Richard B the EMT

You do realize most divorces are caused by folks being married?

Both Momma B and I saw an episode of Martha Stewart, where even SHE admitted there is NO correct way to fold a fitted sheet!

If I DON'T apply the KEDS, when usual operating local protocol calls for it's use, I better have a damn good rationale to offer, first to my lieutenant, then my captain, then the FDNY's Office of Medical Affairs. OMA might contact N Y State DoH about revoking my EMT Cert if my rationale doesn't hold up. (FYI, been down that route before, not relating to KEDS use, however. OMA backed my partner and myself)

I forgot to mention something on the drunk driver call. Before CNN filmed the scene, a different videographer had started filming, but area locals, already realizing there were dead persons, and parts of those dead persons, all over the block, took and smashed the camera, and assaulted the videographer for being some kind of vulture, and disrespecting the deceased. Also, this was Howard Beach. These locals already hated TV news crews for the coverage of the "Howard Beach Incident".

Ug, I think you're referring to the movie "Dave". He was a presidential lookalike, who ran an employment agency, doing store openings and the like AS a presidential lookalike for additional cash flow.

I put the question to "Joe", at the FDNY EMS Command Academy, and he responded as follows: Joe does have somewhat the flair for the dramatic, and more so of the comedic. Also, before we get into trouble, this is as per the New York State and FDNY protocols, your county/parrish/state/country's protocols might be different. Just realized, should have attached the E-Mail I sent Joe in the first place. FDNY EMS members will probably recognize "Crazy Joe", from his wording.

Then it is up to admin, if he wants to take any action. You got what you quoted from an "uncredited source", so I accept your apology. As for Admin, jury is still out.

I see their freighters anchored off Gravesend Bay in Lower New York Harbor, south of the Verrizano Bridge, most of the time. Now I know who they are.

Over the years, I have lead many EMS "Horses" to the EMT City "Water". I just cannot make them drink.

Uh..Happiness? This seems to be a direct quote from some newspaper. Speaking of breaking the law, I have to ask if you've forgotten we (the EMT City community) are still in a copyright infringement lawsuit, and still raising funding for our defence? I know you mean well, but providing a link to this article probably would have been sufficient. Thank yoiu for your time on this issue.

Seems kind of like the little guy who took karate, then decides to provoke a bar fight. Little did he know, until he awoke in the ER, the guy he decided to take on was the US Navy heavyweight boxing champ of 2003! LOL

I have a friend, a now retired EMT, who has a 13 year old son with autism. As already mentioned, I asked her to review the article,and our string, and she comments as follows: Oops, sorry about the double send.

I have a friend, a now retired EMT, who has a 13 year old son with autism. As already mentioned, I asked her to review the article,and our string, and she comments as follows:

Newjacks with electronic steths? I'm 37 years experience, and only seen one nurse with one, and he was wearing a hearing aid, which explained the need.

Until the Second World War, Doctors rode ambulances as the "tech", not as observers, both while interning, for training, but after completing training as well. Google "Ambulance Surgeon" for details.

Perhaps a bit of overkill, re E-Mail addresses, but at "Mail.com", a free service, you can get an E-Mail like I have, ending "@Rescueteam.com" . Admittedly, that can be considered "professional", or "childish" by your reviewer. My E-Mail there, however, is NOT my main on-line address. Also, I had already had several EMS related employments when I first went on-line in 1996. (edit for spelling)

Only had 2 experiences with, and I specify, "News Videographers", not movie filming. 1) Police Emergency Services was in the back of my ambulance, using a "K-12" or similar cut-all saw, removing a heavy bracelet from a burn victim, at a multiple alarm fire. Admittedly, with all the sparks it was throwing, It looked spectacular. Then I saw a videographer almost climbing into the back of the ambulance. I tapped him on the shoulder, and told him, " I know it's your job to get the story, but part of mine is trying to protect the patient's privacy. Can we find some common ground so we both get our jobs done?" He backed off several yards, and resumed filming. Common ground was achieved. 2) A drunk driver had plowed into 4 people, from the same family, outside a popular catering hall, killing 3 of them. Although I had just come off duty, I responded to the scene, still in uniform, as I then worked "inside", and kept my "kit" in my car. A supervisor directed me into the catering hall, to attend to a family member of the struck people, as he hadn't been yet told. The next day, I got a call from my brother, who lives in North Dakota (I'm NYC), telling me he'd seen me on TV, from a broadcast on CNN covering the story. A few days later, I saw myself walking to the catering hall doors, on a local network affiliate.

There will always be differences of opinions regarding Fire-based EMS. Using the FDNY as one example, EMS, against the wishes of both EMSers and Fire Fighters, were made by then Mayor Rudy Giuliani, into "one big happy" family, as EMS was removed from NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation management, and placed under FDNY's management. FDNY's own literature calls becoming a Fire Fighter, from being a department EMT or Paramedic, a "promotion". On some FDNY "rant boards", they objected to FDNY Paramedics Carlos Lillo and (Phostumously promoted to Lieutenant)Ricardo Quinn being included in the "343" from the World Trade Center disaster. It is also my understanding that in other jurisdictions where EMS is run by the FD, a Fire Fighter going to EMT or Paramedic is considered the promotion, with higher pay and more benefits. I kind of wish FDNY had done this. There are also some FDs that routinely rotate personnel, as in one week, a crewman or crewwoman is on the Truck, the next week on an Engine, and the next week on the Ambulance. All are trained to at least EMT, with a few trained to Paramedic. Sadly, there are still "combined" departments, where EMS is used as the disciplinning area. "You messed up, Joe, so you're going to the EMS for the next week". I view these departments as being the knuckledraggers of the "combined" departments. Whichever of these combined FDs, I can only hope that in whatever capacity the personnel are used, they perform to the best of their training and abilities in all areas the departmet is responsible for.

Protocols are most definitely dynamic, just not as fast as "ever-changing" patients, otherwise we'd get them delivered to us on stone placques, instead of paper, or electronically.

I'm awaiting commentary from a friend who is the mother of an Autistic son. She's been advised I'll keep her name out of it, but intend to publish her responses.

i mention a friend, an MD, 25 years ago, made some pocket money teaching American Red Cross CPR to other doctors. He told me an interesting story regarding that. He asked the students what to do when discovering a patient who is breathless and pulseless. They all answered "Defib him". He then changed the scenario to finding the patient on a beach. They were unshakable in stating the patient should be shocked. He then asked them if they were in the habit of carrying a defibrillator in the back pocket of their swim trunks, which was when he finally "reached" most of them. Personal experience, from roughly 37 years ago. Discussion: Burns. Field treatment? Per the lecturer, place the burned part into water and ice. All my squad mates, and the other EMTs in the room just could not get the doctor to understand we didn't carry ice in our "caddy-lances", yet he held steadfast on the ice water. His attitude was, "Why DON'T you carry ice on your ambulances?" Even packing the burned part in a chemical icepack wasn't good enough for this guy.

Back before the FDNY EMS merger, NYC (HHC) EMS went from a stopsign shaped badge, to one similar in style to that of the NYPD and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey PD. PAPD has 2 seals, states of NY and NJ, NYC EMS had the seal of NY City, and a star of life. Many voiced an opinion that we'd be mistaken for LEOs, and shot at. I opined that anyone would shoot a LEO would shoot anyone with a glint of metal on the left side of their jacket or shirt, even a child wearing a Sheriff Billy Bangbang plastic star. (This kind of reopens the old strings on work uniform badges or not)

Shakespear (?)

Katiebug, just mentioning 2 minor reliefs from that day. When working the secondary assignment, I was next to an ambulance that had a dead battery, and whose crew was somewhere on the large area of the call. In no particular order, lieutenants, captains and chiefs came up to me and asked me to move "my" ambulance elsewhere. I had to tell them it wasn't my ambulance. "Where IS your ambulance? "No clue, 'Boss'". "How can you NOT know where your ambulance is?" "I responded from my home, 'Boss'. If you look down the street, there's my van 3 blocks away." "(Yammida, yammida, yammida) Carry on, Mr B". The other was, my home was just off the avenue, and my girlfriend's is the corner house, equidistant from the crash site to east and west. We both joke that it's been the only thing to come between us.

"I'm sorry, but much as I'd like to accept your offered discount, due to me being a member of a uniformed municipal emergency agency, I have to decline, as my supervisors view accepting it is considered 'Graft'". Such was what I was instructed to do and say, back in my academy days.