Bottom line: response times should theoretically go down and they did in many US jurisdictions that used it. My dept implemented it incorrectly and times went from an average of 9 minutes to over 11 minutes. Rather than see what went wrong, they (management) blamed all 250 medics in the dept.
I agree that response times need to be excellent for the patients but no EMS depts (in Ontario anyways) give a damn about their medics. They know that if you leave, there are 3 other new graduates that will take your place. Then they burn out and more replace them. This is why I tell people: wanna get into the emergency services, be a cop or firefighter. Wanna hate your job and life after a few years, be a paramedic/EMT

Thanks for the insight. I've always appreciated the job that paramedics do and get quite pissed off when I hear about services that treat their personnel like disposable units.

That system is used primarily to decrease response times. When one unit is engaged with a response, the dispatchers moves other trucks around to cover that area. Some companies are penalized for not making a certain percentage of their responses under a particular time limit. It's a trade off, faster response times but hard on people and equipment and uses more fuel.

no job as a responder, but i am a radio amateur in canada. ve7???

Posted by SilentSearch That system is used primarily to decrease response times. When one unit is engaged with a response, the dispatchers moves other trucks around to cover that area. Some companies are penalized for not making a certain percentage of their responses under a particular time limit. It's a trade off, faster response times but hard on people and equipment and uses more fuel.

Our fuel and maintenance budget increased by almost 45 % after SSM was brought in. Most units were racking up over 200 km per shift (120 miles).

i too, am a nurse and work in the emergency room. never a dull moment!

i too, am a nurse and work in the emergency room. never a dull moment!

oops, repeat!

i used to work in an orange juice factory, but my boss fired me because

i couldn't concentrate...

Posted by janeroe99 i too, am a nurse and work in the emergency room. never a dull moment! oops, repeat! i used to work in an orange juice factory, but my boss fired me because i couldn't concentrate...

<groan-n-n-n!>

I've got alot of training, Basic, Emergency, Standard, Advanced First Aid (in that order) CPR, Search and Rescue air/land/water, river/water/ice rescue, confined spaces, rope rescue.

Expired Training: Ambulance driving, (expired) electrical rescue, some fire/hazmat training, (expired) also some others, I cannot remember them all.

I get to thank 9 years with St. John Ambulance and DND for alot of this training. I also worked in the safety/security dept with Hydro One for a few months.

I work as a security guard, I have first aid (just regular old first) I am usually the first responder to medical emergencies, as well as assaults/fights/anything else that needs to be done.

I also have a part time gig working on harbour boats, I have MED (marine emergency duty cert from Transport Canada) which includes fire fighting on board vessels, and launching life rafts, which would be part of my responsibility should it ever need to be done (thus far Ive never actually had a fire or abandon ship )

i volunteer for medical at local events, i work for the red cross when something bad happens, im part of my plants emergency response and hazmat teams

While I am not a first responder in title or occupation, I have, during the course of a few of my jobs, responded to a number of different situations requiring medical attention (everything from simple cuts to a stab wound in the neck) as well as physical force (self defense, assisting others with situations surrounding domestic disputes, restraining individuals while waiting for police response, and assisting with police arrest).

My only certification is in Emergency First Aid and Level A CPR. Pretty basic stuff, but I find common sense is always the best tool to have in an emergency. The few topics I've read on this board have been of great interest to me and have even taught me a thing or two. I hope there are still some active members.

Fire 1, Fire 2, Fire Officer 1.

Fire Fighter here in New York.

I also have EMT training. I was an EMT in New Jersey.

Right now I work on MFD and NRFD but im getting my EMT, its manditory..but hey, Im a first responder for 2 more months

I have no official certs altho I should get off my ass and get some.

I was the President and founder of a small (now non-existant) volunteer group north of Toronto. I do enjoy helping people very much and I did so for about a good 4 year span, using my own personal vehicle. I would respond to major accidents, or house fires. If I was first on scene, I would deal with the wounded with basic first aid, and/or update the emergency services via phone to advise them of the situation. If I was not first on scene, I would gladly take the load off of the Police or Fire Dept and offer my assistance to do traffic control - so they could free up a unit.

I like to say I was trained in "emergency traffic control" as I did actually do a damn good job at it. I taught a few cops some techniques, and even implimented a "standard" road flare deployment for blacked out intersections, which YRPD kind of adapted (atleast in 1 district).

I have since moved away, however I am seriously considering either becomign a volunteer fire fighter down here in the states, or starting my own REACT Team.

---

My team in York Region was called COVERT. After 3 years I had recruited 4 to 5 full time members (units) and we patrolled on a weekly basis and sometimes even every night. Especally during bad weather. I got the team involved with several community events, such as parades, fireworks security and traffic control, and even involved with PACER.

I was doing well, I think. The Traffic Sgt at the time loved us, however of course due to insurance issues there was never any official blessing on what we do by the police, But the agreement we had with the Traffic Sgt was that we just continue doing what we do, and asking the police officer on scene if our help is needed (because once the cop on scene asks for our help, then we are obliged to help, and there is no insurance bullshit to deal with).

This is all well and good, however little did I know one of my members was mentally unstable. Seemed like a good guy to me, He was an auxriliry police officer and did a few other jobs. But he had a vendetta against another volunteer group in the area. One day both volunteer teams were working at a parade, and the leader of the other group told my member to shut off his flashing lights. My member snapped on him and assaulted 2 members of the other team. I testified against my member as what he did was wrong. It cost him his position as an auxriliry police officer and his wifes job as an administrative civilian with the police department was also in jeapordy. I seriously wanted him taken off of the team, however my Team Leader, talked me into keeping him on the team, suggesting that people make mistakes.

Anyhow, I was very cautious of him from now on. He didn't like me. He ended up purchasing the rights to the name COVERT as a volunteer group thru the government (as I had not registered the name). So he basically took the group over just to spite me. I quit and got involved in urban exploration. And the group has since vanished.

---

Long story but just shows how people you think are normal can really fuck up a good thing. I have since been much more careful with the company I keep.



Anyhow yea, any advice on becoming a volunteer firefighter in the states? I assume each state and county are different with requirements. it sucks that the county I am looking to move into and such has no information online about anything... its like no one out there has heard about the internet and its series of tubes yet. perhaps the tubes haven't been installed... that must be it!

BTLS;
High angle rescue instructor;
First aid/ CPR/ defib instructor;
mountain Ops instructor;
Rappel master certification; and
fast rope qualification.

I'm a second medic here in Roch-cha-cha.

I have several certifications but currently my highest is equivalent to a CFR (certified first responder)

I am in my EMT-B class currently and will be certified soon.

Here are my rigs:

Street paramedic here. I love what I do (I should mention that after four years as an EMT-B, I just got my medic license this spring so I'm not fried yet), and have been trying to go to a Tactical Medic class, but work keeps screwing me out of it. The system I work for runs obnoxiously huge Frieghtliner and International rigs with a handful of Ford F-350s thrown in for icy days (that's what I'm running out of today). The big trucks are great when you're in the city, or doing an LDT, but trying to fit down what passes for roads in some parts of the county can have a bit of a pucker factor.

Tones just dropped!


(Whew- not me this time!)

Hey,

I'm a Rescue Specialist in the Canadian Coast Guard, so if you ever get your arm cut off in the middle of the North Atlantic, give me a call!

Posted by Trevzilla Hey, I'm a Rescue Specialist in the Canadian Coast Guard, so if you ever get your arm cut off in the middle of the North Atlantic, give me a call!

I definitely will!