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Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 1992 14:49:44 -0400
From:         TRAUMA JUNKIE <JAT8419@RITVAX.BITNET>
Subject:      sensor traffic lights!

I have something negatve to say about the strobe activated traffic lights.  If
an average guy is driving down the road and he sees the light turn green, he
will not expect that light to turn red in 5 seconds.  So he will not be
looking, even if you Amb. changes the light. AT an intersection if the same
driver has his window closed and normal car noise like light music your siren
range is as follows....

Wail   200 ft.
Yelp 150 ft
Electronic air horn  6 ft
Phaser 100 ft.

There is no safe was to cross an intersection but to STOP and make eye contact
and proceed slowly.  Don't put your life in the hands of a machine.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John A. Ternay
Emergency Medical Services Certified First Responder
Pre-Medical Studies                             R.I.T. Ambulance
MD2B                                    Cornwall Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
                        "Trauma Junkie"
            "We make house-calls....all night long"
From: petey@selway.umt.edu (Peter G Efroymson)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: mutual/automatic aid pacts
Keywords: automatic aid
Date: 5 Nov 92 19:54:48 GMT
Article-I.D.: selway.1992Nov5.195448.4601
Organization: University of Montana

Hi I am a firefighter in western montana. I am impressed with the 
diverse group of people in the news group. 
Ihave a question for everyone:
	How common are Automatic aid pacts in your area?
	How difficult were they to implement?
please post all replies to this newsgrp.
thanks

Peter Efroymson, Firefighter II, FR
Missoula Rural Fire District
Student; University of Montana
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
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Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Date:         Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:42:51 -0500
From:         AIRBORNE THE FIREMAN IS BACK <CDUNBAR@UNTVAX.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Hazard Lights on Emergency Vehicles

Our FD uses similar procdures when we arrive at a scene.  Ya'all read a
description on the lights on our apparatus on a previous post of the same
title, so I won't bore ya'all with a re-description =).

We generally respond in rural, suburban subdivisions, or major roadway areas.
We have different procedures, as far as which lights to have on or off,
depending on what kind of scene we are at, or if we are training.

When we arrive at a house fire or other fire within a subdivision, we generally
keep on only the rear red bubblegum machines (rear warning lights) and our
front halogen amber flashers (bright as highbeams!)  If we go out to shuttle
water, we use full lights (and sirens).  We follow this general procedure both
during the day and at night.

At traffic incidents or incidents on the side of a major highway, we use full
lights during the day and half of our strobes and rear warning lights during
the night.  If we respond to an incident on or near a country road during the
day or at night, we use full lights.  Heavy traffic areas on major highways,
we use half lights during the day and amber front flashers and read warning
lights at night.  Very low traffic but high visibility areas on the
highway day or night, we use full lights.  During apparatus training, we use
front amber flashers and rear warning lights.

Our department has not, to my knowledge, has not had an incident where
drunk drivers hae been "attracted" to our lights, nor, as far as I know,
have we had incidents where motorists have been blinded and subsequently have
smashed into something.  While cutting down lights at an incident is a good
idea, our main motivation for cutting most of the lights is that extended
use of these flashers could burn them out.  $3,000.00 lightbars are expensive,
so we want to keep them as long as possible =).

Christophe
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
From: zrepachol@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: Re: OSHA regs. A question
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:20:53 GMT

In article <721096631.F00040@remote.halcyon.com>, Dan.Guenthner@f48.n152.z1.fidonet.org (Dan Guenthner) writes:
>  Well a number of ya have been tossing the OSHA regs back and
>  forth for some time on what is this and what is that. So let me
>  try and set the record straight.
>  
>  1. OSHA regulations apply to ALL employers (public & private).
>  
>  2. Whether federally or state enforced at a minimum is the federal
>     rule. States may change to make more stringent not less effective.
>  

Do the regs cover non-employies as well? ie volenteer FF, EMTs etc?

~Paul
From: Rick.Wilson@f2112.n327.z1.fidonet.org (Rick Wilson)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Emergency Show
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 1992 19:09:04 -0800

gs> Mayfair, or was it Mayhew. The mere fact that I can remember
gs> that much
gs> proves that a mind is a terrible thing to waste.

Mayfair. :)

 * Origin: Coming To You From Connecticuts Quiet Corner! (1:327/2112)
From: Roger.Babler@f391.n11.z1.fidonet.org (Roger Babler)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: VFD Recutiting
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:00:32 -0800

Would like to hear from any VFD'S in the rural area that have had any
sucess 
in recuriting new members. We are in a rural farming area the pop of the
village proper is only 1,200 . We at present have 24 members and a
allowed staffing level of 35. Can't seem to attract any new blood.


    I came up withne idea and wish some input as to it's merit. It could
be called a "Head-Hunter" program, and would work like this. Lets say
Tom gets Fred to join the dept and fred stays on for 2 years and does
the following.

    1 completes FireFighter 1 certifaction

    2 Attends a set % of drills set highter than required for
membership

    3 Makes a Hh % of runs also set above average
Then Tom would recive a $$ reward lets say 100.00 and a patch or pin for
his dress shirt also if Freed would become a EMT or First Responder this
would also become a reward for to Basic idea is that the one who
recruted the new firefighter would push him or her to become a "GOOD"
member.

              Roger Babler   Monticello WI. VFD

 * Origin: The Swiss Bull BBS - Monroe, WI <HST>v.42 (1:11/391@FIDONET)
From: Kurt.Ullman@f290.n231.z1.fidonet.org (Kurt Ullman)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Photographer'S On Scene.
Date: 7 Nov 92 19:31:04 GMT

KE>From: KEN <KAK6279@RITVAX.BITNET>

KE>        Actually, the original post, for you quoters out there, was
"What ar
KE>the rights of a photographer (both press and non press implied) on a
scene?"
KE>Many people out here seem to think that all reporters are just out
there to
KE>get
KE>in your way.  Or think the first post was "what do you do when a
journalist
KE>starts beating up your patient?"  Anyway, to give the thread a new
direction
KE>(before it all goes to 200 proof flames...)  What are the conditions
in whic
KE>an EMT or can have a reporter legally (forcefully if nescessary (by a
cop))
KE>removed?  What kind of rights, could I, John Q. Public taking
pictures expec
KE>on a scene, providing I am not directly interfering with the scene?

        As far as RIGHTS go, the photographer on the scene has no
more right to go past the police line than a "civilian". Because of his
job, he (or she) is often given the COURTESY of getting past wherever
the perimeter is set up. It is a courtesy that will NOT be given to Joe
Blow with a camera (for liabiltiy and other reasons-most press passes
are issued with disclaimers basically saying the reporter knew the job
was dangerous when he took it).
        The conditions placed on forceful removal, in real life, depend
upon two things. 1)> Whatever law your area has on the books about
interference with EMT, firefighter or police officer  2). The desire of
the legal eagles and police brass to chance getting on the wrong of the
media.
        As a general rule of thumb, the courts say that any person
can take a picture of what they can see from a public area. If someone
is on the sidewalk and can see something going on in the front yard..it
is fair game. It hinges on expectation of privacy.
        I am not an attorney, but I have had over 15 years on as a
reporter/writer/editor/EMT/RN, etc.   I hope this was helpful.
 * Origin: The RoadHouse BBS <<ASP>> Indpls, IN (317) 784-2147
((1:231/290.0)
From: Bruce.Phillips@f182.n132.z1.fidonet.org (Bruce Phillips)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Re: confined space rescue
Date: Sun, 08 Nov 1992 15:13:00 -0800

> BP> STOP TYPING IN "CAPS"
> 
> Can You say Please?  Thank you.
 
OK.... Please???????

 * Origin: KEEP A FIRE FIGHTER WARM THIS WINTER, TAKE HIM TO BED...
(1:132/182)
From: jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu (Jay Maynard)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Re: Hazard Lights on Emergency Vehicles
Keywords: Lights
Date: 6 Nov 1992 01:14:17 GMT
Organization: UT Health Science Center Houston

In article <1992Nov5.234205.8162@mel.dit.csiro.au> jck@kimba.catt.citri.edu.au (Justin Kibell) writes:
>Are all those strobes and whatnot really necessary? Only curious. Do the public
>respond better to that many lights or is it for show?

If I'm going to be doing things that folks don't expect others to do in
traffic, I want every possible advantage I can get, including every
attention-getting device I can use. I've run in my private car with only a
pair of Federal Fireballs (single-bulb rotary warning lights, magnetically
mounted) on the roof, and people didn't notice those worth a darn. (Texas law
requires lights to be on the roof.)
-- 
Jay Maynard, EMT-P, K5ZC, PP-ASEL | Never ascribe to malice that which can
jmaynard@oac.hsc.uth.tmc.edu      | adequately be explained by stupidity.
     We survived Jimmy Carter; we'll (probably) survive Bill Clinton.
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
From: zrepachol@cc.curtin.edu.au
Subject: Re: Freddy the firetruck
Organization: Curtin University of Technology
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:28:58 GMT

In article <721234907.F00044@remote.halcyon.com>, Mister.Wiggly@f17.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Mister Wiggly) writes:
> Is there anyone else out on the net that uses Freddie the Firetruck
> and/or Pluggie the Fireplug robots in your fire prevention/education
> programs ? If do, I am looking to swap program ideas, i.e. skits and
> other materials used to upgrade our program.

Yep, Freddie is alive and recharging in West Oz... Let me know if you would
like your request passed on to our fire education/museum people.

~Paul
From: Ken.Wilkins@f510.n226.z1.fidonet.org (Ken Wilkins)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Arkansas State
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 22:59:03 -0800

Just wondering what has happened with Fire and EMS and Rescue services
in Arkansas and whether it is an indication of the philosophy of
President elect Clinton.

What has changed since he has been govenor and what do some of the
folks
think about what has changed?


 * Origin: EmergiNet BBS, 614-461-7620 (1:226/510)
From: Gary.Saffer@f290.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Gary Saffer)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Boston Update
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1992 09:29:00 -0800

Hi Shreyas,

No problem on posting a bit about Boston EMS. But first thanks to Kevin
for forwarding this.

Compared to NYC Boston EMS is a small system. We run 11 BLS and 3 ALS
units from 08:00 to 00:00. After that we run 10 and 2. We do about
90,000 calls a year with those units. Units are stationed in
"satellite"
stations around the city. Each station has either one or two units
assigned to it. All units are in ambulances and we have no "non
transporting" type units. Calls for help are recieved via the 9-1-1
center located at police headquarters. Our dispatch center is also
located there. Calls are sent out over the radio after that. All units
that do 9-1-1 calls are owned by the city. Unlike NYC there are no
hospital based services in Boston. Occasionally we will use a private
company for back up, but have tried to avoid that as much as possible.
Our busiest truck did just over 10,000 calls in 1991. We generally are
the busiest per unit in the country. Not something that we are
particularly happy about and hopefully the city will be adding some
units in the not too distant future. At least on paper we do only
emergency work, but I am sure you know how that is.

Shifts are 8 hours long. We work a forty hour week, straight shifts
with
no rotation. Assignments are by bid which is held once a year. Bids are
of course done by seniority, but without bumping. That is once you are
bid into a position you can not be bumped out by a more senior person.
Pay and benefits are good. We are city employees and so get the
benefits
that come with that. 13 paid holidays a year, vacation starting with 2
weeks and going up to 5 weeks after 14 years. 15 sick days a year.
Currently there are about 200 EMTs, Medics, and Supervisors in the
Department. Prospects for adding more people are up in the air right
now, but hopefully there will be some expansion in the next year or so.

EMTs work at the Defib level. Medics can do all of the standard ALS
skills, medics also can do Intraosseous infusions, Needle chest
decompression, and needle crichothyrotomy. There is no intermediate
level in use at this time nor is it expected to be in the future.


I hope that is enough, if you need more to flesh it out let me know.

BTW where is station 34? When I went to medic school I did my field
internship in NYC. I was at Jacobi for a week and Coney Island for a
week. I didn't get to see much else of the system though.

Later

Gary

 * Origin: Kids And Cops _ Lynn, MA _ (617) 599-2499 _ (1:101/290)
From: Shreyas.Shah@f303.n2603.z1.fidonet.org (Shreyas Shah)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Re: ALBANY
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1992 11:46:00 -0800

BM>    3's have been intubating here since at least 85, maybe
BM> 84.
BM>    Intermediates are intubating now, not sure when
BM> they
BM>    started, but it's been at least a year ago.
BM>    When I took the 3, they didn't recognize PM level
 
I stand corrected, I spoke to a couple of other 3's and they informed me
that they have in fact been intubating for quite some time. It was the
intermediates that have been upgrading lately. They are just begining to
recognize the level 4's out in Nassau & Suffolk. Most of the guys tell
me it's primarily a liability thing where most of the vol fire depts
don't want the added responsibility. Supposedly the counties are finally
getting things together and setting up protocols. Right now the 4's have
to work as 3's with a few minor differences. You're right, NYS is really
screwed up! How hard could it be to admin the same level of care (or at
least recognize all the levels) uniformly throughout the state.
 
BM>    I heard about the wild times there, was beginning to
BM>    wonder if it was all just a big party, or if old
BM> married
BM>    folks like me ;-) could/would benefit from going
BM> for
BM>    actual EMS stuff. <g>!!!
 
As much of a good time we had there was a lot of things to learn. (Like
to stop drinking at 6 am....just kidding!) It should be great for you
coming back into the system. Personally I thought they could have made
it longer (more classes/days) but I guess it's just not practical.
 
BM>    with EMS. Our city has become quite active in violent
BM>    crimes, GSW, stabbings, assaults, 90% drug related.
BM> He's
BM> -More-   currently inside (80% of the time) working
BM> in parking &
 
Sounds like your city is turning into a regular little Brooklyn! I must
admit though, with all the trauma we get I've been doing a lot of
'quality' medical als calls! Love every minute of it.
 
BM>    I think so too!       Anybody else from here going?
BM>    Darrin Culver said he may go on Sunday. Well, hope
BM> to see
 
Sounds good to me. Hope to see ya up there. Shreyas
 * Origin: Black Box II N.Y. 718-966-7651 4 Lines 9600 v32 1.2gig
(1:2603/303)

Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
X-Acknowledge-To: <JX655C@GWUVM>
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Date:         Thu, 5 Nov 1992 21:39:25 EDT
From:         PJ Geraghty <JX655C@GWUVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Re: Hazard Lights on Emergency Vehicles
              5 Nov 1992 23:42:05 GMT from <jck@KIMBA.CATT.CITRI.EDU.AU>

On Thu, 5 Nov 1992 23:42:05 GMT Justin Kibell said:
>and maybe another two domes on the back. It is actually considered to be a bit
>wanky if you have lights all over the place.
>
>Are all those strobes and whatnot really necessary? Only curious. Do the public
>respond better to that many lights or is it for show?
>
"Wanky" is a truly great adjective here.  To be honest, I have found that the
more volunteer-oriented an fire dept./rescue squad is, the more lights the
apparatus will have.  (Disclaimer: I am a volunteer.  Our ambulances have two
full-with lightbars with I believe 12 rotating beacons each.  Also multiple
box lights, intersection strobes and a MARS light.  To top it all off, each
ambulance has a federal 'Q' as well as an electronic siren.  Wankiness
runneth high...)

As to how effective...well, you can see our ambulances at considerable
distance...at night.  During the day, the lights have little effect.  But then
the 'Q' comes in handy for working through DC traffic (if I thought my
alternator could handle the voltage, I'd put one on my '79 Toyota corolla.  But
I digress...)  All those light bars come at a price, though...the radio in
one of our ambulances will stop working if all the lights and sirens are
functioning.  This is an undocumented feature in Horton's SYSTEM 2000 (remember
when we used to call these 'bugs' or 'problems'???) which is why we have,
after more than 15 years of Horton ambulances, ordered a new MedTech with an
alternator that can supposedly power NYC in a heat wave.

In short, more lights are not always more effective.

_________________________________________________________________________
|PJ Geraghty, FF2/NR/MDEMT-P          | "Maybe you should try Hare      |
|5020 Battery Lane                    | Krishna."--Kermit the frog, upon|
|Bethesda, MD 20814        (SnailMail)| hearing that the agent was lost.|
|301-652-0077/301-409-0648 (Telephone)|(*insert opinion disclaimer here)|
|JX655C@GWUVM.GWU.EDU       (InterNet)| Support your local EMS; the life|
|CG071@CLEVELAND.FREENET.EDU (FreeNet)|  we save could someday be yours!|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU
From: Cary.Eastwood@f17.n275.z1.fidonet.org (Cary Eastwood)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Re: american medical r
Date: Wed, 04 Nov 1992 05:24:00 -0800

JN>     *** You thus spoke:

JN>MS> Is there anyone on this network who is employed by :
JN>MS>
JN>MS>         Pac-Med Ambulance in San Diego, CA


JN>I can find no Pac-Med Ambulance in any San Diego roster/directory.

There is a Pac-Med in San JOSE, CA.  There address is

Pac Med
P.O. Box 50001
San Jose CA
95150-0001

Street address
1393 S. 7th St
San Jose CA.

Oh a word of info.  If you are looking for an ambulance job or such,
get a phone book for county/area you want to work and look up the
county
office of emergency medical services, usualy in the heath dept secion
under the county phone numbers.  I did that and found addresses and
phone numbers that are not in the yellow pages in the phone book due to
they only do 911 transports, no private transports.  Also they keep up
on company's that start up, go out of business and such.  I did that
and
found 20 companys in 8 counties were not listed in the phone book.

 * OLX 2.1 TD * Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
 * RaceNet: Nasty Old Lady BBS * 805-528-7341 USR D/S * Los Osos, CA

PCRelay:CAROLINA -> #480 RaceNet (tm)
4.11                RaceNet: (803) 871-9771 HST / 875-2019 DS v32

 * Origin: The Computer Forum Va Beach, VA (804) 471-0736 (1:275/17)
From: Kurt.Ullman@f290.n231.z1.fidonet.org (Kurt Ullman)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: CAMERAS ON RIGS (WAS: RE:
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 1992 13:33:00 -0800

SC>From: SCSAVETT@URSINUS.BITNET

SC>Patrick and all concerned,
SC>    From a medical standpoint, it is frequently helpful to show the
ERtor
SC>doctor a picture of the MVA.  If you have ever taken PHTLS or BTLS,
they
SC>teach you about Mechanism of Injury (MOI).  You can tell a lot from
the
SC>damage to the vehicle (intrusion, steering wheel deformity,
windshield...).
SC>For this reason, one of my squads does take pictures on scene.  We
use the
SC>instant polaroid type.  That way, any personnel involved at the
hospital can
SC>get an idea of the scene.  The pictures are then placed in a book
back at th
SC>station for future reference.  This may or may not be the correct
thing to
SC>do with them, considering that they are then a part of the medical
record.

        For a discussion of how location and amount of damage in MVAs
can help docs in the ER, may I humbly refer you to an article I wrote
for the Fire Medicine Column in the Nov., 1990 Firehouse.
        "Collectively this information (on amount and place of damage
to the vehicle) is useful for triage by EMS personnel, emergency
physicians and trauma surgeons", said Dr. R. C. Hunt from the East
Carolina Medical School (my interview subject). "It is especially
important in raising the index of suspicion for severity and sites of
injury in those who initially are stable, but have asymptomatic
injuries
that may decompensate later."
 * Origin: The RoadHouse BBS <<ASP>> Indpls, IN (317) 784-2147
((1:231/290.0)

Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
From: wday@vaxb.acs.unt.edu
Subject: Re: Disaster/ Emergency management
Organization: University of North Texas
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 05:32:49 GMT

In article <721096631.F00044@remote.halcyon.com>,
 Ian.Cunningham@f207.n714.z3.fidonet.org (Ian Cunningham) writes:

>         Hi just completed graduate diploma app Sci in Disaster
> management am interested in this field of management 
> Not the Socialogicaol side of it as I am an Ambulance Officer and would 
> like to follow this line 
>  

Hullo!

I'm currently in my senior (4th) year of work towards a Bachelor's of
Science degree in Emergency Management here at the University of North
Texas, Ian.  UNT offers the only undergraduate degree in emergency management
in the United States, at this time.  It's a relatively large program,
about 250 people in various stages of their studies right now.

I'm also a paramedic, working for MedStar, the EMS provider for 10 cities
in and around Fort Worth, Texas, and have just completed my fourth year
of working for them.

Did you attend the Australian Counter-Disaster Course?

Wayne

  ----------------------
  Wayne Day   WDay@unt.edu
              76703.376@CompuServe.Com
  ----------------------
From: bwh1248@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Vol. vs. paid
Date: 6 Nov 92 15:22:47 GMT
Reply-To: bwh1248@ritvax.isc.rit.edu
Organization: Rochester Institute of Technology

Cliff,
	I can partially agree with you about levels of care between paid and
volunteer, but I am both paid and volunteer at different locations and my level
of care doesn't change depending on what uniform I am wearing.
	The main thrust of my letter was in the response area.  Where I go to
school, the volunteers can't even get out, don't you think it would be better
to get any ambulance as opposed to no ambulance at all.  Where I live in
Pennsylvania, most of the services are paid municipal.  There is a degree of
burnout, but for the most part, if the patients problem warants an ambulance,
than the providers are very caring and polite.  There are those cases, and
everyboldy has them, where the patient is just a taxi ride or it is a total
b*llsh*t call and even the most caring EMS provider will get annoyed.
	Thanks for your input.

Brian Heath
PA-NY FF/EMT