Recent events have again reminded all Americans of the ever-present threats to the safety of our lives, our families and our communities. In our country, far too many citizens and firefighters are losing their lives or are being injured by fire each year. There are several thing’s that the public must be educated about, today when citizens of this nation need services such as emergency medical services, rescue, or the need to have fire suppressed. It is the men and women of the America's Emergency Services who are the first called, the first to respond and the first to assist their fellow Americans who face a variety of life threatening emergencies.
Today beside’s the private sector, and the volunteer sector that provides both Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support. Today America’s Firefighters duties include the traditional role in fighting fire, and fire rescue such as extrication, high rise rescues etc. In the mid 1980’s several fire departments expanded the roles of these brave men and women to include providing emergency medical treatment, departments across the United States are trained as first responders, EMT’s, and Paramedics. Today Fire Departments across the United States provide Advanced and Basic Ambulance services such as the Detroit Fire Department, New York Fire Department, Los Angles City and County fire Departments. EMT’s and Paramedics employed by fire departments work about 50 hours a week.
The Detroit and New York and Washington D.C. Fire Departments maintain and operate Emergency Medical Services Divisions, Ambulances and their crews are operated strategically located fire houses, through out the city. Many Fire Departments through out the United states have cross trained their firefighters, for example in Grand Rapids, Michigan were Emergency Medical Services was provided by Mercy Ambulance, Buds, Life, and Rockford Ambulance service, in Kent County both the Sheriffs department, and the Grand Rapids Police Department operated non transport advanced life support units (Emergency Units) with cross trained police officers. Police E-units were mobile and reduced response times; in 1990 the city hired an outside consulting group to conduct a feasibility study on EMS Response times. The study was completed 6 months later and recommended that the city eliminate the police emergency unit program in favor of training the city’s firefighters as Medical First Responders. (MFR)
EMT’s and paramedics employed by fire departments work about 50 hours a week. Those employed by hospitals frequently work between 45 and 60 hours a week, and those in private ambulance services, between 45 and 50 hours. Some of these workers, especially those in police and fire departments, are on call for extended periods. Because emergency services function 24 hours a day, EMT’s and paramedics have irregular working hours that add to job stress.
Full and part-time paid EMT’s and paramedics were employed in a number of industries. About 4 out of 10 worked in local and suburban transportation, as employees of private ambulance services. About 3 out of 10 worked in local government for fire departments, public ambulance services and EMS. Another 2 out 10 were found in hospitals, where they worked full time within the medical facility or responded to calls in ambulances or helicopters to transport critically ill or injured patients. The remainder worked in various industries providing emergency services.
Michigan's Law, Act 164 Yielding to Emergency Vehicles
Immediate approach of authorized emergency vehicle; duty of driver of another vehicle; duty of streetcar operator; violation as civil infraction. (1) Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle equipped with not less than l lighted flashing, rotating, or oscillating lamp exhibiting a red or blue light visible under normal atmospheric condition from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle and when the driver is giving audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell:
(a) The driver of another vehicle shall yield the right of way and shall immediately drive to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, clear of an intersection, and shall stop and remain in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.
(b) The operator of a streetcar shall immediately stop the car, clear of an intersection, and shall keep it in that position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, except when otherwise directed by a police officer.
(2) This section does not relieve the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of persons using the highway.
(3) A person who violates this section is responsible for a civil infraction.
Our First Line of Defense
There’s no greater gift a man/woman who sacrifices their life so that others may live. These are the words that our Police Officers, Firefighters; and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) live and work by everyday. Now that the United States of America has increased its homeland security alerts level to high. These men and women serve as the First Line of Defense and Rescue in this new era of international and domestic terrorism.
There are over 1 million Firefighters in the United States, of which approximately 750,000 are volunteers. •Local Police Departments have an estimated 556,000 full-time employees including about 436,000 sworn personnel. •Sheriffs' Departments account for 291,000 Full-time employees, including 186,000 sworn personnel. •There are over 175,000 Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT).
These men and women wear the uniforms of their various professions chosen careers, such as Firefighters committed to provide Fire suppression. Police Officers committed to provide protection and maintaining law and order, and Emergency Medical Service Personnel committed to the pre-hospital treatment and transportation for both medical and traumatic injuries. These three public safety agencies today are serving the citizens of the United States as the primary agencies charged with the prevention, defense, and response as defined by the Department of Homeland Security. Each agency serves a particular role and responsibility. However September 11, 2001 exposed the need for the three agencies to have the ability to respond to, coordinate and communicate with one another in the course of a (MCI) Mass Casualty Incident.
The Government Annual budgets post 9-11-2001 federal budget has included expenditures that are still needed in the strengthening of America's First Responder’s made up of Police, Fire and EMS. The expenditures are meant to better prepare Police, Fire and EMS in making our homeland safer. The Department of Homeland Security defines “First Responders,” as Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services.
On September 11, 2001, Firefighters, Police officers, EMT’s and Paramedics made the ultimate sacrifice as they ascended stairs in the two towers of the World Trade Center to reach victims trapped at the point of impact and above. Police, Fire and EMS are credited for the evacuation of 25,000 men and women prior to the towers collapsing, Several Hindered EMT’s Paramedics, Firefighters, and Police Officer’s from various Jurisdictions were injured as a result of continued rescue efforts. In 2005 two (2) EMT’s and have died as a result of their response after developing fatal respiratory illnesses. Many other EMT’s and Paramedics have been diagnosed with respiratory illnesses that have lead to permanent disabilities and their health continues to decline.
Today EMS, Fire, and Law Enforcement agencies who have received Federal money are utilizing these funds to provide additional training, better communication systems and equipment to better respond to Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI). First Responders who are charged with the protection, Fire suppression, and medical treatment continue to prepare for any potential terrorist attack or attacks.
Just as the military continues it missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan in combating various terrorist cells, the same is true about are “First Responders, ” continue their efforts to both prevent and yet prepare for any natural or terrorist attack.
This ongoing training and retooling of equipment, mutual aid resources, and providing communications that provides interagency use. As Police Officers, Firefighters, EMT’s and Paramedics will be the first responders to any potential terrorist attack and or natural disaster these professional men and women will once again be on the front lines and will be the ones called to respond.
It has been 4 ½ years since the Untied States was so cowardly attacked and already it seems that the public has forgotten the sacrifices that were made on September 11, 2001, when terrorists boarded airplanes, turned them into flying missiles, causing the murder of the passengers and crew members. But we must also remember that on September 11, 2001, Police, Fire, and EMS responded to the world Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington and to a field Pennsylvania as a result of their responses over 25,000 individuals were rescued prior to the towers collapsing and the pentagon wall falling. 4 ½ years ago actors put on a benefit program “To honor the heroes of 911, and joined the call to fight.
”Today’s many of these same actors are protesting our President and our military’s action that has thus far prevented any additional terrorist attacks in the United States, however other countries such as our great neighbor “Great Britain,” was attacked in 2005. This is proof that we can not relent or retreat or other attacks will begin again.
Germany and France governments have accused the President and the United States of being a “warmonger.” Those same accusations are being stomped by individuals and actors decrying our fight that has kept terror off our shores. The brave men and women who serve in our “volunteer,” military have given their lives in the service and protection of their country.
The men and women who are fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq remember that on September 11, 2001, 3,025 Civilians, Military, Police, Fire, and EMS were killed. Our first line of Defense showed their heroism and sacrifice saved over 25,000 souls. Our Military is doing the same they are saving and protecting our nation along with their heroism and sacrifices. Apparently actors and some Americans fail to understand that these battles have proven to prevent more loss of American citizens, Firefighters, Police officers, and EMS Personnel.
An editorial that was given by a Canadian television anchor Gordon Sinclair from Toronto stated the following: This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States. When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it. When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries into help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, war-mongering Americans. I’d like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon - not once, but several times and safely home again. You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here. When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble?
I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake. Our neighbors have faced it alone, and! I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those.”
What a remarkable in moving editorial one which still rings true today.
If Iraq is not stabilized as well as terror cell’s defeated and disarmed, America will once again place our soil, treasures and our front line defenders of Emergency Medical Services, Firefighters, and Police Officers, back in another Mass Casualty Incident that our military would have thwarted.
What do we say to these brave men and women who have make the sacrificed their lives, who have been injured and disabled so that others may live, including the lives of the very celebrities who are willing to participate in making movies of war, and then decry the military’s action preventing yet another 9-11?
The Federal Governments First Responder Initiative is helping these brave Americans do their jobs better. Building on existing capabilities at the Federal, State, and local level, the First Responder Initiative provides an incentive to develop mutually supportive programs that maximize effective response capability. Through joint planning, clear communication, comprehensive coordination, mutual aid at all levels and increased information sharing, America's First Responders need the newest training and equipment that will save lives in the event of another terrorist attack, now is not the time to stop the Military or decrease funding for our First Responders.
Many people have visited websites which contain tributes to the many civil and civilians hero’s of September 11, 2001, and one image that frequents so many sites including my own has been the picture of a New York firefighter passing the U.S. Flag to a Soldier with the caption reading “will take it from here.”
The military has been fighting the war on terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq. We must continue with Operation Enduring Freedom in the fight to prevent further terrorist attacks that cause such destruction and the loss of more American lives. Many people visit this wonderful site for various reasons, some visit to learn more about our Paramedics EMT’s, Firefighters, and Police Officers. Some visit to learn about whom these individuals are, and others are actual members of these Public Safety Services.
Please keep the men and women of EMS, Law Enforcement, Firefighters, EMS and our Military in your prayers.
Written by: David
Updated Article 02-08-2006
Sources: Office of Homeland Security, FEMA, Gordon Sinclair
The table's set. The meal's prepared, our guests will arrive soon. My husband once more disappears with a hope of keeping a child alive. While waiting at home again alone our plans have gone awry.
My first impulse is merely to sit down and cry.
But soon again I realize the importance of my life when I agreed to take on the duties of being a fireman's wife.
While there are many drawbacks, I'll take them in my stride. In the gusting winds and raging flames may be his final fate, but with God's help I can remain my fireman's faithful mate.
Life of a Volunteer
Chief:
Leaps short buildings with a single bound
Is more powerful than a ladder truck
Is faster than a speeding bullet
Walks on water
Gives policy to GOD
Assistant Chief:
Leaps short buildings with a single bound
Is more powerful than a pumper
Is just as fast as a speeding bullet
Walks on water if sea is calm
Talks with GOD
Engineer:
Barely clears Quonset hut
Loses tug-of-war with pumpers
Can fire a speeding bullet
Swims well
Is occasionally addressed by GOD
Captain:
Makes high marks on buildings when trying to leap them
Is run over by a pumper
Can sometimes handle a gun without inflicting self-injury
Dog paddles in swimming pools
Talks with animals
Lieutenant:
Runs into buildings when trying to leap them
Recognizes pumpers two out of three times
Is not allowed to use guns
Can stay afloat if properly instructed in the use of a life jacket
Talks to walls
Firefighter:
Lifts buildings and walks under them
Kicks fire engines and equipment out of the way
Catches speeding bullets in his teeth and eats them
Freezes water with a single glance
He is GOD
CHAIN OF COMMAND(humor)
First Responders Facts
• There are over 1 million firefighters in the United States, of which approximately 750,000 are volunteers.
• Local police departments have an estimated 556,000 full-time employees including about 436,000 sworn enforcement personnel.
• Sheriffs' offices reported about 291,000 full-time employees, including about 186,000 sworn personnel.
• There are over 155,000 nationally registered emergency medical technicians(EMT)
NAVIGATION MENU
Firefighters and Emergency Medical Services
The fire fighting community and emergency medical services have a rocky relationship there are many reasons for this issue. For example many cities have gone to a two tier system providing emergency medical services. The first tier is providing first responders this is the most minimal level of training in the emergency medical services certification level. In the late 1980’s many large cities began to utilize firefighters by creating a dual level of service, after many cities conducted a feasibility and utilization study.
Many larger fire departments firefighters along with their respective unions fought the transition, utilizing the argument that firefighters would be unavailable to respond to structural fires because of staffing issues and concerns of firefighters being tied up on medical calls.
Although several cities provide EMS services combined with fire services, using New York and Detroit as two examples, Emergency Medical Service Personnel are not dual trained as firefighters, although EMS services are operated with fire department as operations that are run separately.
I come from a family of two brothers and three sisters, one brother works as a firefighter with a ladder company, the second brother works for the Sheriff’s department, and one of the three sister’s works in the emergency department of a local hospital.
My brother, [jerk] who is a firefighter strongly resents the role as a first responder in the fire department. I’m currently a member as a Emergency Medical Technician- Paramedic. When we gather at family functions such a Christmas, birthdays etc, the conversations always seems to turn adversarial. His argument is that he trained to be a firefighter not a medic. Many times he’s gone out of his way to argue that firefighters do not belong in the role of first responders, and how he dislikes working with EMS Personnel.
Now as I’ve indicated above, many firefighters resent being forced into the dual role, and instead of taking their frustrations out over the program to their fire chiefs and their union officers are unable to resolve the issue, I have seen firefighters choose instead to openly displayed there hostility to the EMS crews that has been dispatched to the scene.
Now in fairness not every firefighter resents the dual role, many younger firefighters share the excitement of rendering assistance to the sick and injured. The attitude is also different with smaller community and rural fire departments including volunteer fire departments who work exceedingly well with Emergency Medical Service Personnel.
Why is a respect such an enormous problem with in large cities? Once again using new York as an example Emergency Medical Services was run by the city as a separate entity when in the mid 80’s the Department of Emergency Medical Services for New York city under the direction of Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and it’s then fire commissioner decided to merge Emergency Medical Services with the Fire Department.
As you can imagine firefighters and honestly New York city EMS personnel opposed the merger despite the joint efforts of firefighters Emergency Medical Services Personnel, the city eventually went ahead and combined the two departments into one (Click here) for the most objective web site pertaining to the hostility faced by Emergency Medical Technicians are resented and mistreated by angry firefighters.
Subject: Regarding suspicious activity directed against EMS and Fire agencies recently.
Suspicious Sector Activities and Countermeasures During the past two weeks, Emergency Services Sector (ESS) organizations experienced suspicious activities that were reported to proper authorities. Seven fire departments received anti-war/anti-government videotapes. Three departments described suspicious videotaping of their firehouses. Also, hackers attempted to access the secure computer files of a county Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agency.
The EMR-ISAC cautions that the preceding occurrences are only examples and not inclusive. In addition to the continuing threats against police officers, these events increase concerns that the ESS is one of America's critical infrastructures being targeted by domestic and transnational adversaries.
Considering the potential threat against ESS organizations, the EMR-ISAC provides the following ten reminders (i.e., countermeasures) to sector leaders, which were edited from Department of Homeland Security sources:
Alert all personnel to guard against individuals with apparently legitimate credentials and/or wearing recognizable uniforms to gain access to facilities and sensitive areas.
Avoid divulging information about organizational capabilities, plans, operations, and training to anyone who is not formally validated or vetted.
Provide adequate lighting for and maintain control over all entry and exit points.
Establish and enforce credentialing and badges of full-time, part-time, and volunteer personnel.
Inspect all parcels and packages immediately upon arrival that are delivered by the postal services, vendors, and visitors.
Require rigorous inspections, inventorying, and accounting of all sensitive or high-value materials, equipment, systems, and vehicles.
G.R. FIRE FREQUENCY: 460.600 465.600 154.730
LEARN MORE WHY THIS WAS A VERY BACKWARDS DECISION BY THE CITY
LOS ANGELES
COUNTY
FIRE DEPT
&
LOS ANGELES
CITY
FIRE DEPT
OPERATE
BOTH ENGINE
&
AMBULANCE
The life of an Emergency Medical Services worker is a demanding one. We work long hours and repeatedly find ourselves in stressful circumstances, but we are always expected to perform at our very best. The pay is low in comparison to the workload. and many dangers encountered in performing rescues. EMS Personnel are frequently forgotten about until our service and skills are required, and even then, EMS Personnel are not always appreciated. It is often times a thankless job, but EMT's and Paramedics give it their all, dedicating their lives to helping others.
What is a surprise is that a great deal of lack of appreciation comes from the men and women who serve as firefighters. What is further curious is this often hidden fact, over the past 15 years the number of fire responses have declined, and Both the Fire Union and Fire Administrators feared sustaining the loss of jobs as a result, and the fear the city administrators would consider closing fire stations, and eliminate equipment.
This very scenario played out with the FDNY, faced with the budget and manpower being eliminated FDNY Fire Commissioner with the backing of then Mayor Giuliani, they eyed options to prevent the elimination of manpower and firehouses therefore they came up with the idea of merging NYC-EMS into the FDNY to pad the response numbers. The FDNY firefighters were outraged and fought along with the help of their union to avoid cross training the medics.
Similar scenarios caught on in many other cities creating a new level of pre-hospital care today referred to a Medical First Responders, as the news article above shows the City of Grand Rapids Fire Chief faced with reduced fire-responses went to the city commission and Medical director to engage a study to remove Advanced Life Support non-transport units operated by crossed trained Police Paramedics who responded along with City and County ALS EMS Agencies.
The study completed backed the Fire Chief and Medical Directors plan to have firefighters respond to both medical and trauma incidents. The Police E-Unit program (http://www.davesems.com/e-unit.html) was eliminated and firefighters were sent to school to be certified as “MFR,” engines were stocked with AED’s, suction units, backboards and the program was imitated. However firefighters tried to fight their additional role citing that fire service was a specialized skill and had no business becoming involved with EMS responses. The complaints grew stronger when Grand Rapids Firefights were called in the middle of the night to transients down, medicals, they complained to one another how it cut into their relaxation time such as long movies, pool games etc.
As rank and file firefighters complain they did not choose to render medical treatment, instead their claim that they have a designated role in the suppression and prevention of fire. The life of an EMS worker is not an easy one. They must constantly deal with long hours away from home and family, high stress emergency situations and duties that keep them busy throughout their shifts. It takes a very special person to choose to make this kind of a commitment to serving their community. City and Fire administrators must think carefully EMS and Fire services are indeed specialized professions and are not interchangeable. Furthermore they most look at the devastation caused by the City of New York merging EMS Services with Fire. FDNY EMS personnel today suffer low wages, open hostility from firefighters, and are subjected to low wages and morale.
EMS N FIRE SERVICES ARE TWO DIFFERENT SERVICES
THE DESTRUCTION OF EMS SERVICES IN NEW YORK
Is this the effective use of providing non-transport medical first responder provider at today’s gas prices?
On September 11, 2001, Police Officers, Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, and Paramedics worked together as one to rescue and evacuate over 25,000 from the World Trade Center Twin Towers, when the towers collapsed. 11FDNY and Private EMS ServiceEMT’s and Paramedicswere killed another 116EMT’s and Paramedics were injured. 60NYPD and Port Authority Police Officers as well as 1police K-9 were also killed and an additional number of Police Officers were injured, In addition 341Firefighters (-) minus the 2 FDNY Medics were killed and causing injuries to Firefighters around the towers.
The total number of EMT’s, Paramedics, Firefighters, Police Officers and Port Authority Police Officers killed on September 11, 2001, was 412
September 11,2001
Time stood still that tragic morning "The World Trade Center has been struck by a plane" the reporters echoed over and over again "Our country is under attack" exclaimed President Bush.
There was an eerie silence in the sky as all planes had been grounded Thousands of lives lost...Brave Firemen, EMT’s, Paramedics, and Police Officers had given up their Lives for the safety of many.
God be with us and give us strength to get through the war we are waging against Terrorist...
We Pray for support for all the victims and families that grieve
We Will Never Forget!
We Will Never Forgive!
NEW EMS, POLICE, FIRE, AND MARINE FREQUENCIES SITE PAGE ADDED
IAFC
08-14-2006 New Rule Implements Provisions Extending PSOB Coverage to Victims of Heart Attacks and Strokes in the Line of Duty.
Fairfax, VA, August 14, 2006…The final rule for the Public Safety Officers Benefit Program (PSOB) has been released by the Bureau of Justice Assistance and will go into affect on September 11, 2006. These new regulations implement provisions of the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefit Act, passed into law in 2003, which extend PSOB coverage to victims of heart attacks and strokes in the line of duty.
The PSOB Program was created by the U.S. Department of Justice in 1976 to assist the families of fallen public safety officers with survivor benefits. The program was expanded in 1990 to include public safety officers who are permanently and totally disabled as a result of a catastrophic injury in the line of duty and again in 1998 to cover
higher educational costs of spouses and dependents. In 2001, the base payment to survivors was increased to $250,000.
Departments that need to file a PSOB claim should visit https://www.psob.gov. This new web site has been created by the PSOB office to facilitate the claims process and automate files to ensure accountability. Claimants have three years following the injury or fatality of an officer to file all pertinent reports and the PSOB office has staff members to assist in the process.
Grand Rapids Fire Department Response Times Questioned
The Grand Rapids Fire Department is under fire for it’s response times this time regarding a “cardiac,” call. A station located lest than a mile and a half from the address was not in its quarters, not because of a fire, not because of another medical or traumatic injury, but instead one of the four crew members was downtown “changing clothes,” per Grand Rapids Deputy Fire Chief Jeff VanDellen.
The Grand Rapids Fire Department took over in 1989 as “Medical First Responders,”
Setting the stage for eliminating cross trained Police Officers/Paramedics that were fully equipped Non-Transport Advance Life Support Units.
The argument and study by the City of Grand Rapids stated using firefighters as MFR would increase response times for medical emergencies. Firefighters opposed the plan stating they were not EMS Personnel and showed extreme distaste to the program.
Fire Equipment throughout the city where equipped with basic medical equipment, that included back-boards c-collars and AED, (automatic defibrillators. On Thursday August 30, 2006, a husband and his wife had awoken a short time later the husband fell unconscious his wife called 911 immediately requesting help from the Grand Rapids Police Dispatch Center.
Dispatched to the scene was American Medical Response (AMR) an advanced Life Support Private Ambulance Service staffed with two Paramedics was dispatched. In addition the Grand Rapids Fire Department Dispatch Unit attempted to send out Engine “!3,” it’s station located at Leonard and Plymouth which is located less than a mile and a half from the fallen victim.
The problems? The engine was not in it’s quarters the four firefighters staffing the quarters were downtown replacing wet gear for the only firefighter qualified to drive. The deputy chief was unable to provide information as to why all four firefighters had to accompany the engine.
Located at the station is one (1) Ladder Truck and one (1) Engine, generally a B-unit also known as a brush truck is kept at station 13. If the crew had stayed behind and moved the AED and medical equipment to the B-Unit the patients chances for survival would have increased. AMR and the Engine arrived simultaneously seven (7) minutes after the initial call for assistance from the victim’s wife.
Firefighter attitudes regarding MFR has remained an issue since the program went into effect, most calls firefighters do little to nothing prior to Advanced Life Support (ALS)Arrival as witnessed documented and complained about.
09-02-2006 (SEE ABOVE FOR ARTICLE CONCERNING 1989 STUDY)
Grand Traverse County
Volunteer Fire Dept
Water Relay to House
Fire
After a Major Storm hit Grand Rapids Michigan these hard working Firefighters wait for power Co. (Who say FF's are not over-worked
Traverse City State Hospital Fire House from early 1900's
EMT ‘s and Paramedic’s Save Lives
While most will quickly understand the fact that a Paramedic is of a higher rank and more advanced training than an EMT (Emergency Medical technician), many people are unaware of the difference in the skills possessed by the two professional levels.
What can a paramedic do that an EMT can not do?
An EMT can perform CPR, oxygen administration, artificial ventilations, basic airway management, spinal immobilization, vital signs as well as bandaging and splinting, and provide jump starts to a stilled heart using an AED (Automatic Defibrillator)
A Paramedic performs all the skills of an EMT, with the inclusion of the following; a Paramedic is able to perform advanced airway management such as endotracheal intubations, obtain electrocardiograph readings (EKGs) with the training and skills to treat arrhythmias, I.V. initiation, cardioversion, defibrillation, deliver pain and cardiac medications, just to name a very few advanced skills.
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