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Whats the worse injury you have taken as a firefighter, and what could you have done to avoid it
With modern construction the way it is, and all the differant aspects of training required we all face the grave reality that we can become injured in the line of duty. This is just a thread to see what type of injuries you may have encountered, and what could you have done to avoid the injury. There is no shame in sharing your story as we can all read and hopefully learn from your situation..
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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I have been injured twice in my almost 15 years of firefighting.
One time I received second degree burns while inside a structure fire. The sprinkler system was fully operational in the area we were fighting the fire, and I was not wearing my flash hood as is mandatory in our SOP's. (it was still wet from a previous fire) The water from the sprinkler system was super heated and it rolled down my Turnout coat into the area of my chest under the PPE. I received an approximate 4" round second degree burn. What I should have done was followed department SOP and worn my flash hood, would have minimized or removed the risk of the burn
My second injury was my major injury which still affects me to this date. We resonded at 0430 to a building fire (exterior 2 car barn/garage) When we arrived on scene we found the bard to be fully involved, and an exterior attack was started. (lead engine had a driver and 2 firefighters) We took 2 crosslays off the engine and worked the open side of the building (had burnt off) with the hose lines. We were approached by the first chief on scene to notify us of numerous painting supplies (thinners and paints) and the general area that they were in. A few moments later we were notified of welding tanks, and propane tanks by the same chief. After about 3 minutes the tanker, a second engine and first due mutual aid company arrived on scene. The rear of the building collapsed forcing the hoselines back. When I backed up I fell off the 6' tall retaining wall onto the stones being used to create the wall. (I still can't believe I held the line) I hit the rocks so hard I scratched the bottle deep and bent the SCBA backframe. I felt a descent ammount of pain, but stuck my ground and continued fire suppression. When the fire was out and we all returned, I couldn't get my turnout coat off myself, and was assisted by my fellow firefighters. (My shoulder had swollen to about twice the normal size.) Needless to say I was taken to the ER where I was diagnosed as having a sprain or strain and released. (This was later corrected after a MRI was done and they found a ball of fluid in my still swollen shoulder 2 months later) I was booked for an exploritory surgery to see if they could find and correct the injury. They diagnosed it as a 100% cartilage tear. (the doctors called it a Slap repair) my 1 hour exploritory surgery turned into a 6 hour surgery complete with 3 holes being drilled into my collar bone and metal posts being screwed in. I have wire stitches (permanent) which pull the cartilage into the collarbone giving me a full range of motion. I still to this date have difficulty with arthritis, and occasionally the painful popping out of my shoulder. Although I have grown used to it, and have found ways to mitigate the pain, and if it pops I can get it back in. (rarely pops)
What I should have done to avoid this injury was not developed tunnel vision when the hose line was in my hands and surveryed they area surrounding the fire. There should have been an exterior attack with the Deck Gun's on both lead engines instead of relying on a ground exterior attack with 2" hand lines.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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E-913, those 2 inch hand lines are a danger unless there are enough folks to hang onto them. I wonder if that contributed to your fall? I'm sorry to hear that it still bothers you.
The worst injury I ever suffered was a dislocated shoulder in 1994. It happened as I tried to move a motorcycle out of the way so apparatus could access a car fire behind a structure. The bike fell, and foolishly I tried to keep the ####ing thing from falling. Gravity 1, shoulder 0. It took about a month for the shoulder to heal, and about a year for my pride to catch up. Thankfully the shoulder doesn't give me any trouble at all.
What could I have done differently? Run over the ####ing thing. Believe me, next time I will.
The moral is, modern lightweight construction is a huge hazard we face today, but not all injuries happen inside the structure.
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Permalink Reply by Firegal77 on
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well, this one time at band camp........ ;-)
OK, there was one time that I was removing fuel to create a fuel break in the event fire should come through. I was getting pretty tired, and had a few branches to cut. There was one branch that was a bit high for one as vertically challenged as I. Instead of asking the other sawyer(who was a good foot taller than I) I decided to cut it myself. I made the appropriate cuts, the only issue was simply that due to my lack of height, i had to be very near to the branch in order to fell it.....of course, it spun and fell right on me, i was able to jump back enough to not be totally squished, but with a running saw that ended up too near to my head for comfort. Fortunately the only thing injured was my pride, but it was a good learning experience. It is a reminder to ask for help when you need it, and always stop and think about the obvious outcomes before hand(I knew it was less than optimum for me to cut the branch but didnt want to bother the other sawyer). It could have been very bad if the running saw would have been a few inches closer to my head.
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Permalink Reply by Matthew Brough on
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We had a 1070 at a two story apartment complex here in town about 4 years ago. We had had a fire earlier that day, and we had noted a problem with the truck going in and out of pump gear (thankfully there is a manual override). Well, it was cold, the truck was wet, cold + wet = ice, right? I climbed out of the engine (conventional cab International) to hit the override lever when the air switch failed. As I started back into the engine, I slipped off the pump panel, hit the bottom step and my knee buckled under. I hit the ground with a large thud. I was able to get back up and pump the truck, but I knew I was hurt. I hobbled back into the station, and I was taken to the hospital as my knee was swollen tight inside the bunker pants I had on. I ended up needing a surgery and extensive physical therapy.
To avoid this again, I wouldn't run a truck that wasn't able to do everything it was supposed to. We have three engines, I should have left that damn truck at the station anyway!
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on
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Thank God, nothing major since beginning in 1979. Yup, you see that correctly, just a lucky old guy. I've had a couple sprained ankles on calls, and similar stuff, but no biggie. I remember two that could have been worse though.
1 working the basement of a house fire, had a floor joist fall and land on the top of my foot (hurt like hell) then couldn't get the boot off. Went to the E/R, they said it was a bad bruise, maybe a cracked bone. What to do? Not really sure, other than try to be more aware of the poor condition as a result of the fire damage.
2 Had a fire at a animal processing plant, later in the fire, ROOF GONE, working inside mopping up (without SCBA, long ago when that was common), my partner gets ill (good reason considering the fire) but then goes unconscious ends up in serious condition at the hospital for 2 days. I was right next to him and they pulled me out and sent me also. Never got sick at all. The reason? I am 6' 2" and he was about 5' 8" or so, and the best they could figure, the noxious burning animal fluids were heavier than air and he got into them and I did not. Like I said before, just a lucky old guy with sore joints :)
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In both instance you were lucky. To add more as a thought in the first injury, a possible better size up to understand? Lord knows I am even guilty of tunnel vision lol
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Yeah the 2 " lines can be a tad difficult to hold onto, especially if the relief valve isn't set properly. One quick nozzle shutdown and your going for a ride. Been there, done that
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Oh yeah, for sure. I went down after other firefighters had already been down there. All these years later, I see it was a typical situation where the fire's location was in doubt at first, then recognized as in the basement, which is a whole other size-up issue. For several reasons, it was a real learning experience, just not of the serious injury or LODD variety.
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And by you sharing hopefully someone will have a flash to this before they make the same mistake. I know I have cross referenced some things I have read and averted some injuries to others etc.
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