E.B.F.D. I was there in the mad days of the 1970s, before the canman aka Sparky was about. We operated on the premise, that NO ONE DIED IN THE YARD. Sounds cruel, but it was what it was. 1st shift was the busiest with several thousand
"yard birds" in confined quarters, welding, burning, moving, various toxic, non-toxic, flammable gases, grinding, etc. Needless to say medical emergencies were countless. Minor fires, with the occasional car fire, or shed fire. Occasionally we had to deal with the Anti-nuke peace protestors, who made things interesting, like trying to enter the yard, or float candles down the Thames River. 2nd and 3rd shifts had their own type of fun. 2nd was busy in its own way, while 3rd had to deal with all of radiation photography. Making sure that the connections, and welds were up to Admiral Rickovers standards. As to the term "you never die in the yard". Well, it pretty much was the truth. On many occasions, injuries that were very severe, to the point of fatal, and I mean FATAL, that person would be transported across the river to New London. I personally had a victim, who had been missing most of 3rd shift, was found at the end of 1st. He was obviously deceased, but the yard doctor ordered him to be transported. This was just one of many. FDNY has it moments, but in those days EBFD had it's own moments.