Type of Organization

Fire/Rescue Department - Paid

Job Function

Captain, EMT - Basic, First Responder, Hazardous Materials Team Member

Years in Fire/EMS:

35

Primary Fire/EMS Department:

Bowling Green, Kentucky

Years With Department/Agency

31

Dept. Web Site:

http://WWW.BGKY.ORG/FIRE/INDEX.PHP

Other Past or Current Departments and Organizations

Browning Vol.Fire Dept. 5 years1972-1977

About Me:

FF I and FF II certified, EMT-B , Incident Command System , Level two instructor, Certified in Vehicle/Machinery Extrication ,Swift water rescue, High/Low Angle recuue, Confined Space/Trench Rescue, Haz-Mat Tech.
Captain on Technical Rescue Truck -- "Rescue 3"

Relationship Status:

Married

Why I Love Fire/EMS

My responsibility IS to help others!!

Top Issues Facing Responders:

Not enough State and Federal funds are reaching the local, not meaning BIG city, but small town paid and vol. fire departments,I have been to "State Highway Incident Management Task Force" meetings where "Public Safety" funds were all going towards the police needs and not any going for the safety needs of EMS , First Responders , and Fire.

Training: I belive that the more comprehensive training that a department has the better it can respond to a big , out of the ordinary ,incident .The need for this training in both paid and in vol. departments is then justified when asking for additional funds from local , state , or federal rescouce's.

Equipment: We can always use new equipment, Thermal Imager Cameras, On scene "emergency scene ahead" safety signs, extrication equipment, Haz-Mat equipment. It all comes down to money , but it also comes down to what is in your district: Factories-haz-mat, fire. Schools-single victim or mass casulties from a tornado. Farms-silo rescue,machinery extrication. Justify your needs and you can justify for your equipment needs.