More Firemonkey Whining in Floridia

[Dustdevil]

Another case of firemen believing their own hype.

http://www.ems1.com/fire-ems/articles/813437-Fla-ambulance-service-victim-of-bumper-sticker-pun/

April 29, 2010

Fla. ambulance service victim of bumper sticker pun

The police chief said he just wanted the Fire Department to know police cars are not for advertising points

The News-Journal

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — A couple of bumper stickers created by the city's firefighters' union that take a potshot at the countywide ambulance service ended up on police patrol cars — much to the consternation of top police brass.

No one knows how the bumper stickers — which read "A firefighter saved my life and EVAC billed me" — wound up pasted on the rear bumpers of the cruisers, both Police Chief Mike Chitwood and Fire Chief Gary Hughes said Tuesday.

Regardless, the two chiefs spoke about the issue "in passing," according to Hughes.

It was a 20-second conversation," Chitwood said.

He couldn't recall the exact wording of the talk and said he just wanted the Fire Department to know police cars are not for advertising points of view because law enforcement must maintain its neutrality.

Some Daytona Beach firefighters have been fighting for the right to transport patients to the hospital, with the fees they could charge for that service helping to offset the department's costs. Volusia County has turned down requests from cities to cut in on EVAC's ambulance business, fearing it will drive up costs countywide.

Hughes said none of his people will admit to placing the bumper stickers on the patrol cars.

I made it very clear to my people not to place any stickers on any city vehicles," Hughes said Tuesday.

[JakeEMTP]

Have they actually done any research, or are you just assuming EMS transports make money?

What a bunch a wankers. Bumper stickers? Seriously?

[Chief1C]

Some Daytona Beach firefighters have been fighting for the right to transport patients to the hospital, with the fees they could charge for that service helping to offset the department's costs

IAFF. I Ain't Fundin' Firefightin'... So lets get an Ambulance to do it.

[emtannie]

"Some Daytona Beach firefighters have been fighting for the right to transport patients to the hospital, with the fees they could charge for that service helping to offset the department's costs. Volusia County has turned down requests from cities to cut in on EVAC's ambulance business, fearing it will drive up costs countywide.

Hughes said none of his people will admit to placing the bumper stickers on the patrol cars."

So they want to TRANSPORT so they can bill... can we call the "AMBULANCE DRIVERS"? I don't see anything in the article showing what education this department has to be able to provide medical care (I know, I know - small article, there is more behind the scenes, but I had to be sarcastic for a moment..)

And, of course none of Hughes' people will admit to placing the stickers.... did he expect them to put their hands up???

4c6, love your "I Ain't Funding Firefightin" - isn't that the sad truth. How many fire departments are trying to take over EMS, not so that they can provide better patient care, but to fund their own departments. That rationale is very parasitic, and will not work.

[Dustdevil]

Yeah, how very altruistic of our "bravest" to want to steal others' jobs just for the money. Guess there were no more legs for them to steal.

And if none of the chief's men will fess up, it sounds like his personnel have a serious integrity problem. It's just a silly sticker issue, not a major crime, yet nobody in the department is honest enough to admit it? Just the kind of people we want running EMS, eh?

[Kiwiology]

..."A firefighter saved my life and EVAC billed me..."

I have never heard such utter, downright lies and in-thier-endo.

Raise your hand if your job includes saving people from Firemedics ..... ?

[Dustdevil]

I'm picturing a new bumper sticker slogan!

[funkytomtom]

Wow...I am completely disgusted. Where I work, the fire department CAN BE useful, but nine times out of ten merely provide "the circle of death," standing around a pt until we show up and provide actual care. What a load of BS! I am pissed about it from the other side of the country, I can't imagine how the EVAC medics feel. What self absorbed pr1cks!