SCBA at Car Fires

im not gripping just asking what all of you think yes or no, i vote yes we should wear them

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Permalink Reply by juan e. villalobos on July 14, 2010 at 9:59pm

my friend its a big yes , don't stress wear it

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Permalink Reply by Brian Mackie on July 15, 2010 at 10:58am

Paul, thanks! If you happen to need some "props" let me know! lol I bet I can help. But I think you would have to pay my expenses at least. I can't fly, and the drive would be a bitch! lol (although gas prices would be a nice change). I just don't get it..why would someone even ask that damn question.. but anyway, yes, I agree - lets put this baby to bed and get on with more important topics - like.. well POV and lights and and and and...

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Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on July 15, 2010 at 11:03am

I didn't know we had a choice. Wear it!

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Permalink Reply by engineladder on July 16, 2010 at 9:27pm

Here-here Cap'... You are a true professional. You've taken this situation and created a training opportunity. The fact you didn't have to and have no responsibility to Ringold15 shows you're a true professional. A lot of us could learn or be reminded of the value of making lemonade out of lemons. Nicely done.

SO - In an attempt to minimize the lack of quality of Ringold15's original question, I'll ask one; Should a company officer enforce wearing seatbelts while responding? :)

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Permalink Reply by capcityff on July 16, 2010 at 9:34pm

I got attacked like crazy on firehouse.com when I said we don't wear them. haha We don't wear them for a few reasons.

First, it's a big city. Even when responding to fires, we never go that fast. You just can't. DC has some of the worst traffic in the country. It won't happen.

Second, we get dressed up enroute. It saves time when responding so we leave our gear on the wagon or truck, jump on, and dress up as we leave. We also run a lot of calls. So there are days where we never see the fire house. If we are driving down the road and a box comes in, we aren't going to pull over to change. We just go.

I'm sure many will disagree with me except for maybe engineladder since your department is very similar to mine.

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Permalink Reply by capcityff on July 16, 2010 at 9:51pm

Most of the time your a few minutes away from the box at most. Four engines will be on scene within 30 seconds of each other since the fire houses are stacked on top of each other. So that minute can be important.

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Permalink Reply by Ringold15 on July 17, 2010 at 4:33pm

I always enforce wearing seatbelts ALWAYS! If I look around before we leave and they dont have their seatbelt on they get told once to put it on it they dont off the truck they go.(do remeber this is before we leave)

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 17, 2010 at 6:20pm

The fact that you are not sure how your question is either a stupid post or dirty laundry is ample evidence that Paul is correct.

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Permalink Reply by Ringold15 on July 17, 2010 at 7:44pm

Sir can you tell me how the question of scba's on car fires is stupid or dirty laundry?

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Permalink Reply by Kirk D. Baughman on July 18, 2010 at 9:48am

yes yes and yes

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on July 18, 2010 at 12:02pm

Considering that apparatus accidents are the #2 killer of firefighters, that minute isn't as important as ensuring that firefighters remain belted in their seats during a crash.

Seems to me that for departments with houses "stacked on top of each other", the response times will be short enough that that minute isn't nearly as important as reducing firefighter death and injuy sererity during a rig crash.

I've been a firefighter long enough to remember taking turns getting dressed on the tailboard while other members helped hold me on the rig, and I can remember doing interior attacks withoutwearing SCBA. Fortunately, I survived that kind of risk-taking long enough to figure out that taking that kind of risk isn't the smartest way to do things.