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Permalink Reply by Heather on May 18, 2008 at 7:47pm

I hope these firefighters are doing well and healing. I am sure they are missed around their house.

Stay strong folks.

Heather

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Permalink Reply by Shannon H. Pennington on June 7, 2008 at 2:15pm

I had the opportunity to listen in to the raido communications between the fire ground commander/incident command and those on the front lines and from inside the fire. First and foremost, that these men are alive is a tribute to the MCFRS training and commitment to S.O.P. and G.O.G's (standard operating procedures and general operating guidelines). It needs to be mentioned that the individual firefighters showed not only great courage but that they initiated their "self rescue" and while it did not "look pretty" it did get the job done. On a more positive side......the incident command system and the i.c. himself gave clear radio orders and had a very clear insight on what had happened and remained "cool under extreme pressure". This could only have come from an individual and individuals who were working in a "team enviorment" using all of their "skill sets" to bring these men out "alive". Thier courage and wisdom from many other incidents was applied in a direct and concerned concentrated manner. Anyone who, from a rear echelon, doubts the integrity and efforts of those in charge on this incident are doing so from a "R.E.M.F. Postion".......armchair quarterbacks on Monday Morning around the watering jug can say what they will......the facts remain....that this was an incident that had many risks and "unkonown variables" at work. The efforts by all as part of "the team" is to be commended and recognized as one "valliant effort" to bring these men out alive. We face constant risks in our jobs on the front lines and the unknowns reach out to kill or injury those who take the risks to preserve protect and remove from danger lives that would otherwise perish. If it were not for the courage and dedication of the entire team....this outcome would have been much sadder as an unusual fire fighting event. The injured and their family members will need constant attention over the months and years of re-hab. Let's keep in mind too.....that we owe a great debt to the almighty for preserving the lives of those who go in harms way.
The rumors and comments that come from the rear echelon mother......who would want to denigrate the incident and the incident commander are to be taken in context of the water cooler types......and what they did not do on the scene....they were not there....and they can only speculate what they may have done. We know what was done and who did it.......Good Job everyone....
It did not look pretty but it did get it done......

Stay Safe
Prayers for the injured and for those who physically and mentally will be scared for life......
"Not All Wounds are Visible"

Shannon H. Pennington ptsd firefighterveteran
Senior Chief (Administrative)
North American Fire Fighter Veterans Network
F.I.R.S.T. S.T.E.P. H.O.P.E.
care for the caregivers

Web Site:
firefighterveteran.com/

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Permalink Reply by FireCat on June 8, 2008 at 4:33pm

I will keep our Maryland brothers in my prayers for a speedy recovery!

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Permalink Reply by Shannon H. Pennington on June 8, 2008 at 10:14pm

Getting with the program in reply to West Philly I guess your better at spelling than I am...your correct but when you think about it.....scared or scarred goes both ways if you think about it....Now as for assuming who is and who is not affected by the burn injuries suffered by those who had to take a nose dive out of the 2nd story windows....busted up bodies and burns seem not to count for something in your idea of wounding.......as for the family members who will be beside their loved ones.....well...I guess again that you have it all figured out....good job....As far as understaning the operational injuries and how they affect those at the scene.....everyone has a "trauma trunk" some are full and some are not......Triggering incidents can occur any time any place and under any kind of circumstance that firefighters will find themselves in. To suggest that wounding cannot or did not take place either at the physical or emotional level on this particular event is somewhat backwards to my p.o.v. and my way of thinking. Yours on the other hand has it all figured out....again....good job....as a fire Capt. you lead and those others follow so....what are you thinking is involved here....hence the reason we have fourms.....give us your opinion out of the chute.....thanks...
Information on stress and post truamtic stress can be found at firefighterveteran.com/ on the internet....have a peek and lets see where you think this is going....Jimmy Brown fdny retired has a message for anyone who visits the web site....on the first page at the bottom click on the link....Real Men Real Depression........

Be Safe
Shannon H. Pennington B.C.S.M. A.A.E.T.S.
Senior Chief (Administrative)
North American Fire Fighter Veterans Network
Ex IAFF Career Fire Fighter 26 years.

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Permalink Reply by Shannon H. Pennington on June 8, 2008 at 10:22pm

give us your thoughts on this as it is important to anyone who reads the forum.....ok spelling errors aside....what do you think will or is part of the evolution post event regarding the stress levels and at what level they will affect those involved....????

thanks

shannon

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Permalink Reply by Shannon H. Pennington on June 20, 2008 at 7:02pm

ok good point and got all of that......I do feel that the unknown is what we are dealing with here ......and that the suicide rates in the fire service mean that many have fallen off the horse or those who have end up with injury that is both wounding in the physical as well as the emotional sense......To suggest that is not so is to "ride the horse tall in the saddle....backwards".....you can see where you have come from without the benefit of seeing where you are going........

The amount of data coming in from the wounded fire fighter veterans who are seeking information on our web site suggests that your p.o.v. about the word scared or scarred is just that....... as mine....my p.o.v. We differ in outlook........

I would also like to suggest that if your not dealing with a healthy dose of fear and cannot admit it then the river of denial is not just one that runs through an eastern country.

I do agree that most of the one point one million firefighters on Americas Front Lines are able to cope well with the stress and strain of the service work load....including the sum 365 thousand Union IAFF types. (this is in reference to the bulk of those who serve the American fire services).

Having followed many of the family members comments on the loss of F.D.N.Y. firefighters on 911 they have openly gone against the suggestion and image that their loved one willingly went into harms way without fear.....they instead "did their job, fear and all"........and perished in the process.......(see fdny radio controversy on other web blogs).

So.....the macho image is intact and your stress levels are very much currently under control......that does not mean that others do not have reactions to their injury or traumatic wounding......We should let those who are studing the problem in France and in the Boston PTSD study publish their results......as far as CISM and CISMD who needs it? Or at least that is the way it seems you suggest it goes...otherwise how can you justify it's use across the braod perspective of the the fire service?

As an added note: what is in your coffee that makes you fearless? Gimme some so I can market it to the fire service......sounds like it may save some lives.....

Lets see if we can swim in the swamp with the aligators and get to the other side of the discussion without loosing any vital body parts......for me....after 26 years as a full time professional IAFF member on the front line....nozzelman/medic.......fear....well.....you live with it....and you get the job done.....The bounce back looses it's effect around the 24 to 30 year career mark........at least from the firefighterveterans perspective.....
Go to the web page on firefighterveteran.com/ and on the articles section on page one....click on the winter spring edition and see what an IAFF Capt out of Edmonton Canada has to say to an IAFF Local in Calgary Canada....about the "suicide death" of a career firefighterveteran.......and then give me a shout back....I look forward to hearing from you.....in the meantime....as always....
Thank you for your continued courage and commitment on Americas Front Lines....and
be safe in the service....

Shannon

comments thanks muchly......shannon

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