March 2008 Blog Posts (207)

FDIC

[ Draft ] Is anyone going to FDIC? If so it would be a good time to get FFN people togather and chat at one of places down there.

Added by Tim Zehnder on March 21, 2008 at 5:37pm — 5 Comments

Wow, got back from New York last night and on duty today. What a great time! Got to NYC just minutes after the Manhattan crane collapse. Got down there and took a few pic's. The parade was fantastic got pictures of that also.

Added by firegirl1 on March 21, 2008 at 2:40pm — No Comments

Mercury Spill Control 101

Beads, vapor characteristics make step-wise cleanup vital

Since the early 1990s, U.S. environmental regulations have eliminated the development of mercury as a new product. Despite these changes targeting mercury use, alternatives have been slow to develop, and in cases such as precision measurement devices are not possible. As a result, mercury has been mined through reclamation and recycling processes.

Consumers can still find mercury in high-pressure sodium lamps, fluorescent… Continue

Added by Texas HazMat on March 21, 2008 at 12:13pm — No Comments

Apparatus Bells

Would like to hear from those of you work for departments which still have bells mounted on the apparatus. Under what circumstances does your department sound the apparatus bell?

Added by Duane Monkres on March 21, 2008 at 7:10am — 7 Comments

Another day - 21st Mar 2008, Good Friday

Today, Good Friday, is when our specialist hospital for children, The Royal Children's Hospital, holds its yearly appeal. One aspect of this appeal is that emergency workers all over the State get involved in collecting donations from motorists (yes, can rattlers!). And that's what happened today.

0800 meet at the Station to be allocated to an intersection and a truck. At work by 0820, good intersection with a railway crossing; and I was with the pumper.

0910 - paged to an… Continue

Added by Tony P on March 21, 2008 at 3:30am — No Comments

My Dream Department

The City of Alcoa Fire Department is beginning the process of hiring one (I think) fulltime firefighter. Today, I turned in my application and resume. Pretty much everything I've done for the past year has been leading up to this. I really believe that I have a legitimate shot at this job. I really hope it works out for me, because there probably won't be another opening there until July 09. I really want to work at this Department, but conversely, I hope I'm not still jobhunting 16 months from… Continue

Added by Blaine on March 20, 2008 at 10:39pm — 2 Comments

Where is our compassion?

I've just finished reading a story of a 10 year-old Lincoln Nebraska girl who is dying from brain cancer. She has had only one wish, and that is to see her daddy. Problem is, daddy is in federal prison in SD on meth charges. Now don't get me wrong, I have absolutely NO compassion for the dad, but my heart breaks for his little girl, who just wants her daddy to be there when she dies. Apparently the Federal Bureau of Prisons is giving the family the runaround about letting him come home for this… Continue

Added by Ray Purcell on March 20, 2008 at 5:13pm — 3 Comments

HELP WANTED AD

WANTED EMT'S & PARAMEDIC'S

Must be able to work long hours with frequent mandatory overtime. Few holidays and weekends off. Must be able to keep massive amounts of paperwork up to date while making split-second, life or death decisions. Must be immune to verbal abuse and able to neutralize the occasional physical assault. Must display patience, kindness, understanding and caring, even when personal life is coming apart at the seams. Must show no aversion to blood, vomit,… Continue

Added by Christina on March 20, 2008 at 1:30am — 12 Comments

NOT JUST AMBULANCE DRIVERS!!!

1). AMBULANCE DRIVER = usually an EMT or EMT-I and

Paramedic. Right... What the F is that? EMT is

EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. EMT-I is that same, but

an INTERMEDIATE Level, and Paramedic is the highest

level of Emergency Medical Service provider

certifiable.

2). EMS. EMS is not one word, it is E.M.S. Meaning

Emergency Medical Services. (Contrary to the common

believe that it stands for Earn Money Sleeping or

Extra Marital Sex).

3).… Continue

Added by Christina on March 20, 2008 at 1:28am — 9 Comments

Brotherhood and the Lost Act of “Popping In”

[Me and a few of my brothers and sisters in front of the apple tree in our old back yard]

I originally wrote this piece for my other blog at: http://buffalo.yourhub.com/~Tiger.

However, a snarky friend suggested I post it here on The Nation as well. At first I wasn’t sure how it tied into the fire service, but eventually even I was bright enough to see a… Continue

Added by Tiger Schmittendorf on March 19, 2008 at 11:30pm — 5 Comments

MEDICAL ALERT

Medical Update

January 2008

The Center for Disease Control has issued a medical alert about a highly contagious, potentially dangerous virus that is transmitted orally – by hand and even electronically. This virus is called Weary Overload Recreational Killer (WORK). If you receive WORK from your boss, any of your colleagues or anyone else via any means whatsoever, DO NOT TOUCH IT !!!

This virus… Continue

Added by Dennis on March 19, 2008 at 10:17am — No Comments

First Night running on the Medic

Well my first shift running on the Medic was quite easy because we only had two calls all night, and I know how that can change very fast. It was lots of fun and the crew I am assigned to they are great and am looking forward to this Friday night when I am scheduled to be on again. I was so hyped up last Saturday that I on;y got about 3 Hours of sleep and then got home and slept for maybe 30 more minutes before I had to go to the Station for Driver Operator class for the Engine Whew by the time… Continue

Added by John on March 19, 2008 at 8:50am — No Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Private Benjamin

First, if I have to explain who Private Benjamin is, you're clearly up past your bed time....move along and find something else to read, because no explanation is forthcoming.

The drill du jour (is it wrong that Tuesday nights are fast becoming my favorite night of the week?) this week was not really a drill per se; we had a company rep come in and demo the Holy Grail of SCBA's. The MSA (may we have a moment of reverent silence for the MSA) is, to my inexperienced eyes, the Cadillac… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on March 18, 2008 at 10:42pm — 11 Comments

canton appointment

we went to canton hospital yesterday we were only supposed to go for a simple ultrasound and talk about the results from all the junk they did to me in cinncinati. well they did do that plus they sprung on me that i was having the amnio reduction done yesterday. let me tell you anyone who has never had kids or they do have kids and never had this done before.......here's a suggestion DON'T DO IT!!!!!! It hurt so bad i was about to deck the doctor b/c he hurt me so bad. now i have 2 lil marks… Continue

Added by Trish Girard on March 18, 2008 at 10:20pm — No Comments

Precious-"Mommy's Baby Girl"

Sept. 10,1995-March 16,2008

I so miss you precious,

my time with you was the best,

I couldn't see you suffer,

so I had to let you rest.

The sparkle had gone from your eyes,

your tail no longer wagged,

I loved you so much my sweetheart,

I miss you and it makes me feel so sad.

But you will always walk with me,

and you will always be my fave,

I have other dogs, I love them all,

but… Continue

Added by Melissa on March 18, 2008 at 9:26pm — No Comments

When God made EMT's and Paramedics......

When God made EMT's and Paramedics......

When the Lord made EMT's and Paramedics, he was into his sixth day of

overtime when an angel appeared and said,

"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one,"

And the Lord said,

"Have you read the specs on this order?

An EMT/Paramedic has to be able to carry an injured person up a wet, grassy

hill in the dark, dodge stray bullets to reach a dying child unarmed, enter

homes a health inspector… Continue

Added by Rick Walker on March 18, 2008 at 11:30am — 4 Comments

Ludacris Shoutout For My Song.

Continue

Added by Eugene aka Mr.Freeze on March 18, 2008 at 10:52am — No Comments

If you would like to reserve your copy of the fallen firefighter album

Reserves are starting to be taken. I have provided the link to reserve your copy. We are allowing firefighters to reserve their copies before everyone else. They are 15.00 + (3.00 shipping). when released it will be 20.00 + 3.00 shipping. So get reserve your copy now. There is a link to my myspace page where there is a paypal button for the reserve.

www.myspace.com/mrfreezesongwriter

Proceeds from the album go to The National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. 50%. The… Continue

Added by Eugene aka Mr.Freeze on March 18, 2008 at 4:00am — No Comments

In Loving Memory

Arnold - one of my dogs. The most affectionate, sweetest, always knew when I was down and could always make me feel better.

Born April 25th 1995, lost to Canine Immune Mediated Hemolytic Anemia (IMHA) on March 14th 2008.

Part Dachshund, Part Chihauhau, Part Cocker, Part Schnauzer, All adorable. He meant more to me than most people can imagine. He was born in my house. I still have his brother and his mother. I have not felt… Continue

Added by 99 on March 18, 2008 at 12:00am — 1 Comment

Shaving for a cure for cancer

Our fire dept took part in St. Baldrick's again this year and I chose to shave my head to stand in solidarity with those that lose their hair due to cancer. I didn't actually get out to raise donations because I was sick but still shaved my head. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, you can donate here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/participants/shavee_info.html?ParticipantKey=2008-33618 Thanks ahead of time. We have all been affected by cancer in one way or another.

Added by Pam on March 17, 2008 at 8:44pm — No Comments