KEEPING YOU SAFE
MICHAEL P. DALLESSANDRO | 01/11/2010

In the fire service there are people who just drive fire apparatus, and there are drivers who skillfully drive and operate fire apparatus safely. I have been very fortunate over the years as a guest speaker, to be able to travel to many conferences and fire departments that held safe apparatus operator workshops. Through my travels I have met many skilled apparatus driver/operators and I have also met a number of people who just drive fire trucks. There is a difference. I have been driving fire apparatus myself for approximately 25 years, but have only really been an apparatus driver/operator for about 18 of those 24 years.

FIRE
Michael P. Dallessandro | 07/25/2010

Everyday during my ride to work I take note of all of the school buses on the roads today. After all, it is my job to know as much about them as I can. I am a firefighter and in my full time career I am a school district manager responsible for the safe operation of over 80 buses that travel nearly one million miles annually and transport just under 3000 children to and from school daily.

Fire
KEN NEWELL | 10/18/2009

Did your Department apply for this grant? Were you successful? If not, will there be another opportunity next year?

In the last article we looked in depth at the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 which provided the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with $210,000,000 to fund the construction and modifications of fire stations. The program is administered by the Assistance to Firefighters Program Office under FEMA’s Grant Programs Directorate. The grants under this new program are being awarded directly to the fire departments on a competitive basis.

KEEPING YOU SAFE
STEPHEN MARKS | 01/11/2010

Regardless of our background in the emergency services, we are charged with the responsibility of serving our community. Most of us realized this when we began our careers, although it may not have been the only reason we chose to follow such a path. It doesn’ t matter whether we are paid or volunteer. It doesn’ t matter if we dispatch the calls, respond to them, or clean up after them. We’ re all in this together —serving our community.

Fire
BOB CARROLL | 04/26/2010

As a rookie firefighter in a suburb of Detroit, I was excited to get on a truck and “put the wet stuff on the red stuff.” I quickly realized that the job involved more ambulance work than the heroic adventures portrayed on the television that I watched so intently as a child.

FIRE
Bradley Dean | 07/25/2010

Over the past few years I have had the opportunity to work with some individuals who really understand people and how to motivate them. I have seen others that really knew how to destroy them as well. A dear friend that has experienced a lot over the last 10 years in his life recently sat in my office talking about his shift and how much he cared for them as a supervisor. Given his latest and third round of cancer it was apparent that the personnel on his shift really care for him as well.

KEEPING YOU SAFE
BRADLEY DEAN | 01/11/2010

We are at the beginning of a safety revolution in EMS. For many years, safety issues have taken a backseat to the pressures of keeping the trucks rolling. Throughout the process we have learned about the dangers our paramedics and EMTs face in the line of duty, and it has become increasingly difficult to ignore the facts staring us in the face.

Equipment
Ron Moore | 01/11/2010

Rescuers across this country are becoming increasingly aware that automakers are integrating new, tougher and stronger steel into their newest model vehicles so they can meet new government crash standards. The industry term ‘Boron’ is becoming more and more familiar to vehicle rescue personnel as well as our rescue tool vendors. Boron is just one of the various types of a new alloy steel family that are called ‘advanced steels.’ Boron, Martensite, Dual Phase, and TRIP steel are all examples of this new generation of steel that is challenging rescue personnel. It is 25 percent lighter in weight and eight times stronger than the steel we are currently used to in vehicles.

Health and Wellness
Cheryl Holland | 01/11/2010

Facing the end of life is a fact of life. It will happen to all of us. As someone who works in Emergency Medical Services, you understand that reality better than most. What can be avoided is putting those you love in the position of having to make confusing, heart-wrenching decisions on your behalf. By being prepared —by making your wishes known upfront —you can save a highly emotional time from becoming impossibly difficult.

FROM THE PUBLISHER
RB Knight | 07/25/2010

Some years ago, I was working alone late on a Friday night when a large burly man walked through the front door. In a commanding voice he demanded “I want to see the boss man.” Cringing a little, I replied, “That would be me.”