Fire Rescue EMS Online News: Spring Issue

David Pease | 10/14/2010

Well, summer is on its way out and it is time to start setting up those training sessions. Your folks are back from vacations and the weather will be cooler and easier to work in. We tend to do more training in the spring and fall, due to the cooler weather and better conditions. The heat of the summer makes it tough and the winter brings on the holidays and sometimes bitter weather, another situation that we do not want to train in. But do remember, vehicle crashes do not pick only the good weather to happen. My philosophy is to train in all types of conditions. Read More...

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Christopher M. Haley | 10/14/2010

Change in the fire service, is never an easy thing. No matter what we are trying to change, it is almost always met with resistance. Being a group that endears tradition, we as firefighters cling to the ways of old, very tightly, sometimes too tightly. A lot of the resistance to changes of the way we do things stems from a long history of failed attempts at changes. Every firefighter will be quick to tell you of the “crazy idea” the chief tried to spring on them overnight, and how it was a good idea that just wasn’t thought through. Read More...

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Wesley Carter | 10/14/2010

Distance education has grown over the years, and it has been estimated that more than three million people are taking at least one online class this semester in the United States. Online programs have become very popular in almost all industries. One could look at advertisements in various publications and see a wide range of degrees and courses being offered through regionally accredited colleges and universities. A college that is not offering classes at a distance is definitely in the minority, and is not maximizing their potential for offering advanced degrees and certificates to people who are not able to attend traditional classes. Read More...

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Douglas Cline | 10/14/2010

All firefighters realize and understand the importance of time when it comes to responding to an emergency incident. Time is recognized as one limited resource that must be maximized in every aspect. A difference in seconds may mean the difference between a fire being confined to the point of origin, verses a fully engulfed room, or a person clinically dead verses biologically dead. Time is critical in every case. Read More...

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Chris Jelenewicz | 10/14/2010

Despite the lethargic economic rebound, salaries in one industry are still holding strong. The median USA total compensation for fire protection engineers is now $110,500, a 12.5 percent increase since the previous survey was conducted in 2007. Fire protection engineering is a unique profession that uses science and technology to make our world safer from the destructive impacts of fire. Read More...

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Carolinas Healthcare System | 10/14/2010

Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS), based in Charlotte, is one of the largest and most comprehensive hospital-based systems in the U.S., and the largest in the Carolinas. It includes 32 hospitals, more than 1,500 employed physicians, plus post-acute care and long-term care facilities. In the Charlotte metropolitan region there are eight acute care CHS hospitals including Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, a Level I Trauma Center and Academic Medical Center Teaching Hospital, serving western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina; CMC-NorthEast in Concord, a Level III Trauma Center; CMC-University and CMC-Mercy in Charlotte; CMC-P... Read More...

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Jeff Barnes, Brian Griffith, and John Kelley | 10/14/2010

The Florida weatherman is in a floppy poncho holding his microphone in one hand and his yellow hood to his head with the other. As he pushes towards the wind to stay in view of the television camera, he sternly declares, “Severe weather is coming — the biggest we’ve seen in years.” Of course, the local television and radio stations follow with, “it is headed our way in a few days.” Read More...

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David Pease | 10/14/2010

We talked last time about how the diving industry has come a long way since the 70s, and the fun I had diving with Jacques Cousteau, yeah, right. Once you obtain that open water certification, you need to move into your advanced open water and put some specialties under your belt. This will also give you more dive time and experience. Read More...

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Bob Twomey | 10/14/2010

Rescue training has changed greatly in the last 30 years, what with the advent of new rescue equipment and the skills required to apply, or utilize, that equipment effectively and safely. There are more varieties and types of equipment to perform various rescues than ever before. The “general rescuer,” and even the rescue specialist, have more tools available now than ever. New standards for rescue are more prevalent, along with ever-changing protocols, SOPs, SOGs, etc., all in an effort to be the “best and safest we can be.” We NEED to be proficient with new technologies, procedures and skills. The public has a right to expect this, and we ... Read More...

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| 10/14/2010

Mark your calendars for the NC State Firemen’s Association night with the Carolina Hurricanes! On Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. join us at the RBC Center in Raleigh, NC and watch the Hurricanes take on the Florida Panthers. Read More...

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| 10/14/2010

Charleston County EMS has been awarded the 2010 National Paid EMS Service of the Year award. This award, given by Cygnus communications, is given to one paid EMS system in the United States each year. Charleston County was chosen due to various areas, such as it’s innovation in pre-hospital care, program upgrades, the high certification level of its personnel, worker safety and well-being, it’s excellent EMS education and training program, the involvement in the medical community, its illness and injury prevention project and public education initiatives, among other things. Read More...

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Jason Boan | 10/14/2010

The patient assessment algorithm is drilled into our heads from day one in EMS. It does not matter what class you take: EMT-B, EMT-I, EMT-P, ITLS, PEDS, PALS, GEMS, NRP, AMLS, ASLS, or any other combination of letters someone can come up with. They all revolve around some form of the patient assessment chart. Some of the classes use the same one, a few adjust them to fit the specific topic of the class, but they all use some form of it. Everything we do in EMS is based on what we find during the patient assessment. Read More...

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Jeremy Hill | 10/14/2010

When training or preparing for the call that stretches you and your service to the limit, a consistent and efficient approach to triage is advantageous. The SMART triage system provides the user with a simple, clear, and concise methodology to completing field triage of patients in the setting of a mass causality incident. Read More...

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August Vernon | 10/14/2010

It appears that the “bad guys” (criminal elements and terrorists) are more determined, violent and heavily armed than ever before. Crisis situations such as terrorist threats, criminal attacks and active shooters are occurring with alarming frequency. Dispatch and Response Phase Nature of the call and location are important. When responding get all the dispatch information available. Current threat environment and intelligence could be applicable to a mass shooting/active shooter response. Is location a school, college or high profile business? Read More...

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David Pease | 10/14/2010

When I attend fire conferences and shows, I am always on the lookout for new and innovative equipment that would be good to evaluate and write about. I look for things that would make your life as a rescuer easier and safer. While attending the South Carolina Fire and Rescue Conference this past June, I came across a small piece of equipment that I thought was interesting and served a purpose for some of those in the fire and rescue field. Read More...

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