First Responders Barred From Photographing Victims

This picture is illegal in New Jersey.
- Photo John W. Franks

Trenton, NJ – New Jersey just passed a new law prohibiting “first responders” from taking and sharing photographs of victims without their explicit permission (so I guess that pretty much rules out any pictures of unconscious patients). Violators could get as much as six months in prison. (“Hey Mack, what are you in for? Photography.”)

First, let me say that we firefighters (and paramedics and officers) are often our own worst enemy. Posting graphic and embarrassing pictures of patients on the internet (yes, this includes Facebook, emailing, and phone-to-phone sharing) is a violation of the sacred trust that the public bestows upon first responders in general, and firefighters specifically.

Outwardly this appears to be a common sense law, but it seems to me to have some glaring grey areas. For example, if I’m a fire department photographer (which I presume would fall into the “first responder” definition) I am now prohibited from taking pictures of victims. However, a fellow photographer from the local newspaper is not prohibited from taking pictures of victims because it would be a violation of his First Amendment right. We’re both professional photographers but one is constrained and the other is not? How is that right? And what about by-standers taking pictures with their phones and sharing them on the internet? Again there seems to be some disparity in this law.

Secondly, the new law allows pictures of wrecks once the victim is removed, but speaking as a photographer, that’s after all the “action” is gone. I often take pictures of “victims” (but I don’t show their faces; see above photo). This is to show the action of the scene and to give the picture more authenticity. Which is a better photo, one of a banged up car or one with firefighters around a wrecked car with power tools?

I’m sure some of you are saying that the point is the victim’s rights and not the photographer’s rights. But when the government takes away one group’s rights, it’s just a matter of time before they take away your rights. I’m just glad I don’t live in New Jersey.

• First Responders Barred From Photographing Victims Under New Jersey Law

Coastal Communities Eye Remote-Control Lifeguards

EMILY to the rescue.
- Photo Hydronalix Company

Sahaurita, AZ - The Hydronalix Company has introduced a remote controlled buoy that can power through waves to rescue distressed swimmers. The buoy is called EMILY (Emergency Integrated Lifesaving Lanyard). It is 4 feet long, can go 22 mph, and has an 800-yard recovery line.

According to Hydronalix, EMILY can reach distressed swimmers faster than human lifeguards. Even with a $10,000 price tag, some cities are looking at them and buying them such as Los Angeles - home of Baywatch.

Personally, I think it's odd that a company that specializes in water rescue equipment and maritime robotics is headquartered in the middle of the desert.

Check it out here: EMILY

County Fights Defunct Rescue Squad For Its Assets

Johnston County, NC – This past May Johnston County announced it would take over all EMS operations in the County, which meant that they were in effect putting out of business the volunteer rescue squads in Clayton, Smithfield, and Princeton. Johnston County EMS began county-wide ambulance operations on the first of July. However, the merger in Princeton has not been smooth.

Bad blood between the two entities began three years ago when Johnston County tried to shut down Princeton Rescue Squad after the Johnston County EMS Advisory Board found several problems with Princeton Rescue Squad, including falsifying records and patient care problems.

Johnston County contends that consolidating EMS operation county-wide will make it more efficient and cost effective for all of the tax-paying citizens of the county. Now Johnston County wants Princeton Rescue Squad's assets since it will be providing ambulance service to Princeton. 

But not so fast, Princeton Rescue Squad says that their funds belong to the good people of Princeton who generously donated to the squad over the last 32 years, and according to their by-laws they are legally prevented from arbitrarily giving away those assets.

And Princeton Rescue Squad apparently has significant assets (to the tune of $300,000 in the bank, plus vehicles, equipment, supplies, and real estate). 

According to Princeton Rescue Squad, they’ve been dealing in good faith, and basically their only requirement is that Johnston County place an ambulance in the Princeton town limits. 

That’s the Reader’s Digest version, but it’s much more complicated than that. This week Princeton Rescue Squad posted a 5-page open letter that outlines all the details and problems dealing with Johnston County. It’s worth reading. 

• Johnston County, Princeton At Odds Over EMS Merger
• Princeton Rescue Squad Press Release

Wake Forest PD Wins National Contest

Wake Forest (NC) Police Department Wins Grand Prize For Vehicle Design

Wake Forest (NC) Police Department
- Photo Law & Order Magazine

Wake County, NC - Law & Order Magazine has announced the winners of its annual police vehicle design contest. Out of 500 entries, the Wake Forest Police Department (not to be confused with Wake Forest University Police in Winston-Salem, NC) won the grand prize (which I can only assume are bragging rights and their car in the centerfold of L&O Magazine).

Law & Order Magazine awarded prizes to 61 law enforcement vehicles in 25 categories, including some of my favorites such as "Best Rear Warning" and "Best SWAT Vehicle."

Other winning North Carolina agencies were Randolph County Sheriff's Office (2nd Place for Best Motorcycle, and 2nd Place for Sheriff Over 25 Officers, East), Concord Police Department (1st Place for Municipal Police Over 50 Officers, East), and Statesville Police Department (3rd Place for Municipal Police Over 50 Officers, East).

The criteria for this year's contest were safety, identifiability as a law enforcement vehicle, and overall appearance. 

Randolph County (NC) Sheriff's Office
- Photo Law & Order Magazine

• 2012 Police Vehicle Design Contest Winners

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS)

Last week two Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft from the North Carolina Air National Guard (145th Airlift Wing) from Charlotte redeployed to California to help with the wildland fires out west. (see story NC Air National Guard Announces C-130 Crash Victims).

The NCANG C-130s are equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) to drop water or fire retardant on the fire. According to Wikipedia, "the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System or MAFFS is a self-contained unit used for aerial firefighting that can be loaded onto a C-130 Hercules, a military cargo transport, which then allows the aircraft to be used as an air tanker against wildfires. This allows the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to utilize military aircraft from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to serve as an emergency backup resource to the civilian air tanker fleet."

Here's a video of the MAFFS in action:

145th Airlift Wing Returns To MAFFS Mission

Acronyms In Your Future: New Technologies To Save Firefighter Lives

GLANSER attached to a SCBA.
- Photo FoxNews.com

I came across this article while surfing the internet. Some of it is quite interesting. 

It talks about Honeywell's Geo-spatial Location Accountability and Navigation System (GLANSER) which works similarly to GPS but can track a multitude of firefighters on multiple floors of a building.

UCLA's & Department of Homeland Security Science & Technology Division's Physiological Health Assessment System for Emergency Responders (PHASER) monitors a firefighter's vital signs including body temperature then relays that information to the command post.

And Wireless Intelligent Sensor Platform for Emergency Responder (WISPER) works with GLANSER to guide Rapid Intervention Teams (RITs) to firefighters in need by way of leaving "bread crumbs" to follow.

Read the whole story at: 3 New Technologies To Save Firefighter Lives

It's been a while since I've posted anything. OK, it's been two years but I was busy! But I seem to have a little more time to post some thoughts on public safety...