Posts
It has been a bit longer than I was wanting for me to post on here again. I have been pretty busy working and working and getting ready for Christmas. It is that time of year again for all of us to reflect back on 2008. The year for me has gone so fast, a lot of great things have happened for me and I am looking forward to the new year. Along with the new year we are also going to a new schedule at the fire dept. I am really looking forward to the new schedule as we will be going from working every other day to 48 hours on and 72 hours off. One may think we are crazy but if you really look at our previous schedule we are coming or going from the station each day! With the new schedule we will be home more days in a row.
Along with this time of year comes the snow and ice that we have been experiencing the last couple weeks. Luckily we have yet to fight a fire in this weather. We have had ems calls and fire alarms but that is about it so far.
I hope that every one will be safe and careful in this cold weather, use caution walking on the roads, sidewalks and driveways.
I hope everyone is able to spend some time with their loved ones, their families and friends during this holiday season. I for one am looking forward to being at home with my family.
Merry Christmas all and be safe!
Darin
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Traffic Safety Vests
I have read so many different posts online in regards to the new federal law for the traffic safety vests for emergency responders. The federal law had a deadline of Nov. 24th, 2008. I have thought often about this law and I personally like this law. This is for the safety of all emergency responders.
I started my EMS career volunteering with the Erie Ambulance Service when I turned 18. I then started my Fire service career volunteering with the Colona Fire Department for one year and then the Erie Fire Department. With all of these departments I responded to numerous calls on interstates and have seen several of my brothers and sisters almost get struck by drivers driving by the scene. I have watched cars during the winter months slide past and or into the ditch when they finally realize that the flashing lights they are looking at are fire trucks and ambulances. I have witnessed a county sheriff step out in front of cars to stop them to yell at them for driving so fast past an emergency scene. That was just insane!!
One may ask, are these vests really going to keep us from getting hit?" Unfortunately I feel this answer is no! I think what they are trying to do is make the responders more visible than what we are now. If you get the chance take a look at this short video on www.respondersafety.com and see the comparisons of the responders that do not have vests on and the ones that do. It is amazing how much they stand out. I have read several posts that people state, "if they can not see the flashing lights and big red trucks do you think they will see us with the vests on?" My response to that is, they DO see the flashing lights and big red trucks, they are to busy looking at what happened and not paying enough attention to their driving. Another post I read was one complaining that it would take to long to put the vest on once they arrive at the scene. That it would delay their care to the victims. Come on people, why not put the vest on before you get to the scene? Ok, your seat belted in and didn't get it on before the truck left. Put it on as you are walking up to the scene. Some people do not like change and this is change. It will become natural after some time.
I feel this will not completely eliminate responders from being struck, but will decrease the number of responders struck and killed and decrease the number of close calls.
Stay safe and wear the vests!
Darin
I started my EMS career volunteering with the Erie Ambulance Service when I turned 18. I then started my Fire service career volunteering with the Colona Fire Department for one year and then the Erie Fire Department. With all of these departments I responded to numerous calls on interstates and have seen several of my brothers and sisters almost get struck by drivers driving by the scene. I have watched cars during the winter months slide past and or into the ditch when they finally realize that the flashing lights they are looking at are fire trucks and ambulances. I have witnessed a county sheriff step out in front of cars to stop them to yell at them for driving so fast past an emergency scene. That was just insane!!
One may ask, are these vests really going to keep us from getting hit?" Unfortunately I feel this answer is no! I think what they are trying to do is make the responders more visible than what we are now. If you get the chance take a look at this short video on www.respondersafety.com and see the comparisons of the responders that do not have vests on and the ones that do. It is amazing how much they stand out. I have read several posts that people state, "if they can not see the flashing lights and big red trucks do you think they will see us with the vests on?" My response to that is, they DO see the flashing lights and big red trucks, they are to busy looking at what happened and not paying enough attention to their driving. Another post I read was one complaining that it would take to long to put the vest on once they arrive at the scene. That it would delay their care to the victims. Come on people, why not put the vest on before you get to the scene? Ok, your seat belted in and didn't get it on before the truck left. Put it on as you are walking up to the scene. Some people do not like change and this is change. It will become natural after some time.
I feel this will not completely eliminate responders from being struck, but will decrease the number of responders struck and killed and decrease the number of close calls.
Stay safe and wear the vests!
Darin
Introduction
Hello there,
I have decided to start bloging my thoughts about all types of things pertaining to the fire service and EMS service. What I blog here are my personal thoughts and are not directed towards any individual, company, department. The opions here are not the opinions or feeling of my department. I am using this as a means to share my thoughts and opinions and to bring some discussion from others in the fire and ems service. I will pick at least one subject per week to share my opionion on. Please feel free to share your thoughts. Everyone learns from others.
I have only been in the Fire service for 9 years and the EMS service for 15 years. I do not feel that this is a long time at all and am the first to tell you that I do not know everything. The day I start to think I know everything is the day I will step down from this great career!
I look forward to sharing my thoughts and gaining more knowledge from others involvment in my discussions.
Stay safe
Darin
I have decided to start bloging my thoughts about all types of things pertaining to the fire service and EMS service. What I blog here are my personal thoughts and are not directed towards any individual, company, department. The opions here are not the opinions or feeling of my department. I am using this as a means to share my thoughts and opinions and to bring some discussion from others in the fire and ems service. I will pick at least one subject per week to share my opionion on. Please feel free to share your thoughts. Everyone learns from others.
I have only been in the Fire service for 9 years and the EMS service for 15 years. I do not feel that this is a long time at all and am the first to tell you that I do not know everything. The day I start to think I know everything is the day I will step down from this great career!
I look forward to sharing my thoughts and gaining more knowledge from others involvment in my discussions.
Stay safe
Darin
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