firemoose827

I guess we are a little behind in times. I am reading all of these posts seeing how many of you vollies post in quarters and there isnt a FD or VAC anywhere around me that do that. EMS is changing everyday. I wish I had the time to sit in quarters, believe me, anywhere would be better than getting the crap beat out of you by a preg. wife!! And our FD has a day room with TV, weights, and pool table so I dont know why more of us dont stay at qtrs. I do agree that PT care is priority but we obviously arent as busy as you guys are where it warrants stayin in quarters. What dept are you from and do you have the rec facilities? What is your call volume like? Just curious. Thanks for the input and stay safe. Jonesy

Sorry it took so long to answer, I thought the post had paid itself out!!! Mine expired in 99-00, and I did fine with the practicals and written. I was going to take the whole class over but our county medic told me to just recert. Some has changed but they will cover that in your refresher lectures. I say go for it. Good luck and let us know when you get it. Jonesy

Yes I have seen them at the NYS Fire Chiefs Convention in PA. They are excellent for overturned vehicles. Quick to deploy and easy to use. Not sure about the resistancy to chemicals and gas though. There were "point" attachments so you could peirce the metal skin of the car and stabilize it easier. Good tool.

Sure...NOW they come out with all this stuff!!! AFTER my back has been blown! Better late than never. I have lifted with the proper mechanics for as long as I can remeber and still have a bad back. We have tons (excuse the expression) of obese pts up here, some of which are frequent flyers!! I saw one call where the pt had passed in his SECOND floor bedroom and was 650 lbs. The fd cut the whole wall out and we were able to use a farm tractor with fork attachment to rig a sling and lower him to a makeshift guerney. We than had to transport with the cot tied down to the catch because he didnt fit. Maybe our county will buy one and use it for county wide responses. Remember....lift with the knees!! Jonesy

I agree with that idea, and I am all for it. When and where do we go to submit the info to you? My name is in my screen name also. I have nothing to hide. m_bjones. I also like maybe posting your rank and years in service so you know who your talking to, I like to give respect where it is due.

What problems have arisen from my post? Enlighten me.

I think we need to start a post on dispatch procedures!! Whoever said that the VOLUNTEERS need to be in the building instead of responding from home has no life...I have a wife pregnant with our first and a house to take care of, if our agency wants us to stay in quarters than start paying me, or atleast buy me pizza! That is why its called VOLUNTEER, we respond when we are available.

Hollywood wannabees...just showing off for the crowd. Poor leadership, bad image for the rest of us too, cause now you know all of those people are saying, "man, firefighters are careless and reckless. Theyre supposed to keep us safe??" Kinda looks like my old dept, actualy.

THANK YOU. THIS is what I meant 66alpha. I am not an idiot, I know you need to fill out a PCR for each call; but two for one call? The EMT fills one out yes, but the driver should fill out the drivers report, or run sheet, or call log, whatever your dept uses. I was Capt of a VAC for 3 years, I dont need a PCR lecture. If the EMT is part of the ambulance than the rig times are recorded with notation that the EMT was on scene prior to. If it was a FR group that sent an EMT to ride on another ambulance than the EMT makes out the PCR and hands a copy to the ambulance agency for their records. Thank you tanker42. I have never experienced the staggered dispatch and have only heard about it once from someone who recently moved to this area from a dept that used it. So its not worth persuing than? Oh well...back to the drawing board. be safe and enjoy SPRING!!!! Jonesy

Correct me if I am wrong, but arent EMT's the only ones aloud to write PCR's, and even then why would the EMT driver need to fill out a PCR instead of a run sheet with times. Just curious.

Hey all, something to add to the discussion ( and my frustration! ) We had a call yesterday for a stove fire in a 3 story apt house, ordinary construction. I get to station to see the engine leaving, could not see crew. I jump on rescue truck with three others and we leave. As we are pulling on to main street we see the engine, who left a good 1-2 minutes before us, down the road pulled over. We PASS the engine to see the "Driver", no, the "Qualified Driver" fighting the gears and trying to get it to move. I look at the other guy and say that we had better pack up and grab an extinguisher 'cause were gonna get there first with no engine. He smirks and we get ready. We get there and go in with the extinguisher and tools to find an overheated electric stove with some food down below the burner. Nothing at all, but had it of been a worker, we would have lost the whole apt house. The engine finaly arrives with a blushing driver, who as far as I knew was not qualified on that truck and was the assist chiefs son, and the assist chief runs over to the truck to find out who it was, mind you its the drivers father, only to see his son and he laughs about it?! "Oh, he just had trouble with fourth gear, thats all, lets head back." I'm wondering what would have happened if it were someone else driving, or if the building had burned bad and we had no water for 3-4 minutes more because of this "Driver". Elections are this month...things are going to change. Jonesy

Does anyone here know more about the staggered dispatch? This post brings up interesting facts to support us adopting something like it everywhere. I was told it goes something similar to tanker42's post; first tones-dept "A" 3 minutes later second tones-dept "A" and "B" 3 minutes more and 3rd tones- DEpt "A "B" and "C". first rig enroute gets call. I have been trying to push this to our county for a while now. We are mostly rural communities and it may take 5 minutes for the crew to reach the squad. I have seen it some times where the call will be rolled to four different agencies before they get a crew, and it might be an EMT from this dept with a driver from the other dept and the county medic riding along just to help out. We go the standard 3 tones with 3minutes in between, if no response after 3 tones its rolled to the closest available. Some rigs take 15-20 minute response times!!! If anyone has more info, or a better system of dispatch to share I would appreciate it. Good post manpower, and something for a lot of us to think about. Jonesy

We already had several large brush fires up here. They could have been worse. One took a barn with it and about two acres. Its getting crazy up here. jonesy

Interesting bit of history I never knew. Thanks for sharing that.

Couldnt have said it better...tradition has created TONS of names for different tools. Find out what your dept calls their tools and go with it, otherwise you create more confusion. Firehouse USA: Boston? We recently had a guy who was a paid ff in Hanover Mass. join our dept and he only laughs when we mention that show. I guess he knows something we dont? Jonesy

Im not exactly sure, but I do believe the hasty harness and the swiss seat are two different things. I will look it up, but the hasty harness is a quick make shift harness made by webbing that allows you to hook a biner to it and repel. The swiss seat has been around for a while now, ever since I have been in the service. Anyone else know for sure if theyre the same or different? Also, Ithink that the fgure8 on double bight was an old school knot used to beat feet, I dont think it is the "Swiss Seat" which was also made with webbing. Its confusing with all of the knots coming out, Ive learned 3 or 4 different knot families now!!! I would like to refresh though, anyone know for sure? Jonesy

Thanks for reminding me of the ambulance wet down I had Vodoly I was capt of our squad and we got a new Medtec abulance, and I surprised the squad by getting our ALS certificate from DOH as well so the three of us that were ALS could actually practice it without calling the county medics. Well, when the rig came in we took it down to the park in town and had a BBQ with the two rigs side by side. We invited all of the squads and had a good turnout. Twords the end, I had the county medic, myself, and our mayor hold out a 1000 bag of NS and we squirted down the new ambulance. Everyone had a great time and it started a new tradition in my county. Jonesy

I use the insert kit with my mask, but the other option does sound interesting. Who sells these goggles?

I think it would be a good idea. A lot of us take pride in their helmets and even have some artwork on them. I think it would be interesting to see all of them. Great idea izzy. jonesy

Hope it doesnt end up another police drama like every other fire/ems show has.

Hey all Just curious to find out how many depts have weight rooms? If not, are you planning on either adding one on to existing stations or to a new buiding in the future? Reason I ask is because of all of the ff LODD involving "Health related issues" namely heart attacks. We have one but very few of us use it regularly. We even discussed dedicating one drill a month to physical fitness. Several resignations were threatened!! Jonesy

May he rest in peace... Have they mentioned what he died of?

The FAST I am on must have really good training from what I have read in your post. The "Gadgets" you mentioned are, like mentioned prior, essential to a rescue. What gets me though is how you say it will tire the men out just by dragging the stuff to the scene. Our team trains very hard, and we work well with each other, and there is no "Leader". The first on scene is Team Leader and stays with the IC. If something happens a team of 2 ff's from FAST enter and do a quick assesment; if they can simply grab and drag, they do. If the ff is trapped they radio the situation out and the remaining two FAST members grab what is needed to effect the rescue and enter to assist. The team leader maintains the outside doorman position to monitor and track the teams progress. I can go on and on citing our teams SOP's, but I guess what I am trying to say as nicely as I can is; not all FAST are as bad as you think they are. We have done training evolutions in acquired houses and "Rescued" a ff in as little as a minute. We also physically train as well, with cardio and weight programs, and yes even a diet !! Mental training is required as well, with evolutions including ff's acting like upset brothers, yelling and running around and trying to enter the house and help us, and get in our way. We try to simulate every possible emotion. WAIT!!! I know some of you are probably chomping to get at me and say "Training is one thing but try it in the real world." Thats why we only allow experienced, trained ff's on the team. At least ffI level for 5 years, with haz-mat, rescue training, EMS training with at least CPR although we encourage EMT. Experienced ff's know that loosing your calm will not help anyone. A few things I forgot to mention above; the initial entry team carries a rope bag for a lifeline, and basic tools; irons, pry-bars, hooks, whatever their preference. Maybe a water can. Our initial arrival consists of checking in with IC and Team Leader, than doing a 360 deg walk to assess hazards, place ladders, remove clothes lines, mark inground pools, ect. I'm proud of our FAST, and think we provide more than just "Manpower". I respect your opinion, but are you actually on a FAST? If so where? I think that the FAST concept is still new and going through growing pains, but like everything else will eventually become more fine tuned. Im sorry I rambled, and may have even strayed a little off topic, but I have been reading the FAST posts a lot and not responding. Guess I BLEVE'd!!!! I hope noone ever needs FAST. Stay safe. Jonesy

Im not trying to bash anyone here, but to me, with all these stories of people getting hurt at wet downs, I think SOMEONE let things get a little out of control. Thats why I like the simple wet down we did in Long Island. The old truck sat next to the new one and just had a small stream, idle pressure only (Not 150 psi!!!) and wet down the new one as it backed into quarters. Than the dept chaplain did a small prayer, past chiefs put various tools into place, and we ate tons of food and had a good time. I like the idea ALS brought up, about the dept pushing the truck in to quarters. Does anyone know what depts do that? Just curious. Jonesy

Until I joined this dept, I would have agreed with you 100%. But here, the chief works very closely with the squad capt and vice versa. The chief allows the capt a lot of freedom and doesnt interfere. It is a good working relationship and we rarely have any problems. We have monthly officers meetings and the squad capt is always part of them and has a complete say in matters. Our squad members who arent in the fire dept also, are required to take a watered down version of Basic Firefighter so they know what is happening at fire scene stand-bys. I dont know about other depts, but this one works well together. I do agree with you though, I think that todays chief officers need some type of EMS training. Jonesy