Latest

October 4, 2016

Out of the Ashes: Preparedness and Training Post-9/11

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 ashes and now is stronger and more resilient than […]

October 4, 2016

Inside Look: The FDNY EMS Pipes and Drums–It’s a Story About Duty, Honor and Tradition

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 hold true. Each day, each assignment, each task is […]

October 4, 2016

One on One: Recalling 9/11 and the Importance of Capturing Firsthand Accounts

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 really recall every precise detail or the exact date […]

October 4, 2016

Special Apparatus: FDNY Gators

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 vehicles were much more adaptable than its predecessors. The […]

October 4, 2016

EMS Leader: Improving Individual Performance and Organizational Effectiveness Through Mental Preparedness

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 major emergency is how well the Department prepares its […]

October 4, 2016

Step by Step: Storage and Donning Turnout Gear and Air-Purifying Respirators (APR)

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), can reduce the risk of injury and exposure. The […]

October 4, 2016

Call Review: Keys to Resilience for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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 response to a terrible event, such as an accident, […]

October 4, 2016

Safety First: Protecting Our Own: An Evolution of FDNY EMS Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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 […]
October 4, 2016

Out of the Ashes: Preparedness and Training Post-9/11

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 ashes and now is stronger and more resilient than […]

October 4, 2016

Inside Look: The FDNY EMS Pipes and Drums–It’s a Story About Duty, Honor and Tradition

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 hold true. Each day, each assignment, each task is […]

October 4, 2016

One on One: Recalling 9/11 and the Importance of Capturing Firsthand Accounts

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 really recall every precise detail or the exact date […]

October 4, 2016

Special Apparatus: FDNY Gators

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 vehicles were much more adaptable than its predecessors. The […]

October 4, 2016

EMS Leader: Improving Individual Performance and Organizational Effectiveness Through Mental Preparedness

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 major emergency is how well the Department prepares its […]

October 4, 2016

Step by Step: Storage and Donning Turnout Gear and Air-Purifying Respirators (APR)

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), can reduce the risk of injury and exposure. The […]

October 4, 2016

Call Review: Keys to Resilience for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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 response to a terrible event, such as an accident, […]

October 4, 2016

Safety First: Protecting Our Own: An Evolution of FDNY EMS Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

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 […]