P is for PPE

My apologies (once again) for the out of orderness of my posts (spellcheck is really hating my non-word).  I write my blogs in my main blog over on my wordpress blog and then copy & paste each blog (usually, but not always, when I'm finished) over to here.  Soemtimes (due to busy/crazy schedule I get a bit behind (like now) and things get out of order.  I do try to keep things up to date as much as possible.

So here is my P post for the A-to-Z Challenge:

P is for PPEs as in HAVE them, WEAR them, USE them!!!

Even if you don't think your going to need them, at least have with you - available and ready to use.  I can't say that you'll need them on every single call you go on (even fire calls) - But better safe then sorry!!!  If in doubt  = use!!!  It could, very well, save your life.

The quote from the video Everyone Goes Home (I have the link set to start just before point where comment is made - '"If you think you have a reason for not using/wearing you PPE, let me know so I can read it to your spouse, cause I'm not going to know what to say, so you say it for me"  Says it the best.  Always Always Always remember your PPE.

Do routine checks and maintenance on your PPE to ensure they are in proper working order and ready to go.  Make sure to check your PPEs before every use and then again as part of routine check of gear afterwards.  Make sure any problems are taken care of in a timely manner.  Don't (if at all possible) use old or damaged PPE.

Of course usage of PPEs is not an absolute guarantee of your safety, but in such situations no using  your PPE will make the situation drastically worse.  Even with the use of PPEs you should always be "game ready" every call, every time!!!

Remember Use your PPE and Stay SAFE

So now for some interesting blogs (just for a bit of fun):
  Average Poet
  Nickers and Ink
  Our Life Plain & Simple
  Coffee Rings Everywhere
  Keeeping up with the Pickles

#AtoZ Challenge: #Firefighter #Safety - Q is for Quality

I was going to write this on the importance of good quality gear & equipment and how it is important that they be in good quality, working order.

But then I came across this e-how on the Quality Traits of a Firefighter:

 Of course Physical Fitness & Stamina tops the list

It is vital that a firefighter stay in "tip-top" shape and at the top of their game.  Fitness & Health isn't just something to be done at work, but should be a goal that should be strived for at all times (Push yourself away from the table sooner, Take those stairs instead of elevators, work out regularly)

Any physical Fitness or medical tests offered through the department (whether required or voluntary should be taken advantage of.

Mechanical Aptitude

A firefighter must have a good Mechanical Aptitude or a good Aptitude for Mechanics - trying to determine if those are the same thing or not.  In any event, a firefighter should have a good knowledge of the mechanics of the equipment that he uses as well as the mechanics of fire and how it will behave under various (and sometimes quickly varying) situations.

Critical Thinking

A firefighter must be able to take directions, but also must be able to think quickly on their feet.  They must be able to make life and death decisions in a moments notice sometimes doing so using nothing, but their own judgement.  They must be able to think critically and often times in critical situations where seconds count.

Dexterity

A firefighter needs to have good dexterity.  This means both physical dexterity the ability to move quickly and efficiently in any situation you might find yourself in, as well as mental dexterity and ability to do your job well.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

 Even if a firefighter is not in a position of "Leadership" (ie: chief, battalion chief, captain, etc) he must still be able to lead should it become necessary to do so.  He should be able to lead other members of his crew as well as citizens should it become necessary. 

A firefighter must also have interpersonal skills in order to  get along with and work properly and efficiently as a member of the crew/team. 

Remember:  Make sure you hone the "QUALITY" Traits of a firefighter and that your equipment is in Good QUALITY working order.

AND  Stay SAFE

Five new blogs:
  Little Moments
  In My Own Words
  Diary of the Sunday Visitor
  Reading Practice

(ooops thought I had 4)

Un-Official #AtoZChallenge: M is for MAY DAY

Yes, that's right even as a firefighter you might find yourself in a situation where you are the one in need of help. [caption id="attachment_1953" align="alignleft" width="120"] source credit: maytraining.com[/caption]

As a firefighter, you are constantly ask to put your life at risk  to save property, to save lives.  But what happens when you are the one in a dangerous situation what happens when you need rescuing?


 It is important to know when to call that "May Day" and to not wait too long to call it.  "If a firefighter thinks they are in trouble, they are in trouble" (quote from the "Everyone Goes Home" video (Chicago Fire Department and the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation). Don't rely on or assume that someone else has made the May Day call "If you think your going to need a May Day, call a May Day."

A May Day should be called because you find yourself in a situation where, for whatever reason, you are in trouble.  It may be that you don't have the resources you need, you've run out of air, your disoriented and lost.  Whatever the reason is, if you think you need help call the may day.  Don't worry about being embarrassed and Don't wait till it's too late - your "brothers" may end up bringing you out in a body bag.

Remember: Don't hesitate to call a MAYDAY if you think you need it and Stay SAFE!!

Un-Official #AtoZChallenge: F is for Focus

Note: My main blog is actually on Word Press - Jottings and Writings (though I do copy everything over to here).

Because of my late start in this I was trying to play catch up and had hoped to get this done and out the door yesterday.  I got a start on it yesterday (on my phone - quite a challenge), but wasn't able to finish it.  My plan was to finish it up this mornign real quick on my computer, but alas the work I had started was gone (POOF!)  So now I'm starting over.

So far the concepts of my writing, for this challenge, has been looking at Situational Awareness - being aware of the situation around you, looking at the big picture and knowing what's going on.  This time I want to focus on, well, Focus. By no means do I know this through personal experience but have heard/read enough to know that often times, when on scene, things can sometimes get quite chaotic with bystanders, etc.  that are screaming, yelling, and otherwise freaking out.  It is important to focus on the job at hand and to put everything else (except of course for that which could become a danger to you or patient) out of your mind - or at least in the back of your mind.  Don't let the people around you, who are freaking out, keep you from what you need to do to do your job safely and effectively. Don't let the lady who is freaking out about her child/husband/pet being inside keep you from ensuring that when you go into that building you are as safe as you can be.  Especially, when a child is involved the "kick-gut" reaction is get in there and do something...  But remember you can't be any use to anyone if you yourself become a victim because you don't have proper gear (see my next "A-to-Z Challenge for that one)

REMEMBER:  Stay FOCUSED and Stay SAFE

Okay 5 Blogs I found:

A Writer Weaves a Tale

The Occasional Adventures of a Hermit

Stretching My Wings (Hopefully this isn't one I've already used)

Sandy Sandrellas Musings

By The Waterfall

Fire Fighters, Your Safety is Number One!

I want to take a minute to reach out to all you Fire Fighters Out there (And if You know a Firefighter - Please Share this with them).

Remember Your Safety is first and foremost... You can't do your job, savings lives, if you don't keep yourself Safe first.

The Chicago Fire Department put together a great video a while back called "Everyone Goes Home" The video will bring tears to your eyes, but it has an IMPORTANT message! At the end of each shift - EVERYONE Should be going home to their family!!!

Here are some Safety Tips to Remember:

Large amount of LODD happen before arriving on-scene. BuckleUp!!!

Take a minute and do your own size-up. Know where your at & what's around.

Don't hesitate to call a MayDay if you think your in trouble - Don't be embarrassed

Be Game-Ready When you pull out.. PPE Ready & Working...

"If u have reason for not using PPE correctly every time = write it down cause I need to read it to ur widow - I'm not gonnna know what to say" ~ Fire Department Chaplain

There is NO Such Thing as Routine... Don't Be Complacent.

 Direct Order! At the End of Today's Shift (EVERY Shift) ---> Every ONE Goes HOME

"280" What Does it Mean?

I burrowed this from one of Our24YearAgeGap's posts because I thought it was something that should be shared.

 

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People complain all the time that Fire/EMS makes too much and do too little but when they need us they complain we took too long. WTF?! Did you know that 85% of people in my career (nation wide) can not afford to live off just one income? Bet you didn’t. That’s why everyone in my career works 2 or more jobs! Meaning they can’t get off work when they need help, nor can they afford the help they need. I’m an example. I’m one statistic, but I won’t become another…not yet anyway.

Do you know what the number above means? Do you know what it stands for? No? Well read below and find out.  

In 2010, while educating firefighters across the United States, I began to notice through stories and reports about the number of firefighters who had taken their lives. I began to collect reports through a confidential reporting system in late 2010 through Counseling Services for FIre Fighters. After much research and effort, I realized this was a much larger issue than I thought, and expanded by starting Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance. I am now collecting this data through FBHA also. This confidential report can be found on the list at the left “ff suicide report” or at www.csff.info under the tab “FF Suicide Report”. The number on the box above are members who were active or retired firefighters who suffered deaths by their own choice. It should not be conceived as one of weakness but one where they might not have believed they had any other options to relieve their pain. FBHA is dedicated to collecting the most accurate numbers regarding FF suicides and then updates this number as information is confirmed. It is also FBHA’s objective to educate all of our brothers and sisters on suicide prevention through our workshop titled “Saving Those Who Save Others” in hopes to limit this number.  

Regards, B/C Jeff Dill Founder of CSFF & FBHA

Note: Number is from information received from suicides ranging from the years 1880-2012. The total is comprised of 269 FF and 11 EMT/P.

Think about that. Just let that sink in when you think about voting for a tax cut for firefighter/paramedics. And that is JUST firefighter/paramedics. What about the police officers? Or that military?? Those numbers are alarming as well. Some things in this country need to change…congress needs to be put on minimum wage in their comfortable little office and give their pay to the people that work every day for their life, health, and safety.

"I was fed up." - Daily Prompt: Connect the Dots

The Daily Prompt, for yesterday, from "The Daily Post" was to take the 3rd full sentence from page 82 of the nearest book and work it into a post. The closest book is the one I'm reading which is Paramadic: On the Front Lines of Medicine by Peter Canning. How easy would it be for Firefighters to do something rash when faced with frustrating events and just say "I was Fed Up" Just getting to the scene can be filled with knuckle biting frustration (heck getting out of the station can be an ordeal. At least 2 different times I've witnessed near accidents in front of a station as trucks were pulling out (and that's ones that happened when I happened to be there), then on the way to the scene they have to deal with idiotic drivers who don't understand the concept of get-out-of-the-way (Case in point is this blog I wrote: Stupid Shit #3... Move Over for Emergency Vehicles about a driver who didn't move out of the way of an Emergency Vehicle and instead stopped right in front of it for a red light. Not to mention that the cars that do move out of the way can go in just about any direction to do so so the driver of EV has to stay alert and on his/her toes. Once on scene, they somehow have to get a line hooked up - not so easy when people decide to park there cars in front of the hydrant ("just for a couple minutes" mind you). If everyday citizens are involved (say at a hotel, residential, or apartment fire) they may very well have to deal with panicky people, running up to them crying & screaming, demanding immediate action while there still donning gear and doing size-up. And now the FUN begins.... Time to get down & dirty in putting out the fire. For the firefighters assigned this could mean entering into a hot, smoke-filled room with visibility of ohhh say hand 2 inches from your face. And did I forget to mention the gear they have on to protect from fire makes them even more hot & sweaty, The mask to give them oxygen to breath while in there plasters to their face. They emerge from the building covered with soot, sweat dripping down there face & neck as if they just got caught in a rain shower, gasping for air..... Makes you wonder why they don't get "fed up" more often. But they continue to do their job Saving Properties, Saving Lives. They don't see themselves as heroes, just "Doing my Job Ma'am" To all the firefighters out there I say THANK YOU and to all the rest I say Give em a break, don't make their job harder than it already is. When they're lights & sirens = move safely out of their way, Don't park in front of hydrants (even for a second), Let them do their job on scene (it may seem to be taking time, but not as long as you think & they can do a whole lot more if they staysafe themselves)