Homeless EMT's

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A HOAX. THANK GOD!

YONKERS, NY (AP) In a new initiative that New York's junior Senator Hillary Clinton called "an exceptional opportunity", this New York City suburb will begin using homeless persons living at the two city-owned shelters to become ambulance drivers. The program will be funded through a federal grant and with aid from the Yonkers Order of St. Vincent DePaul.

Dan Rouse, assistant city Human Services Director and a former Special Forces medic in Grenada has been selected to head the initiative. Homeless Yonkers residents are assessed for the ability to master emergency medical training. Through the federal grant, program organizers have written instruction materials specifically oriented for the homeless community. The material, written at a 6th grade reading level and featuring color illustrations, is the first of its kind in the nation. "We looked at the books usually used for EMT training and found they did not meet the needs of our clientele. In fact, we found some of the material demeaning for this uniquely challenged part of our community," said Rouse.

Katherine Delanoy, a mother of 6 found herself on the street unable to care for her children and in the throes of a horrible crack cocaine addiction. "Two weeks ago, I was pushing a shopping cart and today I am driving an ambulance," Delanoy said with a big smile that showed missing teeth.

Bill Carter, MD, local family physician and homeless advocate, is medical advisor for the program. "In the overall scheme of things, ambulances offer little more than transportation to most Yonkers residents," he said. "Instead of training the homeless to drive taxis, we found this federal grant that would help them learn to drive ambulances."

Sean Pace, homeless for 21 years, stated that he found the 24 hour training program "intense and the hardest thing I have done other than stopping his 20 year old heroin habit cold turkey," he said.

Applicants are screened for tuberculosis and a criminal profile is obtained. Those who have not received a felony conviction in the last 4 months are deemed eligible. Noted activist and Reverend Jesse Jackson will be the featured speaker at the graduation ceremony in March.

Members of the local teamsters union who represents private EMTs and paramedics in the New York City area picketed the St Vincent DePaul store recently. Union leaders reported that 15 paid positions have been eliminated by the program. Rouse countered that Yonkers is nearly broke and ambulance service is the least important municipal service and ideal for homeless re-tasking. The graduates should be on the streets after the first of the summer.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

This has got to be one of the most ridicoulous things I have ever seen! Former drug addicts and those with felony conviction driving ambulances..entering people's homes to provide EMS care

"Dumbing down" EMS to a 6th grade level? Hell, if they read at the 10th grade level, why don't we make them brain surgeons?

Hillary Clinton and Jesse Jackson support this...would they be allow these "so called EMS personnel" to treat and transport them?


I doubt it!

[tanker5117]

ambulance service is the least important municipal service

I just cannot believe he said something so stupid as that. I am not saying that EMS is any more or less important then Fire or Police services. They are all important. But to single out a service that means the difference between life or death to so many....just makes me shake my head.


Tanker

[Resq14]

I didn't understand that quote either. Since it was from the guy organizing this program, I seem to think he *meant* to say that the city views EMS as not being a priority.

That's what I hope he meant, at least.

[toddmcbr]

This has got to be a joke....Doesn't it?

[nmfire]

Unfortunately, I can't put my actual reaction to this into words because the webteam would have my head. Lets just say I am not pleased. That is the most degrading thing I have read in a long time. Jesse Jackson supports it... Oh yea, if Jesse Jackson supports this, it must be good. He is the biggest scum bag around. He's probably getting paid to do it.

I would expect nothing less from Billary Clinton.

[PATF1engineer]

[QUOTE]
Bill Carter, MD, local family physician and homeless advocate, is medical advisor for the program. "In the overall scheme of things, ambulances offer little more than transportation to most Yonkers residents," he said. "Instead of training the homeless to drive taxis, we found this federal grant that would help them learn to drive ambulances."

[QUOTE]

Ambulance drivers???? You would think someone with the brain power to be a doctor would have some vague understanding of modern EMS. Guess thats too much to expect from a bleeding heart.

And by the way, exactly what the hell church is Jessie Jackson a reverend at?

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

I agree that this idea is totally stupid but;

"In the overall scheme of things, ambulances offer little more than transportation to most Yonkers residents," he said.

Is this quote that far off the mark? In a typical city BLS shift (I've worked p/t in Jersey City and New Brunswick), the overwhelming majority of the calls were transports w/no medical care provided.

[Weruj1]

I think this is over in the EMS general forums also .....and it is reported to be a HOAX.
http://cms.firehouse.com/forums2/sho...threadid=56555

[PATF1engineer]

I am not going to disagree with that, but the whole concept is a slap in the face to legitimate EMS providers. I have no problem with a program to train these people so they can contribute to society, but this is just pandering.

[PFire23]

George while I see what you are saying, I have to say that I have an issue with this whole idea ...... WHAT IF one of these people "slips up" and is high or drunk while driving the ambulance. WHAT IF they have an accident and kill someone, who is accountable? WHY would they dummy down the books, in my opinion if you can't make the cut you can't have the job. Instead of making things "easier" for these people why not take the money being used to fund this project, get them a better education than a dummied down to sixth grade level EMT book, teach them some life and coping skills so they won't (or hopefully won't) feel the need to turn to drugs in times of hardship and stress. I have to shake my head at this whole concept. To me this is putting the general public at risk, in a huge way. I'm all for job creation and helping those less fortunate, but c'mon 4 MONTHS without a conviction and you're good to go??? Puuuhlease, I'm fairly certain that the average Joe with a record wouldn't be getting a shot at this sort of job, nevermind the average Joe with a record and known crack habit. It is going to be interesting to see where this goes, I only hope that no one loses their life over it.

Oh yeah, for those of you who may agree that it's "only transport", would you entrust your loved ones in the hands of these people??? I know I'd definitely think twice about it. I do transports for a living and every one of us has to meet a certain standard, criminal record checks are done, NO RECORD allowed. I'm still shaking my head in disbelief.

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

Originally posted by Weruj1
I think this is over in the EMS general forums also .....and it is reported to be a HOAX.
http://cms.firehouse.com/forums2/sho...threadid=56555

Thank God. I'll edit my posting.

[nmfire]

Even if it IS a hoax, it is still perfectly believeable coming from either of those two polical figures.

[Cellblock776]

This may be a hoax but tonights' Fox Channel episode of The Simpsons has Homer buying a used ambulance and suddenly he's a paramedic with a defib and drugs in the back of the rig. How really different is the public perception to what was presented in the article which we now beleive to be a hoax, the Simpsons and reality? Face it, the public probably doesn't have a very good idea of the training and effort it takes to do the job they take for granted.

[WTFD10]

I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED AS A HOAX. THANK GOD!

This has got to be a hoax. A quick Google search shows that Yonkers does not have an EMS Department of it's own but rather contracts with a private company: http://www.westchestergov.com/emergserv/ems.htm

George, quit spreading right-wing conservative propaganda!

[WTFD10]

Oh and whoever wrote that "article" did a great job. They knew exactly what buttons to push to get EMS people fired up!

And the quotes from the homeless "ambulance drivers" were some of the funniest things I've read in a long time LOL

[Resq14]

Took me a couple minutes to stop laughing...

[GeorgeWendtCFI]

George, quit spreading right-wing conservative propaganda!

You know me and my right wing agenda!

[stm4710]

Phewwww! When I saw Clinton and Jackson in the same "article" I thought it must have been true! Better keep this away from them though---it might inspire them.