Featured Blog Posts – January 2010 Archive (37)

Simple Solutions Enhance Safety and Operations in Houston

Simple Solutions Enhance Safety and Operations in Houston

by

Robert G. Parry

After nearly thirty years of responding to alarms in both a small, paid combination department and a large urban city, I look back at the dramatic changes I have witnessed over the past decades. The safety and accountability of our members, while enroute, returning, or operating at an emergency incident, have… Continue

Added by Robert G. Parry on January 12, 2010 at 12:47am — 1 Comment

Live Internet Firefighter Show Debuts!

Firefighter NetCast debuts Tuesday night at 8pm ET with a LIVE NetCast!

Firefighter NetCast is an internet radio show by and for firefighters, featuring topics which are current, interesting, fun, and sometimes controversial.

The featured topic for the first show is Line of Duty Deaths.

Firefighter Line-of-Duty Deaths are down this year. Is this just a welcome fluke or are we actually making progress? Is it realistic to shoot for zero LODD’s? What has… Continue

Added by Firefighter NetCast on January 11, 2010 at 11:53pm — 8 Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-earning our pay (3)

San Jose Fire was very fortunate, in that during my time on the job we had only one on-duty death. As I previously mentioned, we had numerous job-related deaths and injuries. We came close a number of times; in my days firefighting used very aggressive tactics, which some now view to be too aggressive.

The education about Haz Mat and the changes it brought went against our desire to get in and get the job done. When dealing with chemicals that can kill or debilitate with a drop on… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 11, 2010 at 9:52pm — No Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-earning our pay (2)

As with most firefighters, I have had my share of ceilings fall on me and floors give way below my boots. Hot tar has run down my helmet and steam and heat has burned my ears (before Nomex hoods). In the movies, fire is sometimes depicted as a beast that talks to you. I have only had that experience once.

Engine 7 was second in on a large pool supply warehouse fire. When we arrived, it had already gone to multiple alarm and we knew we were going to be there all night. My regular… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 11, 2010 at 9:49pm — No Comments

What Simple “Tailboard Drills” Have You Found Valuable?

Baby it’s cold outside. It’s our busy season.

That’s why it’s so important to stay on top of our game, now more than ever.

It’s a great time for a simple “tailboard drill.”

I’m looking for your suggestions on quick company drills (for small crews of 3-5 or so) that you have found to be great ways to spend a few minutes while stuck inside.

Let’s gather some ideas and we’ll use them on a future Firefighter NetCast as well!

Added by FireDaily.com on January 11, 2010 at 7:07pm — No Comments

Tales from a Tailboard fireman-earning our pay

During 25 years of fighting fires and responding to calls, there are times when you know that was as close as you want to come to the edge. When you sense death tapping you on the shoulder and know that day you earned your pay.

My first was an ammonia leak at a rail yard. I was on the tailboard of Engine 7 when we were dispatched at 2100 hrs. When we got close, the smell almost knocked me and Tom off. S.J.F.D. had just set up a Haz Mat unit, and when we pulled up, I saw them… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 10, 2010 at 4:35pm — No Comments

How USAR Started, Part 4

FireRescue magazine's Technical Rescue Web column

California Takes the Lead: The history of the national Urban Search & Rescue program, part 4

By Harold Schapelhouman

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series on the history of the national USAR program. Read the previous posts:

Part 1: How It All Started…

Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 8, 2010 at 10:30pm — No Comments

Live-fire training: Strategies for ensuring it’s safe and realistic

Live-fire training: Strategies for ensuring it’s safe and realistic

By Keith Lloyd

Live-fire training is a necessary and indispensable tool for the professional fire service instructor. Fire training technology has made great advancements in recent years, but has yet to produce a simulator that can provide the same experience, the feeling of heat and the ability to observe fire behavior that live-fire evolutions provide.

Introducing the firefighter… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 7, 2010 at 8:00am — 11 Comments

Muscle Memory Required for Bailout Systems

I’m working on a research paper for my NFA class and have found some interesting statistics about the selection, use and training of bailout devices. I’m not promoting any device or even the use of a bailout device, however; if you are wearing a bailout system, you should be able to articulate to some one why you are wearing the particular system you have and how you would deploy the device during an emergency event. I have found that the departments who are wearing bailout systems may not be… Continue

Added by Darryl Kerley on January 6, 2010 at 11:59am — No Comments

Plug Away: Drills for improving communication & success on a forward lay

QUICK DRILLS

Plug Away: Drills for improving communication & success on a forward lay

By Homer Robertson

What’s the one fireground task that the least-experienced member of your company is often assigned to perform, without help? As a new firefighter, I remember going out to the apparatus bay with the company officer or the apparatus operator first thing in the morning, and they would tell me, “If we get anything today, you’re plugging.” They… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 6, 2010 at 8:00am — No Comments

Challenges for the new decade

Now that the new decade has started and having had time to reflect on what I have and have not achieved over the last 10 years it is time to set some goals.

1. Family always comes first;

2. Lose those excess kilograms;

3. Get fit;

4. Remain active and involved not just in firefighting but in my community as well;

5. Keep learning;

6. Continue to promote firefighting as a career choice not just for those who want to do this as paid work but for those people… Continue

Added by Mark Montgomery on January 6, 2010 at 5:00am — No Comments

What Would You Do? -Suspicious Item

You are the company officer on a jump company engine with a crew of three. The dispatcher calls you on the phone and tells you she’s received a report from a passer-by of a “suspicious-looking bottle” lying in the ditch in a rural portion of your response district. You tell her that you and your crew will head out and check on it.

After you arrive in the area, you begin your search of the ditch line, looking for a plastic bottle with a bright blue liquid in it. After a few moments,… Continue

Added by FireDaily.com on January 5, 2010 at 1:57pm — 6 Comments

Tales from a tailboard fireman ~ Regulars

Thanks for your comments on past posts.

We all have repeat calls to people. Some of mine stand out over the years and have stayed with me for various reasons.

Roy L. was a drunk. We got called out to lots of drunks at all times of the day or night. Classic conversation, "How long have you been drinking," slurred answer, "All my life." Roy would call us at 2 or 3 in the morning. Difficulty breathing. The first time I responded I put the O2 mask on with no result and… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 5, 2010 at 12:10am — 1 Comment

Do You Know an Exceptional Fire Service Leader?

Update: CFSI also opened nominations for the Paul S. Sarbanes Fire Service Safety Leadership Award. Criteria include: recognition of the Life Safety Initiatives; being an advocate for firefighter health and safety; leadership in promoting and supporting firefighter health and safety initiatives at the local, state or national level; reaching out to other organizations and developing partnerships to further the cause of firefighter health and safety; and engaging government leaders… Continue

Added by Shannon Pieper, FireRescue Magazine on January 4, 2010 at 4:00pm — 3 Comments

Ouch! It hurts, but muscle soreness is key to muscle strength

Survival of the Fittest

Story & Photos by Jeff & Martha Ellis

The agony of adaptation is ever-apparent when starting a new workout program. In the new year, many of you will hit the gym for the first time in a long time. With that will come the inevitable pain and suffering of delayed onset muscle soreness, or DOMS.

Whether you’re starting a new program or intensifying an old one, some very interesting things occur… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on January 4, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

Tales from a tailboard fireman ~ Promotions

Promotions on the San Jose Fire Department are based on a written test and an oral board consisting of chief officers from other departments. The orals have several stations covering tactics, personnel issues, and whatever else is dreamed up as relevant by whatever branch of the city is in charge of the process at that time. In my 25 years, the tests varied greatly.

In the beginning, the written tests were formulated by senior staff of the fire department. Questions came from our… Continue

Added by mike simms on January 3, 2010 at 12:15pm — 2 Comments