EMT, the Motor Vehicle Operator (note how I don't call him the ambulance driver) was a six foot six non medically trained man. Both were wearing the work uniform of the day for the VAC, with agency patch on the left shoulder, and she had the NY State EMT patch on her right shoulder. At the time, the VAC didn't have an agency badge, and did have a policy threatening anyone using a badge on duty with suspension, as the chief at the time feared personnel using the badge to gain an illegal free ride on the bus or subway train. The Lady EMT jumped from the ambulance to check out the patient, and the MVO went to the back of the ambulance to retrieve the necessary equipment. When he approached the patient, he witnessed a LEO physically pick up the lady EMT, and put her onto the sidewalk, despite her protestations, to "stay out of the way of the ambulance crew, little girl". The MVO tapped the LEO on the shoulder, and the LEO turned around to find the towering MVO asking him to return his EMT to him! A few months later, the VAC started issuing a Kelly Green jumpsuit, and a badge for ID when out of uniform, in addition to the ID card we already were using. Even if the jumpsuit was covered by a winter jacket, the legs had the color as a partial visual ID.

OK, now I did check back to the beginning of this string. The EMT who got arrested in NYC was (is?) a member of the Central Park VAC. He was arrested for possession of an EMT badge, in the design of an NYPD Detective badge (think NYPD Blue, or any of the Law And Order series') with a NY State emblem, which was being carried in his briefcase, and not being used for any active identification of the individual. Per Ed Wronsky, the head of the DoH Bureau of EMS, and who is the official signature on all NYS EMT cards, we now know that the state is being wishy-washy. They say you can wear or carry a badge, but the state doesn't issue one, or have any mechanism of approval for any specific design badge. The cops involved in the arrest of the CPVAC member quote some law stating that a badge with either a municipality, county or state emblem that is not issued by that municipality, county or the state of NY, is illegal. There is question, instead of such emblem, that a Star of Life be used instead, but no conclusion was reached. I am told that in the months from when the CPVAC person was arrested, as of last week, some 80 EMS or EMT personnel around the entire state have been arrested for having a badge. That source also states that the CPVAC member was exonerated of charges. At this juncture, I mention the rules that the FDNY EMS has us follow: When working, a member is REQUIRED to have in possession, their NY State drivers license, their FDNY identification card, and their NY State DoH issued EMT or Paramedic card(s). Failure to have those cards, which field supervisors will check for, on an irregular basis, can result in charges being brought against that member. While the FDNY has issued us a Maltese Cross based design badge for identification, we are NOT to display that badge from either the work uniform, or the "Class 'A' Dress" uniform. I also mention that I carry MY ID card and badge in a wallet designed to carry, and display, both from a neck cord. I'm on light duty from a Line Of Duty Injury (LODI), and working in headquarters, am required to display the ID card. I just wear it with the card, not the badge, to the front.

I only checked back 2 pages, but, for the folks who feel we need badges for identification (and I admit to being one of them), the idiots who do as what is described in what follows ruin it for all of us, on both sides of the badge or no badge question. My source is from the New York State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association, showing from the Associated Press, used without permission but acknowledging the source. DA: College student impersonated federal agent The Associated Press August 30, 2006, 5:19 PM EDT A college student has been charged with impersonating a federal agent after a routine traffic stop led police to a cache of weapons and forged law enforcement paraphernalia in his bedroom, prosecutors said Wednesday. Stephan M. Kishore's masquerade came to an end after a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police officer stopped his minivan Monday afternoon on an expressway near John F. Kennedy International Airport for changing lanes without signaling, prosecutors said. The officer said he noticed a large police decal on a rear door of the minivan and red and blue strobe lights on the dashboard. There also were two U.S. Department of Homeland Security parking placards on the dashboard, prosecutors said. Kishore, of the Bronx, then showed the officer a phony Homeland Security ID card and shield, prosecutors said. When asked if he was a police officer, Kishore replied, "Yes, and I'm on duty," they said. However, the officer became suspicious when he read on the back of the shield: "CopShop.com, Collectible Badge, Not For Official Use." CopShop, based in Umatilla, Fla., calls itself the online mall for cops, selling sheriff's office badges, state trooper patches, collectible pins and law enforcement apparel. Kishore later admitted he was not a police officer and had made the ID card on his home computer, prosecutors said. Kishore, 20, was arraigned Tuesday night in Queens Criminal Court on charges of criminal impersonation, forgery and criminal possession of a weapon, a forged instrument and forgery devices, District Attorney Richard Brown said. "The victim's alleged conduct in this era of heightened security was both dangerous and reprehensible because it exploited the public's trust in the police and placed both his life and those of actual police officers in possible jeopardy," Brown said in a statement. Kishore, a student at York College in Queens, was being held Wednesday on $50,000 bail. His next court date is Sept. 5. He could face up to seven years in prison if convicted. His attorney, Georgia Rattray-Gray, did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Wednesday. Kishore admitted he had templates to make insignia and credentials for numerous police agencies and had several federal and local police ID cards, two stun guns, two pellet guns and two starter pistols in his bedroom, prosecutors said. Police said they recovered the guns, a laptop computer, a laminator and blank ID cards during the execution of a search warrant at his home. They also said they found 32 federal police ID cards, including ones for the U.S. Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and shields for city departments including police and correction. Kishore, who is from Trinidad, also is charged with changing the expiration date of his temporary visitor's status on his driver's license from August 2005 to 2006 with a red pen and with violating the city's Administrative Code relating to firearms, using police uniforms or emblems and placing state seals and insignia on private vehicles.

FYI, it seems to be up, as of my checking on 08-11-2006 @ 1749 Eastern Daylight savings time.

Once in a while, I either work a different district, or go on a "patient request" to a hospital where the ER crews and I don't know each other. When interacting with the unfamiliar ER crew, I make a point of mentioning I don't usually go to that facility, so if I am inadvertently doing some "infraction" of that facility, like using a "nurses only" desk to complete paperwork, they will know and understand. Worked for me for many years keeping my butt outta trouble.

Just for the sake if knowing, is AMR in the New York/New Jersey area represented by any union? I thought they (AMR) had no union representation at all. And for anyone who asks, I am in local 2507 (Uniformed EMTs and Paramedics of the FDNY), a member-agency of District Council 37, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Prior to that, while still working the proprietary (non 9-1-1 responder) ambulances, I was in local 531 of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Perhaps it is because you just crash landed the high that they spent so much money on to achieve? My Paramedics advise me to get the patient restrained prior to administering the Narcan, for just that reason!

Someone mentioned that we got into the Second World War after Japan attacked the fleet at Pearl Harbor. Prior to that, we WERE attacked by German forces, sinking the Destroyer, USS Reuben James. You might want to start research with the song written by Woody Guthrie (Arlo Guthrie's dad), which can be read with this link... http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/th...nkingOfTheR.htm I offer this as food for thought, not as a part of any argument (sorry, I must have relapsed from exposure to my brother, the American History professor at the University of North Dakota).

As of 1914 hours, July 9, 2006, I got the following message from their site, which infers they didn't finish rebuilding the site. [marq=left:dc06d7a19d]Thewatchdesk.com will "Stand Down" for maintenance until the 4th of July or sonner if we get the database rebuilt and reloaded. Go outside and enjoy the summer.[/marq:dc06d7a19d]

I keep toying with the idea of having a "public embarrassment" column in the local newspapers, giving location of the happening, description of the vehicle, complete to license plate, time of occurrence, and the infraction. If enough folks think to look for said vehicle, perhaps they can help shame the driver into doing the right thing. With the cameras in cellphones, a picture of the offense might be in order, to either the LEOs or the papers. [marq=left:650f96b6ea]However...[/marq:650f96b6ea] Remember the Harper Valley PTA. They called Mrs. Johnson to task for her wearing miniskirts, and she publicly embarrassed the PTA members for a multitude of minor sins they had done, and then had the audacity to complain about her! You, too, can be embarrassed, in turn.

"Peace, and long life!"

I suggest the possibility that "Uncle Sam" may be worried about any member of the U S armed forces accidentally giving up important information, so it might be blocking any and all "chat room" accesses for that reason.