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October 4, 2016
I was promoted to Captain for FDNY EMS in August 2001. I went through a training class and was assigned to EMS Operations. My first day working at FDNY Headquarters in Brooklyn was September 4, 2001. I was working directly for the Chief of EMS, learning […]
October 4, 2016
September 11, 2001, marks one of the darkest days in the history of both our nation and the FDNY. In addition to the 343 Department members who were killed on this day, this terror incident represents the largest attack ever made on the American homeland and […]
October 4, 2016
Fifteen years ago, the largest and most unexpected emergency response event in the modern history of New York City forever changed the world in which we live. After losing 343 members of the FDNY family on 9/11, the Department was forever changed, rebuilt out of the […]
October 4, 2016
EMTs, Paramedics and Firefighters are part of a service that is unlike any other. The successful outcome of a situation is not the result of an individual’s actions, but rather the actions and cooperation of a team. Perhaps nowhere else outside of the military does this […]
October 4, 2016
At the time, I thought I would remember every single thing about the response and recovery effort at the World Trade Center. But now, 15 years later, as I look back to that period for this issue of Pro EMS, I suddenly realized that I can’t […]
October 4, 2016
In 1999, as part of the preparation for the anticipated larger than usual Millennium New Year’s Eve gathering in Times Square and the possibility of City-wide Y2K computer and system failures, the City purchased several Gator carts from the John Deere Co. These six-wheel, diesel-powered, off-road […]
October 4, 2016
The FDNY is one of the nation’s premier emergency service agencies. The Department’s procedures and protocols influence practices throughout the country. Major emergencies in the City are observed and studied throughout the emergency management industry. However, the most critical factor in determining the success of a […]
October 4, 2016
FDNY Emergency Medical Service personnel are at constant risk for injury and exposure to chemical and biological hazardous materials due to the nature and scope of the assignments to which they respond. Properly using the personal protective equipment (PPE), in conjunction with Body Substance Isolation (BSI), […]
October 4, 2016
Rescuers on a lifesaving mission must be able to perform their duties with the highest level of determination and professionalism on every call. How, then, can emergency medical professionals better prepare for their careers, given the traumatic circumstances they inevitably will encounter? Trauma is an emotional […]
October 4, 2016
EMS call volumes continuously have increased over the years, while the types of operational hazards in the workplace have become more comprehensive and complex. This growth in both call volume and hazard types has caused a drastic change in how agencies approach the need for EMS […]
February 1, 2017
It wasn’t too long ago that fitness for first responders seemed to be based on the old adage, “Lift things up, put them down” and run slowly and for long periods of time until your shins fell off. There is no denying the efficacy of this […]
January 26, 2017
A police cruiser was deliberately targeted in an attack involving a homemade improvised incendiary device (IID) outside a police station in South Boston last Friday morning. It was roughly 8:15 am when an officer noticed a fire burning beside a parked cruiser, which was quickly moved […]
January 25, 2017
When multiple alarms are required, the number of Firefighters and units on-scene increases and greatly adds to the complexity of the roll call. Fires in high-rise structures, subways or fire and emergency scenes that cover a wide area also make the emergency roll call more complicated […]
January 19, 2017
Inspired by spinning toys (Twirly Whirlies, Whirgigs, etc.), researchers at Stanford University have created an inexpensive paper centrifuge that can separate malaria parasites from samples of blood. The breakthrough will allow malaria diagnoses in areas that do not have electricity or access to commercial centrifuges. Malaria, […]
January 18, 2017
Is the line in a spot where it is likely to get stuck if it is advanced? Is it positioned directly beneath a fire escape drop ladder? Is it beneath a window air conditioner or large pane of glass? If so, take the appropriate action. Additional […]
January 12, 2017
After rolling out its Safety Check accountability tool during the Nepal earthquake in April 2015, Facebook has widened the service to include any number of natural disasters, and since Paris in November 2015, it now includes terrorist attacks. The tool does more than allow people to […]
January 12, 2017
FDNY Firefighter and US Marine Corps Major Jason Brezler describes the FDNY’s new Mental Performance Initiative by detailing his experiences on the battlefield in the Middle East and on the fireground here in New York City. Lieutenant Jon Paul Augier hosts. S2, E14 Mental Toughness on […]
January 11, 2017
Key points to remember during patient care… Tourniquets used in high-threat environments, such as active shooter incidents, should be placed high and tight; can be placed over clothes, but not bulky items, such as wallets. Tourniquets used in safe environments should be placed at least two […]