doug_e

Most likely 7 of those pisses when he was awake....

Lookin' at the photo, the cans look like Coor's lite, or Diet Coke. With a Fresca or two thrown in for good measure. Remember, There's food in beer. There's no beer in food! Besides his perforated liver, his urethra must be like LDH... That's 4.5 gallons of beer a day. And 13,125 gallons over all. If your bladder holds about a quart of urine he took 3,281 pisses in 8 years. He pee'd roughly 9 times a day.

At five cents deposit per can, that's $3,500.00 BUCKS! What's the address? Having actually read the article this time they've already recycled them for $800 .

Saw this last night and was laughing my a** of. If you have IO go to CH.#652 the FX Preview Chaannel and select "Rescue Me Special", then "Special Presentation" on the next page... Well worth it...

Does the SFFD know something we don't about using SCBA's? With almost everyone walking around with their waist strap unbuckled and their regulators off it looks like that's thier SOG for car fires. I also like the use of the smooth bore handline. I'd like to say well done. But I'd be lying!

A Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) was added to NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, 2003, concerning the securing of hose storage areas on fire apparatus. A TIA is issued when an emergency need arises to amend the NFPA document between regular adoption cycles. This TIA was issued by the Standards Council and became effective on November 18, 2005. My question is: Is this TIA for mandatory for newly manufactured apparatus only or all apparatus, new and old? Or mandatory for new rigs and advised for in service rigs? For more info... LINK: NFPA Hose bed securing

Actually had a converstation today about this very subject. I am looking into a chaplain from all faiths present in our village.

I guess he figured they never complained before - WTF? That'll be an interesting first tour of duty when he returns. Now when you drive by that farm all you hear is "Leeeeeeee, Baaaaaa, Leeeeeee...

From what I've read, used, been taught, and taught one of the things about suppression is "size does matter". All too often I've seen fires get away from the attack team because they made their initial attack short of the 'supression potential' required. Suppression potential is the amount of water delivered/water required (d/r=p) to overcome the conditions encountered, Optimal sp > 100%, i.e : - 20' X 50' bldg. = 1,000 square ft. divided by 3 = 300 gpm (basic flow rate calc.) - with fire in one room roughly figure, 25% involvement with 25% lateral and 25% vertical exposure ( 75% of 300gpm = 225gpm required or r= 225) d = 250gpm with sb 2 1/2" or 175gpm with 1 3/4" r = 225gpm water required p = 1.11(111%) with sb 2 1/2" or .77(77%) with 1 3'4" With a 2 1/2" you get over 100% of what you need,with a 1 3/4" you get just over 75% of what you need. If 50% involvement, such as the living room/great room involvement + 50% vertical and lateral exposure will require 100% of GPM at which point a 2 line attack will be required. If you did it with a 2 1/2 and an 1 3/4 your SP= 140%, two 2 1/2's = 166% Remember that you need that water source soon, you have between 2 to 4 minutes. Just a good "rule of thumb" calculation.

Looks Great Guys!!!!

Mine was false alarm, a pulled box. Never made it to the scene, though. Went back to the firehouse to report in, and get my "P" for the alarm when another "box" came in right down the block from the first. I jumped up into the hosebed and put on some gear and then dropped back down onto the backstep. I will never forget that feeling. Only to be topped by the site of a fully involved car right across the street from the pull box. November. '73 - FDMV

I recently recieved an email inviting me to look at Fire Engineering magazine in a digital format on line. Flipping through I took a closer look at the Volunteer's Corner article. Reading through it I became increasingly pissed off at the tone of the message "What if Nobody Came". There is an interesting trend afoot to frame this discussion in that way. It sounds like talking points to me...But that's for another day, I digress. But near the end of the article the author relates a story about a friend, of a friend of a friend or some such tripe, who fell and dislocated her shoulder. Not a life threatening injury. He writes about how this Kathy broad, the wife of a firefighter, like that legitimizes her, rushed to her friends aid and decided that it was a serious call that required an ambulance to transport them to the ER. On the first tone the local volunteer department got a driver but no EMT to tech the call. As written the cop, who arrived on the scene, offered to drive the woman to the hosptial to expidite care but this local public service genius, Kathy (the wife of a firefighter) felt that if they did that it would mean a agonizing wait in the ER. After they re-toned for an EMT good old "Florence Nightingale" there blurted out, "This is why we need a paid department!" So basically this jerk felt that her friend needed a $150,000 ambulance and a driver and EMT to take her to the ER because she is so self important that she shouldn't have to wait in the ER for treatment. I know this is quite a rant and includes a number of landmines in it but it pointed out to me (again) the root problem in our EMS service today. That is ABUSE of the system. Take a good listen to any of the local county dispatch agencies and count the number of non-emergency calls we have to respond to because John Q. Public has gotten the message that if you think you need any type of public service you should dial 911. And if you have to go to the hospital you NEED to go there in an ambulance so you can usurp the system. The answer is - No, Kathy, you schmuck...We don't need a paid service. What we need is for people like you, the wife of a firefighter who should know better, to stop squandering a limited resource on BS calls so you don't have to wait in the ER. In my head I hear Cartman of South Park screaming this at her... I feel much better now.....Oh, I have to go now and do a mutual aid cover for an elderly man feeling nausious, I'd better hurry....

Date:02/06/06 Time: 11:04 hrs. Location: Rt. 9A S/B @ Town Line (Across from Taconic Pkwy N/B ramp to 9A) Frequency: 46.26 Disp. - BMFD OPs Rptr. Units Operating: BMFD - R37, E92, E93, 53B2, 2053 MP-Medic1, OVAC 36M1 MPPD, BMPD Description Of Incident: One car MVA w/one patient pinned. Driver stated he was cut off and over compensated losing control of vehicle. Car operating in lane 1 (Right Lane) skidded across shoulder onto grass and traveled approx. 150' across stream and head on into tree. Car was resting on an embankment at a 30 degree angle. Arriving units stabilized the vehicle while medics and EMT tended to PT. Crews from R37 and E92 were assigned to extrication and E93's crew provided ground support and suppression handline. Extrication team removed roof and lifted PT onto board, packaged and removed to ambulance for transport ALS to WMC. E93 remained on scene to provide suppression cover for tow operator. All units clear at 12:10 hrs. Writer: Doug_e

I'm just over 200lbs. on a good day and four of us in the 200lbs. club sat on a Stryker to test the load capacity. I believe the salesperson said the max was 750lbs. Worked flawlessly! The price at the time was $11k with a rebate for our old stretcher. I would love to get a hold of one, that's for sure.

I got my New Yorker as an award for responding to the most alarms for my company in 1975. (FDMV E6 Max Blatz Award) I used it initially when I joined the BMFD but retired it for the "safety" of a 1010. The BMFD used Metros for years which was the primary reason I used the NY'er. I recently brought the NY'er back out of retirement with a new coat of white paint this time. I used it thinking I'd be IC'ing my way for the next few years. At Briarcliff's small job last week I found myself chasing down the seat of the fire and couldn't keep it on my head. (They told me my head would swell ) I went out the next day and picked up a 1044/bourke with ESS goggles, a Streamlight band. It feels great, so far. Checkout the Streamlight rubber band if you haven't seen it yet. Very good design.

This has been around for a while but I just came across it. The National Advisory Committee (NAC) of the Congressional Fire Services Institute unanimously adopted a resolution supporting H.R. 3949, the Volunteer Firefighter and EMS Personnel Job Protection Act, at its annual fall meeting on October 26th. The resolution was submitted jointly by the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and calls on Congress to pass H.R. 3949, which was introduced by Congressman Mike Castle (R-DE) on September 29, 2005. H.R. 3949 would protect volunteer firefighters from being fired, demoted or harassed if they miss work because they are activated to respond to a Presidentially declared emergency. Members of the National Guard already enjoy similar job protection under current law. "When the men and women of the volunteer fire service are asked to respond to a national disaster they shouldn't have to jeopardize their livelihoods in order to answer the call," said NVFC Chairman Philip Stittleburg. "This bill is the right thing to do for our nation's volunteer firefighters and it ensures that they will be available to respond as needed." Volunteer firefighters-thousands of whom responded earlier this year to hurricanes that ravaged parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida-make up nearly 75 percent of the nation's fire service. They receive little if any compensation for their services and most of them have full-time jobs away from the firehouse. "It is critically important that Congress pass this legislation," said Chief Bill Killen, the IAFC president. "The IAFC and its Volunteer and Combination Officers Section believe that we should protect volunteer firefighters who provide such a significant service to their communities." The NAC is comprised of more than 40 trade groups, issue organizations and professional association including the leading fire service organizations in the country.

Emmitsburg, MD- The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced today, this nation suffered 106 on-duty firefighter fatalities in the United States in 2005. In addition to these fatalities, the USFA has learned of 4 firefighter fatalities in 2005 related to injuries suffered in years prior to 2005. "The fire service of this nation has tragically lost, again, too many firefighters in 2005," said Deputy USFA Administrator Charles Dickinson. "The USFA approaches 2006, joined with the fire organizations and fire department leaders, to commit to doing what it takes to reduce these too often, preventable losses." On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities 1977-2005 1977 157 1987 131 1997 100 1978 171 1988 136 1998 93 1979 126 1989 119 1999 113 1980 140 1990 107 2000 103 1981 135 1991 108 2001* 105/449 1982 126 1992 77 2002 101 1983 113 1993 81 2003 112 1984 119 1994 105 2004 117 1985 126 1995 102 2005** 106 1986 121 1996 99 * Includes events related to September 11, 2001. ** Provisional and subject to change. In 2005, there were 4 multiple-firefighter fatality incidents. Two New York City firefighters died in January when rapid fire progress forced them to jump from a fire-involved structure; 3 firefighters were killed in the crash of a helicopter in Texas in March as they assisted with a controlled burn; 2 Wyoming firefighters died in a residential structure fire in April; and 3 firefighters were killed in the crash of an air tanker in California. Additionally, the New York City Fire Department suffered a third firefighter fatality on the same day as the January incident cited above, at another incident scene. The Memphis, Tennessee Fire Department lost 2 firefighters in separate incidents during the year. Additionally, heart attacks were responsible for the deaths of 48 firefighters in 2005 (45%), reduced from 61 in 2004 (51%). Seven firefighters died of CVAs in 2005, up from 4 in 2004. Vehicle crashes took the lives of 26 firefighters in 2005. Five firefighters were killed in tanker (tender) crashes, 5 firefighters were killed in crashes that involved passenger vehicles, and 4 firefighters were killed in pumper crashes. Firefighters were also killed in crashes involving ATVs, aircraft, and a boat. The average age of a firefighter killed in 2005 was 46. The youngest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was an 18-year-old Connecticut firefighter who died after falling from a ladder during training. The oldest firefighter to die while on-duty in 2005 was a 76-year-old New Jersey firefighter who was struck by a suspected drunk driver at a roadside emergency scene. These fatality statistics for 2005 are provisional and subject to change as the USFA contacts State Fire Marshals. For additional information on firefighter fatalities, including the annual fatality reports from 1986 through 2004 and the Firefighter Fatality Retrospective Study 1990–2000, please visit the USFA Web site http://www.usfa.fema.gov/fatalities/statistics/ The United States Fire Administration has developed educational programs in the past few years to directly address firefighter deaths in vehicle crashes. Efforts have specifically targeted tanker operations, career firefighter vehicle operations, and volunteer firefighter vehicle operations. For additional information regarding these programs, go to http://www.usfa.fema.gov/research/safety/v...le-roadway.shtm

Hear, hear EMSJ... My sentiments exactly!

When I decided to re-stripe BMFD's E93 I looked at Sign-Gold and found it looked like it was done by a machine. Every swirl matched. Hand done gold leaf has a less perfect look. In doing my reasearch I stumbled across RJ Marx in Wisconsin. Looking at their website I took a stroll through their portfolio and fell off my chair when I came upon our own maltese design. Then it hit me that RJ Marx is the gold leafer for Pierce. Their process is manual but the sizing is done on an adhesive backing with a laminated covering. Up close it looks synthetic but from 10 paces you can't tell the difference between the traditionally done striping on the rear of our rig and the new stuff on the cab. The cost is roughly $12 per foot installed. Traditional gold leaf is around the $20/ft. range. The one thing I don't like about the RJ Marx solution are the corner designs. However, if you are willing to pay for it they will draw up anything you want. Net net, I say go with the newer technology but keep the gold leaf tradition going and use reflective striping for command cars. A combination of gold leafing and reflective striping and lettering can provide a good traditional result and raise the safety margin. That's just one buffs opinion.

The Autolift is cool, but HEAVY! And pricey, too. I'm lookin' to get one for our ambulances.

Yesterday while heading up Kensico Rd. to Columbus I noticed (on Sherman Ave???) what looked like a fire siren tower on top of a white building. Right next to the building there was a siren on a pole. Was this a fire house at some point?

I've got a 5 and find it OK. One thing that bothered me was the battery kept slipping out until I found that the lock wasn't fully engaged. Otherwise it has been working fine. Not very sensitive, though. Nothing like the 2's were. I've found that when agencies keyed up at the same time the resultant hectrodyne caused my pager to unlock (multiple times) with a solid tone, not the usual pulsating tone. I've heard from quite a few of our members complaining about this issue. Recently I've been using an ICOM IC-F60 UHF transciver. It is an alerting two-way radio that isn't too much larger that the Minitor 5. I've got it programmed with BMFD's crossband repeater, BMFD Ops talk-around and repeater, and BMFD EMS Ops T/A and R. So far so good. It's not a bad radio with a few annoying exceptions. 1. There is no keylock feature programmed and the buttons on the front can accidently get pushed which can take you out of the alert mode. 2. The alarm is too short and too low. I think that can be reprogrammed, though. 3. The volume is too sensitive and is either too loud or very low and the alarm is dependant on the set volume. Also the knob is very easily turned raising or lowering the volume by rubbing against clothing when on your belt. In case you wanted to know...

I overheard, today, that 21 people were killed in accidents in the lower Hudson valley this weekend....

... and that's not counting the 22 dead in the accident on Lake George.