Fire Rescue Magazine's Blog – July 2009 Archive (9)

Blowin’ in the Wind, Part 3

Working the interior of a fire building during a wind-driven high-rise fire

By Fred LaFemina

On the fireground, our No. 1 priority is life safety—including the lives of firefighters, which is why clear, concise and acknowledged communication is so important for safe and effective operations. At wind-driven high-rise fires, information gathered and relayed directly affects operations, both offensive and defensive.

Relaying pertinent information… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 29, 2009 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

No Butts about It: Pennsylvania picks up a powerful anti-smoking program for firefighters

By Jane Jerrard

Photo iStock.com

Firefighters across America—and especially in Pennsylvania—are getting some hardcore help kicking the tobacco habit. Thanks to a smoking cessation program introduced by the International Association of Fire Firefighters (IAFF), and picked up in June by the Pennsylvania Professional Fire Fighters Association (PPFFA), any firefighter who smokes can get help with quitting—help that’s professionally designed and proven to… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 29, 2009 at 6:00am — 1 Comment

The World Burn Congress Brings Rescuers and Survivors Together

By Ann-Marie Lindstrom

After saving a burn patient from immediate death, you may have wondered late at night if you really did that person a favor. Maybe a quick death would have been better than the long and painful treatment for extensive, serious burns. And then there are years of continuing treatment, surgeries and skin grafts. If the burns are on visible parts of the body, especially the face, there will psychological trauma to deal with in addition to the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 23, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Hosebeds Revisited: Follow the manufacturers’ lead & design ergonomically correct hosebeds

Hosebeds Revisited

Follow the manufacturers’ lead & design ergonomically correct hosebeds

Story & Photos by Bob Vaccaro

It’s been a couple years since I touched on the subject of fire apparatus hosebeds, so I thought it was time for an update. If you visit some of the fire service conference exhibit halls, you’ll notice an interesting phenomenon: More and more fire departments, along with just about all of the fire apparatus manufacturers,… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 15, 2009 at 8:00am — 6 Comments

A Multi-Layered Issue: Double-layer PPE doesn’t protect against heat injury

FROM THE PAGES OF FIRERESCUE MAGAZINE

A Multi-Layered Issue

Double-layer PPE doesn’t protect against heat injury

By Vaughan Miller

Over the past 40 years, most Southern California fire departments that regularly engage in wildland/urban interface (WUI) structure protection operations have improved wildland firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), going from a single layer of cotton dungarees to the standard double layer of flame-resistant Nomex.… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 15, 2009 at 8:00am — 2 Comments

When It’s Time to Move On

When It's Time to Move On

Storming out & letting everyone know what you think might feel good, but it could come back to haunt you

By Scott Cook

A month or so ago, I received an e-mail from a friend of mine, one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. I am fortunate to know him, and the guys at his new department are as well. He’s the kind of guy that gets the job done: strong back and a strong mind to go with it.

In the… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 15, 2009 at 8:00am — 3 Comments

Filtered Water for Rural Ops

RURAL FIRE COMMAND

Filtered Water: Use a strainer to perform simple pump preventative maintenance

By Patrick Pauly

Regardless of where your rural fire department operations occur, if you have to draft water, you should attach a strainer to the end of your hard-suction tube. Taking a few extra minutes to do this will pay dividends in the long run.

Many different types of strainers are available, and many manufacturers offer… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 12, 2009 at 2:00pm — 1 Comment

More Hot Products from FDIC 2009!

Show & Tell: FireRescue technical editors review hot products from FDIC 2009

Despite a sluggish economy, FDIC 2009 in Indianapolis was still filled to the brim with new products. Three of FireRescue’s experienced technical editors hit the halls in search of innovative products that have the potential to simplify your job while making it safer. Following are detailed descriptions of a few of these products we felt deserved a spotlight. For more, check out the July… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 11, 2009 at 1:00pm — 1 Comment

Focusing on the "V" in VES

TRUCK COMPANY OPERATIONS

Focusing on the “V”: Ventilation is perhaps the most important—& hazardous—part of VES

By Michael M. Dugan

If you boil down truck company tasks to the basics, you see that ventilation, entry and search (VES) make up our core

functions—functions that support the engine company’s advance on and extinguishment of the fire. This article will focus primarily on ventilation, perhaps the most important—and… Continue

Added by Fire Rescue Magazine on July 10, 2009 at 4:30pm — 1 Comment