Ambulance responding to 911 calls, East Los Angeles

[CORYSPHOTOS]

What company??

[sdrob01]

@CORYSPHOTOS Risher Ambulance, later got acquired by AMR

[CORYSPHOTOS]

@sdrob01 Thanks and wasn't this company in the movie Volcano??

[sdrob01]

@CORYSPHOTOS Shoot. i'm not sure now I gotta find that dang movie and try to find the ambulance in it :-D

[5blackguys]

what siren?

[sdrob01]

@5blackguys Shoot, I'm not sure.. there was the electronic one, part of one control unit that controlled the lights and siren, "airhorn", etc, utilizing 2 speakers on the front grill, to produce the "dual" cycles you hear. Then there was the mechanical one up on top of the rig, although no one liked using those because it sounded too "nasal-y", not as good as the Federal Q2B ones.

[5blackguys]

@sdrob01 Cool beans. Thanks. I love the wail :)

[AUDIRS41997]

Why were you cancelled?

[duckslayer111]

Wow look at the jumpsuit!

[sdrob01]

@duckslayer111

Hey that's how we rolled back then!

[garciaproductions92]

i can see u were on atlantic

[NateTheGreatPilot]

That's a sexy siren!

[dab45de]

whats with the sound?

[sely1028]

how long ago was this???



[sdrob01]

@sely1028 shoot this was probably in the mid 90's. As you can tell by the lack of GPS in the ambulance, not wearing seatbelts.. it was a simple time back then =)

[sely1028]

@sdrob01 I was asking because I live around there where you responded to a call by the liquor store by wells fargo and I noticed that the Auto Zone wasn't built yet on Indiana and Whittier Blvd... Just wondering

[ReneReaper]

yall are funny and crazy xD

[wwerocks2599]

i want to be an EMT When i grow up and i got like 6-7 more years till im in collage and i love saving people lives

[Ishbu101]

I can't believe you guys call this a ghetto...

[wnaburgencesante]

Shaefer's 91-92 Torrence (HQ) . Loved it out there ! Was the a Unitrol siren in that rig ?

[robertgift]

Fun video!

No safety belts?

No smart enough to wear them, not smart enough to work on me.

Since we are not even exceeding the speed limit, we don't "light up" until close to the firstop sign. We blare the siren as little as possible all of the time, not just at night.

[agustindram45]

HEY I RECOGNIZE THAT AMBULANCE SERVICE! LOL! IT' RISHER AMBULANCE SERVICE OF MONTEBELLO!(RISHER MORTUARY) I USED TO WORK FOR SHAEFER'S AMBULANCE AMBULANCE 740 1/2 S. ATLANTIC AVE. FROM NOV/1983 UNTIL NOV/91. WE LOST THE COUNTY FIRE CONTRACT AFTER SERVING THE E.L.A. COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN FIFTY YEARS. IN 1990 .THE OWNERS DIDN'T WANT TO RENEW IT. I'M SURE YOU KNOW LIKE I DO THERE IS NO OTHER PLACE TO DO E.M.S. THAN E.L.A. !!!! AMR RUNS THE SHOW NOW DAMN THEY ARE ERVERYWHERE! ~AUGIE~

[sdrob01]

@agustindram45 Yeah that's it! Risher was a small operation, served mostly East LA, Commerce, etc. Those were fun times...

[agustindram45]

@sdrob01 i agree bro those were fun times! waking up in the early am to respond to t/c on the freeways or major intersections in the area or gang related shootings where you arrive before the e.l.a. sheriffs and the scene isn't secured. oh don't forget those full arrest calls! then after finishing in the e.r. raiding the lounge fridge for sandwiches and cold drinks! yes those were the days. i'm pretty sure things are different now for a.m.r. they don't operate like the way we did.

[ESxYOSHIEx5150]

THATS AROUND WITTIER BLVRD

[cheeseninja134]

Do u guys think its fun and cool and easier to drive around w/ lights and sirens? and damn i wanna try and see what it feels like.

[sdrob01]

@cheeseninja134 u know its actually kinda high stress. 1, because you dont know what youre responding to, and 2 because theres a high traffic risk factor. people don't always pull over. you have to assume they wont. so you have to respond quickly but also very defensively. but it is kinda cool =)

[cheeseninja134]

@sdrob01 and yeah i can understand that part bout getting there quick and safe... i just hate people not polling over... buggers.

[matt24151]

@cheeseninja134 its fun yeah but its no different then from regular driving

[bojandinamo]

I work in ambulance.I get hungry in night shift but sometimes i do not no what to eat because i try evrything.Do you have some idea.

[0524cami]

thats actually Whittier Blvd not 3rd street!

[ArmyRescue2]

whats the date

[sdrob01]

@ArmyRescue2

Shot around the mid 90's... back in the day , back in the hood !

[whatsthatsmell1000]

It's a tough job. I'm a paramedic in san fransico

[sdrob01]

@whatsthatsmell1000

Nice I've run into a few of you guys in my motorcycle crashes :-D

how long you been a medic? Saw that you're only 22, nice that you got into it young!

[Medic83301]

@sdrob01 I'm 48 years old and have no plans to retire ! I would love to work in San Francisco San Mateo County or Contra Costa .

[farmboy123456789101]

lol i like the end take the ambulance through drive thru.

[sdrob01]

@farmboy123456789101 

night shift, we get hungry haha

[Blooperization]

I'm planning to be a paramedic and I was just wondering if you have to be a driver? Also, do you have to have lights and sirens on for all calls?

[sdrob01]

@Blooperization I think it depends on region. Most places I know at least in Cali, there's 2 guys on a rig, both would be medics and capable of driving as well.. (have to get special ambulance drivers license-- not too hard).

Generally response is code 3 (lights + siren) to get to a call, then after picking up the patient, depends on how critically injured/ill. If not critical, usually just code 2 (no lights or siren-- normal driving) to hospital. If pt is critical or unknown, code 3.

[Blooperization]

@sdrob01

Do you use lights and sirens for every single call when going to the patient, even if it's minor? Is a code 3 like something you cannot control like heart attack. ETC. If you crash when you're driving the ambulance will you get fired?

[sdrob01]

@Blooperization

Typically yes responses are always Code 3. Because you dont know what is wrong yet until you get there. Then if not life threatening, you just transport to hospital Code 2 (no lights no siren) because driving Code 3 carries a lot of risk of accidents so only do it if the transport is needed. If you crash... well depends.. if you were reckless or going too fast ... you'll def get in trouble... fired... depends...very possibly.

[CI321]

@Blooperization it depends on how bad the call is for EMS to use lights & sirens, code 3 is a emergency responce

[Blooperization]

@sdrob01

Is there some type of mandatory training course? I was looking at requirements for be coming a paramedic and it said there is a physical test to test your strength? What do you do in the test?

[sdrob01]

@Blooperization

Varies by state, but Paramedic training is higher (way higher) than EMT. Paramedic involves understanding cardiology, pharmacology, pretty serious stuff. Many courses are 6 months or longer of full time work, including time in an ER, hands on. Physically, if you are going in as a Firefighter Paramedic on with a Fire Dept, you'd have to pass the full Fire Dept physical agility which are rough. Otherwise as long as you can do a basic lift test to lift a loaded gurney youre fine

[Blooperization]

@sdrob01

In order to become a PCP do you need to be an EMT first or do you just skip to the PCP first? To become a Critical Care Transporter do you need to be a PCP and ACP and take extra courses before you can become a CCT?

[sdrob01]

@Blooperization I am going to guess it varies by region (State), they may have different standards, and CCT Nurses would be licensed by the State. In Cali, I don't know of any requirement that mandates you be EMT first before Paramedic, but I guess in probably 99% or more cases, most guys (and gals) will be an EMT first to get some experience and then get into Medic school.

[Blooperization]

@sdrob01

If you're on call it says that you need a pager. Do you have to buy it yourself or does the company pay it for you? Is the only pager a Blackberry? Apologies for asking so many questions, but I can't find this info. on the internet.

[sdrob01]

@Blooperization I'm not too sure on that, might vary by the company, if on call they would most likely provide you the pager/cell phone.

[airplanepilot18]

@Blooperization Well in Canada, usually the goverment pays for ur pager....

[airplanepilot18]

@Blooperization Well I am a Flight Medic now... so of course im not flying the Helicopter.. but when i was on the ground unit, we didnt use the siren all the time.. forsure during the night, we tried to have it off as much as possible.. FORSURE in the residential areas..... and yes, you do need to be able to drive the ambulance as well, if you are on a ground unit.

[Medic83301]

@airplanepilot18 In my community , we seldom use the sirens after midnight exept if it's on a Friday and Saturday night when the bars let out @ 0100 , or when we get a run for a serious cheif complaint .

[Medic83301]

@airplanepilot18 But I still want to raise the never ending subject if response times depending on the time of day , time of the week , weather and traffic conditions , or urban versus rural environments have any effect on patient outcomes ? Or does our training and quality of care we give to our patients ?

[airplanepilot18]

@Medic83301 Well, i think both go hand in hand.. In some situations, a fast response time saves a life, and in the other sense, you only gain a minute or two.. but that is a long time in some situations... Alot can get done on a person in 2 mins to stabilize him....

[abarn41]

what were u guys responding to????

[sdrob01]

@abarn41

Oh who knows at this point... usual EMS calls... chest pain, injuries... that part of the city often there were assaults... another day's work !

[MultiMonster69]

nice job

[firefighter10100]

this is awesome

[sdrob01]

@firefighter10100

Old school... check out no seat belts. haha

[firefighter10100]

@sdrob01 back when EMS was ROCKIN'...god life was good then! Definitely don't miss having to lift up the stretchers though!

[rossman1940]

lol right in front of the phamarcy 2

[2010025]

where you guys bls and the squad an als chase car or are thay qrs and you guys run als?

[sdrob01]

@2010025

hey there.. we were just bls... the squad was the medics/als, so they would assess at scene, then either hand off to us if didnt require als, or ride in with us to the hospital if it was critical or needed medics. fun times!

[2010025]

@sdrob01 so the truck co. was qrs? and it was ran like thay did in emirgency?

[2010025]

@sdrob01 so the truck co was qrs and the squad was just like of emirgency?

[airplanepilot18]

@sdrob01 Im a paramedic myself, and i am wondering why you didnt have the siren on ALL the time?? whats up with that? lol

[sdrob01]

@airplanepilot18

Depends, not sure if much changed then to now (ambulance crashes = lawsuits = policy changes??)... most of the time in the day we'd roll full code, lights/siren. as it got later at night, less traffic, would often use the siren just as there was traffic. our station was in a very residential area, so when responding to and from residential areas, never wanted to blast people with a siren at 3am. fun as it is. ha =)

[airplanepilot18]

@sdrob01 ah.. yeah that makes sense! :) The thing is, is i dont need to worry about sirens anymore cause im on Air Ambulance now... :)

[sdrob01]

@airplanepilot18 aaah so you get the patients when they're REALLY fubar ! 

[airplanepilot18]

@sdrob01 Yeah! When thier life has become SERIOUSLY unluck! lol

[2010025]

@2010025

[sdrob01]

@2010025

[sdrob01]

@2010025

in the 90s the engines and trucks were just emt... medics were on the squads

[FFParamedicnass]

wow thats old...... lol i like it.

[SpassMacher2000]

shucking for the fire department

[texasmusicagent]

What year is the Chevy Van ambulance, I had some 90-93's that looked similar. Ran a private EMS in Houston for over 25 years, made a few runs myself!

[sdrob01]

@texasmusicagent

man i wouldnt even know what year.. this was probably mid-90's and the rig was one of the older ones in the fleet at the time! i just remember that thing guzzled gas!!

[Medic83301]

@sdrob01 Did you work for Goodhew back then ?

[sdrob01]

@Medic83301

Goodhew then Risher Ambulance !

aah good old Goodhew!

[Medic83301]

@sdrob01 Your guy's sirens at the begining sounded like those that Ballard's Bay Cities Ambulance in San Diego had back in the day . But they had the older dual tone Unitrol 800s . I know a guy that used to work for them who is now retired .

[tnmc85]

4:12 Annie Lennox....Why !



[sdrob01]

HAHA!! Yea thats how we rolled. 

[mercysoup]

Nice. Runnin code with no seat belt. Strong work.

[sdrob01]

hah... true.. just noticed that! good times back in the day!

[sdrob01]

heck.. i forget.. mid 90's

[kameronbc21]

hey chicago EMS here...why do you guys call your ambulances RA units?

[CBH]

@kameronbc21 Ricky ambulances. ahahah Rescue ambulance

[cmanleyspy]

great nostalgia!

[maanduhhs]

14 years ago, i was only 4 at the time.. haha cant believe my dad is somewhat famous on youtube xD and yea we always used to say he looked like joey from friends :p

[sdrob01]

whos ur dad?? Mark my former partner? lol

[maanduhhs]

yea he's my dad. :]

[maanduhhs]

yea he's my dad. :]

[911caddy]

What were you guys running for an electro-mechanical siren at the beginning of the clip?

Sounds groovy!!

[sdrob01]

...heck I don't even remember.. i never liked using it much, always preferred the dual electronic ones!

[911caddy]

Yeah, that dual electronic sounded pretty sweet for sure!! Thanks anyways!!

[grnkl115]

Wow. LACoFD Station 27 use to have a squad.Now its Q-27,E-27AND BN-3

[sdrob01]

yup!! this was in mid 90's... so its still Bttn HQ right ?

[grnkl115]

Yes sir. I was only kid. I'm 15 now.

really cool to see E.L.A back then.

[TartanPride08]

Hey go back in time, and pick me up a burger from that fast food place you stopped at. No onion or pickles or tomatoes, and add a medium fry... and medium dr. pepper. Thanks!! lol sweet video... thanks for your service!

[LasHuertesadas]

damn!! that must of been a long time ago cause those streets dont look the same no more.. what year was this?? oh and when u said enroute on 3rd st thats not 3rd its Whittier Blvd lol

[sdrob01]

yeah..this is back probably mid 1990's! lot different then!

[flyerholland]

asesome.. u s3till working on the ambulance?? ifso could u make some more response vids?

[DumbDuck44]

I was gunna say it seems old, and no GPS heh! such a valuable service though, much respect. I hear its really stressful, and I don't think I could hack it.

[MrHandiMatt]

wow. you should do a ride along with us. way more cool stuff happens now!!!

[calfan3]

he kinda looks like "joey tribbiani" from the show "friends"

[pulse0000]

Very cool Rob.Are you still in that line of work?

[Iroquois14]

heh looks like an old episode of cops

[fs46]

WHAT COMPANY DID U WORK FOR?

[sdrob01]

risher, an LA Based company, think they were later bought out by AMR

[yehyehsoilwell]

AMR is a good company, my cousin works for them in Northern California

[jtk49]

must be fun riding with the sirens on :)

[budlac]

How old is this footage? Cool vid :)

[sdrob01]

its old...probably like 14 yrs old!

[budlac]

I was gonna say those taxis look pretty retro!

[rolpal619]

East LA? Wow.

Which is you, Rob? Looks like a cool job.

[sdrob01]

I was the one doing most of the filming, since my partner was driving