Featured Blog Posts (1,722)

Assessments

I just turned in my clinical book for assessments for medics class No one was there so I do not know what the next step is. I was supposed to have 10 by the end of the quarter and only had 3, but had an extension til today and only had gotten 3 more. According to the instructor It will be an incomplete. When we started the class he had said we should have 10 done by the end of the quarter, the way he made it sound it was an accumulative total and that 10 was where we should be at, NOT that we… Continue

Added by John on December 8, 2008 at 9:43am — 2 Comments

Police,fire,ems an dispatchers

I wish you could comprehend a wife's horror at 6 in the morning as I check her husband of 40 years for a pulse and find none. I start CPR anyway, hoping to bring him back, knowing intuitively it is too late. But wanting his wife and family to know everything possible

was done to try and save his life.

I wish you knew the unique smell of burning insulation, the taste of soot-filled mucus, the feeling of intense heat through your turnout gear, the sound of flames crackling, the… Continue

Added by jeff on December 7, 2008 at 6:47pm — 2 Comments

'Tis the Season - Bah Humbug!! OR a Week in the Life of . . .

Thanksgiving came and went. This was the first year I remember since my mother made me go to Indianna with my husband to his Mother's for the holdiay the year my Dad died, (1982) that my family wasn't together. Parts of us were. I guess it is time I realize that family isn't as important to others as it is to me.

Four days off tends to make me sluggish on Monday but it was off to work. It wasn't one of my better days. This is the beginning of the end . . . of the semester on Dec… Continue

Added by Jenny Holderby on December 8, 2008 at 2:26am — 2 Comments

Death of an innocent

One of my student workers just called me to let me know he wouldn't be into work tomorrow because he was in jail for DUI and bemoaning the fact his car was sized and he would probably lose his license (obviously must not be his first DUI) and all the money he would have to spend in court costs, attorney fees and bail. Not once did he express remorse for what he did and some thankfulness that he didn't cause an accident where someone was hurt or lost their life because of him. All he could… Continue

Added by Robin Inman on December 1, 2008 at 12:19am — 2 Comments

Medic Shift

Tonight I am supposed to run on our medic and being the day after a holiday it makes me wonder how much action we will have tonight, quite frankly I would like a slow night, but at the same time I would like some runs so I can hopefully get all of my assessments done before the deadline of Dec 8th, I would go to the hospitals and do some clinicals but I have noone to watch my daughter during the day. So all I can do is be patient (not one of my best virtues) and let things play out natuarlly.

Added by John on November 28, 2008 at 12:01pm — 2 Comments

Loss of a fellow volunteer firefighter/a father

Yesterday, I loss someone close to me. My father," Richie Roberts" passed away in his sleep. I'm lost right now for words to say. But, please say a prayer for my family in our time of need. I know he is going to a better place with god and his soul mate my mom-Meddie. He lived a great life of 79 yrs. Born Jan. 18th, 1929. He served on the volunteer fire dept. of Ft. Montgomery Dept. 4. in the 60's. Dad was proud to serve all of us. That is one of the reasons I became a volunteer fireman to… Continue

Added by James Roberts on November 27, 2008 at 1:02pm — 3 Comments

Back In the Saddle

I’m back to work after being a stay-home mom for a while to take care of the two youngest in our house. This year the youngest started school, and I started working for a paid EMS service two days a week. I work two 12 hour shifts – that’s really all I need. My agency responds to emergencies, as well as doing inter-facility transports. I worked yesterday and we did a couple of emergencies and then a bunch of transports, some to nursing homes and some to residences. I prefer the latter - the… Continue

Added by Kimberly A Bownas on November 30, 2008 at 5:59pm — 7 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Last night was our last class on the topic of Hazmat confinement and containment. We had a top expert in Essex County as our speaker. The instructor had so many interesting stories about situations, especially involving children and schools, that I was thinking if there was a way he could speak in front of parents that would be awesome. As a parent, I find it frightening that kids can pick up information about explosives through the internet.

We're off from the Academy for a few… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on November 25, 2008 at 9:59am — 1 Comment

LODD

LODD
FDNY Lt. Robert J. Ryan, 46, died after substaining injuries form a ceiling collapse while he was working in the attic of a two story dwelling on Van Buren st. in Staten Island. Lt. Ryan was a 17 year veteran of FDNY and currently assigned as the Lt. for engine 155. Lt Ryan is survived by his wife Kathleen, and his four children.

Added by Patrick Mullen on November 23, 2008 at 11:24am — No Comments

Feeling Depressed? If so, listen to this: 020304 Incident - Live Audio Coverage of MVA Involving Elderly Women <<< WARNING: REALLY FUNNY >>>

CAUTION: THIS IS REALLY FUNNY. PREPARE TO SMILE. I PROMISE...

I'm still not sure how to load a sound file onto this but Billy did and his post is provided below that has a direct link. I tried to click on the add a photo or video icon but it didn't work. I'm usually pretty good at this stuff but this one has me stumped... Regardless, this is probably the funniest thing I have heard in a long time. With all the nonsense and trauma we have to endure in our careers and lives,… Continue

Added by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on November 22, 2008 at 9:30pm — 8 Comments

Shout out

Just getting ready to go to Dallas for the Texas state EMS conference. I am a honor guard member so we do the opening and some other stuff. If you are going to be safe on the road trip and everyone else keep your heads up so we do not have to add to the wall of honor for state EMS deaths anymore. Last year there were no names to add lets try that again. stay safe

Added by kari (kat) kotara on November 22, 2008 at 6:55pm — No Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

I am writing this here because I need to blog this to help me deal with it, and you guys will understand.

The other night I started the steps, after two years of on and off drug use, depression, anxiety, and attempted suicides to send my daughter to inpatient treatment. It has been a long rode of her coming under the radar, and manipulating us, her brothers, and the doctors to seeing only one side of herself, when actually the drug side was who she has grown into. She has a mood… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on November 22, 2008 at 9:22am — 1 Comment

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

We are back in the classroom now and have had a few days of Hazmat classes. Although the subject is interesting, it seems our class is itching to get backside. It was unfortunate that a few of the kids misbehaved and were removed from the class. Sort of made everyone sit up straighter and be counted. We were told we have an image to project when we are among civilians. I never even thought of that.

Added by Denise Imperiale on November 22, 2008 at 9:15am — No Comments

Last Responder not First Responder

Recently the Wellsboro Fire Department was notified that a local business was removing an existing fire sprinkler system during a significant remodeling effort. Naturally the Fire Chief called to express his, and the department’s, disappointment and offer some suggestions about retaining the operating system. Principally he mentioned that there has never been a multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building and that fire sprinklers are widely recognized as the single most effective… Continue

Added by Peter Lupkowski on November 21, 2008 at 12:31pm — 10 Comments

What are YOU doing to make it better? What are YOU doing to make it worse?

Well, it looks like that last blog was a possible hit. I think we all know the people I was referring to, we’ve all seen them, worked around them and we’ve all wondered the same questions. Why are you here?

So, I may have stepped on some toes with that, if so….I’m not really sorry, if you were offended, then you need to take a long hard look in the mirror. Which will lead into rule #6. We all need to take a hard look in the mirror. As I say this, I am stepping on my own toes. We must… Continue

Added by Chris on November 20, 2008 at 3:00pm — 1 Comment

The Role of the Fire Instructor

Fire instructors play a critical role in the development of firefighters. When the recruit begins training, their first exposure to the fire service is the instructor. That experience can often determine the firefighter’s view of training and future classes. Looking back through one’s career in the fire service, or life in general, it is easy to pinpoint teachers and instructors who have made a great impact. What were some of the characteristics of these instructors? What was it about them that… Continue

Added by Michael Finney on November 19, 2008 at 2:17pm — 1 Comment

Goldfeder: One LESS Firefighter Standing

CHIEF BILLY GOLDFEDER

www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com

With the operating conditions in Detroit, so many wondered what would eventually happen related to DFD, as far as their Firefighters being injured, or worse, killed in the line of duty. And when I heard about the comments so emotionally SCREAMED by a Detroit Fire Sgt today. "What a complete waste," ...he died.. "For what? For what? Some dump of a house?" The words hit… Continue

Added by Firefighter Nation WebChief on November 16, 2008 at 12:00am — 31 Comments

November 2008 Santa Barbara Tea Fire & So Cal Wildfire Update

Tea Fire Time Lapse Videos:…

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Added by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on November 15, 2008 at 2:30pm — 3 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Today I quit a job that I took for a very small wage to get my foot in the door of a company I thought I wanted to work at. I got reprimanded 3x for going to a structure fire on my way back from lunch. We were only in training and other people were told they would leave early to get their kids, etc. and could make up the time.

It was a judgement call. I was like 25 feet away when the call came in. I thought to myself...go back to class or… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on November 15, 2008 at 12:57pm — 5 Comments

Notes from a Rookie Firefighter

Last night was our last live burn at the Academy. For the next month, we are in the classroom. We did four evolutions. I have to be honest and my confidence went down a bit. When you put everything together like we did in a rolling response, and you have people yelling and crowded in small doorways, well it's entirely realistic and your mistakes jump out at you.

My first evolution was engine 2 and our six person team had to bring hoseline up to the 3rd floor. My partner stayed on the… Continue

Added by Denise Imperiale on November 15, 2008 at 12:38pm — 1 Comment