Richard B the EMT

May I suggest everyone see the late 1960s or early 1970s movie, "A Guide For the Married Man"? Great relation to this string.

Interesting. If this was locked, how could you have posted, or me respond to your post?

In this PC time, can you imagine the EEO lawsuits for watching "All In The Family" or "Archie Bunker's Place" on the "rerun" networks?

1) Quit insulting boxes of rocks. 2) Head usher? If he was as dumb as insinuated, he never would have lasted that long, let alone running a chain of theaters, Kansas City or any other location. 3) So, for 20 years, and continuing, you're looking over your shoulder?

Back in the beginning of my EMS career, I entered my VAC office a few seconds before midnight for my crew. The guys from the crew I was relieving left, but there were 2 guys I didn't know still there. I asked them if they were my relief crew, they said no, and I asked them to leave, preferring no visitors unless my entire crew, or at least one other person from it, was there. They declined my request. Then, I picked up the telephone, pushed down on a button not connected to any live telephone line, and faked dialing 9-1-1. When I looked up, I was looking down a pistol barrel! Then, the gun fired! I think I partially fainted. I heard one of the 2 guys say, "Shit! I used the wrong gun!" Then, from the floor where I lay, I heard the 2 run out, and the relieved crew rush back in. "Richard, are you all right? Dummy! That was the team from the 'White Eagle'". It turned out that the 2 were LEOs from the "White Eagle", an NYPD decoy yellow taxi "company" working the 2 precincts covered by my VAC. They had been playing with me, and fired a starter's pistol. Looking out the window, I saw the 2 of them in the taxi, found some strength to get up, run out the door, and exhaust my then meager foul language dictionary on the duo. In retrospect, I should have called the precinct immediately to register the complaint against the 2 LEOs. I also must mention that, until they repainted the cab in something other than yellow, having a decoy taxi in my "hood" was a mistake, as there are no yellow taxis normally working it, just car services, which, to differentiate between the two, cannot be painted yellow. I think it worked better when the "Eagle" was no longer yellow. Simply put, this was the first of 2 times I was looking at the wrong end of a gun. The second time, I was actually being robbed. I wish on not even my worst enemy this type experience.

I've been together with my "Lady J" from December of 1988. Even the "Coward Of the County" had his Becky.

The only use I have found for watching the needle on the sphigmanometer (spelling?) of a BP unit is when I cannot find a radial pulse.

You might never get that chance. 2 years ago, I went to the local Blockbuster Video Store, intent on purchasing a few blank video tapes (recording and rerecording each day's "Young and the Restless" "soap opera" eventually wears out the tapes), only to be directed across the street to the Duane Reade Drugstore. They didn't sell blank videos anymore. Both of the nearest Blockbuster Video stores nearest to me have a different business now operating inside. You might never get that chance. 2 years ago, I went to the local Blockbuster Video Store, intent on purchasing a few blank video tapes (recording and rerecording each day's "Young and the Restless" "soap opera" eventually wears out the tapes), only to be directed across the street to the Duane Reade Drugstore. They didn't sell blank videos anymore. Both of the Blockbuster Video stores nearest to me have a different business now operating inside.

FDNY rules, and NYC EMS rules prior to that, held that no alcoholic beverages or firearms were allowed on, let alone inside any department properties, and was an offense could cost you your job (had to play with the wording, avoiding the words "Firing" and "Discharge", considering we're talking firearm here).

I'm no help to this string. I'm the guy who never could get a date, let alone hide a bunch of them. I do quote the (men's) drinking salute: To our wives and girlfriends. May they never meet each other!

Half the fleet down for what, mechanical? NYC EMS had that (pre-merger) circa 1988. The NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, which then ran the EMS, fired the chief in charge, hired a guy with fleet management experience (he also had been an EMT), hired enough mechanics for 3 tours, 24 hours a day Monday thru Fridays, with small crews daylight Saturdays, and farmed out units for repairs to the Central Repair Services of the FDNY, the NYPD, and the Sanitation Department, all located within a few miles of the EMS CRS, until the numbers of "downed" vehicles became a lot more "normal". (It also helped that they stopped purchasing ambulances whose "specs" books were almost 2 foot thick.) We also instituted a Preventive Maintenance program, which was suggested by FDNY, which continues even now, as EMS is under FDNY management. While I remain not a fan of the merger, this was a good thing.

While we know there should not be one, we acknowledge that there is one. I, for one, don't know why, or how, if it is possible, to eliminate it.

Amen!

I don't know FlamingEMT2011, aside from the information published here in the City. I do know, from dealing with folks from all walks of life, if they are in any group that feels, or actually is, oppressed in some manner, that they use self depreciating humor, but woe be to anyone outside the group that attempts using it. 2011 may simply be doing that with the avitar.

The bad thing of "The Bad Parts Of Town", is that the bad folks get all the press, and the nice folks get painted with the same brush as also being evil. I worked the worst drug infested projects in New York City, and really met the nicest of people. Unfortunately, I also met some of the nastiest. If using stairwells, I learned to yell, "EMS in the stairwell! If doing something you shouldn't, better stop for a bit!" The "Bangers" used to comment that I was crazy, but they seemed to like me for doing that.

Stuff that everyone knows is bad for us to eat, in abundance. When I was fieldside, I started packling lunch, and eating whenever I had the chance near "mealtime". The "sniffer" that tells the dispatcher there's food in the cab works quite well on PBJ sandwiches.

As mentioned, I sent an E-Mail to Joe F, an Instructor-Coordinator at the FDNY EMS Command Academy. What follows is my original e-mail, followed by his response. Joe: As you probably know, I post a lot on EMT City (EMTCity.com). The following medical/legal discussion came up, and I'd like some of your input, which I'd then put on line, without your last name attached, of course. Please advise if "Good Sam" is: 1) along the lines of doing the deed "Without expectation of reimbursement", 2) considered null and void if a third party (airline, tour bus company, family and/or friends of a victim), without being asked to do so, offer product and/or service to the "Good Sam" provider, 3) considered null and void if the victim, without being asked to do so, offer product and/or service to the "Good Sam" provider, 4) considered null and void if the "Good Sam" decides to accept the offer of product and/or service, AFTER doing the deed ? If there is something specific on the books, alert me to it, and I'll also include that. Thanks in advance. Richard B Hey Rich Ok here goes ! When we talk about the Good Samaritan Law pertaining to helping someone who needs assistance, let get this application of the term " Good Sam Law"clarified. This Law varies in each state its is designed to provide limited legal protection for citizens and some health care providers when they are administering care. I found several references and heres another explanation. Passerby in most states are not required by law to stop and render medical assistance to those in need unless there is the preexisting duty to act. For this reason all states now have specific laws to encourage passerby to stop and render care and assist those in need of medical attention. Good Samaritan laws encourage regardless of training to stop and provide assistance without the fear of being held civilly liable for anything they do or not do while caring for the victim . Good Samaritan laws protect those who in good faith not for compensation render care for those in need. The reality is that lawsuits involving passerby who render care are quite rare. wwwweeeew got it Joe F FDNY Instructor Coordinator

I think I am going to put this question to someone in publishing, who has medical/legal training, as in a paramedic with a license to practice law. ...addendum... or at least ask an instructor at the FDNY EMS Academy.

Could someone with better Medical/Legal expertise please advise if "Good Sam" is: 1) along the lines of doing the deed "Without expectation of reimbursement", 2) considered null and void if a third party (airline, tourbus company, family and/or friends of a victim), without being asked to do so, offer product and/or service to the "Good Sam" provider, 3) considered null and void if the victim, without being asked to do so, offer product and/or service to the "Good sam" provider, 4) considered null and void if the "Good Sam" decides to accept the offer of product and/or service ?

I consider my community to be farely well mixed, both racially and religion-wise, however, the darker skinned Guyanese men, who worked at the local gas stations were assaulted.

A bit late, but a training Defib unit should be so marked, and in big letters. As for installation, I consider myself as a decdent EMT, perhaps not spectacular, but a lousy cabinet installer and drywall person. SOME medical person should have followed the installer around, verifying that the unit now in the cabinet is NOT a trainer, and is functional. Just me thinking out loud.

Per the FDNY EMS Ops Guide... Hope that came through. 115_07.doc

I've never heard of what Happiness commented on, the association of the smell of the Vicks Vaporub on one's child as the "smell of death", but it does make sense. With all the Decomp DOAs I've had over my career, I may have said something equivelant to "bleah" on entering the living quarters, but after a few minutes, I didn't seem to notice it anymore. Of course, I made a point of running the exhaust fan on full power during transport, with a window, if the ambulance had one, open, no matter what the weather. This would be followed by keeping the patient compartment doors open for as long as dispatch wasn't calling to request us back into service. (By the way, I have an olfactory hallucination of fresh Pizza when I hear the Supremes doing "Reflections", as the first time I heard it was in a Pizzaria.)

Эй, брат? Я думаю, что вы ушли предметом обсуждения на эту строку. Hey, brother? I think you went off the topic under discussion on this string. (Thank you, Google Translate service)

While I don't recall the participants in the conversation, a leader in an early 1960s Advancement group for blacks was told that he and the group should "Pull themselves up by their boot-straps". The black leader countered by sending a telegram (way before E-Mail and IMs existed), saying, "OK, we'll pull ourselves up by our boot-straps. Please send boot-straps!" As for me, a white dude, being a 3rd generation American Born Jew of German, Russian and Polish background, the only one who qualifies to tell me to go back to where I came from is an ex girlfriend, who happens to be Navajo!