Is new safer gear making things more dangerous?

After a long debate last night with a few old guys, new guys and anyone that would listen we talked about how come fire numbers are going down and LODD and injuries are going up?
One point we all agreed on is new gear and equipment is part of the issue. Back in the dark ages when we had rubber boots and long coats and no hoods we knew it was time to get out when your ears turned in marshmallows and we had to back up, new gear and hoods are allow a false sense of security and pushing people in deeper then they should be, and then there is the 30 minute tanks that did not allow the same amount of time working and cutting back on the number of heart attacks and other exertion issues.
I am not saying we should go backwards on the gear, God knows I like my ears and back of my neck but I think we need to work on more training of warning signs when its time to get out or time to go to rehab. If heat can not be you warning something needs to be. So whats your 2 cents?
Yeah was a time I rode a tail board and now can't wear a helmet in the truck but I am not against progress!

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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on August 14, 2008 at 4:04pm

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the Charleston FD and its chief described in some articles as "old school"? Which is to say that new tactics/new technology is absent from a pre-plan, perhaps?
I'm asking and not trying to be disrespectful.
And the chief has since retired.
The earlier points that I was making was that; leaders control what firefighters do on the fireground.
If someone got in too far or went in at all; if it was a command decision, then it was a failure in leadership.
If you cannot account for all of your firefighters, it is a failure of leadership.
If you are going to pass the buck, make excuses and otherwise deny responsibility, then you aren't ready for leadership.
My remarks are in no way a reflection of how I feel about the Charleston FD, the tragic event or how or why the deaths occurred.
My comments are about leadership in general.
If you take my comments the wrong way, then that is your problem.
TCSS.
Art

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Permalink Reply by FETC on August 14, 2008 at 4:34pm

Ms Shea, if you listen to the raw audio of the Charleston Fire there are guys in trouble before/during/after the rescue was completed. The trigger was not when the building collapsed 24 minutes later. FF disorientation occurred before/during/after the rescue effort was completed, when the conditions changed dramatically but definately before collapse... they may have remained inside post rescue until the building collapsed but it was NOT by choice. I have listened to the Charleston audio at least 30 times, they were in trouble earlier than post rescue/collapse.

Training and Advocating Scene Assessment is definately not disrespectful, but your choice of words in the announcement of the future FASNY training classes might be considered as such though.

Nobody committed themselves and died in an attempt to save a sofa.