CFJ Vol. 31.2 (Fall 2016)

From the Editor

Fall is here and with the changing of seasons and finalizing of the year, I always seem to find myself reflecting back on what went right and what can be improved. It is also the holiday season, which for a lot of us can cause an array of feelings. If that is not enough then you have the New Year filled with the promise of change. Learning from the past makes us better and improving our weak areas make us stronger. Dr. David Greene reminded me of how the industry changed drastically after 9/11 and “The Lessons That Were Learned.”

Relevant Tags: From the Editor

Improving Prehospital Care of Athletes

There are many athletic events that EMS may be standing by or called to that traverse the contact and collision spectrums. High school football games are perhaps the most high profile events that EMS may be called on to provide patient care. Any care provided during these events will be seen by a huge number of people. The perception by spectators of high quality care or poor quality care can have negative or positive repercussions for an EMS agency. Even more important is that the care provided by EMS can have major implications for the injured student athlete. The potential for a spinal injury is small but the effects of such an injury can be catastrophic. There are approximately 12,000 spinal cord injuries per year in the US with more than nine percent coming from athletic events. Given that many fire and EMS agencies are at or respond to these types of emergencies, we just wanted to give folks some insight as to how care is evolving in relation to athletic spinal injuries. These injuries and the care given will take place in front of thousands of spectators, with many different types of providers’ presents, and in a chaotic environment. For these reasons it’s very important for EMS to educate itself about how to provide the care and it’s important for EMS to participate in multidisciplinary planning prior to these events

Relevant Tags: NEWS FROM THE NC OEMS MEDICAL DIRECTOR

HCN and CO in Fire Fighting and EMS

It isn’t just Carbon Monoxide (CO) we need to worry about. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) is probably an even greater danger.

If you or members of your team have experienced a headache, sore throat or nausea after a fire, your bodies have warned you. Don’t ignore that warning! Today’s fires involve burning plastics and polymers that can quickly cause permanent injury. The reality is in, near and after today’s fires we cannot afford to assume that minor symptoms are not important or that EMS teams, command teams, pump operators, firefighters near an active fire, those cleaning up after the fire or even those investigating later are safe.

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Metropolitan Medical Response System

The Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) traces its origin to the Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST) concept created by the Washington Metropolitan Area in 1995. The MMST was a joint effort by Washington D.C., Arlington County in Virginia and Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties in Maryland. The MMST was primarily a glorified hazardous materials team designed to respond to a terrorist event involving weapons of mass destruction. Based on the success of the MMST, a similar team was formed in order to defend against a possible terrorist attack during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia.

Relevant Tags: HAZMAT

Several Items Concerning Rescue

I recently returned from the 60th Annual Convention of the North Carolina Association of Rescue and EMS held in Hickory, North Carolina on Sept. 8-11, 2016. There were instructional classes in rescue evolutions involving winching operations and procedures, use of struts in vehicle movement and stabilization, several classes involving EMS field operations and training, and numerous vendors promoting various trucks and equipment for EMS and rescue applications.

Relevant Tags: RESCUE A-Z

What Have We Learned Since 9/11?

As usual you are reading this long after it has been typed.  The 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks is this weekend, and it is weighing heavily in my mind and heart.  I’d like to spend this article talking about firefighter Daniel Suhr.  Danny was with Engine Company 216 at FDNY and was 37 years old on 9/11/2001. 

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Good Products IMPROVED

Sometimes, I see things that are improved upon and then I come across things that really don’t change much. Perhaps they are trying to survive off the vitality that once was there. As we continue to move forward we will continue to see tools and equipment evolve with the time.

Relevant Tags: TOOLS OF THE TRADE

Finding Your Balance as a Volunteer

Many of us began serving our communities first as volunteers. Some may have chosen to become paid/career emergency responders while others have maintained their status as volunteers. And there are even some who are paid career firefighters, rescue technicians and emergency medical responders who also serve as volunteers within other organizations.

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Retaining Volunteers From the Fire Chief’s Prospective

Retention of high-performing personnel is necessary to the success of any organization. This holds true particularly for volunteer fire departments where institutional knowledge can mean the difference between life and death for firefighters and the community at large. Community protection and wellbeing depends on the experience, expertise and tenure of local emergency providers. Volunteers bring tremendous depth and diversity to any emergency scene based on their regular jobs and their expertise in their communities. Weak retention rates often indicate a problem with an organization and diminish the level and quality of service to the public. Not all attrition is bad. Many organizations use exit interviews to get honest reasons why people are leaving. You should consider these reasons carefully to determine whether your organization is experiencing positive or negative attrition. If your retention rates are low and the reasons why people leave are not negative (for example, they are being transferred out of state), then the organization probably is performing well. However, if people are leaving because they do not enjoy the work, they have conflicts with other members or they are concerned about safety, you are facing an organizational problem. You should know the retention rate and average length of service of your department.

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Heavy Vehicle BUS Rescue

As I write this article we are preparing for a mission trip back to Guatemala to train their firefighters and rescue folks. This will be our fourth trip back down, and we have a great group of Instructors that will be going. We are spending two days with the firefighters covering vehicle extrication and stabilization. One of the big issues they have there is bus wrecks.

Relevant Tags: EXTRICATION EDUCATION

Cultural Brainwashing

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the definition of “culture” is:

• The beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.
• A particular society that has its own beliefs, ways of life, art, etc.
• A way of thinking, behaving, or working that exists in a place or organization — such as a business.

Relevant Tags: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Colleton County Fire-Rescue

Department Name: Colleton County Fire-Rescue

County: Colleton County, South Carolina

Type Department: Combination/ All Hazards

Structure: Public Service District covering unincorporated areas of the county and four municipalities. Governed by a five member Fire-Rescue Commission who reports to the County Council.

Relevant Tags: FIRE STATION PROFILE

Pitfalls to Avoid During Station Construction

(This is part one of a two-part series.)

There are people in the world that learn from their own mistakes and experiences, and there are those who learn from others’ mistakes and experiences. Those in the latter category tend to have a longer, less stressful life. If your future includes a new or renovated station project, it makes sense to learn how others have encountered challenges in the process so that you can attempt to avoid the same problems.

Relevant Tags: THE STATION HOUSE

Mutual Aid International

The story of Mutual Aid International really starts with the fire gear. The first firefighter I met in my trip to Guatemala that was trying to raise money, was trying to raise money for essential supplies. Therefore the first thing I could think to get for them was gear. Let me explain why fire gear was my first instinct. When you become a firefighter, the very first thing issued to you is gear. It is what makes you a firefighter. We’re just normal people, but when you put the gear on you can do extraordinary things. The fire gear is rated for temperatures up to 500 degrees. You’re still hot, you feel the heat but you have confidence in your gear that you can accomplish your job. We have a saying, “risk a little to save a little, risk a lot to save a lot.” So that just means we don’t care how hot we are, we are willing to lay down our life for someone that is helpless. We have the gear to do the job, so we have the responsibility to help those that are in need. But almost more importantly than the function of gear, is the great pride and value to you. Another saying we are fond of is that, “your coat has two names on it” — your family name and your department name — make them both proud, represent well.

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Sharing Hope in Crisis

Nice, France: A Billy Graham Rapid Response Team chaplain, clad in the ministry’s signature blue shirt, approached a woman who was visibly distraught, clutching a bunch of flowers in her hand like a security blanket. The chaplain simply asked the woman if she would like to pray, and the woman warmly accepted the invitation.

After the prayer, the woman began to share her story.

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IndustryNews

Kimtek’s MEDLITE® and FIRELITE® Transports are a Perfect Fit for the new Honda® Pioneer 1000-3

First responders have expanded options with new UTV/skid unit combination

In its continued expansion into side-by-side utility vehicles, the newly introduced Honda Pioneer 1000-3 readily accommodates the Kimtek MEDLITE and FIRELITE skid units. The Honda Pioneer 1000-3 has a cargo bed capacity of 1,000 pounds, allowing enough capacity to carry most of the UTV skid units KIMTEK currently offers.

A Useful Combination

With its modular, slide-in design and numerous adaptability features, Kimtek’s MEDLITE and FIRELITE Transport skid units can be installed in the Honda Pioneer 1000-3 cargo bed in just minutes. The MEDLITE and FIRELITE’s included tie-down system attaches to the Honda’s integrated tie-downs already located in the cargo bed for fast, simple installation. With MEDLITES offering a place for an attendant and a patient and the FIRELITES offering up to 70 gallons of water and a patient transport area, these combinations give first responders a powerful tool for off-road fire and rescue, wildland search and rescue, large event response, lifeguard operations, industrial fire and medical response, and many more field applications for police, fire, and EMS response agencies.

For more information about Kimtek’s full line of MEDLITE and FIRELITE Transport skid units, please visit www.kimtekresearch.com. More information on Honda Pioneer 1000-3 is available at For more information about Kimtek’s full line of MEDLITE and FIRELITE Transport skid units, please visit www.kimtekresearch.com. More information on Honda Pioneer 1000-3 is available at www.honda.com.

Relevant Tags: IndustryNews