News & Announcements

The Law Dogs Motorcycle Club will lead a motorcycle ride Saturday September 9, 2006 in support of two NYS Troopers ambushed in Western NY trying to locate and safely apprehend Ralph “Bucky” Phillips. Trooper Joseph Longobardo of Ballston Spa died Sunday, September 3rd. Trooper Donald Baker, Jr. of Clifton Park remains in serious condition. The ride is intended to demonstrate concern for our brother and sister Law Enforcement Officers and disgust with those hindering apprehension of this CRIMINAL who is suspected in attempts to take the lives of three NYS Troopers to date. All are invited to join the Law Dogs, whether on motorcycle, truck, car, plane, or bus. Show YOUR support for the Troopers fighting for their lives as well as Law Enforcement Officers desperately searching to bring this fugitive to justice! You need not be of any public safety affiliation to join this ride. Donations will be accepted. Please pass the word – we hope to have a large turn out. Any questions, contact Stan De Long, Road Captain at OESFIVE@AOL.COM. Download the NYSP wanted poster for Phillips by clicking here.

As announced last fall, EMS personnel had until this September (2006) to complete NIMS (National Incident Management System) training appropriate to their role in their agency. First line personnel without supervisory duties should have completed IS 700, IS 800, and ICS 100. Crew chiefs, middle management personnel, and field supervisors should also have completed ICS 200. Managers, Chiefs, Captains, and other agency leaders should (by the end of 2007) also complete ICS 300 and ICS 400. DOH Policy Statement # 06-05 outlines NIMS, sources of training (much of which is available as on-line self study programs) and DOH recommendations for getting your agency up to snuff on NIMS. Click here for the PDF version of 06-05. FEMA is unable to provide numbers of personnel having completed the various courses by county (go figure). To assist the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services to stay abreast of County EMS agencies completion of NIMS training, agencies are asked to provide numbers of members who have completed each of the NIMS requirements to County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy (mcevoymike@aol.com).

The Saratoga County Fair kicks off Tuesday, July 18th and will run through Sunday, July 23rd. EMS staffing is needed from 9 am through midnight each day. Annually, EMS providers donate countless hours to cover special events during evenings weekends and to staff the EMS clinic and response teams on site continuously each day. All levels of providers from CFR through Paramedics are needed this year and ambulances are needed on site each evening from 6 pm through midnight. Loans of equipment including portable O2 cylinders with regulators, non-wooden LBBs, and portable suction units are also needed. Interested individuals and agencies are encouraged to contact either Jeff Reisner (phone 885-4587, email JBR97@aol.com) or Stan DeLong (phone 885-5381, ext 2201, email G906T@aol.com). An informational meeting will be held in early June for those interested in participating. Consider having a great time while helping make the County Fair a safe event for your family and neighbors!

If you were the recent recipient of an email, fax, or snail mail letter headlined, “YOUR BILLING INCOME IS AT RISK,” you might want to read a memo from Attorney Paul Gillan of the Albany firm Iseman, Cunningham, Riester & Hyde (www.icrh.com). Paul is an EMT well known to Saratoga County providers and serves as legal counsel to many EMS and fire organizations. His poignant explanation regarding the supposed threats to ambulance billing revenue are enlightening. Click here for a PDF copy of Paul Gillan’s memo.

NIOSH and the FDA recently issued a joint notice describing potential for fire at oxygen regulator and cylinder valve interfaces resulting from incorrect use of seal gaskets. Depending on how you fill your bottles (in house or through a commercial provider), this may well apply to your agency. Click here for the complete notice.