EMT's Misinformation

To the Editor:

I'm sure that this will be one of many letters in response to Jeff Nichols's poorly written, ill-willed, insensitive, insulting and venomous letter (March 16 issue) filled with misinformation.

The recent proposed UFA contract is not based on the merits of fighting fires, although there are many. I don't know where Mr. Nichols has been, but the city is interested in productivity. This has been the case equally among all recent city contracts. The Mayor wants productivity and givebacks. To imply that all firefighters do is fight fires, and pay should be based on that alone, is not only erroneous, but shows that Mr. Nichols's ill-will clouds all reasoning.

The last tour that I worked we went to no fires, but as usual, it was a busy tour. We went to three manhole emergencies, four EMS runs, two carbon monoxide emergencies, two recorded alarms, a collapse (not major, but a civilian was injured) and an oil burner emergency. It was a typical tour.

During the down time, we drilled on firefighter removal, shoveled out numerous hydrants, kept the apron and sidewalk clean and salted, maintained our equipment, cleaned our firehouse, let an EMS ambulance fill up at our station (something done almost on a daily basis), and ate a cold lunch. I went home that day, thankful that all the men I worked with did also.

The sanitation does a terrific job day in and day out throughout the entire city. And they do much more than simply "pick up garbage." And unlike Mr. Nichols, they show every indication that they enjoy their jobs with no ill will toward the FDNY.

Mr. Nichols's numbers regarding EMS responding to 40 times the "alleged" fire calls pinpoints his ignorance of what the FDNY does, as well as EMS. "EMS" surely has its share of calls that really don't require the professional services of knowledgeable EMTs and paramedics. There are numerous times where there is a routine intox, flu, or someone who just wants a ride to the hospital.

But it has been my experience (because we are on all these calls as well), that the large majority of EMTs handle these calls with professionalism and treat the patient with dignity. I've never heard them complain. The calls where they administer the life-saving skills they study and train on daily make it worth it. They know that it is part of the job. They also know, routine or not, every response has its risks.

One point I do agree on with Mr. Nichols. The stresses, dangers, abuse, and physical rigors of the NYPD and EMS aren't rewarded with commensurate compensation.

Oh, and by the way, the first link in the chain of survival is the EMS system, not you. The FDNY is often on the scene first, of critical importance many times, especially for cardiac-related emergencies. When EMS arrives and sees the patient packaged, receives the vitals and patient history from us, or continues in CPR, they often comment on how professionally it was done. This shouldn't surprise them, given the fine EMS instructors there are at Fort Totten.

Since 1980, the fires may be down, but response-wise the past few years have been the busiest in the history of the FDNY. Mr. Bloomberg is well aware that for a business to stay profitable, it must produce. The FDNY produces. As a city agency, the FDNY is one of the most efficient and productive. Every day is proof of that.

Thankfully, we in Chinatown have an excellent working relationship with the EMTs and Paramedics. I have worked in all the boroughs, and I find this to be the case almost always.

During the 1970s, when his Yankee teammates would grumble, Thurman Munson would tell them, "If you're so unhappy here, either get traded or retire."

Capt. RUSSELL STROBEL, Engine 9