March 2009 Blog Posts (167)

Please help?

Can someone please help me decipher the requirements for fire officer training. I am trying to figure it out. I need to get the training soon, but am having a hard time figuring out just what I do need.

Added by Robert on March 31, 2009 at 6:27pm — 8 Comments

FEMA Heart Study: A lesson in situational awareness

By now, we’ve all read or heard about the preliminary results from the FEMA-sponsored study that found one third of firefighters had heart disease that was unrelated to traditional risk factors, such as high cholesterol, and they have a 300% increased risk of dying from heart disease than other segments of the general population. While these results are astonishing, they also provide vital information to… Continue

Added by Cindy Devone-Pacheco, FireRescue on March 31, 2009 at 6:06pm — 12 Comments

What does a chief do?

EVERYTHING When i became chief due to the death of our past chief i thouht i had a good understanding of what to expect. After all i had been his asst.for a couple of years.I Knew what meetings to go to . Who to get a hold of and for what.That was the easy stuff. I now realise i was also a chaplain and pycologist as well. As certain things have come up the last few months.I dont care for the polatics that sometimes come with this new job. And i did know i was responsible for everything witch is… Continue

Added by Tim Wood on March 31, 2009 at 6:00pm — 4 Comments

Hello friends, brothers and sisters of Firefighter Nation. I'm not going to start this blog off like some I have read with the "sorry I haven't been around." Being busy is something that keeps me hap…

Hello friends, brothers and sisters of Firefighter Nation. I'm not going to start this blog off like some I have read with the "sorry I haven't been around." Being busy is something that keeps me happy. Work has been slow with the difficult economy and people not willing to spend money to get their homes redone, but I have managed to keep moving forward and finding work where I can when I can.

My basis for the blog is to announce my upcoming marriage on April 25th. I am blessed to… Continue

Added by Engineco913 on March 31, 2009 at 12:11am — 7 Comments

Gone to Far with keeping an eye on Probies?????

I recently changed policies on turnout gear provided to probies. While on probation and in training my probies will have yellow turnout gear instead of the brown turnouts that my trained firefighters use. I am not trying to humiliate the probies, just trying to make them easier to locate on scene by I/C and other personel. I think it might help keep them out of harms way and not be asked to do something over their heads. What do you think???? Would you be offended????

Added by Palmyra Chief Donaghey on March 30, 2009 at 11:23pm — 15 Comments

Brush Fire behind my apartments

Tonight, I realized how much I miss my other home and my brothers from the department. I have always missed them and everyone there but with the small or whatever size the brush fire is behind the apartments makes me think of them even more. The big red truck was in the apartment complex and it was so pretty. I would love to live back there but with no work there I cant. Just know guys( meaning everyone) that I miss yall and Love yall very much. Be safe and careful.

Added by Katherine Davidson on March 30, 2009 at 11:12pm — No Comments

Question

Mine is not to ask why. mine is just to do and die. This is a statement that someone wrote to figure out why cerntain people can get away with stuff while others have to follow what was said. This was not a question to be answered but but it goes back to the last blog i posted. If you are told by an officer to take a cadet into a house that you know will fall down on you but that was the order the good thing is t was luck nothing happened.

Added by Donny on March 30, 2009 at 8:30pm — 6 Comments

Mesothelioma

Countless fire fighters were exposed to asbestos during their career. The Mesothelioma Cancer Center is the leader in information on asbestos exposure and mesothelioma doctors if you've recieved a mesothelioma prognosis.…

Continue

Added by Ben Grayson on March 30, 2009 at 2:27pm — No Comments

Thought for the day

I dont have a lot to enter today... but heard this the other day and thought was worth sharing.........

A firefighter was working on the engine outside the station, when he noticed a little girl nearby in a little red wagon with little ladders hung off the sides, and a garden hose tightly coiled in the middle.

The girl was wearing a firefighter's helmet. The wagon was being pulled by her dog and her cat.

The firefighter walked over to take a closer look. 'That sure is a… Continue

Added by Kimberly McDonald on March 30, 2009 at 10:16am — 1 Comment

AFD Job Requirments And Process

March 30, 2009

So a lot of people have asked me both what are the minimum required certs to be hired down here and two what is the process to be hired is so instead of me answering this over and over I will post it on here.

The job is posted at www.rayjobs.com. You then submit your resume via the website if you meet the following for Firefighter, High school diploma or equivalent. Certification to the following levels is required prior to commencement of work: Firefighter… Continue

Added by Mike Lintz on March 30, 2009 at 3:16am — 3 Comments

Military

Military

The average age of the military man is 19 years. He

is a short haired, tight-muscled kid who, under normal

circumstances is considered by society as half man,

half boy. Not yet dry behind the ears, not old enough

to buy a beer, but old enough to die for his country.

He never really cared much for work and he would rather

wax his own car than wash his father's; but he has never

collected unemployment either.

He's… Continue

Added by Robert on March 29, 2009 at 7:32pm — 1 Comment

How To Clean Your Toilet :

How To Clean Your Toilet :

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> 1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

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> 2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

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> 3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids. You may need to stand on the lid.

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> 4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that… Continue

Added by Robert on March 29, 2009 at 7:18pm — 7 Comments

INSTRUCTOR MIKE REED PASSED AWAY THIS WEEKEND

Mike was a Instructor in indiana primary was Wayne Township Fire Marion County, Indianapolis Indiana.
and Eil Lilly Compnay

He will be greatly missed

Added by Paul VonBank on March 29, 2009 at 5:02pm — 2 Comments

Bright Lights, Big City: Fire-Based EMS

A decade ago it was accurate to consider large non-fire ems 9-1-1 services as the best examples of high performance systems, utilizing innovation and technology to improve both patient outcomes and system efficiency. Fire-based systems were struggling with unfilled paramedic positions, shot-gun mergers, and unsophisticated administrators.

Wake County (NC), SunStar (FL),… Continue

Added by Mike Ward on March 29, 2009 at 2:00pm — 4 Comments

HYMN OF THE MUNICIPAL FIREFIGHTER

That dream that I as a child had to raise me the truck with siren

to dress in boots and helmet to me and to be the hero of that one scene

it has spent the time and I understand that dream that I had as a child

it is a gift that came to me from the sky to take care of the aid call

To be firefighter is to take in the veins the passion to help the brother,

although it risks my life in this way I will fight by tender to him the hand

although i be in conditions… Continue

Added by Evelynn De La Vega on March 29, 2009 at 1:06pm — 1 Comment

HIMNO DEL BOMBERO MUNICIPAL

Ese sueño que tuve de niño de subirme al camión con sirena

de vestirme con botas y casco y ser el héroe de aquella escena

ha pasado el tiempo y comprendo que ese sueño que tuve de niño

es un don que me vino del cielo atender el llamado de auxilio.

Ser bombero es llevar en las venas la pasión de ayudar al hermano,

aunque arriesgue con ello mi vida lucharé por tenderle la mano

aunque esté en condiciones adversas y la misión imposible parezca

con la… Continue

Added by Evelynn De La Vega on March 29, 2009 at 12:00pm — No Comments

Wet n' Wild: Be Prepared for Dangers Associated with Swiftwater Rescues

By Greg Jakubowski

FireRescue Magazine

April showers may bring beautiful May flowers, but they can also create treacherous creek and river conditions, along with flash floods that generate emergency calls. These calls can range from nothing more than someone stuck in a vehicle that has become surrounded by relatively calm water to multiple people who have driven their vehicles into a flash-flooded area and are now unable to fight the fast-moving current to escape. What’s… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on March 29, 2009 at 12:00pm — 7 Comments

Organizational Schizophrenia

Does your fire department or EMS system suffer from Organizational Schizophrenia?

Most career departments have at least three shifts or platoons. A 24-on/48-off shift schedule is fairly common. In this type of department, different shifts often do things in very different ways, based on the personalities of the firefighters, paramedics, and officers that gravitate to that shift. In departments with a Shift Commander position, each shift often mimics the shift commander's personality… Continue

Added by Ben Waller on March 29, 2009 at 9:30am — 1 Comment

Update

Thanks to all those who sent me emails and prayed with me during this very critical time in my life. For those who want to know. I did pass the written exam and now to the next phase CPAT!! Three weeks everyone pray. Have a safe day

Added by kari (kat) kotara on March 29, 2009 at 9:03am — 2 Comments

2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health & Survival Week

2009 Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility

June 14-20, 2009

Protect Yourself: Your Safety, Health and Survival Are Your Responsibility encourages chiefs and fire/EMS personnel to focus on what they personally can do to manage risk and enhance their health and safety. This year’s theme reflects the need for personal responsibility and… Continue

Added by Wendy Norris on March 28, 2009 at 10:30pm — 14 Comments