We have a very small dept and we have chief, asst chief, treasurer and secretary.  Wondering about having Capt and a LT. Is there set requirements or what is the deal with those postitions? Can we have our own rules for who can have those positions?

by Peggy Sweeney

The Sweeney Alliance

Journeys Through Grief Newsletters, Editor…

Continue

The USA Wellness Cafe is launching here: www.usawellnesscafe.com There will never be any charge or login required.

If you are a stress management writer or seminar trainer, perhaps you'd like to post some of your materials on the website. Email me at judihopson@earthlink.net to discuss your educational materials that can help health & EMS workers lower their…

Continue

Balance, coordination, power, strength, cardiovascular recovery....all essential fitness traits of the "fit for duty" Fire Rescue Athlete.   If you are a Fire Rescue Athlete (or not) you need to plan your workouts to address each of these traits.  One of the most overlooked is balance and coordination.  As a trainer I get asked how and when is the best time to train for balance?  As a firefighter I get asked why do I need to train for balance?  The last thing you want to happen…

Continue

Sometimes the most important lessons we learn come to us from unique people who are not firefighters. The fire service is continuously searching for new knowledge, and we discover it from a variety of people coming from diverse backgrounds.

I just learned today that Dr. Kimberly Alyn recently passed away unexpectedly. Dr. Ayln played an intricate role in the education of the fire service. She didn’t teach tactics or fire behavior. She coached us on firefighter behavior. She talked…

Continue

Hello everyone:

This is Jonathan, I’m a Firefighter Medic in Southern California, and like all of you, love being a Firefighter, serving others, alongside the finest men and women I know!

I just wanted to take a moment and invite you to be a part of an incredible book that is all about Firefighters and the joys and hardships of our job! We are currently compling, editing, and carefully selecting the best stories to be featured in our book! These are the stories…

Continue

Protecting people’s lives will involve risk for us as firefighters

 

“A female occupant, in her 40’s, was unable to escape due to the intense heat and thick smoke and was quickly located by firefighters. She was removed out of the bedroom window and treated by paramedics on the scene.”…

Continue

  Well , the year has been going smoothly so far . I have been in-and-out of theraputic range on my blood thinner . I am going to the Cardiologist every two weeks to get my finger stuck to check the coumadin level . The only good thing about these trips is going to be able to count the milage for tax time :)

   I am walking every day , and I'm not as short of breath as I once was befor the cardioversion and pacemaker was implanted in November 2012 .  I pick up cans along the road side…

Continue

It's the age old debate in the fire service of training vs. experiance. Is the older, more experianced firefighter with less training a better suit for a company officer than the highly trained, moderately experianced younger firefighter. I am currently facing this issue myself.

I joined the local fire department when I was 16 years old as a junior, acquiring my Firefigter 1 training around the time I turned 18 and became a front line firefighter. I am now 20 years old and currently hold… Continue

I'm so very Thankfu,l that i have my Husband,Captain Todd Holzschuh(Oakland Fire and Rescue),to help mentor and support me through my training. Volunteering has proved to be a positive Marital tool and rewarding contribution to our small Community.

 

This weekend my local newspaper ran a story about a call from many years ago that I have written about here in the past. The article by Bill Vogrin, here is a link http://sidestreets.freedomblogging.com/2013/02/02/sometimes-lives-start-badly-and-there-is-no-happy-ending/17883/ was done with great skill as he (and I) both had hopes for a much different…

Continue

Every year around this time I am asked for the "best" fitness tips to make the new year a healthy one.  Over the years this list has changed and evolved but for the most part if you are a Fire Rescue Athlete you need to be doing these 10 things. 

Continue