Hi everyone! Most of you are already familiar with me but for those who are visiting for the first time, please allow me to introduce myself. I am a Firefighter/Medic with training and experience in the following areas; HCP-CPR, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Prehospital Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Firefighting Operations, Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Water Rescue, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Prehospital Pharmacology, and Medical Terminology. I am here to provide technical support for those seeking to broaden their knowledge of Firefighting and Emergency Medical Services. This board has a wealth of resources to answer any and all questions that may come it's way, so if you need to know, ask and we will help in any way we can!
"Where Are They Now?" Question
by
Hi Charlotte,
I just finished reading the section entitled
"Where Are They Now?" and I seemed to noticed that
there was one individual I couldn't find. The individual in question is Patricia Mickey(Student Nurse
Sharon Walters).My question is:Where is she now and what is she up to these days? I hope you'll be able to
answer my question!
Mike
I'm working on a fan fic story and am throwing a little twist into it. Imagine it is today, 2001. Station 51 is still in Carson and all the characters are still there,never aged a bit. John n Roy are on an exchange program that has them riding with one of the busiest houses in the South Bronx.(More to my knowledge being on the job here in NYC) I am throwing in a few things unique to here(Person under a subway train, maybe a fire in a high rise project type building). Could some of you maybe throw me some ideas?? Maybe get me out of this writers block I been having??
Thanx
Jimmy, just what sort of ideas are you looking for? Do you want scenarios for rescues, etc., or are you looking for ideas on how things might have changed and stayed the same, what? Be a little more specific, and I'm sure we can come up with hundreds of ideas. LOL
These days, what's the difference between a Medic Unit and an Aid Car. Secondly, is "medic" always short for "paramedic" these days (outside of the military), or is "medic" used for EMTs also? Thanks!
Medic usually refers to paramedics. However, "civilians" usually don't know the difference between an EMT or EMT-P so everyone is either a medic or "ambulance driver".
Not sure about the aid cars. We have QRS units (Quick Reponse Units) which are usually First Responders or EMTs who respond as an assist. Normally they are closer to the call then we are are. Also have Medic Responders which are like Squad 51 and cannot transport as opposed to the Medic Unit which is an ALS ambulance.
I'm finding that different fire department sure use different terms! Thanks a lot. I suspect that "Aid Cars" as they're called here are like Squad 51, but I'm not positive. Maybe that's what the departments with out Medic Units use, in conjunction with private ambulance companies for transport... Hmmm.... I'll have to check with the local department. Thanks again.
In Southern Calif, the paramedic transport units (ambulances) are called RAs, for Rescue Ambulance. In Northern Calif, Rescue or Medic is more commonly used. For BLS units (EMT-B staffed), Ambulance or "A" is often used.
In my area of the east coast, 'medic' is always paramedics. They are dispatched as 'Life Support 1', 'Life Support 2' etc., and they drive a paramedic car or SUV. The first responders are mainly EMT-B's, (though there may me a few EMT-A's thrown in) and they arrive in the ambulance. They are dispatched as 'Squad 10-9' 'Squad 23-1' etc, depending on what station they are based out of. After years of watching Emergency, I was thrilled the first time I heard a Squad dispatched!
I read about the passing of the NJ firefighter who was so badly burned on January 1st. My address book crashed or I would have emailed you. My heart goes out to all you folks. We do appreciate the risks you take.
Thanks for the info. I finding the terminology really varies from department to department.
I was computerless for a while also. The funeral was one of the most moving things I've ever been a part of. An LODD funeral with full honors. Has a way of shifting your perspective on things. Very sad, but not depressing. There's grief, but also hope, respect, trust, brotherhood. I'm writing about it now, but I don't know if I can do it justice.
I read it in your post, and I was wonder what it stood for? The other night on the Discovery Channel, I was watching that show about the fallen firefighters in the
September 11 terrorist attack on the WTC. It was very moving. Makes me glad I don't do that for a living, but I sure do appreciate the risks those who do this for a living take. It's amazing. I wouldn't want to
be the widow of such a man, but I know it does come with the territory.
I found out what L.O.D.D. REALLY IS cuz I looked it up
Line of Duty Death I thought I knew before what it meant, but I was wrong. Ha, I responding to my own previous post LOL!
I write E! fic but this concerns real life. We're in the middle of putting together our grant proposal for the Fire Act grant at our station. We are starting a Rapid Intervention Team (called FAST team in our area) at our station. The county will pay for the training, but it would be nice to get the funding for some of the equipment.
Does anyone out there work on or with a RIT? I've been soliciting ideas for equipment beyond the obvious. Anything you've seen work that we might not think of. Does anyone know if there is an NFPA standard regarding this? Last I heard was that one was proposed, but I don't think it's in place. This all came up kind of suddenly and I haven't had the time to do the complete research I would like. We may not have a chance to get any grant money for this stuff, but I'd like us to at least try. These guys could be going into some pretty dangerous situations to try and save one of our own, and the proper equipment is essential.
Thanks for any ideas. We're under the gun, because we want to have everything done within a couple of days. But if you have any ideas after that please pass them on. Who knows, I might be able to find funding from another source! Hey, I'm an optimist! <LOL>
I'm writing a story in which Station 51 is called out to help county units fight a large brushfire. To keep it realistic, who else would get called out besides Engine 51 and Squad 51?
You are going to have to give us more information before we can help you. Do you want engine and squad 51 respond from the fictional station in Emergency (station 127) or the real station 51 at Universal Studios? I would assume the fictional station but I want to be sure on that. Other stations responding to the brush fire would depend on the location of the brush fire. Since station 51 is in an urban area, they would be way down the list of being called to the brush fire. Tell us what part of the county (rural area or semi rural area) and we will help you out with what the correct stations will be responding.
We have to remember that even though the fictonal station 51 is in a urban area, and in real life probably wouldn't be called to a brush fire...at least not in the first alarm, but since wer'e talking about Emergency their district consists of the beaches to the mountains so they might be called in...like they were during the show.
As to the units sent...I believe a first alarm would consist of several engines, a medic squad, two or three camp crews (people that respond on brush fires, either paid or inmate crews...from the jails), a battalian chief...possibly two of them and one or two helicopters.
Then as the first in units get to the fire the amount of equipment will be either reduced (cancelled) or more equipment added as needed.
Wow, I didn't expect to hear from such a knowledgeable person such as yourself! I was warned, however! <g> Frankly, Fred, I don't know squat about California (I live on the opposite coast), so I omitted the call-out part of my story to avoid the particulars. It would have been the fictional station 51, but I still want my stories to ring true, thus my question in the first place. Now I know where I can come for the details I need!
Thanks!
Wayfarer
I would like to find the basketball show also. And I read on a web site that there was an show made in 1979
of emergency. It brought back Johnny and Roy. Has anyone heard of it? Thanks!
Brenda,
There was a rescue show called Sierra that had the Emergency! characters Johnny and Roy on one of the episodes. I don't know exactly when this show ran, but I don't think it was on very long. This might be the one you're thinking of.
I'm still looking for the basketball episode too!!
I've never seen the show, but I know for certain that
[the late] James G. Richardson (FF/PM Craig Brice) was on that show. Go to his website, or Where are they Now?, and click on his name, and read all about him.
For someone who played such a pain-in-the butt, Perfect
paramedic, the man who played him, was so good-looking.
Nutshell? Hmmmm. Off the top of my head: Then- needed hospital orders to insert an esophageal airway (EOA, rarely used today), Now- can place an endotracheal tube (much better) with no base contact. Then- hospital order to start an IV line, Now- IVs started all time with no contact. Then- oxygen occasionally used on patients, Now- nearly every patient receives O2. Then- a cardiac rhythm strip needed to be sent to the hospital to be read, Now- medics routinely interpret and treat arrhythmias with no physician assistance. Then- very few medications for patient treatment, Now- most medics can use at least 15 to 20 meds in the pre-hospital setting. Is that enough info?
What functions Explorers can perform is mainly covered in the Boy Scouts of America regulations. Most of the depts that have Explorers also have some written regulations on the function of Explorers. In general, Explorers are not to placed in immediate danger. This may mean staying on or near the apparatus at a vehicle accident-on-the-freeway call. It also means that Explorers are not to be used for initial fire suppresion, though some depts bend the rules and allow them to function like vol FFs. Most of what an Explorer can and cannot do is also greatly affected by the confidence that the FFs and officers have in the individual Explorer. Some Explorers perform like and have the skill/knowledge of a rookie paid FF. Those are the ones that usually get to do the most fun stuff.
I agree with Erik in his description of Explorers' roles in the Fire Service. I used to be one in the 80's. My experiences were somewhat different. Medical calls were a no no. We may have been assigned to the Ambulance on Drill Day but never rode on an EMS run. It also depended on the chief of the Department and if he liked the explorers or not. One chief would let us do nothing but clean and maintain the rigs, no riding or handling hoses and stuff and we were basically limited to responding to nothing. Other chiefs allowed us to ride on drill days but not to fires or emergencies. It sometimes has a lot to do with Insurance coverage for the Department, Sarah. Ask around to other departments in your area and see what they have set up and maybe you can take what you've learned from them and put it to use in your Explorer Post. Good Luck to ya!!!
I'd like to hear an "insider's" view of getting heat exhaustion on the job. What does it feel like besides the obvious? Is there a brief window between when you think you're going to be okay and when you're suddenly not okay? Are your coworkers fairly sympathetic, or do you get some razzing? Thanks!
When I've experienced a near heat exhaustion, its onset has been rapid. One minute, I'm feeling fine, the next I'm weak and shaky. Rest (without turnouts on) and some fluids usually takes care of it. Even with the new "high-tech" turnout clothing, it still gets hot in them.
When an FF actually collapses from heat exhaustion, is it considered a "rookie mistake," or is it recognized to be a normal occupational hazzard, or something else? Do they get more razzing or more empathy? Thanks again.
