All Blog Posts (7,003)

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Pro Development Team (FFCA PDT) uses cycling to spread the word about our professional rescuers

suffering chronic to terminal illnesses, especially those that can be

attributed to exposure during the months after 9/11. First

Responders everywhere are at risk for health issues that don't go away.

For many it’s a chronic cough or…

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Added by Allen Wahlstrom on November 5, 2010 at 8:00pm — 2 Comments

CPR

I'm doing CPR this week in my EMT course and it's fun.

Added by Jonny Gordon on November 5, 2010 at 5:24pm — 1 Comment

Emergency Candles - Safer, Convenient, Cost Effective and Environmentally Friendly

Check out this innovative new concept in emergency candles. www.asafercandle.com

Fire Department Fundraiser Special allows you to generate much needed funds for your department while reducing

the chances of accidental candle fires in your community -Creates a Win-Win situation!

Added by Kevin Dawson on November 4, 2010 at 10:49am — No Comments

Running The Line: Estimating the Stretch

The housewatch wakes you, hitting the intercom yelling "first due box!". At o-dark-thirty did you hear the address? Did it tell you how many lengths you'll need?

Author's Note: Purpose of post is not to specifically critique the actions in any video and/or photographs, but to prompt discussion and illustrate various points. No fireground operation is 100% perfect. - bc

A recent… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on November 4, 2010 at 9:30am — No Comments

Economic challenges offer opportunities to shape the future

NOVEMBER PRESIDENT'S LETTER

Looking Forward: Economic challenges offer opportunities to shape the present & future

By Chief Jack Parow, MA, EFO, CFO, MIFireE

A look at our country’s history of recessions since the Great Depression shows that they are a very natural—though painful—part of the economic cycle. In fact, we’ve lived through… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 4, 2010 at 6:30am — No Comments

sops

I followed sops line officers would not return calls. sops state that we are to keep our gear in perfect order. I went to fix my helmet with one screw. I found the scew in my gear bag so I put back an out of service helmet. I was kjcked out of the company for this. Where did I go wrong? All I want to do is serve my community. Yet I was told I could never apply again. What kind of bull is clear brook company 13 pulling? They bmake the rules as they go.

Added by Mike Kaplan on November 3, 2010 at 8:34pm — 1 Comment

Firefighters & Back Injuries: The New Study

Study involving San Diego firefighters examines back muscle strength, endurance & flexibility

By Joe Verna, Colin Stowell, Richard Parker, Antonio Duran & John Mayer

For information about exercises to help support back strength, check out "Back for More: Exercises that can help prevent low back pain or injury," by Jeff and Martha Ellis, in the November issue… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 3, 2010 at 7:00am — No Comments

Age to take Evoc

Can you be sixteen and take Evoc or do you have to be a certain age?

Added by Frederick Martin on November 2, 2010 at 10:53pm — 2 Comments

Consider your words carefully when demeaning those who speak of "safer firefighters"!

Perception is reality...and a large part of one's perception is based upon their environment... past, present and their expected future.

For example, if you are around positive people the majority of your life then you more than likely will have a bright outlook on things and most who cross your path will consider you to be a smiling optimist. Conversely, if you spend most of your time around people and situations that steep in negativity then you will probably share a life view…

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Added by John Barrett on November 2, 2010 at 8:30pm — 1 Comment

Confined Space Rescue Hierarchy

Confined Space Rescue Hierarchy

By Scott Goodwin, COSS

With all of the recent talk on confined space incidents and what has gone wrong during the rescues it is time to talk about the different types of rescues and the options that are available in a rescue. As a fire officer and confined space rescue technician, you should not be relying on the local fire department to be your rescue team. This is the most common mistake and is also a possible OSHA violation. Secondly, most… Continue

Added by Lt. R. Scott Goodwin on November 2, 2010 at 2:15pm — No Comments

What Can Go Wrong in Confined Space Rescues

What Can Go Wrong in Confined Space Rescues?

Part two of a two part series

Scott Goodwin, COSS

Recently, we have all seen the media attention on some of the confined space rescues that have gone wrong. From May 2010 to September 2010 there were three high profile confined space rescues that resulted in three workers perishing, six injured rescuers and one fatality of a rescuer. So what went so horribly wrong that in these three…

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Added by Lt. R. Scott Goodwin on November 2, 2010 at 2:12pm — 1 Comment

Confined Space Rescue Failures

Confined Space Rescue…Is it worth killing yourself over?

Part one of a two part series

By Scott Goodwin, COSS

May 8, 2010 Middletown, OH a worker conducting a non-entry inspection of a manhole was incapacitated and fell into the hole. Moments later, two firefighters lowered their Captain into the hole to conduct the rescue. All three firefighters are overcome and nearly perish in the botched rescue.

May 26, 2010 Liberty Township, Indiana a worker is… Continue

Added by Lt. R. Scott Goodwin on November 2, 2010 at 2:08pm — No Comments

It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Fire: Lightweight construction has fire prevention implications, too

It’s Not Your Grandfather’s Fire

Lightweight construction has fire prevention implications, too

By Jim Crawford

“It’s not your grandfather’s fire.”

That phrase was used by Bob Backstrom of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to describe the kind of fire produced by modern contents, construction techniques and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 2, 2010 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

November Training Prompt: How Is Your Truck Work Defined?

November's training prompt challenges you to look at one important part of truck work: Ladders.

Truck work, or ladder company operations, do not require a ladder company apparatus. Having a 100' aerial or a 75' tower ladder is a great advantage; however many of the key truck work basics do not require the "stick." For some of you, these basics are covered by the firefighter riding across from you (he or she may be the forcible entry… Continue

Added by Bill Carey on November 1, 2010 at 5:19pm — No Comments

What’s the Difference Between Using a Search Rope & a Rope-Assisted Search?

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

Understand the factors that affect whether you will enter a building to conduct a search—and what type of search you’ll conduct once you’re in

By Michael M. Dugan

Searching a fire building can be an extremely difficult and time-consuming task for any truck company. One of our options to help us in this endeavor—a… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on November 1, 2010 at 6:00am — No Comments

Two down what's next.

Added by Jay Nicholson on October 31, 2010 at 10:20pm — 1 Comment

Junior firefighters

Hey, at my department there are only two junior firefighters and I'm one of them. Anyways, we were thinking about doing a fundraiser so we can get something for us juniors. Problem is, we don't know what we should get. So, what are some stuff for junior firefighters that we could get?

Added by Frederick Martin on October 31, 2010 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 31, 2010

Yes, it's been months since I've written here and I have neglected you firefighternation because we are not allowed to write about ANY fire activities without permission. New SOP. Can't even write about our 5K Race during the summer, or how for the month of October we had story night in the firehouses. We even have a new acting chief who I may add was a fine deputy chief so I think we are going in the right direction, but I…

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Added by Denise Imperiale on October 31, 2010 at 7:30am — 5 Comments

pager

I have a firepager for sale 75$ it is a minuter 2 with a amplified charger it is 46.180 frequency you can call me at 717-778-7287.

Added by scott noel on October 30, 2010 at 8:49pm — 1 Comment

Pump training and testing

Check out this one, test a pumper on site once a year and use the same divice to train pump operators anytime!!!

No heat problem when used wth a 2000 gallon folding tank, no airation problem, clean water no damage to pump impeller, safe operation, do an in service pump test at your station. Don't take it to the lake or river, don't risk getting stuck (have a cook out, eat and watch the pump "enjoy the day")

Train anytime using the device at your station simulate two 1-3/4"…

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Added by August Martin on October 30, 2010 at 8:25pm — No Comments