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