A Firefighter’s Risk of Developing Cancer is Twice That of Any Other Profession
Smoke produced by fires today is much more dangerous than in years past. In the past, furnishings were made from natural products such as wood,
After the Explosion
As we learn about trauma medicine, the topic of blast injuries usually gets very little coverage. The thinking on this is that blast injuries are
Arson Dogs — An Underutilized Tool in the Fire Investigator’s Tool Box
As in any job that we perform on the fireground, it is essential to use all tools we have at our disposal. We need to
Avoiding Acceptance of the Status Quo:
In any occupational pursuit, there comes a time at which we are at risk of succumbing to the status quo and possibly just “riding things
Back Pain and How to Prevent It
I want to address a fitness concern for fire/paramedic personnel, back pain and injuries associated with work-related activities. Back injuries account for more than 20
Christmas at the Library Celebration
One look at the 40-foot cross on the front of the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., and you know that this place is different.
Concrete, PVC and a Cyclone Fence
This issue we start in Japan. A very famous Japanese movie director, Akira Kurosawa, made a movie called “Rashomon.” It is a story of six
Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department
Department Name: Cool Springs Volunteer Fire Department County: Iredell Type Department: Combination Structure: Non-Profit tax exempt ISO: 6/9E Number of Stations: 2 Number of Apparatus:
Does Your Agency TRULY Benefit the Continuum of Care?
It should be no secret to any of us that change is on the horizon for EMS. We have been charged with doing things better,
Dressing for Cold Weather Search and Rescue Operations
Within the next two months, the cold weather will finally be upon us as winter arrives. While it may seem ridiculous to talk about proper
EMS Have Best Opportunity to Detect Signs of Child Abuse
EMS is an important point of contact for children who suffer from child abuse, which is also called non-accidental injury (NAT). In North Carolina, and
Engine Company Operations — The Second Hoseline
There are many functions that an engine company must accomplish on the fireground. As mentioned in a previous edition of Carolina Fire, getting the first
Finding Comfort: Proper Recovery From Severe and Chronic Stress
(This is part three of a three part series.) Throughout recent articles we’ve discussed the importance of self-assessment, prevention of unnecessary stress and understanding the
Fire Protection Water Supplies
(This is part one of a two-part series.) Retired Phoenix Fire Chief Alan Brunacini is famous for distilling firefighting into “putting the wet stuff on
Firefighter Gloves
If you have never heard of the name Ryan Pennington, then I would guess you either do not spend a lot of time on social
Followership
The link between leadership, management and the organization is widely understood and accepted in the corporate world. This concept is no different in the fire
Hazmat Detectives — Food for Thought
Detective work does not normally come to mind when looking at the field of hazardous materials response. Depending on the authority having jurisdiction, training and/or
Heavy Vehicle BUS Rescue
Last issue we looked at the type “C” bus and now I want to briefly look at several of the other types of buses. Type
Industry News – 11/07/17
NEW RIGHTANSWER.COM SERVICE MAKES CHEMICAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY INFORMATION FREE TO U.S. FIRST RESPONDERS RightAnswer.com has launched a new service that makes subscription to its extensive
Know All the Avenues to Procure Construction of Your New Station
In today’s market, purchasing construction can be a very challenging and time-consuming undertaking. It often involves multiple people — from procurement directors to station chiefs
Lessons Learned: A Personal View
In a follow up to my article in a previous edition is a list of lessons learned looking from my perspective. I hope that my
Minimizing Cancer Risk Through Station Design
(This is part two of a two part series.) Over the past couple of decades, a silent killer is growing exponentially in the fire-fighting profession.
NCTMA Update
The North Carolina Tactical Medical Association has had its work cut out! Over the past few months we have been continually pushing forward to make
Peer Support
First off, let me preface this article to say I believe in both Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and Peer Support. I have seen CISM
Reflection on OUR Fire Service
I recently attended the annual Camp ‘Can’ Do held at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island in Charleston. If you are not familiar with Camp
Something New Again?
In the fire service things change very often, sometimes the change is good while other times it’s not so good. Regardless of what takes place,
The Active Shooter Threat:
The threat of active shooters and active assailants continues. In the time between the publication of the last article in this series and this article,
The Truth About Cancer Hazards and Turnout Gear
Awareness of cancer clusters among firefighters has increased recently as more information becomes available. Over the last decade, three key studies have shown elevated risks
Think Outside the Box
In a previous article, we talked about getting out of the station and utilizing the Department of Transportation’s Emergency Response Guidebook for hazardous materials training.
Upgrade Your Resources, Combine Your Station
There is a growing trend within the Design-Build industry from city managers and elected officials to chiefs and facility administrators — combining like services under
