Mid Atlantic Rescue

1 Ardmore Street • New Windsor, NY 12553

845-534-7500 • (Fax) 845-534-0055 • News@1stResponderNews.com

EXECUTIVE STAFF

PUBLISHER

Joseph P. Belsito (Joe@Belsito.com) • • • GENERAL MANAGER

Kathy Ronsini (Kathy@1stResponderNews.com) • • • MANAGING EDITOR

Lindsey Palmer (Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com) • • • PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Ashley Ramos (Ashley@1stResponderNews.com) • • • CIRCULATION MANAGER

Michelle Rosa (Michelle@1stResponder.com) • • • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Joe Belsito (Joe@1stRespondernews.com) • • • DISPATCHER RECRUITMENT & RETENTION

(Rich@1stResponder.com) EDITORIAL STAFF

COLUMNISTS • • •

Rick Billings (Cartoon) Chelle Cordero (EMS)

AJ Fusco (Food Blog) Bob Long (Cartoon) John Malecky (Apparatus, Video, Bookshelf) Didymus McHugh (Chaplain’s Corner) Fernando Villicana (Chaplain’s Corner)

CORRESPONDENTS • • •

Jeffrey Arnold • Jeffrey Belschwinder • Brian Berkey • David Burns • Mike Carey • Michael Contaxis • Jeff Crianza • Russell Curley • Vinnie Dominick • Patrick D’Onofrio • Bob Faugh • Bradley Fowler • John Greco • Paul Harrington • Gary Hearn • Connor Jacobs • Harold Jacobs • Ron Jeffers • Larry Kensinger • Bob Krajicek • Jeff Levine • Chuck Lowe • MaryBeth Majestic • Tom Marra • Bob McCormick • Randy Montour • William Murray • Charlie Piper • David Ragusa • John Rieth • Frank Robinson • Bob Root • Chris Sabella • John Smith • Ken Snyder • John Spaulding • Bill Tompkins • Chris Tompkins • Bob Vaccaro • Gary Vanvoorhis • Frankie Verderame • Stephen Wallace • John Walthers • Eugene Weber Jr. • Steve White • Guy Zampatori Jr.

EDITORIAL INFORMATION

Join our team of correspondents or columnists! 1st Responder Newspaper welcomes submissions by our readers. Send stories and photos to us at 1 Ardmore Street, New Windsor, NY 12553. Or, give us a call or send us an e-mail. If using the mail, please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for all submissions you wish to have returned. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any editorial or advertising material submitted. 845-534-7500 ext. 212 • (fax) 845-534-0055 News@1stResponderNews.com ADVERTISING INFORMATION

If you would like information about how advertising in 1st Responder News can benefit your company call our advertising hotline at: 845-534-7500 ext. 211 • (fax) 845-534-0055 Advertising@1stResponderNews.com

CIRCULATION INFORMATION

1st Responder Newspaper is delivered to all fire, rescue, ambulance stations and hospitals. If you do not receive your papers, please contact our circulation department. Home subscriptions are $36 per year.

845-534-7500 ext. 220 • (fax) 845-534-0055 Circulation@1stResponderNews.com

GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING

1st Responder News’ graphics team will work with you on your advertisement free of charge. Additionally, we offer a complete marketing department for all of your printed needs. Whether they are posters, or single sheet handouts, full color or black and white, no one else delivers the high quality work at our competitive prices. As a newspaper in the Belsito Communications Inc. family, 1st Responder News has a state-of-the-art production facility which utilizes the latest scanning technology available. Materials are processed using Power Macintosh G4s. Output is handled on our HP Color LaserJet 8500 to produce this highest quality black and white or color prints on the market.

A division of:

In memory of those who gave all

1st Responder Newspaper honors and remembers emergency responders lost in the line of duty

New Jersey: Victor Melillo, 21 Rank: Firefighter Recruit Incident Date: March 4, 2021 Death Date: March 9, 2021 Fire Department: Irvington Fire Department Initial Summary: On Thursday, March, 4, 2021, Firefighter Recruit Victor Melillo collapsed during a training exercise in the parking lot of the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany Township, NJ. First responders on the scene immediately treated Firefighter Recruit Melillo. He was taken to the Morristown Medical Center, where he remained in the Critical Care Unit, until his passing on Tuesday, March 9, 2021. Investigation into the incident is ongoing. Pennsylvania: Kevin M. “Bubba” Malukas, 59 Rank: Deputy Chief Incident Date: March 7, 2021 Death Date: March 8, 2021 Fire Department: Coal Township Fire Department Initial Summary: Deputy Chief Kevin M. “Bubba” Malukas responded to a vehicle accident on Sunday, March 7, 2021. After returning home, he suffered a heart attack and passed away on Monday, March 8, 2021. Firefighter Peyton Morse suffered a medical emergency at a training exercise. He was immediately rushed to the hospital where he remained in the Critical Care Unit. He passed away on Friday, March 12, 2021. An investigation into the incident is ongoing. South Carolina: Brian S. Mixson, 32 Rank: Firefighter/EMT Incident Date: March 5, 2021 Death Date: March 17, 2021 Fire Department: Jasper County Fire and Rescue Initial Summary: On Friday, March 5, 2021, while onduty, Firefighter/EMT Brian S. Mixson experienced an acute onset of a headache. By Sunday morning, March 7, 2021, he had a change in his vision and was rushed to the local hospital. He was then transported to the Savannah Medical Center, in Savannah Georgia, and admitted to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit. On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, there was no activity in his brain. Firefighter/EMT Mixson remained on life support while medical personnel compiled a list of organ recipients. The headache that he experienced while on-duty was the inception of a stroke. He passed away from the stroke on Wednesday, March 17, 2021.

Nebraska: Dennis M. Bender, 78 Rank: Firefighter/Paramedic Incident Date: March 10, 2021 Death Date: March 10, 2021 Fire Department: Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department Initial Summary: On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, Firefighter/Paramedic Dennis M. Bender responded to the third wildland fire call of the day. He suffered a medical emergency at the scene and was immediately taken to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The cause of his death is under investigation. New York: Peyton Morse, 21 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 3, 2021 Death Date: March 12, 2021 Fire Department: City of Watertown Fire Department Initial Summary: On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, New York: Jared Lloyd, 35 Rank: Firefighter Incident Date: March 23, 2021 Death Date: March 24, 2021 Fire Department: Spring Valley Fire Department Initial Summary: On Tuesday, March 23, 2021, Firefighter Jared Lloyd responded to a fire at the Evergreen Court Home for Adults, an assisted living facility. He rushed into the burning building to save residents, but the fire’s intensity grew and he also became trapped. He sent out a Mayday call and fellow firefighters tried to pull him out, but heavy flames and smoke prevented them from reaching him. For hours after the fire was under control, firefighters scoured the rubble for Firefighter Lloyd. His body was found nearly 24 hours after he became trapped.

THE EMS FUNNYBONE

EMS ISSUE

CHELLE CORDERO

It’s funny… but not always appropriate. If you are going to crack jokes in the back of the rig, just like any good stand-up comedian, you have to learn to “read the room”. The FIRST rule you need to remember is that just because you may succeed in making your patient laugh, you are not excused from being 100% professional — patient care ALWAYS comes first.

It is true that laughter releases endorphins which can help calm a patient and sometimes even alleviate pain…but if you go too far your patient could lose trust in your abilities, may even feel belittled and concerned that you are not treating them with serious intent, might get offended if your joking is CONSTRUED as offcolor, and perhaps might even file a complaint about your lack of professionalism to your agency supervisor. (Worse, the patient might even see themselves as a brutally honest “critic”!)

Joking WITH the patient and not just your crew may also make the patient feel like part of the team towards his care. Humor and empathy can show the patient that you, as an EMS professional, are both a warm human being and interested in the patient’s wellbeing. Remember that the things you, or another patient, may find funny, are not necessarily funny to your current patient — if you see disapproval or disappointment in your victim’s face, do not keep pushing. Change the subject or better yet, change your demeanor. Always show that you are caring even if you cannot get any laughs.

Some major no-no’s in the rig with your patient: Be incredibly careful about saying anything that could be construed as a sexual innuendo; racial ridicule; or insulting comments about the patient’s looks, condition, or emotional state. Like we said earlier, learn to read your audience and do not take advantage of the fact that your patient is basically a prisoner in a very small space with you. If the patient has a family member who is riding in the rig with you be sure to include them (without violating HIPAA) in most of your discussions, but also make sure that the family member is not causing stress to the patient!

After the call you may feel like joking within your crew. Joking can relieve stress, but it can also open old wounds, so again, read the room. If you and your fellow crew members can enjoy a few good laughs, be aware if others (not crew members) are nearby and can hear and misinterpret your stress-relieving EMS humor. And, unlikely as it may be, if you are in the rig while joking make sure that your radio-microphone and any cellphone-lines are OFF (yes, that has happened!). Remember that even if everybody around you is in EMS, such as at an annual holiday party, and you are sharing funny stories, NEVER disclose any personal details about your patients.

And finally, one for the road… Turning your lights and sirens on will “actually” convince people to move out of your way…

GUY ZAMPATORI JR Rochester Firefighters Respond to a Car and Home on Fire

ROCHESTER, NY - Rochester firefighters rescued several dogs and other pets that were trapped when a car caught fire in a driveway before severely damaging two nearby houses on June 29th.

Initially, crews were called to a residential address on Fourth Street over reports of gunfire, but when firefighters arrived at the scene they found a burning car in a driveway and saw flames spreading to two nearby homes. Officials believe the car's exploding tires might have created a similar sound to gunshots.

The fire tore through the attic of a two-family house. Firefighters tried to put out the flames with an interior attack, but dangerous conditions forced them to pull back, according to Deputy Chief Jim Ryan. The amount of damage the house sustained will likely force it to be demolished, he added.

Flames caused severe damage to the outside of a neighboring home, which was deemed too unsafe to stay in. The car where the fire originated, which was parked between the two homes, also sustained serious damage.

Two firefighters were injured battling the fire. They were taken to the hospital with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening before being released.

Four adults and five children who were home at the time of the fire were able to safely escape the flames. Crews were also able to save a handful of pets.

JUMP TO FILE #070121109

- GUY ZAMPATORI JR

C.KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHY

C.KRUEGER PHOTOGRAPHY

West Glens Falls Welcomes New Engine

QUEENSBURY, NY - In July, the West Glens Falls Fire Company hosted a wet down ceremony for their new 2021 Pierce Arrow XT. This beautiful engine has a 2,000-GPM Hale Pump with a 2,000-gallon water tank, and features a Low Rear Hose bed, mid-mount pump panel and much more. The truck can seat 1 driver, 1 officer, and 4 firefighters. Multiple departments from the area participated in the wet down, including Bay Ridge, North Queensbury, South Queensbury, Queensbury Central, Kingsbury, Corinth, and Luzerne-Hadley.

SOUTH FARMINGDALE FIRE DISTRICT SEEKS FULL-TIME HOUSE MAINTAINER (M-F)

Applicant (Age 21 years +) must be reliable and able to commute between two locations. Daily cleaning, handyman repair, general maintenance of 2 firehouses. Operating vehicles, equipment, ordering, maintaining supplies. Good communication skills, computer proficient, keep records, manage part-time staff. NYS CDL driver’s license preferred.

Salary commensurate with experience. Email resume to: bofc@southfarmingdalefd.org by September 15, 2021

A lightning strike sparked a house fire in Ravena on 6/29/21.

THOMAS MARRA

Lightning Strike Sparks House Fire in Ravena

RAVENA, NY - Lightning struck a house in Ravena and sparked a fire Tuesday night, June 29th, after a round of strong thunderstorms swept through the area.

Fire crews were dispatched to 85 Woodlawn Dr. in Ravena around 8:30 P.M. for reports of smoke coming from the chimney and flames coming from the roof of the home. Deputy Chief Kevin Phillips of Ravena Fire arrived on the scene and transmitted a Signal 30, indicating a working structure fire.

“Upon arrival I found heavy smoke coming from the roof area,” Phillips said. “It appeared that the homeowners were knocking the fire down with a garden hose.” He said the crew from Ravena Fire’s first arriving engine made a quick knock down of the fire within five to 10 minutes, making the damage minimal. The rest of the time was just checking for extension, pulling ceilings and cutting the roof up to make sure it didn’t travel anywhere else.

Ravena, Coeymans, Coeymans Hollow and New Baltimore Fire Departments were on the scene with Ravena Rescue, Albany County Paramedics, Coeymans Police and Albany County Sheriffs.

Phillips said the bulk of the damage was confined to the attic area and the two bedrooms below the attic area where the fire originated.

Several bricks were found scattered in the grass which were not knocked off by firefighters.

With the severe thunderstorms in the area at the time of the fire and the scattered bricks, the investigation determined the cause of the fire was a lightning strike to the area of the chimney on the roof of the home, according to Phillips.

There was one person inside the home at the time of the lightning strike and fire and was uninjured.

There were no injuries to anybody reported at the scene.

JUMP TO FILE #070121113

- THOMAS MARRA

DRILLS/TRAINING

To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com

VINNIE DOMINICK