All Blog Posts (7,003)

Dive team SOP's/SOG's

Am looking for assistance to write our dive team's SOP's/SOG's. Any team out there have any and would you mind sharing them? Thanks!!

Added by axeman on March 14, 2009 at 9:19am — 3 Comments

waddington VFD

just wanted to say high this is all new to me being on the net

Added by Matthew Mayette on March 14, 2009 at 8:26am — No Comments

From Firehouse Zen: I am never surprised by the willingness of firefighters to fight for what is right. I have officers that work with me as well as friends throughout emergency services who seem like they are perpetually locked in battle with someone over something, and having been one of those people myself for a number of years, I know how exhausting and frustrating that mode of… Continue

Added by Mick Mayers on March 14, 2009 at 7:38am — 6 Comments

Second concussion this year...

mom woke me up an hour ago like the doctor said to but now i cant go back to sleep... so im gonna explain my day

well i had my first concussion this year back in january after a snow tubing wreck... i got up after hitting my head walked to the car and passed out... mild concussion. I honestly though this incident would be my only concussion . i dont play dangerous sports, or skateboard and my helmet is always on when im at a fire scene so this came up really out of… Continue

Added by Jessica Travis on March 13, 2009 at 11:14pm — 3 Comments

What am I doing?

The answer to that one simple question is this...EVERYTHING!

For one thing if you can't figure it out, I'm a fireman for one. So there's always something going on. But when it comes to stuff that has yet to happen...

Well first off, I'm going to the Pens game on March 22. It's going to be televised on NBC at 12:30 that day. That's my first live game. I've watched season after season of pens hockey and never been to a game. That's going to change soon. In April, Me, my… Continue

Added by Havok on March 13, 2009 at 9:53pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...March 13, 2009

Amazing things can happen on Friday the 13th. Since the last Friday the 13th, I've thought of the day as a good luck day. Today was one of those days.

It started by visiting a very kind penpal who lives nearby and who has an adopted son who is now grown-up. His situation was a bit different than ours, with our adoptions being private and hers through foster care. It's interesting how times have changed.

Next, I… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on March 13, 2009 at 8:52pm — 11 Comments

Second-Due Syndrome

There is a classic attitude that I've seen in quite a few places throughout my career. It is a side effect from the fact that all of us want to be members of the first company to a fire, but another unit gets to the fire first.

The result is what I call "Second Due Syndrome". If you're not there first, there's a subconscious pressure to drive a little faster, mask up a little quicker, and rush to get into the building before someone else gets all of "our" action.

Second… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on March 13, 2009 at 7:30pm — 11 Comments

Who Loves the Halligan?!

Firefighter Nation users now have access to special Web-only articles and extras through FireRescue magazine's blog. Check back periodically for more great tips and tactics!

TRUCK COMPANY OPS

In Praise of the Halligan, Part 2: More inventive uses for the truckie’s go-to tool

By Peter F. Kertzie

All photos Peter F. Kertzie unless otherwise specified

My January column, “In Praise of the Halligan,” p.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 13, 2009 at 2:30pm — 5 Comments

What if you had a fire…and no one came?

By Lou Angeli

They are the folks who leave behind family and home at a moment’s notice to help a neighbor or other any person in need. That’s the story of 800,000 Americans who serve as fire-rescue volunteers. Until recently, it was a story that brought pride and inspiration to 80% of the communities in this nation. But times have changed and what was once America’s greatest emergency asset is suffering from a variety of setbacks.

A generation ago, when the fire… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on March 13, 2009 at 11:41am — 8 Comments

new person

hi my name is rick i just found your site hope to enjoy it i am a fire fighter/emt-b

Added by rick on March 12, 2009 at 11:41pm — 3 Comments

Stuff I never learned in P School

On the theme of "A lesson learned," I recalled a rough call that taught me more than I could have thought.

Here's a snippet:

My mentor there, I'll call him Bill, was a relaxed Paramedic who always talked about everything but the job. You know the type. Sports, family, anything, but when the bells rang he was all business and I soaked it up like a sponge.

Bill was the one who taught me that driving an ambulance isn't a race, but instead a challenge to see how little… Continue

Added by the Happy Medic on March 12, 2009 at 9:32pm — 1 Comment

A Humerous Story

The story of Ralph and Edna...

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.

He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.

Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head… Continue

Added by Andy Marsh on March 12, 2009 at 9:22pm — 2 Comments

Its paid for, but please.....

I finally got to ride in our sweet new ambulance Tuesday night. After countless bone jarring ambulance transfers in a 4WD vehicle that would have eventually resulted in breasts I could kneel on, we got a 2WD that offered a smooth ride and steps you can negotiate with a wide butt and short legs without looking like you just fell off a Mardi Gras float. Yaay for me!

It still has that 'new ambulance' smell, which is kind of like the 'new car' smell, if new cars came with extrication… Continue

Added by Kimberly Robinson on March 12, 2009 at 2:01pm — 9 Comments

Wanted: Safety Officers!

Firefighter Nation users now have access to special Web-only articles and extras through FireRescue magazine's blog. Check back periodically for more great tips and tactics!

NEAR-MISS REPORT

Good incident safety officers must have the right mix of experience, training, dedication & confidence

By Battalion Chief John B. Tippett Jr.

A dedicated incident safety officer (ISO) provides several critical functions on the fireground and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 12, 2009 at 10:00am — 2 Comments

New Suicide Technique Could Kill US.

Subject: Fw: "Person Down" in Vehicle - New way to commit suicide

Person Down in Auto/New way to commit suicide

Recently a new way to commit suicide has been discovered by mixing two chemicals that can be bought over the counter at local stores. They are Bonide - a sulfur spray used as an insecticide for fruit trees and hydrochloric (muriatic) acid. Once mixed, the chemicals produce heat and a flammable, noxious gas that causes the subject to pass out and the… Continue

Added by Jim Brunelle Jr. on March 11, 2009 at 7:00pm — 6 Comments

The fat guy...

Throughout my career I have battled the bulge, and lost on a few occasions, but also spent the majority of it in pretty good shape.

That was until I came back after 4 and a half years of working in the private sector.

So when I decided to rejoin the brotherhood I was in decent shape from driving mud and staying physically active. Unfortunately....when I got on the job things were pretty relaxed and I was back to getting a steady check that meant i could eat a little… Continue

Added by Allen Wahlstrom on March 11, 2009 at 3:31pm — 6 Comments

HELP! fire history

hey guys, im doing a project on the technology used in the fire service over the past 50 years and i am in DESPERATE need of information. anything you can send me regarding past methods of firefighting, tools used, types of bunker gear anything would be helpful. turn me onto a good website or suggest some books anything to help me along this 15 pg paer is due MARCH 31 so please help me pass this course!!!

Added by wes long on March 11, 2009 at 2:44pm — 6 Comments

Tools of the RIT Trade

Firefighter Nation users now have access to special Web-only articles and extras through FireRescue magazine's blog. Check back periodically for more great tips and tactics!

QUICK DRILLS

Is your crew familiar with what tools & equipment rapid intervention requires?

Story & Photos by Homer Robertson

We’re only about a month or so away from having some nice weather that will support outdoor drills. But until then,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 11, 2009 at 2:00pm — 16 Comments

interview question

I have a question about what an appropriate answer would be to an interview question,here it is: "You arrive on a house fire and your captain tells you to pull hose and make entry ,but you don't feel it's safe.What do you do?"

Added by Jason Graffio on March 11, 2009 at 1:01pm — 3 Comments

We only go if its life threatening?

My opinion!!!!! Who desides what is life threatening? I have heard depts comment that they only go to EMS calls that are life threatening. Calls come in and status changes with in minutes. Broken legs are really amputated, Difficutlty breathing, is not breathing. (I do know that it can go the other way as well)Some citizens dont have any medical knowledge at all. When they call and somone says they are dying, how do we know with out going there that they are not? I just dont feel that a Dept… Continue

Added by Ryann Hanford on March 10, 2009 at 11:16pm — 12 Comments