| 01/22/2010

Metrolina Fire and Rescue, Inc. and Anchor-Richey EVS, Inc. have teamed together to offer fire departments and rescue squads a complete line of fire and rescue apparatus - and the service to go with it.

EMS
DAVID PEASE | 01/11/2010

When you read this, the holiday season will have passed, and I hope that everyone had a safe and Merry Christmas. Regardless of your beliefs, Christmas is a time to share joy and happiness with your family and friends, as well as those you may not know. We put our lives on the line everyday for people we do not know, because we are a family of caring and dedicated individuals. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for the job you do, and wish you a very prosperous and happy New Year. May we all stay safe in the jobs we do.

From the Editor
Sherry Brooks | 10/18/2009

In this edition, we feature expanded coverage in the area of Hazmat. It is such a vital area of the Fire Rescue EMS world, and we’re pleased to bring it to you.

We welcome Glen Clapp, president of the North Carolina Association of Hazardous Materials Responders (NCAHMR), and his expertise on all things hazmat. In this issue, Clapp covers the Annual Hazmat Competition, along with some amazing pictures from Michael Porowski. Read his feature article on the challenge of chlorine railcar enhanced fittings.

Communications
Lorraine Murphy | 10/18/2009

As firefighters battled flames inside the Twin Towers on Sept. 11, 2001 they were faced with an even larger obstacle. Fire rescue personnel, lacking communications equipment compatible with that used by other responders at the scene, including members of the New York Police Department, were unable to receive warnings of the buildings’ inevitable collapse.

Fire
DAVE MURPHY | 10/18/2009

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”

Most of us have heard this famous quote, one that was actually borrowed by President John F. Kennedy during his 1961 inaugural address. Regardless of the original source, the message remains the same. As you are well aware, the national economy has taken, and continues to take, a serious hit. As consumer spending and subsequent sales tax revenue decline, state governments are being forced to eliminate all non-essential programs. Ultimately, local budgets are affected as the downturn eventually trickles to the local level. Most emergency services already operate on a lean budget. In paid departments, it is not uncommon for 90 percent or more of the total budget to be allocated for salaries alone, leaving little for fuel, station maintenance, and gear replacement, and the list goes on and on.

Fire
KEN NEWELL | 01/11/2010

The recent economic downturn (or disaster, depending on your point of view) has resulted in some of the best construction prices in years. Construction bids for stations are anywhere from 25 to 40 percent lower than they were only three years ago. If your department is serious about building new or renovating, NOW is the perfect opportunity. Don’t count on ever seeing construction prices this low again.

Equipment
TIM WOJCIK | 10/18/2009

Let me take a quick second to stand on my soapbox. Have you ever noticed that we in the fire service are quick and passionate when it comes to training on things like RIT, Mayday Drills and Self Rescue? This is a good thing, but have you also noticed that we tend to be equally as passionate against preventive training and actions? Have you ever been written up for not wearing a seatbelt or using a backer? What was your response? I bet there was passion, but not the good kind!

HazMat
David Hesselmeyer | 10/18/2009

In the last hazardous materials issue of this magazine, I discussed doing assessments of hazardous materials that are traveling through your district on railways and roadways. Part two to a good hazardous materials assessment of your district is taking inventory of the hazardous materials facilities, or those facilities that stock hazardous materials.

Fire
DOUG ROSS | 10/18/2009

Unlike a burglary or homicide scene, the preservation of the potential arson scene is a more difficult task for the 1st Responder. If you think about it, often arson scenes aren’t confirmed as actual crime scenes until hours, days or weeks after the fire is suppressed! For this reason alone all fire scenes must be considered potential crime scenes from the outset. 

Education and Training
David Elliott | 10/18/2009

If you have been in the fire service or EMS for a significant period of time, you’re likely to make decisions based upon experience gained over the course of your career. Seasoned personnel more often use protocols as a guide, taking book knowledge, written protocols and incident-specific details all into consideration. This most often results in a positive outcome, uses minimal resources and takes the best interest of the patient or property owner to heart.