News & Announcements
New MAP (Mutual Aid Plan) for Malta
Effective at midnight on June 26th, a revised MAP will take effect for Malta Ambulance Corps. You can download the revised page #13 for your MAP Manual by clicking on the Downloads button.
Watch Your Manners
Almost like deja vu, the issue of radio manners has reared its ugly head once again. Changes to the County Radio Procedures Manual are forthcoming to incorporate new changes, but County EMS Radio users are encouraged to review the Radio Etiquette memo issued by County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy in February 2002. An added point for consideration is an increasing trend of First Responders calling enroute to their station(s) which is unnecessary and recently has taken valuable air time from units responding to scenes. Unless you are responding to the scene of a call, please refrain from tying up the air to call enroute.
Don’t Become A Statistic – attend Highway Street Survival!
Kevin Leonard, a popular speaker on emergency driving will present, “Highway Street Survival” on Thursday, May 6th, 2004 at the Fire Training Center in Ballston Spa from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. This 3 hour classroom session is designed to reduce injuries and prevent fatalities among emergency responders who operate at roadway scenes. Topics include vehicle placement, use of cones, flares, lighting, protective clothing, as well as the newest information on responder safety. REMO credit for 2 hours preparatory and 1 hour operations will be awarded to attendees. A light dinner will be served. Preregistration is requested by calling County EMS Coordinator Mike McEvoy at 383-8608. Click here for a course flyer.
FCC Plans Email Notice of Radio License Expiration
The FCC’s Wireless Telecommunications Bureau announced it will begin sending e-mail license expiration notifications to public safety entities effective April 16th, 2004. The e-mails will be sent at intervals of 90, 60, 30 and 10 days prior to the license expiration date. Once a renewal application has been received, the e-mails will stop being sent. The FCC will continue to send a written renewal letter 90 days before expiration, and–if you’re completely in a trance–the FCC staff will make a telephone notification between one and 9 days before expiration. You should make sure that your e-mail and telephone number are correct in the FCC’s Universal Licensing System– that’s the information they’ll use to make contact with you. Surf to http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls and click on “Online Filing,” then login and select the “Update Licenses” link from the left hand navigation menu.
Standard ALS Intercept Agreement Open Comment Period
The EMS Council formally initiated an open comment period on a proposed Standard ALS Intercept Agreement, beginning April 12th, 2004. Several copies of an information package are being mailed to all ambulance agencies in the County and can be downloaded by clicking here. Comments are due back to the Council by Friday, July 16th and can be made by email (info@saratogaems.org), snail mail, or fax to (518) 383-4915.