Featured Blog Posts – May 2011 Archive (28)

Brattleboro Retreat’s program focuses on helping public safety workers

Battling PTSD at Brattleboro

Brattleboro Retreat’s program focuses on helping public safety workers

By Jane Jerrard

Like members of the military, firefighters and EMS providers commonly experience repeated exposure to horrific events. Because of this aspect of their jobs, one of the dangers firefighters and EMT/paramedics face is developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

So it’s… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 30, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Memorial Day (Thanks from America's First Responders)

Almost ten years ago, the lines between soldier and public servant became blurred by a horrible act of terrorism in lower Manhattan. On that day, and the weeks that followed, we all served as warriors on the front lines - whether fire, EMS, law enforcement or military.

But this weekend reminds us that one brave group of American protectors take the fight to the enemy on their soil. Sometimes they are asked to pay a steep price, so we First Responders may serve with honor on American… Continue

Added by Lou Angeli on May 30, 2011 at 2:19am — No Comments

Be The Warrior

Continue

Added by SAFE Firefighter on May 28, 2011 at 3:50pm — No Comments

Heavy Lifting with the High-Lift Jack

Continue

Added by Paul Hasenmeier on May 26, 2011 at 11:17pm — No Comments

Ladder Bucket Standpipe

Can we set-up an elevated standpipe off of the ladder bucket? That is just what a couple young firefighters asked and it turned into a fine company drill. This is an example of the younger generations breaking the lazy and unmotivated stereotypes. … Continue

Added by Paul Hasenmeier on May 22, 2011 at 9:43pm — 1 Comment

Solid Briefings Help Fire Teams Execute Plans, Manage Objectives

FIREFIGHTING 360

Solid Briefings Help Fire Teams Execute Plans, Manage Objectives

Whether in the firehouse or on scene, briefings contribute to operational and tactical goal achievement.

By Billy Schmidt

The fire service is a complex system that often operates in a chaotic… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 20, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...May 18, 2011

This is a lame question no doubt.

How can you tell by looking at an alarm panel that a smoke detector head needs to be cleaned out?

I told you it was lame.

Added by Denise Imperiale on May 18, 2011 at 5:57am — 1 Comment

Tips for Speccing Emergency Vehicle Lighting for Apparatus

Inside the Apparatus Industry

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

It’s been a while since I covered the topic of emergency vehicle lighting. The fire apparatus manufacturers have been doing a great job of conforming to NFPA 1901 and its lighting requirements; I’ll discuss more about that standard in a minute.

Probably the best product to hit the emergency vehicle lighting market… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 18, 2011 at 5:00am — No Comments

A “Routine” Reminder: Incident proves there’s no such thing as a routine call

By D. Brady Rogers

Fire Chief Robert Rielage of the Wyoming (Ohio) Fire-EMS Department once wrote that “smells and bells” incidents can result in complacency and a failure to follow procedures, such as wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE). Although safety should never be compromised, firefighters can be lulled into a false sense of security when “smells” have been the result of crayons melting on electric baseboard heat, or even bad food left in the…

Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 17, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

2011 Indiana Emergency Response Conferance

I am happy to announce that Chief Bill Newgent Greencastle Fire Department and I will be teaching Labeling Buildings at the 2011 Indiana Emergency Response Conference.

Labeling Buildings for the Fire Service

Presentation Summary

In today’s society, everything from coffee cups to toys come with some kind of warning label to alert people of potential danger. The question becomes: ”Why doesn’t the fire…

Continue

Added by John Shafer on May 16, 2011 at 8:47am — No Comments

Computer-Based Training: An integral part of developing today’s firefighters

By Kevin Milan

Although hands-on class enrollment skyrockets each year at every major fire service conference, exhibit hall vendors proclaim computer-based training (CBT) is the answer to every training challenge. The troops want hands-on training, but vendors provide electronic solutions. At first, these two realities seem to be in direct conflict with each other; however, they do share a common ground: Like hands-on training, if applied… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 16, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...May 16, 2011

Yesterday was my first experience at Live Burn training at the Union County Fire Academy.

I was the accountability officer and participated in the clean-up. Even though I didn't head into the structure it was so beneficial that I was there. Everything from my initial training was enforced because if it is your first time at live burn training (I was with alot of the newer guys) it's like an entirely new learning…

Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on May 16, 2011 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

School Bus Roll-Over Pinning

This past week at BGSU’s State Fire School (www.fireschool.org) we spent a great deal of time in the Heavy Rescue class focusing on lifting. For this post, I am going to show some options for lifting a rolled over school bus that is pinning a victim. Your thoughts might be gravitating towards

the use of airbags,…

Continue

Added by Paul Hasenmeier on May 13, 2011 at 6:43pm — No Comments

How the LAST Program Can Help Your Department Cope with an LODD

By Ron Siarnicki

As captain of the Lutherville (Maryland) Volunteer Fire Department, near Baltimore, Steve Weatherby was confident he and his department were well prepared for any call for help, for every imaginable incident. As with every department, the members routinely drill and practice. They all take necessary fire service classes and become recertified. They debrief after calls—formally and informally—with colleagues in the department.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 12, 2011 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

The Big Question: How to Measure the Effectiveness of Prevention Programs

The Big Question

Measuring the performance of fire prevention programs starts with asking why they exist in the first place

By Jim Crawford

For some time, many of us in the prevention field have been discussing model performance measures for fire prevention programs. It’s no secret that the measures apply for other injury-control strategies and that… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 11, 2011 at 8:00am — No Comments

Two Benchmarks for Water Delivery on the Modern Fireground

The Right Amount of “Wet Stuff”

Two Benchmarks for Water Delivery on the Modern Fireground

By Paul Spencer

The world of a modern-day engineer has changed, and many of us are struggling to keep up. Fires that used to go out relatively easily are now challenging us more than ever. The fuels involved in residential structure fires are changing along with fire behavior, forcing us to develop greater… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 10, 2011 at 7:00am — No Comments

Attic Fire Tactics from the Inside Up

In modern construction, ladder companies may need to perform a roof attack

By Randy Frassetto

In newer construction, attic fires pose unique challenges, making fireground tactics difficult at best. One effective tactic that can help: using a ladder crew to support the crews operating inside the structure.

Executed with property conservation in mind, leaving the drywall on the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 9, 2011 at 8:00am — 1 Comment

VICTIM SURVIVABILITY PROFILING. A CLARIFICATION on BACKSTEP FIREFIGHTER

Continue

Added by Dave LeBlanc on May 7, 2011 at 4:36pm — No Comments

Forcible Entry Door Prop

Continue

Added by Paul Hasenmeier on May 6, 2011 at 11:17pm — No Comments

Know Your Disassembly Tools for Extrications

Disassembly can be advantageous to cutting or prying tactics, but you need to know which tools to grab

Story & Photos by Les Baker

Disentanglement tactics may necessitate disassembling parts of a vehicle. In many cases, disassembly is much more advantageous than tactics that involve cutting and prying. Disassembling a vehicle creates safer working conditions, significantly reduces the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on May 6, 2011 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment