Years ago when EMS was under the auspices of the Health & Hospitals Corp. if an ambulance had a front flat the patrol Lt. had to go back to the station, load the floor jack, lug wrench and spare tire into his vehicle and bring it to the unit to change. If it was a flat on one of the rear duals the crew could nurse it back to the station to change. Tire changing on a NYC ambulance was taught as part of the EVOC course back then.
"memorymaster", Charlie T.,
Wow the stories I have heard of the days of NYC-EMS prior to the merging of the FDNY has been unbelievable.
Just on this site alone, you; "johnnygage" and "69mets" who all worked back there in those days and your stories tell of almost prehistoric times within the EMS by today's standards.
How you guys did it is totally Unbelievable. "BUT YOU DID" and in doing so, how many people did you help and even save their lives. Basically all by yourselves.
These days we know that things have certainly changed. We have guys like "lebby", Phillip D, on this site who keeps us all up to date and is helping people and saving lives just like you did, but under much better conditions.
For those who may not know, this sites owner, FDNY Lt Tommy Bendick also worked for the NYC-EMS prior to the FDNY merging and his FDNY career today.
Also as pointed out here, the FDNY Tire Truck crew care for the year round tire maintenance of on going business of responding to the huge number of emergencies and fires throughout the largest city in this Country. They are a vital service to the city, it's people and it's visitors.
"THANK YOU and Hat's off guys for the Great Job YOU Do".