antiquefirelt

I have to say that the fastest most appropriate and positively progressive way (enough adjectives?) for the Volunteer Fire Service to take the wind out of the IAFF's sails nationwide would be to fight for equal training standards for all volunteers. If you could soundly argue that all volunteers had the same training as most career firefighters and the same standards for promotion, you'd take away the biggest disparity. Then develop a staffing schedule to get staffed apparatus out in under 2 minutes. If you can accomplish those two things, there'd be no fighting. In fact, you'd see more communities fighting to have free or low cost VFD firefighters if the end result was the same. Some of you are consistently bashing the IAFF and locals and career firefighters to a degree, yet are arguing that the IAFF is making it harder on VFD's by prohibiting trained firefighters from volunteering? Why would anyone volunteer in a FD where the membership continually bashes their job? I know there's anti-volunteer sentiment in th e career ranks as well, but we're starting to get like the discrimination-reverse discrimination issue.
VFD's provide a lower cost level of fire protection. In some places the product is poor, in others it's excellent and in most cases is something in between. The level of protection ultimately is determined by the taxpayers who weight the benefits of higher standards of training and better response times against what they're willing to pay. The real rub is that few taxpayers really know the difference between the levels of service. Most have little interaction with the FD and know(or think) in their time of need the red trucks will show up promptly. Beyond that, a fire is so dynamic that it's nearly impossible for the untrained witness to determine a quality response vs a crappy one. Thus many crappy responses go untouched. If the taxpayers were making a truly informed decision, then the IAFF and career firefighters really would have nothing to say, as we all understand the way the taxpayer/municipal services system works.
If your FD has a problem opening the books to the general taxpayers or will not honestly answer questions regarding training and officership standards, response times, numbers of training responders per incident, etc. you are the problem! If your honestly trying to do the best for the community by providing a service for little or nothing, then more power to you, I wish I lived in your town, but I doubt I have a large field of communities to choose from that meet that standard.

It was getting hard to follow so I pasted the thread back together.
Why do you think a career FF should be allowed to volunteer, but not obtain rank? SOunds like a double standard to me. Do you allow volunteers who are not managers in their careers be officers? What about police officers, if they are a Sgt can they be voted in above the VFD rank of LT.?
You want to promote the best, but you are willing to discriminate against career ff's because of their career. I do know a number of career firefighters who do not take promotional tests at work because they like being at the level they are. Often a promotion means losing ones house and becoming the detail officer or lose OT opertunities. They may make excellent officers, but the work rules are not always encouraging.

My issue has nothing to do with what happens in the firehouse. My dept. has actual leaders and followers, and rules and policies with discipline and consequences. Subsequently, most of our personnel remain completely professional most of the time. But not everything can be as black and white, such is the case with Facebook and other social media websites.
First, it's more to do with petty BS becoming and issue between personnel. The computer/texting/FB do not show emotions well. It's hard to tell when your getting you balls busted or someone's truly slamming you. It's also far easier for people to "say" what they think in a non-confrontational manner, then realize later that it may cause confrontation.
Second, there has been a plethora of media recently about firefighters/EMS personnel posting inappropriate things on FB and Youtube. Such as video of a fatal accident with graphic details, etc. Not only must administrations worry about HIPAA but also what we used to call morale responsibility. just because it's technically "legal" doesn't make it right. Posting pictures from an accident may not violate specific laws, but it violates the publics trust. We cannot afford to lose any more public support in these economic times. Not to mention just doing the right thing and being stand up people.
My third issue is the lack of camaraderie and a sense of "family" within the firehouse. In years passed, we watched TV, played cards, BSed and generally spent time as a group. Now everyone is off in their corner, texting away, talking on the phone or otherwise being a complete individual. This lack of a bond will erode the firehouse until we're just another group of employees. Gone are the days when this was a calling.
And last for now, is the silly thought that everyone must know everything about what everyone is doing. We used to call people who wanted to know all this stuff "busy body's" or "nosy", now it's mainstream to post that you had to double flush. Get over yourself, the people that really want or need to know already had plenty of mediums to keep track of your goings on.
This is just my opinion, you can't have it, it's mine and I don't care if you agree. I also won't be disappointed if you disagree, I'm a big boy now.
/rant

"Modern vehicles have state-of-the-art electronic electrical systems nowadays with semiconductor diodes integrated into the entire system.
Semiconductors are made from material somewhere between the ranges of conductors and nonconductors. Semiconductors, basically, are designed to do one of three things:
(1) stop the flow of electrons, (2) start the flow of electrons, or (3) control the amount of electron flow. A diode is, in effect, a one-way valve. It will conduct current in one direction and remain non conductive in the reverse direction. When current flows through the diode, it is said to be "forward biased." When current flow is blocked by the diode, it is "reverse biased." Touching battery cables together as the story goes is the reverse manner. Current will NOT flow. You will NOT drain the airbag capacitors."
from Ron Moore University of Extrication
http://www.firehouse.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-19555.html

side posts screw into the battery so it might be a little difficult or impossable to use a terminal puller

...negative terminal first....THE most important factor when disconnecting....however I used to tell my driver BW to ALWAYS go for the POSITIVE terminal 1st...as I was always hoping for a POSITIVE outcome...(if ya catch my drift) heh heh
Edit: "sidecutters", which should be a standard tool in everyones' turnout coat pocket, are a very effective tool for working on a battery. not only for cutting the cable (last resort if you can't get the terminal off), but for grabbing and twisting the outside of the terminal connector to pry it off..

A close friend of mine (no emergency service involvement) had a scary incident while jumping his car this morning. He's a real technical guy but he got a little complacent. Which brings me to the topic. I'm finding that I'm constantly having to correct or stop firefighters while disconnecting batteries at MVA scenes. First too many guys have no respect for the hazards involved in what they are doing. Here's my thoughts.
Have a reason to disconnect. Patients still in the vehicle, fire hazard, anything legitimate is good with me but sometimes the car will be driven away or there are no hazards and no one is in the vehicle.
Use the right tools. I really can't bear to see the haligan used. It really can be a recipie for disaster. The haligan is more than long enough to accidently hit both battery terminals. Which believe me when I tell you is a bad sight.
Accessing the battery. When the car is totaled and all the fluids from the vehicle are now on the highway do we really need to use the forcible entry saw to open the hood and spray the entire area with sparks? I mean I thought that's why we disconnect in the first place to eliminate ignition sources.
I'd love to hear others thoughts on the topic.

It really should not be a surprise that LPG can and will travel across the ground to lower areas as it is heavier than air. In fact that is why any outside leak results in our metering basements and first floors of houses in the immediate area. The gas "flows" into low areas where it builds up in concentration as it "fills" the area until mitigated or it finds an ignition source. Of course, when your meter reads no to low concentrations your guard certainly goes down, and one can hardly expect they'd have been on air, unless other signs indicated it. Another thing to remember is that you don't have to be in the IDLH atmosphere for the explosion to get you. The LEL is just that, but the outward force of the igniting gas can and will be far greater reaching than the area deemed "elevated concentration".

The line officer is in charge, period. There should never be deviation from this unless the officer yields his command for whatever purpose. Also, departments that take an ex-chief and make him a "deputy chief" are doing their younger officers a disservice. The first chief that I worked under would let me maintain command of a scene, even as a junior lieutenant, so long as I had the incident in hand. It is that experience you gather as a junior officer that can make you a better chief.
As far as "Ex" whatever on your turnout coat. All of it is nothing but ego. I know all of the ex-chiefs in all of our area departments and could allocate them as needed in a significant incident. Also, the ex-chief from 10 years ago that only comes out for the "big one" shouldn't necessarily be used in an important assignment. The ex-chiefs that maintain their activity in the department are recognized by both department members and mutual aid departments; they don't need a marker on their jacket to stand out.
Finally, as an "ex-captain", I don't think any office should be recognized except for ex-chief on the Class-A uniform. The only thing Ex-Captain or Ex-Lieutenant means in a volunteer department means is that you didn't take the time to stick it out and move up the ranks. I would never wear an "ex-captain" badge. I have my shields and am proud of my service, but I don't want 30 badges at a parade. I'm just one of the guys.

Thats what ICS Vests are for. If their are 3 EX-Chiefs on scene working with command and all 3 say Ex on there coats, no one knows who is doing what.
And EX-Chief is needed on turnout gear for these meetings?
The young Lt or new Capt need to LEAD the company. If they can see EX-Chief on the back of a turnout coat, they are still following and not leading.

I think this is a flaw in the system. In a lot of cases the members most qualified and with the most experince are not in the leadership positions and 20 something year olds are. Or the chief is from company B because it's their turn in the rotation. Honestly it's 2011 do we really think everyone should get a turn to be chief?

If it says "EX Wife" on the check, do you have to pay them for life?
The 1st question is do they need any credentials to become chief in the 1st place? NYS has almost no requirements.
"In MOST CASES".......Not in NYS. You need to get voted in period.

That's what the "Government" tells us. NIMS and the Presidential Directive be damned, but no one can change human nature. In reality, not everyone agrees. In fact, the proof is in the fact that this thread exists. Would the trooper have agreed to let the highway be closed if he was in the UCP? I doubt it. The Utopian theory that because we call it Unified Command everyone will agree and is equally responsible for the decision, is false. It doesn't happen. I've taken and taught many ICS 300 and 400 level programs and those who actually work in the command structure or in UCP's at always admit, that in the end, certain players have far more say than others. It's the reality of human nature, don't bother trying to change it. Now can a UCP work? Of course, and it takes planning and meeting long before the incident and knowing each others roles and limitations. But, show me a democratic command post and I'll show you an incident that has moved beyond true emergency to recovery.

Once again its individual Police Officers that are doing this, let us not lump everyone together! I say block all you need, going off face value of the article I'd say at least one lane other than the center should have been blocked. And, if need be, block it all while the patient is taken out of the car and put into the ambulance, how long could it take? 5 minutes? How about 5 hrs for an AI when someone gets hit!

The O/v position is also know as the outside Vent Man. Usually this position is for the most senior guy in the truck. He is responsiable for VES (Vent Enter Search) from the outside. He will make his way to the fire floor via the fire escape, ariel ladder ot the bucket. He will ask permission to VES on the fire floor from the boss who is in the fire apartment. The reason for this is so it is in conjuction with the nozzle team. And so he doesnt vent too soon or too late. He will enter the fire apartment and conduct a search. His tools consist of a hook and a hailgan. If it is a tower ladder operation he is resonable for operation of the bucket from the controls in the bucket and the chauf on the turn table. If the job is in a high eise he is resonable for operating fireman service in the elevator and getting the members to the floor below. But there are some other circumstances in which operating at a high rise and the job is on a floor low enough to be reached by a portable or the areial ladder or bucket he will operate how he would at a tenament or brownstone. hope this helps
This is coming from an engine man any truckies can add if i missed anything.
ahh you all beat me

How about the fact that they are spraying water INTO the structure.....
It hardly looks too far gone to begin an interior attack. Spraying water into the structure...especially with a automatic nozzle is a quick way to successfully save the cellar.
Of course, I suppose that interior attack tactics would first require firemen numbering more than 1. Also, what are they doing with that chainsaw?? The fire's vented, to some extent, just get in there and get some water on it.
This has disaster written all over it. Obviously, this is a case of extreme condition, however it highlights a need for some "back to basics" training. We all need to be rock solid on the basics of fire attack and fire-ground operations. This is especially important in the volunteer realm where tools aren't being handled and looked at everyday. In a situation with many more variables, including manpower, a great deal of emphasis needs to be placed on what to do at a fire in the first few seconds. What line would go where, who does what and where should I go with what tools in (_____) situation?
I know that, at work, we're trying to incorporate more basic drilling on a regular basis alongside keeping up with the new tech. that comes up. I also know of volunteer agencies keeping a good ratio of basic training mixed in with a hurst tool drill or bail-out practice. Sounds like good logic to me.

As a tactical EMS provider I think it needs to be the opposite. You can train anyone to do anything but one of the things that expanded the tac team I'm part of is the thought that the first penetrating trauma victim someone should treat shouldn't be one of their own. Yet again the wheel doesn't need to be re invented. Look at what Littleton, CO did after the Columbine incident. They were and may still be the largest tactical EMS team in the U.S. The other thing about having tactical EMS is that it allows the guns to remain a gun and reduces role confusion. In many places outside of liberal, attorney on every corner so we're fearful of lawsuits downstate NY many tactical medics are made peace officers so they can carry a handgun for self/patient protection as a last resort. But either way it is proven to make some differences and that is why your seeing more brought in. It took some time for some on my team, but we train hard right with them and train each other and I'm comfortable and trust them as well as they do I.

"Expedite" is just a word. What one does with it is entirely up to the responder. It doesn't affect how I drive, but it does get me thinking about what I'm going to be walking into when I get there. "Expedite" actually tells me a lot. It means the scene is not under control and the person "in charge' is wetting themselves. That said, "Expedite" sounds a whole lot better than "I want my mommy!!!!"
Let's come up with something better. Ideas?
"35 Medic 1....'Clean up Aisle 5.'"

Alot of how the gear feels is directly related to what it made of. Outer shell, moisture barrier, and thermal shell. There are hundreds of possiblities you can use from the 3 to put a set of gear together.
What works for FDNY may or may not work for another dept. But to use the sales tactic that "FDNY uses it so it must work for you too" I dont buy at all. It may, or it may not, but without evaluation, it's hard to say either way.

This is my feeling as well. The word "expedite" should only mean an upgrade response from something other than regular emergency travel, but in this case, you should be saying "upgrade" your response from normal travel to emergency. Although really it shouldn't EVER be used because your update / scene size up should tell other units how to respond. For instance, you're responding to a diff breather and you get there before the medics and find youself working a code. All you need to say is, "Engine XX to Medic XX, be advised, we're working a code".

The only time "expedite" should mean anything is when you're travelling non-emergency with the flow of traffic and then the request means you upgrade. I've told dispatch upon the request to "expedite" that we're already travelling as fast as safely possible. Isn't that how we always respond when enroute to a true emergency? Requesting units "expedite" is the equivalent of yelling/screaming in the radio, basically giving those prone to excitement the adrenaline rush to throw caution to the wind as they're needed at the scene NOW!

The only time "expedite" should mean anything is when you're travelling non-emergency with the flow of traffic and then the request means you upgrade. I've told dispatch upon the request to "expedite" that we're already travelling as fast as safely possible. Isn't that how we always respond when enroute to a true emergency? Requesting units "expedite" is the equivalent of yelling/screaming in the radio, basically giving those prone to excitement the adrenaline rush to throw caution to the wind as they're needed at the scene NOW!

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Officials-2-firetrucks-lost-in-crash-saved-lives-945656.php
STRATFORD ---- The Stratford Fire Department is reeling after the sudden loss of two of its fire engines in a crash on Interstate 95 in which one tractor-trailer slammed into Engine 1, and another into Engine 5.
The two crashes occurred almost simultaneously, officials said.
Lampart said the two engines......were parked in a "staggered" configuration on the highway, in order to protect the lives of the firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other first responders to the original car crash. In this positioning of the trucks, one is parked in the right-hand lane and the other in the center lane, in order to both direct traffic around the mishap, and also to provide protection in event an incompetent driver happens upon the scene.
"The system worked," Lampart said. "Even though we lost two trucks, we would have been looking at six or seven fatalities and or very serious injuries had those trucks not been in place."

People, Lets be careful out there

Supervisors are automatically assigned to several call types and actively encouraged to take a proactive role in patient care. They are also delegated responsibilities in determining hospital destination and RMA approval. As part of our 5 year recert program they now handle a substantially portion of our training. We have only 4 or 5 physicians for 3,000 emts and paramedics, making officers are responsible for identifying dangerous practices that require intervention and possible retraining. There is nothing that says an EMT cannot be an excellent supervisor. However your marginal and poor supervisors are much less of a problem when they know the job they're trying to manage and your excellent supervisors can become better involved and facilitate better patient care.

My boss reminds me almost daily that if it wasn't for the people this job would be easy! I don't know that I'd say my job was nearly as stressful as some others I know, but without a doubt some of the benefits of this job are also stressors. Most of us love coming to work knowing that we have no idea what the day will bring to a degree (as opposed to office/factory work, but on the other hand, the sudden wake-up to high stress response and highly physically demanding work under uncontrolled conditions certainly doesn't help. Add to this worried families, working holidays, missing birthdays and special events and suddenly you wonder why we do it. But, then once the bells ring, you remember why...