FDNY-EMS response to fires
- Thread starter rdm258
- Start date
Any indication of why the matrix was changed ?
Supposedly the Chiefs were found to not have enough responsibilities.
Ok, more supervision at the 10-75 isn’t a bad thing. I think the singular officer approach can be daunting for some so maybe this will help.
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What about with the LSUs?
No clue, I'd been hearing about the Chiefs for a few months. I first learned about the LSUs when the order was cut.
LSU is an under utilized piece of equipment. I have special called it for additional lighting anytime a large job was even close to sundown or operations required us to work in an indoor environment that had less than adequate lighting. In addition, some assignments require large quantities of patient movement devices and I have used them for setting up forward treatment areas in high rise and subways. I have found that LSU operators have usually been motivated individuals who are quite resourceful. Always happy to have their help.
It's unfortunate we no longer have dedicated LSU operators
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Is it back to the days of knocking a bus out of service and a crew member manning the LSU or a member from the boro RCC manning it?
That’s unfortunate.
Things are a lot better today than they were in the past. Today we’re responding on the transmission of the 10-75 and on the initial alarm when the box is loaded up. 30 years ago you didn’t see EMS at a fire unless they were requested because someone was already injured or they had a 10-45. That always put us behind the proverbial eight ball and was never good for the patient and took resources away from the primary objective of fighting the fire or mitigation of the emergency at hand. While one might like to have more EMS units on the initial assignment you have the strike a balance between what’s needed based on the available information , experience and the needs of the entire system. Additional units can be immediately assigned and responding pretty quickly. I’ll admit you have to figure in travel time for additional help but for the most part unless things have changed dramatically the current method seems to work.
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Some fires have many injuries, others have none. The initial response is upgraded proportionally based on the need discovered by the first arriving EMS unit / conditions boss. Triage is a critical skill & not every patient needs to be transported urgently. Tying up an undue number of EMS resources in an already overstretched system would prove counterproductive.
When I was still working in NYC as a paramedic in the 90's, I was (and still am an FD buff). I would try to get assigned to 10-75's constantly and the dispatcher would say that we could not put on the call because it's a BLS assignment. I always thought you'd think that FD would want a medic unit there in case there was an injury or illness to a member operating.
Had the same experience, times change. ALS now on the 10-75 or box loaded up. Experience has also taught us that cardiovascular events are still the primary cause of Firefighter fatalities. Medics can change the course of events in those circumstances. That being said those requiring pre hospital medical care at the scene have a better shot at survival today because the Department has changed as a whole. We have AED and CFR equipped and trained Firefighters, many who are former EMS members who are experienced at managing critical patients. We have a timely and significant EMS notification and response. Different and more effective medications available in the field. Hyperbaric chambers, more trauma centers, the only downside is that as soon as EMS members get some time under their belts they are packing their bags looking at greener pastures in other public safety titles or leaving the EMS field all together because of economics. That being said I still think survival opportunities are greater today than previous years because of the composition of the system here in NYC.
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Just a bit of trivia, years ago when the Dept. Of Hospitals ran the ambulance service, a unit was not assigned until a third alarm. Those were the days when the ambulances were the grey and blue "bread boxes" which then went to red and white. D.O.H. was renamed Health & Hospitals.
Have a safe and Mery Christmas everyone!
Have a safe and Mery Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas and thanks for the memories.