Featured Blog Posts – June 2008 Archive (35)

Look At The Instructors Before Blaming The Recruits!

For some time now on this website and many other forums the world over, there has been some pretty hot debates about the attitudes and skill levels of recruits and the "younger" generation entering the emergency services.

Well, I've got a newsflash for ya'!

Check out who's teaching 'em.

Even more importnantly, check out what they're being taught by these people.

By way of background, I run my own… Continue

Added by lutan1 on June 30, 2008 at 2:01am — 6 Comments

Firefighters doing city workers jobs...

In some of my past posts you will see my department went from vol. to a Public Safety department with the cops. We are also a combo department now M-F 7am-5pm we have part time guys in house. Our City manager (who is also Public Safety director and chief of police) has stated that the Firefighter on duty will now be doing city worker types of work like turning off peoples water, assisting in changing out sewer pipes, cleaning up yard debris, mowing public parks...ect. This is the dumbest thing… Continue

Added by Matthew Cosgrove on June 26, 2008 at 10:44am — 11 Comments

Finished Scene Support Class

So last night was the last night of class!! It was fun! I dont know what I am gonna do with my Wednesday nights. hehe! It was very interesting and I learned alot. Still confused on some things but I guess that I will learn now won't I? I think it would be more effective to learn on our own rigs and with your own department. Cuz it seems like the 3 departments we had in the class, all did things different! We used our Engine and one of the other departments engine and even tool placement was… Continue

Added by Hilary on June 26, 2008 at 9:10am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Yesterday I saw a film produced by the National Fire Academy on fire safety for firefighters. We were told if it made us uncomfortable we could leave the room. However, no one did.

I thought of the calls and drills I've been on during the last seven months and how my captain and assistant captain go over safety with us all the time. "Put your goggles down," or "Wear your gloves!" are things I will now never ever forget. I even appreciate how I used the belt on a ladder drill. And I'm… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on June 25, 2008 at 4:11pm — 2 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

I have kept my blog silent today because of George Carlin. However, today was also the first day of my Firefighter I class at the Morris County Training Academy and I wanted to tell you all about it while it was fresh in my mind.

I didn't sleep well last night, so nervous that I wasn't going to wake up on time to be on time. I was so nervous that I was basically awake the whole night! I was running on time and had to drop off my son to camp on the way, pick up my SCBA and mask, grab… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on June 23, 2008 at 9:34pm — 3 Comments

Fitness Incentive

Hey everyone! I've been put in charge of coming up with a fitness program for our department to follow so that we can implement a fitness incentive. I have a few ideas but I wanted to see what other depts. are doing. Any information would be much appreciated. I can't wait to get some of these guys in shape!

Sarah

Added by sarah on June 21, 2008 at 11:50pm — 15 Comments

Emergency Personnel that are Disabled!

There are many people in the world today that want to be involved in the emergency services field but they have a disability of some sort. Please don't give up on your dream of helping out in the emergency field even though you may be disabled. There is always something out there for you to do in the emergency field if that is the field that you have chosen to enter for a career. I am physically disabled and I have always thought that there is nothing out there for me to do that is related to… Continue

Added by Stephen Smith on June 21, 2008 at 7:59pm — 8 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

This week was a busy week for me. I am starting the Morris County Training Academy on Monday. I went to my orientation the other day and I was in a huge class and everyone was at least half my age. I was very intimidated.

When I went back to my firehouse the next day and saw my friends, whom are older than me, they were so encouraging and told me not to worry. I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. I just have fibromyalgia and take care of myself as best I can to stay pain… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on June 20, 2008 at 5:58pm — 1 Comment

Firefighters for a Cure

please check out Jeffersontownfire.com and go to firefighters for a cure on there Jodie, the fire marshall there, is diagnosed with it. you can help her by donating to the breast cancer foundation and even buy a t-shirt for firefighters for the cure. remember breast cancer is not only found in women but men as well. proceeds from the t-shirts also go to the breast cancer foundation. if you buy a shirt, october is the time to wear it for breast cancer awareness week. so if you could take a look… Continue

Added by Krys on June 20, 2008 at 11:12am — No Comments

The Many Flavors of Stress

While understanding where stress comes from will not of itself lead to recovery it will help place you on that path. I want to begin by looking at the types of stress as falling into four broad categories.

1) PHYSICAL STRESS- Physical stress results of course from physical factors affecting your body. Extreme heat, dehydration, having to run or climb are common examples. Also included would be any injuries or illnesses you might be recovering from. Obviously you likely will… Continue

Added by Chaplain Robert A Crutchfield on June 19, 2008 at 12:36pm — No Comments

Lost Brother

At 5:30 AM On Tues. 6-17-06 the Kennard vol. fire dept. lost a long time leader and freind after a long battle with cancer Lyle Hall served on the dept for over 29 years 25 of those years as cheif . services are Friday 6-20-06 at 2PM at the methodist church in Blair Nebraska with luncheon to follow in Kewnnard at the auditorium he was a tremendous leader and will be missed by family and his family in the fire service MAY HE REST IN PEACE

Added by Jim Dyson on June 19, 2008 at 10:55am — 4 Comments

Junior/Explorer program help.

(posted on the forum as well. Some people blog, some people work the forums)

For those that have followed my discussions (and yes there are just a few of them) you will know I am extremely passionate in promoting Junior/explorer programs. I don't have the gift to outline phenominal programs as the likes of Tiger Schmittendorf (read his recruiting and retention blogs, they are amazing) but I do have some summer pointers to help promote our next generation of "young blood" and… Continue

Added by Engineco913 on June 18, 2008 at 7:16pm — 7 Comments

National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Seeks Survey Participants

Firefighter Nation is supporting the efforts of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, requesting your help in completing the 2008 Awareness & Perception Survey for the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program and the Courage to be Safe Programs.

Please take the time now and click on the link below to get started:… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on June 18, 2008 at 6:30pm — 1 Comment

TNT: The Accidental Runner; The Port-o-Potty Incident

I ran my half marathon on Sunday (Father's Day) in Lake Placid to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The dawn saw the start to a beautiful day in Lake Placid. After a restless night of tossing and turning the night before....I finally popped half a Lunesta (too much adrenaline, too much overthinking my run strategy, too worried about missing my wakeup call....etc.etc.) and slept like the dead...so at 5:30 I was wide awake and ready to go. I crawled out of bed in… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on June 18, 2008 at 8:47am — 17 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

It seems like yesterday, and not almost a year ago, that I saw the Heroes Wanted sign on the banner for the Morris Township Fire Department at the Streeter pool in Morris Township. I am actually writing this column on the grass at the pool, thinking about the long road I've taken to get to fill one of my goals being a volunteer firefighter.

Volunteers get free membership at the pool, as well as other things provided by Morris Township. I didn't even know that when I signed… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on June 15, 2008 at 6:15pm — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Today I woke up and put on a dress and was the businesswoman at the Morris County Chamber event at the Morristown Green. I made my way through the crowd, introducing myself with my RE/MAX name tag on, shook hands, and talking about blogging, volunteering, but not much about real estate. I was the internet pro, owner of Morrischat.com, and happy to offer my services to help companies get their name out in the internet.

I have had difficulty switching from wanting to volunteer 75% of… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on June 13, 2008 at 10:30am — No Comments

PA Volunteer Firefighter/Fire Police/EMT - Call Your House Representative TODAY!

It is imperative that all Pennsylvania volunteer firefighters, fire police officers, and emergency medical technicians call and email their state representative to encourage them to support and quickly pass four pieces of legislation that are in the process of being sent to the PA House of Representatives. These bills will give state and local income tax credits to all active volunteers!

For more details about the legislation and how you need to…

Continue

Added by Jim Metzger on June 12, 2008 at 11:48pm — No Comments

Ironic to say the least

Well i was going to write a update about my experince into the fire services but last monday kinda of changed that. Let see where to start at i guess i should start with this. We had been having a pretty quiet beginning of June and well End of may as well no fire calls at all well we had one but it was a very small grass fire, untill Sunday nite around 1am we got paged for a mutual Aid fire call Fully involved House fire, took us most the nite and early morning to get it knocked down and out,… Continue

Added by Mike Yocom on June 12, 2008 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment

Hydrant testing

I don't know about the rest of you, but we are required to test our hydrants here. The water company does not do it. We do a flow test in the spring and we flush them in the fall.

In any event, you test enough hydrants and eventually you'll see something you really wished you'd never seen. For example - last year a cap blew off a hydrant and landed half way across the street. Most of our hydrants have either a 5" discharge and two 2… Continue

Added by Engine 32 Capt. on June 12, 2008 at 3:36pm — 6 Comments

The Continuing Chronicles of the FNG(irl): Monsoon Season

I was dreading drill night all day today....which is uncharacteristic for me, I'm usually so antsy to do something new or get that opportunity to learn that I end up spending my day at the office watching the clock...WILLING it to be 4:00 p.m. already.

Originally I was pretty excited about the planned drill, we were slated to go to Guilderland Center (our neighboring mutual aid department that has all the fun stuff....aerial ladder truck, Jaws, training tower etc.) to participate in… Continue

Added by Mary Ellen Shea on June 12, 2008 at 12:29am — 9 Comments