While community safety is a high priority for residents, elected officials and first responders, the allocated funding doesn’t always meet the needs for adequate training. Developing continued education and training at minimal cost and equipment is imperative, especially for departments comprised of volunteers. It’s a growing issue for departments whether large or small, how to train firefighters without incurring cost which could be associated with travel expenses when sending staff to train or conferences.
While there is an abundance of trainings and practice drills from legitimate sources to utilize, there are fun and beneficial drills passed down from seasoned firefighters to rookies that are not found in any book. These drills measure common sense, staying calm during the chaos of a situation, teamwork, communication, control, patience and cooperation.
Equipment & Tool Proficiency
A thermal imaging camera can be a vital life saving tool but how often is it used by each of the firefighters. In efforts to better understand how to use the device, heat a large wrench in the oven and carefully hide it somewhere in the firehouse. Crews can seek out the ‘victim wrench’ by using the camera, allowing everyone to practice and better understand how the useful tool works.
Additionally, this drill creates an opportunity to discuss search and rescue tactics, grid formations and challenges, both individual and collectively associated with specific locations.
Power tools are often used in rescue missions. The more comfortable you are with using it before the emergency, the better you will perform under pressure. Start by cutting a piece of rebar with a grinding wheel while laying upside down. Doing so will improve tool control and dexterity. Continue to expand this drill by creating more incumbering situations such as being tied off to a ladder, then only using one hand.
Practicing with a hydraulic spreader is important but can also be a fun training activity, potentially sparking some friendly competition among the crew. Begin with practicing using small blocks of wood, picking them up and arranging them or even staking them. The goal is to have minimal damage or dings to the blocks. A fun twist is to use the large size Jenga, build the tower with the spreader and then enjoy playing the game. When the crew really starts to get the hang of it, take it up a notch and use eggs. There are many ways eggs are used in trainings like such, picking them up and setting them down on orange cones is one. The twist to this drill is making the eggs the next shift meal, rather omelets for breakfast or an egg salad sandwich for lunch. Knowing the crews next meal is on the line will create a fun competitive atmosphere.
Communication & Knowledge
Have half the crew write their name on a piece of paper and toss them in a bowl. The other half will pick out a name and that is your partner for the next drill. Having a blind pull for partners forces staff to work with others they may not normally choose but will have to work alongside during an emergency. One firefighter will have a rope and the other will place their hands behind their back. The person with their hands behind their back must verbally inform the other to tie a knot with the rope. The firefighter tying the rope must obey the instructor’s every command. This drill amplifies real communication skills both instructing and listening. Adding difficulty to this otherwise simple drill is blindfolding the instructor or even the student.
Surprise, it’s a blind cabinet drill! Understanding the inventory on the apparatus and its location is vitally important. This drill can be done as individuals or teams. Have each team with a pad of paper write down everything in the cabinet without opening the door. Work your way around the apparatus. Upon completion, open each door as a group and compare lists. Which ever team has the most correct equipment listed gets lunch made for them and the team with the shortest list must make lunch of the winner’s choice.
It’s cost effective to hold trainings regionally and partnering with neighboring departments but let’s not forgot about the other first responders within the municipal territory. Paramedic’s can provide medical information that firefighters could face at anytime and need to know how take proper precautions. Have a paramedic drop off a report on a rare medical condition or disease providing the definition, symptoms or other descriptive verbiage. There are many ways to create a drill to learn about medical challenges. The paramedic could provide the description of the illness but not the name requiring the crew research and discuss what it could be. Another option is to have a group prepare a brief tutorial on the illness and teach the whole group.
Knowing your territory including changes in development or temporary construction is important. Write the names of all the streets in your first-due area on a separate piece of paper and place all the slips of paper in a bowl. One by one, take turns randomly picking out a street and telling the group where the street is, the cross-streets and how to get there from the fire station. Continue to add layers to this drill by asking which direction the street runs, side of the street the odd/even numbers are, and the target hazards on that street.
Hopefully these out-of-the-box training idea’s will spark an interest with your department to create fun and inexpensive rainy day training drills.
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Homer Township Fire District Builds New Tanker
Homer Township Fire District (IL) is excited to be building a new tanker —a Sutphen tanker—working with Legacy Fire Apparatus as their dealer. A recent visit to the Sutphen East facility, now in Lake Ariel, PA., provided Homer Township's build committee members with a view of their hard work of planning and design beginning to come to fruition. This new pumper/tanker will replace a 1995 GMC Top Kick/ S&S Tanker that was unexpectedly removed from service due to a catastrophic tank failure. Chief Chris Locacius stated “40% of the fire district is unhydranted so having a tanker is extremely important,”
The new Sutphen commercial tanker will have 2000 gallons of water, a 1500 GPM Hale pump, standard pumper ground ladders, and a Foam Pro 2001 Foam system. The foam tank is a special feature that was important to Homer Township Fire District. Chief Locacius “We use AR-AFFF for hazardous materials and since a portion of I-355 expressway is in our district, having foam for potential accidents with semi-trucks and fuel tankers, we knew the foam tank would be extremely beneficial to our community.” Chief Locacius plans to staff the tanker with at least two and potentially three at times.
Another priority was to work with a vendor that was able to design the tanker to combat rust and corrosion which is a growing issue in the Midwest. “We have had previous issues with other vendors, rust being a huge problem. We knew whoever manufactures the tanker, we needed to know first how they can protect against corrosion. It was very important to learn the process of combating corrosion and ultimately the reason we went with a Sutphen and Legacy as our dealer.” Sutphen offers stainless steel manufacturing which helps prevent these issues.
Homer Township Fire District was successful in obtaining a FEMA grant to purchase the tanker. Expect to see this new addition to their fleet in service in early August.
The new Sutphen commercial tanker will have 2000 gallons of water, a 1500 GPM Hale pump, standard pumper ground ladders, and a Foam Pro 2001 Foam system. The foam tank is a special feature that was important to Homer Township Fire District. Chief Locacius “We use AR-AFFF for hazardous materials and since a portion of I-355 expressway is in our district, having foam for potential accidents with semi-trucks and fuel tankers, we knew the foam tank would be extremely beneficial to our community.” Chief Locacius plans to staff the tanker with at least two and potentially three at times.
Another priority was to work with a vendor that was able to design the tanker to combat rust and corrosion which is a growing issue in the Midwest. “We have had previous issues with other vendors, rust being a huge problem. We knew whoever manufactures the tanker, we needed to know first how they can protect against corrosion. It was very important to learn the process of combating corrosion and ultimately the reason we went with a Sutphen and Legacy as our dealer.” Sutphen offers stainless steel manufacturing which helps prevent these issues.
Homer Township Fire District was successful in obtaining a FEMA grant to purchase the tanker. Expect to see this new addition to their fleet in service in early August.
Sutphen East Facility
Sutphen is comprised of five facilities and in 2017, the East Facility moved to Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania - formerly located in Monticello, New York. The new location is close to major highways, City of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport; which allows better travel opportunity and amenities for customers. The area also provides a larger number of services available to Sutphen, including vendors. Most importantly, the new location is a much larger plot of land providing Sutphen with space to grow.
This facility currently has 55 employees to manufacturer both aluminum and stainless-steel pumpers as well as commercial pumpers and tankers. Sutphen East handles repairs and service for the local market also. “[Moving] we were able to increase our output by changing to a cell manufacturing instead of in-line manufacturing at the NY location.” said Production Engineer Tony Sambuca. The new facility has a new two million BTU heated down draft paint booth providing the best paint finish and has increased productivity. “By moving our Service Department to this location, it provided a one stop shop for the customer.” says Sambuca. “This also allows engineering and production to work with service providing valuable customer feedback for improvements in quality control and future production.”
Upon visiting Sutphen East, company pride is apparent both with employees and throughout the facility itself. There are four main production bays and each bay has a mascot. The General Manager Darryl Sutphen created the idea while the crews chose their own names - the Raptors, Rhino’s, Beavers and Ducks. Each team has a competitive edge but it’s clear they all work as one big team when needed. “We tend to attract employees with a back ground in the fire, ems and military services, so the pride and passion of their personal lives carry over to their professional lives.” said Sambuca
This facility currently has 55 employees to manufacturer both aluminum and stainless-steel pumpers as well as commercial pumpers and tankers. Sutphen East handles repairs and service for the local market also. “[Moving] we were able to increase our output by changing to a cell manufacturing instead of in-line manufacturing at the NY location.” said Production Engineer Tony Sambuca. The new facility has a new two million BTU heated down draft paint booth providing the best paint finish and has increased productivity. “By moving our Service Department to this location, it provided a one stop shop for the customer.” says Sambuca. “This also allows engineering and production to work with service providing valuable customer feedback for improvements in quality control and future production.”
Building Fire Trucks to Protect Firefighters from Carcinogens; the Clean Cab Initiative
According to the Center for Disease Control, the leading cause of death for Americans is heart disease but that is not the case for firefighters anymore. Running towards a burning building is the risk that comes to mind when thinking about the daily activities for firefighters but the true risk of the job could appear years later. The International Association of Firefighters reports the leading cause of death is cancer. In fact, firefighters have higher rates of cancer than the rest of us, upwards of 68% higher than the general population for some types of the disease and accounts for double the reported cases of mesothelioma, a cancer which targets the thin tissue that covers internal organs. The reported statistics vary based on the study, source and type of cancer which was concerning to Robert D. Daniels, PhD. CHP. who lead the largest study of U.S. Firefighters in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in 2010.
This study shows firefighters have a 9% increased rate for being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher rate of dying from cancer. However, when looking at specific types of cancer, the rates for firefighters rise steeply; specifically regarding respiratory, digestive and skin. Along with confirming the statistics being double for mesothelioma, they are also double for testicular cancer, 1.28 greater for prostate cancer and 1.21 greater for colon cancer. The study showed the rate of multiple myeloma was increased 1.53 times greater risk for firefighters, 1.39 times for skin cancer and 1.51 greater with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The fire industry recognizes the long-term risk factor and has made significant changes to aid in the protection of carcinogens from the men and woman that protect us. A breathing apparatus (BA) is always available when responding to a building or vehicle fire and manufactures of gear have made many necessary changes to reduce exposure to the body. Research has determined that not only respiratory absorption of carcinogens but also through skin absorption can lead to firefighting related cancers which include particles left on gear after the fire scene.
Proudly wearing black soot on your gear used to be a sign of experience, something to be respected; now, its standard protocol for most departments to immediately clean gear after each fire, not to be worn twice. Some firehouses have specialized washing machines and/ or a second set of gear to enforce policy. When dissecting the process of an emergency call, a firefighter puts on clean gear, loads into a clean truck – the first time – fights the fire and returns back to the station where they clean their body and gear; but what about transferring toxins to the soft surfaces in the cab of the engine?
This study shows firefighters have a 9% increased rate for being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher rate of dying from cancer. However, when looking at specific types of cancer, the rates for firefighters rise steeply; specifically regarding respiratory, digestive and skin. Along with confirming the statistics being double for mesothelioma, they are also double for testicular cancer, 1.28 greater for prostate cancer and 1.21 greater for colon cancer. The study showed the rate of multiple myeloma was increased 1.53 times greater risk for firefighters, 1.39 times for skin cancer and 1.51 greater with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The fire industry recognizes the long-term risk factor and has made significant changes to aid in the protection of carcinogens from the men and woman that protect us. A breathing apparatus (BA) is always available when responding to a building or vehicle fire and manufactures of gear have made many necessary changes to reduce exposure to the body. Research has determined that not only respiratory absorption of carcinogens but also through skin absorption can lead to firefighting related cancers which include particles left on gear after the fire scene.
Proudly wearing black soot on your gear used to be a sign of experience, something to be respected; now, its standard protocol for most departments to immediately clean gear after each fire, not to be worn twice. Some firehouses have specialized washing machines and/ or a second set of gear to enforce policy. When dissecting the process of an emergency call, a firefighter puts on clean gear, loads into a clean truck – the first time – fights the fire and returns back to the station where they clean their body and gear; but what about transferring toxins to the soft surfaces in the cab of the engine?
Sutphen released Clean Cab Initiative to help prevent cancer from firefighting at FDIC 2018. On display was the newest truck for West Palm Beach, FL. with a custom cab; a clean cab. You won’t find any impermeable material inside this cab; in fact, it can be completely cleaned with using a garden hose. Diamond plated floors, black textured interior and a plastic cab roof rather than the usual cloth lays the groundwork. The seats are lined with Dura Wear making them resistant to absorbing fluids and the seat covers are removable having the capability to be washed.
A HEPA filter for the A/C and defrost allows cleaner breathable air and external storage for gear and SCBA reduces the toxins inside the cab. The firefighters union states the plastics and synthetics used in building materials are a major source of toxins related to the increased rate of cancer among first responders. Eliminating these materials, implementing improved gear and better utilization of gear and mandating clean cabs are clear and proven ways to protect those who protect us.
But that is not so easy. It would cost money to change policy and practices, provide a safer workplace and even to cover the cost of presumptive illness through health insurance plans which may be the reason agencies that employ firefighters are reluctant to expose the dangers of the job.
Robots to the Rescue
The benefits of using drones start long before an emergency arises. Traditionally, a fire department employee would survey a building with a measuring wheel, take photos and record founded information and data which could take several man hours to complete. By using technology, the time of surveying a building can be reduced to minutes allowing departments to reallocate resources. Janesville Fire Department in Wisconsin has identified 50 buildings that have a large footprint or high capita in which a fire could
potentially result in a large loss. Should the Department respond to an emergency at these identified buildings, the data will provide crucial information to the boots on the ground. With some technology, the imagery of the data can be uploaded to monitors inside the fire engines including the building footprint, locations of power and gas shut-off’s as well as where the hydrants are located.
Having a drone on-hand upon arriving at a situation that is lifethreatening can be extremely beneficial. Drones provide the best look at the situation allowing a strategy to be developed, to evaluate and continue to monitor conditions. Possibly the most useful component of the drone is their thermal imaging abilities. They can identify the hottest and coolest areas of the building and can look through low visibility elements such as smoke, dust and fog which aids the firefighters to determine the best approach. Additionally, drones can be equipped with gear such as floodlights to greatly improve visibility during nighttime missions. It’s been reported that this technology allows the drone pilots to locate persons in total darkness, seeing further than night vision goggles and cameras.
After the situation has seized, drones can provide valuable postevent assessments. With drones capturing high-quality imaging, they can locate any survivors that may not have been visible from the ground, analyze the damage and use the recordings for re-evaluation and future training purposes.
While purchasing technology seems like a no-brainer for fire departments, many are facing strained budgets and dwindling resources. In 2014, the National Fire Protection Association reported there was an estimated total of 29,980 fire departments in the United States of which about two-thirds were staffed with volunteers only. Smaller agencies may have understood the benefits of drones but the price tag of purchasing the unit, its software and training a pilot was simply not in the budget. However, like most technology, as new models are developed, former models will give some budget-stricken entities a bigger bang for their buck as the price entry point for consumer drones has decreased. Many departments have obtained grants to purchase new technology and even been able to partner with nearby agencies to cut cost. Goldman Sachs has estimated the drone-related firefighter industry is upwards of $881 million.
FF Cancer Registry Act of 2018
The U.S. Senate has passed a bill introduced by Rep. Chris Collins (R)-NY that would create a national registry of firefighters who get cancer. "This is a huge win for firefighters across the United States, now that we are so close to getting this bill on President Trump's desk," said Collins, who sponsored the bill with Rep. Bill Pascrell, a New Jersey Democrat. H.R. 931 seeks to establish and improve collection activities to collect a greater abundance of data and assist in developing new protocols and safeguards to protect firefighters. H.R. 931 requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and maintain a registry to collect data regarding the incidence of cancer in firefighters. This bill authorizes $10 million for fiscal years 2018-2022 to carry out those activities.
Building
Building
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)