All Blog Posts (7,003)

Feeling down and out...

Maybe its the raging hormones, maybe it's just me. But I'm feeling very unlike myself. I just wanna cry. Life has been so full of curveballs. One right after the other, and I always stay strong and hold my head high. I try not to show that anything is bothering me, and the times I do express it, it blows up in my face. It seems to me the only thing keeping me going right now is the baby I'm carrying. Feeling it's little flutters bring a smile to my face, despite the circumstances I do love this… Continue

Added by Daniele on June 3, 2009 at 5:45pm — 3 Comments

Comments made by the 24th. District Attorney Mr. Cook....

I am disgusted at the statement made by District 24 District Attorney Max Cook and I quote from a reliable source, “I had a brief conversation with District 24 District Attorney Max Cook on Tuesday. He explained that the initial and primary focus of the ongoing investigation is to determine if any charges will be brought against the EMS crew. While it is not the current priority, Cook would not rule out the possibility his office could look to see if there is any merit to claims the troopers… Continue

Added by CJ on June 3, 2009 at 1:50am — 2 Comments

Presidential Election 2012

I have decided after careful consideration to try to run for Preident in the 2012 election.I am 34 at this time,married with 3 children.I am an EMT and volunteer firefighter.I am not a politician.I am asking you for your questions and comments.I am also asking for the support of Firefighter Nation members.I am not going to make any promises directly related to issues facing our country at this time.I do have ideas about several of the issues and will explain them either at a later date or when… Continue

Added by WILLIAM HUDSON on June 1, 2009 at 8:33pm — 13 Comments

on the job concussions

hi ,i'm an 8 year veteran of the st.lazare fire department and am on my 3rd week recovering from an on the job concussion.i must say it definitly is alot harder to recover than i thought,any one else out there suffered the same as i,please let me know how you coped

Added by gerry allain on June 1, 2009 at 8:17pm — 6 Comments

Fire Service: Public More Harmful Than Helpful

he Barbados Fire Service values the public's assistance in fighting fires but that help must come under the guidance of its officers.

Divisional Officer Randolph Cox said civilians were not allowed to take up and use any of the service's equipment.

"I can understand people's enthusiasm and that they want to assist but they have to do so under the guidance of the fire service," he said.

Cox was speaking to the Press last Friday at the scene of a fire in Mason… Continue

Added by Glyne Alleyne on June 1, 2009 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Fire/EMS Safety Week: Survival Requires Situational Awareness and Structural Size-Up

The IAFC and the International Association of Fire Fighters are asking you to Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility. We’re calling on all fire/EMS departments and all IAFF affiliates to participate in the 2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week, scheduled for June 14-20.

Fire chiefs should develop situational awareness of their own organizations and ensure firefighters and company officers are… Continue

Added by IAFC on June 1, 2009 at 5:11pm — No Comments

5 INCH HOSE CLAMPS

IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT USES 5 INCH HOSE CLAMPS? WE HAVE GOTTEN A NEW ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF WHO IS SET ON USING THIS TOOL. I HAVE FOUND INCIDENTS ON THE SECRET LIST OF POTENTIAL INJURIES AND INJURIES THAT HAVE OCCURED DUE TO THIS. SO I AM ASKING IF YOU HAVE TRIED THEM OR USED THEM PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND LET ME KNOW THE GOOD AND BAD. THEY WONT LISTEN TO ME FOR HELL I AM ONLY A CAPTAIN...

DARRAN VAUGHN
MCAS BEAUFORT FIRE RESCUE

Added by Darran Vaughn on June 1, 2009 at 4:47pm — 12 Comments

Company Raffle

Hey members, If you're interested in a Polaris 500, we are doing a raffle for one. we have set a Max of 1000 tickets and they are going fast. Don't miss out. Support a volunteer fire department and win a nice machine for a donation of only $20.00 Call 518-462-2922 for complete details and don't forget to tell your Chief. They might consider a ATV to use at that hard to reach brush… Continue

Added by First Due before you on June 1, 2009 at 3:47pm — No Comments

Lost a Friend for Caring Too Much?

Let's face it... maybe I'm selfish, but I have no desire to go to an LODD funeral. I, as Chaplain, don't want to go up to the family of a fallen brother or sister, and offer prayers and attempts at comforting thoughts. I just don't want to do it. Am I selfish? Probably just a little. But who really WANTS to attend an LODD funeral? Or even visit an injured brother or sister firefighter in the hospital? Again, not on the top of my to-do list. Selfish? Eh, maybe a little.

Some of my… Continue

Added by LadyChaplain on June 1, 2009 at 3:00pm — 5 Comments

Getting the Right People on the Engine

Joe Sommers, Director of HR Services for ZERORISK, has some great interviewing tips to help you in finding new candidates that fit with your team.

Q. Joe, what interviewing tips do you have to help departments find appropriate candidates that will “fit” in their department?

A. The success when interviewing for ‘fit’ is “knowing where you’re going.” By that I’m referring to – what does ‘fit’ mean to you and your department? Is it the ability to understand others,… Continue

Added by IAFC on June 1, 2009 at 2:18pm — No Comments

On Site Detection of Mercury????

How often do you guys run into a situation where you need to be able to check around for mercury levels?

Added by Alex Hummell on June 1, 2009 at 1:30pm — No Comments

Killing the Messenger and Missing an Opportunity

STUDY FAILS TO ESTABLISH LINK BETWEEN CANCER AND FIRE FIGHTING was the attention grabbing April 16 press release from the National League of Cities. The angry response from both the IAFF and IAFC was fueled by this statement:

< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

“While we depend on firefighters for… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on June 1, 2009 at 1:00pm — 2 Comments

Assistance needed for the Family of Asst. Chief David Bricker.

Added by Don Wilson on May 31, 2009 at 8:08pm — 1 Comment

DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER

Remember the old saying “Don’t shoot the messenger”? I was just recently reminded of the adage and how we in the fire service need to heed its meaning as much as anyone. As I was cutting up freshly felled trees on my ranch I heard a voice from my past. It was of an experience I remember as though it just happened. I was a probationary firefighter in my first full time paid position at a small department when I decided to take advantage of some down time and train on chain saw maintenance. As I… Continue

Added by S. Trotter on May 31, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

Fire vs Police

With the recent events with the state troopers and emts, it got me to thinking about how often we in the fire service make jokes at the expense of law enforcement. How many of have heard of using the" cop o' meter"to check for haz-mat, or one of the many jokes about fire fighters being better than police officers? I have been on both sides of the issue, I am a retired law enforcement officer, and I can see both sides. We need to stop setting ourselves apart and start trying to remove the walls… Continue

Added by John Schander on May 30, 2009 at 7:49pm — 5 Comments

Introduction Revisited

For those readers unfamiliar with Firefighter Behavior, May marks the point where I have been writing for one year. This is a reflection on the purpose and value of that writing and common themes that were very prevalent in that year.

Introduction Revisited

Firefighter Behavior, May 2009

A year ago I had begun my fire service writing with a reflection of the powerful… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on May 30, 2009 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

It's a hockey night in Pittsburgh!

Bring it squids!!!..... again

Epic

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire loves Da Pens…

Continue

Added by Doug on May 30, 2009 at 8:30am — 1 Comment

Subject: Common Sense Obituary

Mr. Common Sense, birth date unknown.

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be forever remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, I should work for what I want and maybe it was my… Continue

Added by Oldman on May 29, 2009 at 5:11pm — 6 Comments

Embarrassment for law officers Nationwide!

This is a letter I sent to officials in Oklahoma, I'm disgusted by the unprofessional conduct of this power hungry "officer" of the OHP!

Dear Chief:

I have been compelled to write to you as a fellow public service official, a California Firefighter/EMT-D and Emergency Room Patient Care Technician for two (2) hospitals. The incident that took place between your officer Martin and EMT-P White in Paden, OK on the 24th of May 2009 in NOT ONLY completely unprofessional and a… Continue

Added by CJ on May 29, 2009 at 3:22pm — 5 Comments

VCOS Offers $1500 FRI Scholarships

The Volunteer & Combination Officers Section (VCOS) of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) will award two $1,500 scholarships to attend Fire Rescue International (FRI), being held August 25-29, 2009 in Dallas. This scholarship program was developed to promote leadership through learning among volunteer and combination officers.

Scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s description of how the department or the… Continue

Added by IAFC on May 29, 2009 at 2:23pm — No Comments