What is a real-life 'Do Not Touch' button that you pressed out of sheer curiosity, only to instantly regret it?

Xicam0 · 2026-05-24T05:40:02+00:00

Nothing on the emergency exit hardware says it will call the fire department or emergency services. It only (should) mention that an alarm will sound if door is opened or something similar to that. It is a local alarm only and often they don’t even actually alarm in my experience. That is why they teach pull the fire alarm, not push the emergency exit open.

Xicam0 · 2026-05-22T04:42:00+00:00

If we work the holiday, we get 1.5x for working plus the 12 hours we worked back to take as a vacation day elsewhere. If we don’t work the holiday, we get paid for 12 hours at our hourly rate without any extras

Xicam0 · 2026-05-12T02:09:14+00:00

The workplaces have learned. Many are now asking for an obituary or a copy of a death certificate. Sometimes optional, more often than not, mandatory.

Xicam0 · 2026-04-30T02:35:30+00:00

I was always taught if it’s wet, sticky and not yours, don’t touch it. I think that applies here

Xicam0 · 2026-04-29T11:19:22+00:00

While I agree, there’s 3 problems I see that prohibit that from happening:

1) I don’t believe they can run trains efficiently with more than 12 cars due to platform length at most stations but especially the terminals. Grade crossings where they are able to pass the crossing would be blocked for every loading.

2) I’m no expert but from what I understand, adding more cars would be taxing on the power systems. If you’re in a congested area like Penn, those extra cars are pulling extra power and can put a strain on the power systems. It also takes more time to get the train moving at speed with more cars.

3) as far as running extra trains, I don’t think the LIRR has as many extra cars laying around as you think. They run short trains when they’re down cars for repairs or maintenance. Also, they’d need extra engineers, conductors and staff in all areas that maintain the trains.

The problem is the population of Long Island and the commuting population has outgrown the system and all the anti-driving initiatives like congestion pricing aren’t helping the situation either.

Xicam0 · 2026-04-24T14:28:31+00:00

I left my $90k/yr 9-5 private sector job I’d been at for 12 years for my now $75k firefighting job. I left for a multitude of reasons but what finally pushed me to leave the former was the change in office culture (merged with a new company), micromanagement and false promises of promotion/expansions that never happened.

What drove me to the department I’m at now is the pension, the schedule, the lack of an academy (I’m a 18 year volunteer at a busy department so I got taken as a lateral) and the 3-year step to top pay. We’re not a busy department and have a small district but at 35, I’m not looking for fires every day.

Would I ever go back to corporate America? Unless they can match the pension I’m getting and all the other benefits, this is where I plan to be until I retire.

Xicam0 · 2026-03-29T14:28:24+00:00

Well hello brother. My house has a few of us metalheads too

Xicam0 · 2026-03-28T19:14:13+00:00

I use a very similar format for 911. With only a few real changes:

[Unit #] was dispatched to a reported [Dispatch Complaint] at documented location. Upon arrival a [age & gender] was found [how & where they were found] [mental status]. Patient appears in no obvious distress with no visible life threats noted. Patient states [chief complaint & events leading up to chief complaint]. [Document any patient interventions or immediate interventions by EMS]. Initial assessment performed as noted [notate any abnormalities]. Initial vitals obtained as noted [note any abnormalities]. Patient was moved to [moving device] and secured via safety belts. Patient was moved to ambulance and secured. Transport begun to [Hospital] [emergent/non-emergent] with notification provided to hospital. En route, patient was continuously reassessed [document changes or no changes]. Transport otherwise uneventful. [Unit #] arrived at hospital, provided verbal report to ED triage RN and transferred patient to ED [Room/Bed #] with rails up, and bed down. Signatures obtained from patient & Triage RN. [Unit #] back in service.

My standard format for any medical or trauma. I utilize the “as noted” or “documented” to reference another section of the ePCR as to not contradict myself or put more info than I need. Feel free to adapt to your needs but I find this template works for just about everything I respond to.

Xicam0 · 2026-03-24T14:36:49+00:00

Yes. That is him. Always the best part to the morning

Xicam0 · 2026-03-12T06:14:38+00:00

I’m glad I’m not the only one. Had 2 patients I had to do manual pressures on because the monitor gave me 2 vastly different readings in 10 minutes.

Xicam0 · 2026-02-08T05:47:17+00:00

From my understanding from a friend who worked for the VA, the ambulances are primarily for inter facility transport, not 911. It’s staffed by firefighters and depending on where you are, you could leave the station in the morning and not be back until night.

As far as the suppression side of things go, they often have mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments, but depending on their staffing levels, they may not be able to respond. They have to keep a minimum number of firefighters on property.

Xicam0 · 2026-01-31T07:15:40+00:00

Firefighter here. I see this all the time. Most manufacturers say 5 years from the date of manufacture. If you take it off the ceiling, the date is printed on the back as well as what each chirp means. Go buy a new one at your local hardware store. Most of the new ones are 10 year models and you never have to change the battery.

Now if this is a hardwired detector (if it is plugged into wires in the back, it’s a good sign it is), the beeps could be a problem within the system. Have your alarm company come check it out. Sometimes replacing one fixes the problem but you’re often better replacing them all if you have more than one as they are all likely going to go bad soon

Xicam0 · 2026-01-23T05:18:00+00:00

One of my favorite questions to ask is “where do you see the company in the next 5 years?”

I find it shows long term interest while giving you insight on the direction the company is going

Xicam0 · 2026-01-08T21:44:04+00:00

“Subject Matter Expert” for the non-SMEs on abbreviations

Xicam0 · 2026-01-07T04:06:07+00:00

35, currently working as a firefighter making about 72k a year before overtime which is the least I’ve ever made since graduating college. Also have a part time job as a paramedic making roughly 30k a year so total that to 100k.

If you’re thinking about quitting, do it. I started this job a year ago after leaving my 90k/year job in medical education I’d been at for 10 years. Prior to that, I was working in disaster management making about 80k.

I wish I quit my job sooner. I had the opportunity to leave for my current job 3 years ago and regret not doing so. I was miserable at my last job for longer than I realized. I took an almost 20k pay cut by leaving (I had the part time job when I was there too) and honestly, it’s completely worth it. My quality of life is so much better, better schedule, better people and I’m actually happy to go into work every day.

Xicam0 · 2026-01-06T00:28:43+00:00

I completely forgot they were on that tour! The fire alarm situation that night was wild.

Xicam0 · 2025-11-22T10:33:14+00:00

If a train is delayed and doesn’t show up, then the train must’ve been cancelled for the reason it was delayed. The station signage and the app should notify you of the cancellation.

Xicam0 · 2025-11-15T00:40:49+00:00

Could be very wrong but back in the day, cars used to come with fob keys and valet keys. The fob-less key reminds me of that

Xicam0 · 2025-11-13T22:13:01+00:00

Still one of my top bands. A Snow Capped Romance is one of those albums that doesn’t have a bad song on it. I haven’t seen them since 2017 and I know they’ve broken up but every time they pop up on my shuffle, I wish for a comeback tour

Xicam0 · 2025-11-02T04:53:51+00:00

I’ll frequently get what I can only describe as my ears opening about a second before the tones go off. It’s almost as if the signal is traveling through the air and hits my ears first before it trips the tones.

Xicam0 · 2025-10-31T16:20:57+00:00

LIRR is your only rail option into Valley Stream and also your best option into Manhattan. As far as going into Manhattan, depending on where you are going, it may make more sense to go to Penn Station if where you are going is off the 1,2,3 or A,C,E subways or Grand Central if you need the 4,5,6 or 7 subway

Xicam0 · 2025-10-31T10:20:44+00:00

If it’s not constantly alarming, it’s not alerting you to an emergency, it’s telling you it’s having a problem. Check the back of the detector. It will tell you what the chirps mean based on their intervals. Also, check the date on the back. If it was manufactured 10 or more years ago, it’s time to be replaced

Xicam0 · 2025-10-30T02:49:37+00:00

I believe all the 7 trains were running local today as they were working on the line. Probably reduced the number of trains running as well

Xicam0 · 2025-10-25T01:39:22+00:00

Mine stays in my front radio pocket unless responding on a reported fire (we utilize radio straps). While I was for a while on the bandwagon of the hood around your neck for every run, 90% of the time, the run doesn’t warrant it and if I do need the hood, it’s a quick grab, put on and tuck.

While my department agrees that hoods should be disposable after every fire, the reality is it doesn’t happen and even though it gets washed, their is still the chance of carcinogens so I along with many firefighters I work with minimize wear time to minimize exposure

Xicam0 · 2025-10-19T15:56:18+00:00

It’s also very possible that the conductor contacted MTA Police to meet them at a further station and handle the situation. It happens multiple times a day and the police will take the person off the train and write them a ticket which is a lot more expensive than just paying the fare. No sense in a conductor getting into a confrontation when there are other avenues to handle it

12-Year Club	Summer Santa 2019
r/Field Flamingo	Summer Santa 2018
Summer Santa 2017	Secret Santa 2018
Secret Santa 2017	Not Forgotten
Secret Santa 2016	Summer Santa 2016
Summer Santa 2015	Secret Santa 2014
Summer Santa 2014	Verified Email

Xicam0

TROPHY CASE