Another Bailout

Brother Kirk sent me this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q54bFKWnA90

Some pretty tense moments for this particular firefighter...thankfully, he made it out. They're investigating whether or not his SCBA malfunctioned. Obviously, we can look at this from a bunch of different angles, and I'll leave that to you. It still goes to show that we absolutely must get every step of the basics right in order to survive...Yeah, it's cool that you can tie a knot or dive into a confined space rescue situation, but can you get ladders up in a timely fashion? Can you stretch a line appropriately, conduct a rapid primary search, and utilize the proper type of ventilation for the situation? Think about it....

The Deuce and a half....

Erich Roden from Milwaukee has posted a great article on the use of the 2 1/2" line...take a look:

http://thehousewatch.com/2008/02/25/reach-flow-and-penetration/

Why are we so F#*^n LAZY!!!!

Okay...the time has come for us to stop sitting on our ASSES and bitching about having to do things like reading to preschoolers, doing inspections, and extra training. We seem to wonder why the public opinion has waned over the past several years, and seem to complain that "they just don't appreciate us." We cry about riding three on a rig and needing new fire stations and the like; we seem to have our 24-hour shifts scheduled endlessly to the point where it seems like we're out of service more than we're in service.


Well let me tell you something...we did it to ourselves. And all it would've taken was a little initiative.

First of all...we exist for the public...not the other way around. Do I think we should be paid well? Yes. Do I think that our families deserve us to be able to send them to the "good schools" and have nice things? Of course. But we still have to remember that our positions exist for the sole purpose of helping others. If you want to sit in your house off duty and not help anyone, that is your prerogative. But when you go on shift, that dynamic changes...and anytime your are called to help, you need to do so. Anytime you PERCEIVE someone needs help, you should initiate that help.


Secondly, I was appalled the other day when I heard through the grapevine that some firefighters were complaining about having to read stories to some preschoolers. Put yourself in those kids' shoes. Don't you think that if we showed up every once in a while to talk to the kids that they would say something positive to their parents (you know, the ones that pay for us to have our jobs?) I can tell you with 100% certainty that if a firefighter gave me the time of day when I was in preschool that I would've been in seventh heaven for about six weeks.


Your shift is not your vacation from everyday life...it is your job to have an impact on someone else's everyday life. Let's put the honor and duty back into this job.


JUST SHOWING UP DOESN'T PUT OUT THE FIRE


To add to this little rant of mine, I'd like to talk about "showing up." And I'm not just talking about it on the career side. I've been seeing a lot of folks getting into the fire service over the past few years who feel that just "showing up" means that they've contributed to the overall success of an incident. When a fire truck arrives, things must be okay, right?


Well, I'll tell you that isn't the case. You have to know what you are doing. The fire doesn't go out by you standing there all glossy eyed...it requires rapid, decisive, efficient action in a compressed time frame. It requires coordination. And you aren't gonna learn anything by standing there and watching (a common position of rookies on my volunteer fire department)....get your ass in there and get to work! The only way to do this job well is to become a student of the job. People seriously do have the expectation that we will know what we're doing when they ask us for help. Doing all of your teaching by screaming orders at the scene of an incident isn't going to get you the best outcome.


I guess to put it all into perspective: would you go to a doctor that just stood there and stared blankly at you when you told him you had chest pains? It's "good enough" for him to stare at you and let you die?

Can you look your fellow firefighters and the citizens in the eye and tell them that you did everything you could?

Don't think that I know some things are out of our control...but we MUST be prepared for the things that we CAN control.

Check out this video...do you think these guys weren't ready?

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=24227261

Tying knots in a firehouse is easy...but when you leave the fire service after a full career, if that is your legacy ("Man, that guy sure could tie a clove hitch"), then you haven't gained a whole lot, nor has the public gained a lot from you. Get off your ass and do something that firefighters do on an everyday basis (or should, anyway)--raise some ladders and pull some hose.

Here is a video of some guys that actually get off their asses to learn how to be firefighters...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kBIt9npPB7o&feature=related

They put on some realistic training, and they truly want to MASTER their craft.

It's not too late. Hit the reset button on your career (whether paid or volunteer) and learn to do this job for someone other than yourself.

Or were you just bullshitting the Chief when you told him that you wanted to help people during your final interview...were you just lying to get the job?

Guest Rant

I've added a guest rant from Brother Tom in Grand Island. It has been my distinct privilege to join Tom's family in the past several years as we have taught Fireground Survival and RIT. Tom is EXTREMELY competent, dedicated, and passionate about getting everyone home to their families. Take a look...and thanks, Tom!!!


Firefighter Survival and Rescue
What does it take in Nebraska?

Introduction
In 2007 a total of 115 firefighters lost their lives in the line of duty. This number included one Nebraskan, Jeremy Wach, of Wymore. Nationally, the number of firefighters killed in the line of duty annually hovers around the 100 mark year after year. Locally, the number has been averaging one firefighter per year killed. The issues which affect firefighters nationally are the very same issues killing our local Nebraska firefighters. The disturbing fact is that we, as Nebraskans, are burying our collective heads in the sand and refusing to learn from the mistakes of others. Of the seven firefighters killed in the last six years only one NIOSH report exists or will ever exist. The NIOSH report and investigation is an extremely important, although under-utilized tool, to learn about the recurring themes in our deaths while applying these lessons to our future operations.
What does it take to die?
As William Carey said for www.tinhelmet.com at the beginning of 2007 the issues of slowing down our rigs, exercising, eating healthy and getting yearly physicals still apply. There were preventable accidents, (seatbelt use is an issue), and heart attacks remain at the top of the list with 45.2 % of the 2007 deaths attributed to cardiac events. Will this change this year? I think not. Staying in shape, eating right, training and the thousands of other truths which are preached by firefighter survival gurus are completely worthless while we have the local and national “it won’t happen to me” devil sitting on our shoulders. “That only happens in the big city”. Tell that to Jeremy. I was once a bullet-proof, high octane, dragon slayin’ smoke eater who is alive today only by the grace of God and luck. I should not be here. I am not writing this to say that I am better than anyone or that I have all of the answers. I continue to make poor decisions every day. You know what they say though, admitting you have a problem is the first step. We must all take a step back and evaluate our mentalities toward firefighting, realizing that just because we continue to die in the line of duty does not make us heroes. Sometimes that distinction applies and sometimes it does not. What is (or should be) universal is the brotherhood. That is why we have the big fancy funerals with the pipes and drums. Let us ask our fallen brothers then if we should refer to them as heroes only to join them in a year doing the same stupid crap that killed them. I wonder what they would say. The ultimate sacrifice is not something to be taken lightly. Nor is it something that should be given without knowing that everything was done to prevent it. The first step toward a preventable line of duty death is poor attitude.

What does it take to live?
This business to which we belong is an inherently dangerous one. One in which we must continue to learn and apply lessons from the past. These lessons will include our collective mistakes and a proactive approach by departments and state training agencies to incorporate those lessons into the fire ground. I have had the distinct pleasure of spending time with Chief Mark Wessel of the Keokuk Iowa Fire Department. He lost three firefighters at an incident there. He continues to run that department and travels the country telling his story. I urge you to attend his talk at the Nebraska State Fire School every year hosted by the Survival and RIC classes. What you will hear is an honest, true, and tearful story about his mistakes and the lessons torn from that experience. Lessons he has applied to his department. Learn more and see what a NIOSH report is like at www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200004.html. His is an example we all must follow, no matter the pain, in order to live.
A fire does not care if we are paid or volunteer, chief or rookie. It only does what it does, nothing more and nothing less. By doing proper size ups, establishing water supplies and applying the proper tactics based upon the incident conditions and construction, we lower the risk of getting our people hurt or killed. This begins with an attitude of humility and respect for our fallen brothers and a willingness to learn from them. It continues with training, lots of training.
Conclusion
Ultimately the responsibility of reducing the number of line of duty deaths in this country and the state of Nebraska is ours. It is collectively our responsibility as firefighters, as husbands and as wives. This responsibility lies squarely on our shoulders as children and finally as brothers, for I am my brother’s keeper. If these trends continue they are our fault. Because remember, “It doesn’t happen here”.

Here are some provisional details from the USFA on how and where we lost our lives in 2007 from: 1/1/2007 to 12/31/2007
Number of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities: 115 Count of Hometown Heroes: 8 Classification: 49 Career 42.6% 3 Wildland Full-Time 2.60% 2 Paid-on-Call 1.73% 59 Volunteer 51.3% 1 Wildland Contract 0.86% 1 Industrial 0.86% Number of Multiple Firefighter Fatality Incidents: 7 Number of Firefighter Fatalities Associated with Wildland Incidents: 10 Type of Duty: 24 Responding 20.8% 11 Training 9.56% 37 On-Scene Fire 32.1% 8 On-Scene Non-Fire 6.95% 13 After 11.3% 20 Other On-Duty 17.3% 2 Returning 1.73% Percent of Fatalities Related to Emergency Duty: 64.3% Number of firefighter fatalities associated with suspicious/arson fires: 2 Type of Incident: 5 Wildland 4.34% 48 Structure Fire 41.7% 7 MVA 6.08% 3 Hazmat 2.60% 6 EMS 5.21% 1 Tech Rescue 0.86% 1 Outside Fire 0.86% 1 False Alarm 0.86% 41 Not Incident Related 35.6% 1 Other 0.86% 1 Unknown 0.86% Cause of Fatal Injury: 19 Caught/Trapped 16.5% 1 Contact with 0.86% 4 Fall 3.47% 55 Stress/Overexertion 47.8% 4 Collapse 3.47% 3 Struck by 2.60% 26 Vehicle Collision 22.6% 2 Lost 1.73% 1 Other 0.86% Nature of Fatal Injury: 16 Asphyxiation 13.9% 3 Crushed 2.60% 7 Burns 6.08% 2 CVA 1.73% 33 Trauma 28.6% 1 Electrocution 0.86% 52 Heart Attack 45.2% 1 Other 0.86% Age of Firefighter When the Fatal Injury Was Sustained: 5 - Under 21 6 - 21 to 25 9 - 26 to 30 26 - 31 to 40 31 - 41 to 50 21 - 51 to 60 16 - 61 and Over Percent of Firefighter Fatalities Under Age 40 37.4% Type of Activity: 14 S&R 12.1% 2 IC 1.73% 11 Advance Hose Lines 9.56% 2 Extrication 1.73% 1 Standby 0.86% 3 Ventilation 2.60% 24 Responding 20.8% 3 Support 2.60% 3 Water Supply 2.60% 1 Scene Safety 0.86% 2 Other 1.73% 2 Unknown 1.73% 46 Not On Scene 40% 1 Unknown 0.86% Time of Fatal Injury: 9 0100-0259 4 0300-0459 3 0500-0659 4 0700-0859 14 0900-1059 13 1100-1259 7 1300-1459 12 1500-1659 8 1700-1859 19 1900-2059 6 2100-2259 11 2300-0059 5 Unknown Month of the Year: 8 January 6.95% 11 February 9.56% 7 March 6.08% 7 April 6.08% 13 May 11.3% 15 June 13.0% 13 July 11.3% 14 August 12.1% 10 September 8.69% 5 October 4.34% 6 November 5.21% 6 December 5.21% Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fire Service Organization: 3 Alabama 2.60% 1 Arkansas 0.86% 1 Arizona 0.86% 8 California 6.95% 1 Connecticut 0.86% 1 District of Columbia 0.86% 4 Florida 3.47% 1 Georgia 0.86% 2 Idaho 1.73% 5 Illinois 4.34% 3 Indiana 2.60% 5 Kansas 4.34% 3 Kentucky 2.60% 1 Louisiana 0.86% 4 Massachusetts 3.47% 1 Maryland 0.86% 1 Maine 0.86% 5 Michigan 4.34% 1 Mississippi 0.86% 8 North Carolina 6.95% 1 Nebraska 0.86% 5 New Jersey 4.34% 9 New York 7.82% 5 Ohio 4.34% 1 Oklahoma 0.86% 10 Pennsylvania 8.69% 11 South Carolina 9.56% 3 Tennessee 2.60% 3 Texas 2.60% 1 Utah 0.86% 1 Virginia 0.86% 1 Washington 0.86% 2 Wisconsin 1.73% 3 West Virginia 2.60% Firefighter Fatalities by State by Location of Fatal Incident: 3 Alabama 2.60% 1 Arkansas 0.86% 1 Arizona 0.86% 9 California 7.82% 1 Connecticut 0.86% 1 District of Columbia 0.86% 4 Florida 3.47% 1 Georgia 0.86% 1 Idaho 0.86% 5 Illinois 4.34% 3 Indiana 2.60% 5 Kansas 4.34% 3 Kentucky 2.60% 1 Louisiana 0.86% 4 Massachusetts 3.47% 2 Maryland 1.73% 1 Maine 0.86% 5 Michigan 4.34% 1 Mississippi 0.86% 8 North Carolina 6.95% 1 Nebraska 0.86% 5 New Jersey 4.34% 8 New York 6.95% 5 Ohio 4.34% 1 Oklahoma 0.86% 10 Pennsylvania 8.69% 11 South Carolina 9.56% 3 Tennessee 2.60% 3 Texas 2.60% 1 Utah 0.86% 1 Virginia 0.86% 1 Washington 0.86% 2 Wisconsin 1.73% 3 West Virginia 2.60%
For more information, go to: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/
The Secret List 1-3-07
www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com