04 | From the editor
| Between alarms Tiny town 2.0 – next-generation tabletops
| Fit for duty
Balance indulgence with summer cardio
| Dispatches
Take care of yourself to take better care of others
MARIA CHURCH
| FitSmart Avoid nutritional mistakes and myths 38 | From the floor Find the service model that works for you
DAVE BAIRD
By Laura King
Idon’t know much about drones. You may not either. I do know that technology is a good thing, and that anything that makes firefighters safer is welcome. iPads. Thermal imaging cameras. Simulation software.
So far, however, unmanned aerial vehicles, or UAVs, are unregulated and unproven and, according to our story on page 16, require training (how much training is unclear) and must be piloted by someone on or close to the fire ground.
If my understanding of UAVs is correct, it’s also wise to engage personnel in addition to the pilot – a safety officer and someone to liaise with the incident commander. Some departments using drones say training can be quick and easy.
Costs range. Privacy issues haven’t been fully explored.
Critics might ask what crucial fire-ground functions are being overlooked at a fire scene while one, two or three personnel launch a drone.
How and why do departments determine the need (or desire) for UAVs? What SOGs should be developed? What do you need to know about wind and weather patterns?
The Dieppe Fire Department in New Brunswick was among the first in the Maritimes to acquire a drone, for $3,500.
According to a CBC News story in June, Division Chief Marc Cormier had practised flying the UAV every day for a
month. He told the CBC that doing so requires focus. Cormier is one of three drone pilots in the department who learned to fly from a local enthusiast –there are no standards for training. The Moncton airport is notified every time the drone flies. Is there time for that in an emergency?
Costs range. Privacy issues haven’t been fully explored.
In Austin, Texas, the fire department is doing a four-year study of UAV use. It also produced an 80-page research paper called “The practicality of using unmanned aerial vehicles for damage assessments.”
“The dilemma for Austin’s disaster-response team is generating timely reports that accurately depict the extent of damage during the early stages of a disaster,” the paper says. It recommends UAV use in disasterridden areas.
“UAV retooled for civilian ... applications are clearly beneficial instruments that strengthen situational awareness and improve the prospects of successful emergency management operations . . . ”
The paper also calls for policies and protocols for UAV training and certifications.
Last year, Austin founded a robotic emergency deployment – or RED – team. It comprises four pilots and four Federal Aviation Association groundschool certified members. The
team is the first in the United States and the first with an FAA certificate of authorization.
In June, after widespread flooding, the team started to explore ways to use UAVs in everyday operations. The team was still waiting for council approval to buy its own drones, and the funding to do so.
There are lots of examples of UAV use in fire – sizing up a hazmat incident, managing large-scale events such as outdoor concerts or road races.
As I wrote this in mid-June, Deputy Chief Arjuna George of Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue tweeted a photo of an image taken by a drone of training, and the message “A game changer for fire operations.”
Some of you may follow P.J. Norwood on Twitter (@PJNorwood). Norwood is the deputy chief training officer in East Haven, Conn. He wrote a piece on drones for another publication’s website back in October.
“We must not become so technology-focused that we forget about the most important thing we have: our firefighters operating on the scene,” Norwood said. “As it is with all technology, when used properly, drones can enhance everything we do. When used properly, technology can have a positive impact on firefighter safety, fire-ground tactics, training, and many other operational scenarios in emergency and non-emergency tasks.”
I couldn’t have said it better.
July 2015 Vol. 38, No. 3 firehall.com
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For their courage in crisis, nine members of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services in Ontario received Firefighter of the Year awards in May from city officials. The firefighters were recognized for rescuing fallen comrades during a massive industrial fire in April 2014 that caused multiple explosions and seriously injured four responders. The awards were given to captains Bruce Hicks and Derek Wilson, and firefighters Matt Attwell, Brian Chapman, Anthony Colabufalo, Larry Martin, Marcus Middleton, Travis Robbins and Daryl Roy. - MARIA CHURCH
Fitness and mental-health support are becoming even more connected in Vancouver after a successful charity campaign that linked the national FireFit challenge with a fundraiser for first-responder PTSD treatment.
The Vancouver Firefighters’ Charitable Society organized the charity/fitness combo that culminated with the FireFit B.C. regional completion in Vancouver on May 23 and 24.
The fundraiser brought in more than $23,000. Learn more at www. firefitptsd.ca - MC
Firefighters in Burnaby, B.C., are continuing to raise money for disaster relief in Nepal after returning from an earthquake search-and-rescue mission in late April.
The Burnaby Firefighters Charitable Society, spearheaded by retired firefighter Eoin White, is raising money to send to families in Nepal who have been affected by the earthquake. So far the campaign has raised more than $52,000. Milwaukee Tool has contributed to the campaign by supplying $1,200 in tools to be won in a draw.
Learn more and donate at fundrazr. com/campaigns/1zGH3 - MC
9Nine members of Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services received Firefighter of the Year awards for rescuing their fallen comrades.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) wants more firefighters chiming in on the codes and standards that directly affect them.
The association has launched a campaign called “NFPA Standards: Your Voice Matters” to increase firefighter participation.
teams competed in the first ever FireFit for PTSD Challenge, held in Vancouver in May to raise funds for PTSD treatment for first responders.
According to the results of an NFPA survey in the United States, most firefighters either do not know how to participate in the standards-making process, or do not think their input will make a difference. Eight-six per cent of survey respondents said they had never participated in a codes and standards-making process.
In Canada, says Shayne Mintz, the Canadian regional director for the NFPA, the numbers are likely the same.
“I think a lot of people perceive that the NFPA is this huge, monolithic organization that doesn’t hear their individual suggestions; but that’s what we are
trying to dispel,” Mintz said.
“I encourage anyone to participate,” he said, “and if they want any assistance, I offer that to anyone.”
As part of the campaign, the NFPA also created an easy-to-use web page to help users navigate the standards-making process and input their comments. Revision comments are accepted to existing NFPA standards or the first drafts of new ones.
Mintz also encourages firefighters to get involved in meetings held by NFPA technical committees and panels as they develop new codes and standards.
Even if the committee is full, he said, there is frequent turnover.
Being from Canada, Mintz said, can increase the likelihood firefighters are chosen for committees since Canadian representation is often lacking.
See www.nfpa.org/standards-inaction for more information on standards making. — MC
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By Arjuna George
Arjuna George is the deputy fire chief of operations on Salt Spring Island, B.C., and has served on the department since 1997. ageorge@saltspringfire.com @AJGeorgefire
Due to the numerous positive advancements in the fire service – better detection, public education and stricter building codes – departments respond to fewer structure fires. The reduction in fires is positive for our communities but negative for firefighter development and safety. Less exposure to fires means that it is more important than ever to be creative with your training.
Retired Phoenix Fire Chief Alan Brunacini says our brains recall past situations through image slideshows. Recalling those images tells us how to act on what we see. With fewer incidents, if we don’t adjust our training and adapt our future firefighters will have no slides from which to recall.
YouTube and other online video platforms give us a huge boost in incident training. You can learn to read smoke and study the tactics online, but I believe we are missing a key learning opportunity: scenariobased training.
With a mixture of real-life calls, live-fire training, instruction videos and tabletop scenario-based training, our current and future firefighters have a good chance of being the best we have ever seen.
Tabletops are not new – I have taken classes using tabletops for years – but with tabletops 2.0, the experience is even greater! Tabletops 2.0 is a hybrid of the classic model houses mixed with new technology to enhance the learning.
A classic tiny town is an affordable addition to your department’s training plan. I have found the best model structures are HO scaled (87 times smaller than original size) because they are the appropriate size with which to use toy vehicles. HO models can be found online or
Less exposure to real-life fires means that it is more important than ever to be creative with your training.
at hobby stores. Fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles are found in any toy store.
What you need to build your own tiny town:
1. Model homes (use a mixture of commercial and residential).
2. A board or paper on which to draw street names, driveways and addresses.
3. Yarn for hose sections.
4. Model fire trucks.
5. Steel wool and cotton balls.
6. SimsUShare software with a smart phone or tablet.
At Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue we create fake fire and smoke using painted steel wool and cotton balls. The steel wool is easily molded into realistic shapes that contour out of windows and doors. For fire hose we use four different-coloured yarn segments that represent specific hose sizes. For the roads and layouts a simple flipchart piece of paper or a Coroplast board with streets drawn on it works well. We also created PPV fans, drop tanks and ladders from miscellaneous, everyday items. Be creative. Anything that helps firefighters visualize what is happening helps improve the muscle memory and creates snap shots from which to recall lessons.
You can be up and running with your own tiny town for a very minimal cost. Over time, get more advanced in your props with hazards and hazmat pieces such as drums, propane tanks and hydro lines. We burned and crushed some of our cars to enhance what the firefighters see. My goal when doing tabletops is to have the firefighters see everything that is happening in the scenario; there is no guessing and no pretending.
Now for the 2.0 part of tiny towns. With your tiny-town props in place, use SimsUShare or other simulation software to capture your scene. SimsUShare was originally developed for creating simulations from real-life photos. We use the software to photograph our tinytown scenario and then add the fire and smoke that you see modeled on the tabletop; it is now moving and much more visual. The digital tiny town can then be displayed on the big screen or on a tablet.
With tiny town 2.0, firefighters
get the tactile benefits of a tabletop, manoeuvring vehicles and conducting a proper 360-degree sizeup, but also have a chance to see active, realistic fire and smoke on all sides of the scenario.
Another way to improve the tinytown scenario is to incorporate incoming responders. When we run the scenario, the incident commander and cold-zone members stay in the same room as the tiny town to run the scene. Incoming responders check into command and receive their simulated tasks, such as stretching a 65-milimetre (2 1/2-inch) hose to the A side first floor. To make the scene more realistic, the firefighters assigned to a task actually leave the room, don PPE and SCBA, and perform a task. It does not necessarily have to be the exact task the incident commander directed; it could be a different mini job such as set up a ladder, do a 360 of the fire hall or set up the positive pressure fan.
Having the crew perform activities during the tabletop provides us with a number of benefits. For one, the scenario is slowed down slightly to allow for more real-time decision making. The room with the scenario is also less busy and more conducive to training. All our tabletops include radio communications, which helps train incident commanders and firefighters on clear communications. And, most importantly, firefighters actively participate and have an opportunity to hone some of the smaller skills.
Be innovative, creative and try tabletops 2.0 in your training program. Train like you play, and start building your mental slideshow so when you are faced with a tough call, you can recall some nuggets that may just save your life!
By Sherry Dean
Most of us indulge over the summer months in barbeques, ice cream and perhaps the occasional cold beer or margarita. It’s simple math – calories in should equal calories out. Here are a few ideas to get you outside, help you keep fit and keep off those extra summer pounds.
Some of us are not great runners. If that is you, don’t worry. Start slowly, but work hard. Aim for a good half hour, but start with only 10 minutes and work your way up. Interval running and walking works well. Try running between one length of utility poles and walking the next; or run 30 seconds to one minute and walk the next. Repeat for as long as you can or for a specific distance.
The important part of hitting the pavement is to work hard for at least a portion of your run. Some people love to run and settle in to a comfortable pace. There isn’t anything wrong with that, but the goal is to become fit firefighters, and the pace at a fire is anything but casual. Hill training is awesome and will bring up your heart rate in no time.
For an extra challenge, try a 30/20/10 run. Warm up for five minutes then jog slowly for 30 seconds, brisk jog for 20 seconds and sprint for 10 seconds. Do this five times (five minutes) then do a two-minute recovery. Repeat another five times through. This workout only takes 17 minutes with a warm up, but you should definitely be feeling it by the end. Each interval should be a little
harder than the previous due to less recovery time. If you can do only one five-minute round, add a minute the next time you try it, and keep adding. Don’t forget to cool down afterwards.
This is a must for firefighters who have buildings in their jurisdictions that are more than six-storeys. Elevator keys have a way of not showing up when you need them the most, and carrying an extra 100 pounds up the stairs sucks at the best of times.
Weighted stair climbs are a great simulation. Rather than gearing up and suffering the sweat of wearing your snow suit in July, grab a weighted vest or well-made backpack and climb and climb and climb. Even adding just 50 pounds to your climb should make you work hard. The climb should be slow(ish). Don’t hesitate to use the hand rail. If you don’t have access to a highrise, walk the same flight of stairs up and down. Descend quickly and don’t rest at the bottom unless you really need to.
Non-weighted climbs are also a workout option, but should be done at a faster pace than weighted climbs. Try this evolution for a little variety.
• Single steps: quick feet with as much speed as is safe. Don’t use the hand rails unless you have to.
• Scissor stairs: use the bottom step only (or the bottom two if you are good). Place one foot on the landing and one on the first or second step. Switch feet simultaneously as quickly as possible for one minute. Rest 30 seconds and repeat. For
years of experience in fitness and training. deansherry@bellaliant.net
keeners, do 100 of these.
• Interval steps: powerfully run up three steps then step backward down two steps, but make sure both feet hit the each step on the way down. Both your right and left feet should be on the same step on the way down before proceeding to the next. Keep going until you get to the top.
30/20/10 run
• Jump steps: jump two feet at the same time up two (or three) steps. Keep going until you reach the top. To make it more difficult, each time you jump up two, jump back one.
• Two steps at a time: widen your feet to at least shoulder width and run up the flight every other step while pushing off on the right and left feet. This should move you laterally back and forth as you ascend.
• Push-ups: do them off the bottom step. For variety you can do burpee push-ups (my favourite) or inverted push-ups by placing your hands on the landing and your feet on one of steps above you. You choose your difficulty. Do for 30 seconds to one minute and rest 30 seconds between sets.
• In-and-out jumps: jump the first step with your feet together and the second with your feet at least shoulder width apart. Keep alternating until you reach the top.
• Finish with single steps. Push yourself as hard as possible on this last set.
Each of these should be done at least twice on one full flight of stairs – 14 flights of stairs and two sets of push-ups. Half flights don’t count unless you double everything. Try to find an outdoor flight of stairs and enjoy the warm weather before winter makes its way back. Once you are done, cool down by stretching your quads, hamstrings and calves.
Now go enjoy some summer indulgence.
By Jennifer Grigg
Jennifer Grigg has been a volunteer with the Township of Georgian Bay Fire Department in Ontario since 1997. jhook0312@yahoo.ca @georgianbayjen
It’s the second Monday of the month, and for members of the Township of Georgian Bay Fire Department in Ontario, that means it is a training night. I have missed the last couple of training sessions and I am about to miss another one. Does that mean that I have lost interest? That I am not as dedicated as I once was? Or is it simply a reflection of the myriad things going on in my life and my efforts to somehow maintain a sense of balance?
We all know that training is the foundation of the fire service. You train hard, you train often. At least, that is what you are supposed to do.
Training is all about preparing. Our training is supposed to keep us safe when we are responding to dangerous conditions and unforeseen events. The saying, “Don’t practise until you get it right, practise until you can’t get it wrong,” speaks to the gravity of the mindset. There is a heavy emphasis on the importance of training in the fire service, and rightly so. The operations and tasks that we perform on fire calls are not everyday activities. It’s not like riding a bike.
How many times do you practise tying knots in order to do them effortlessly, only to forget how the minute you walk out of the fire hall? I know there are four steps to firing up the Wajax pump and I know I can start it at the fire hall, but can I remember the sequence and get it started at a brush fire when it really counts? Just because I’m not usually the one tying the knots or starting the Wajax does not mean that I don’t need to know how it’s done.
There is never enough time to do everything, but there is always enough time to do the most important thing. The happier and healthier we are, the better equipped we are to deal with whatever comes our way.
Some firefighters seem to be able to grasp new concepts and ideas with little effort. I wholeheartedly admit that I’m one of those people who needs routine training. I like the theory. I appreciate the PowerPoint (most of the time). I learn best by the triple-combination approach: teach, show and do. I know most fire-service personality types like to skip the theory and go straight to the hands-on part, but I’m the exception to the rule.
So why – after extolling the virtues of training – am I missing it again?
Life gets busy for all of us. While there is an expectation that training be a priority in the lives of volunteers, it is also necessary to maintain balanced lives. We give what we can, when we can. Volunteer fire departments are composed of people that are available when they can be – at various times and on various days. There is never a guarantee of when those times will be.
Some people can make it to most of the training, but others cannot. Some may make it out to most of the calls; others aren’t able to. Inconsistency is consistent in the world of a volunteer fire department. However,
we all consistently do our part. The quantity may vary but the quality is assured. We may not all be there all of the time, but we are all valuable members of the team.
Over the past few months I wrote a book and worked with a consultant to prepare the book for publishing, joined a volunteer critical-incident stress management team to help other members of emergency services deal with difficult calls, took on a new role at work to cover a staff shortage, and, most importantly, ensured I have the proper habits and behaviours in place to remain depression and anxiety free without the use of medication –which can be a delicate operation at the best of times.
My dedication to the fire service hasn’t waned, faded or fallen by the wayside by any means. If anything, I fully understand the importance of taking care of myself, so I can be present and at my best when I am at training or responding to a call.
One of the ways we are able to serve others is to manage our time effectively and know when we have to pull back. We can’t be 100 per cent all of the time. We are all guilty of less-than-enthusiastic moods at one time or another, but negative attitudes and judgements certainly don’t do anything to encourage morale. When we experience stress due to the busyness of our everyday lives, it’s important that we recognize that it might be time to pull back.
Train hard and train often. This is not just a motto for the fire service – it’s a motto for life. We owe it to our teams and to ourselves to be as dedicated to learning to take care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally, as we are to training in the fire service.
The happier and healthier we are, the better equipped we are to deal with whatever comes our way.
By Brad Lawrence
Even as an individual with a heavy training-based background, I’ve always been a firm believer that the majority of fitness success comes through the kitchen. Training discipline and nutritional discipline may be different beasts, but it’s tough to make significant gains without a certain level of compliance in both. If you’re diligent in the gym, you owe it to yourself to put the effort into your diet as well. Nutrition truly is the most important part of our wellbeing.
The science behind nutrition is always evolving. What is considered unhealthy today may have been marketed as a progressive health choice in the past. Regardless of the reasons, many of us make the same nutritional mistakes. I’ve compiled a list of five common nutritional mistakes.
Protein: Generally people eat too little protein. Myths surrounding protein causing osteoporosis or being harmful to our kidneys have been debunked. High-protein diets typically result in less body fat as protein promotes lean muscle mass and is the least likely macronutrient to be converted and stored as body fat. Every meal you eat should include protein – even snacks.
Carbohydrates: Be carb conscious. You don’t need to eat a low-carb diet to reach your goals by any means, but realize that most people tend to drastically overeat carbohydrates. Many snack foods and drinks are carb-heavy choices, and most meals too. Pay attention to serving sizes listed on the food
Rethink the drink
Drinking your calories is a nightmare to a diet.
labels. Rice, for instance, is carb heavy at the recommended serving of 1/3 cup. Most people can eat a full cup or more without noticing; it’s actually a very large intake for a single sitting. Remember that not all carbs are created equally, so choose wisely.
general are not a health choice. Whole-grain foods may be better than their highly refined alternatives, but they are still very dense carbohydrates that can lead to undesirable blood sugar spikes.
If you’re diligent in the gym, you owe it to yourself to put the effort into your diet as well.
Fats: Despite what you might think, fats are OK – really. We should be past this point but so many people still fear fat in their foods. Fat content will increase the total calories, yes, but yields many great benefits that far outweigh the added calories. Favour the good fats – those derived from animals, fish, plants, and healthy oils such as olive or coconut oil. The benefits of healthy fats in your diet range from looking better (more muscle, less fat, healthier skin) to thinking better (boosted brain function). Don’t make the mistake of trying to eliminate fats from your diet. Use them to your advantage.
This is a nightmare to a diet. You make smart healthy choices all day and in a period of 30 seconds you drink 40-something grams of sugar in a single glass. Protein shakes aside, major calories in liquid form are generally very empty calories. These provide very little nutritional benefit (yes, even fruit juices), and are usually loaded with sugar to appease your palate (especially fruit juices). Instead, drink water – half an ounce per pound of bodyweight.
the whole-wheat/ whole-grain
Some people prefer the taste of whole wheat or grain and some prefer the alleged health benefits. Let’s clarify; grains and wheat in
Unless you’re in peak shape in the final phase of a competition diet, counting calories is unnecessary. Your time is far better spent elsewhere. As long as you’re making high-quality, healthy food choices your caloric count will take care of itself. Eat your protein, your vegetables and train your body.
The food industry has been doing its research as well. Companies are fully aware of the buzzwords that peak your interest. Words such as “natural”, “organic” and “life choice” are plastered all over modern packaging and are usually very effective. These words tend to make people believe they are making healthier choices. Don’t automatically trust the product because of the good-intention-style packaging. Some of these products will advertise low fat and end up being loaded with carbs. Some of the organic products will feature organic ingredients, but may be loaded with sugar. Even in organic form, sugar is still sugar. Read the labels you choose to buy and make an informed decision for yourself. The best foods for you are often very simple and don’t need to hide behind elaborate labels.
Think for yourself and get back to the basics of eating. Be patient and watch your results speak for themselves. Happy training.
Have a nutrition question you’d like more information on? Send me an email and I’ll do my best to respond or feature your question in a future column.
By Maria Church
Chief Dan Callaghan has been “prodrone,” he said, for three years now.
Callaghan is the fire chief in Erin, Ont., and a captain for nearby Brampton Fire and Emergency Services. His interest in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) – also known as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) – was sparked, he said, when he learned about a not-for-profit search and rescue team in the United States successfully using drones.
“What previously took days can now happen in hours,” he said. “Send it up a couple hundred feet with a camera on it and we see exactly what the camera is seeing; so you can image how fast that makes the search.”
Callaghan acquired a personal UAV about two years ago and it now goes with him to many emergency scenes.
At the time of this interview, the chief was viewing footage collected by the drone from a fire that had happened days before.
“Right now we’re using it for the fire investigation,” he said. “We basically videotaped, via the drone, the whole fire scene. So now I can
sit in front of a computer and watch that overhead video to look for the point of origin, what was in the building, all those kind of things.”
In addition to fire investigation and record keeping, Callaghan said UAVs are the right option when an incident commander can not or does not want to send in firefighters because the environment is too hazardous or difficult to access.
The Burlington Fire Department in Ontario acquired a drone in March 2014. The following summer, the drone was used for a large incident on the Burlington Bay Skyway bridge when a dump truck ran into the overhead scaffolding.
Burlington Fire’s supervisor of training, Bill Hammond, piloted the drone during the incident. He flew it above the scene to give responders an idea what other vehicles were involved.
“We were able to determine that on the other side of the accident –which we couldn’t get to because of traffic – that we had two small, minor collisions,” Hammond said. “We would not have been able to see that without the drone.”
When not being piloted for large incident size-up, Burlington’s drone is used to record training sessions, for rooftop surveillance of structure fires, pre-incident planning, and post-incident analysis of large events for fire prevention and public education staff.
Basically, Hammond said, drones can be used for anything that would benefit from an eye in the sky, from size-up to search and rescue. And while many chief officers agree with him, drones have been slow to
catch on.
Why the hesitation?
“I think it’s because the technology is so new to the fire service,” Hammond said. Department heads are likely questioning the cost, he said, particularly if they believe operating a drone will require a new position within their departments.
Other possible concerns are privacy and safety of nearby residents.
Are drones worth the cost and the risk?
The sky is not the limit
Drone use is regulated by Transport Canada, but those rules are changing as UAV use increases both recreationally and for work.
According to Transport Canada’s current regulations, those who operate drones commercially – fire department drones are considered for commercial use – must submit their contact information, UAV models, descriptions of operations and geographic boundaries of operation.
If the UAV weighs more than 25 kilograms, the drone user must also apply for special permission. If the UAV is less than 25 kilograms (most if not all are), users do not need to apply for permission, but must adhere to dozens of conditions that include liability insurance of at least $100,000 and a trained operator who is at least 18 years old.
On May 28, Ottawa launched consultations into proposed changes to drone regulations, which would apply to UAVs weighing less than 25 kilograms. The changes were expected in August. (Find out
more on Transport Canada’s website, shortened to: goo.gl/NhCy8e)
In general, Transport Canada requires that all drones, for commercial or private use:
• Fly no closer than nine kilometres to forest fires, airports, heliports, aerodromes, or builtup areas
• Do not fly over military bases, prisons or in controlled or restricted air space
• Do not fly over crowds higher than 90 metres
• Do not carry dangerous goods or lasers
• Fly only in the daylight, within line of vision
A typical UAV that is not fire-service specific costs between $1,000 and $3,500. These drones are or can be equipped with cameras to broadcast real-time or record quality video. Models include the DJI Phantom and Inspire, the Draganflyer, the Solo from 3D Robotics,
and the SkyRanger from Canadian company Aeryon Labs Inc., headquartered in Waterloo, Ont. Illinois-based manufacturer W.S. Darley & Co. has taken a lead in bringing UAVs to the fire service. In 2010 the company introduced the Darley Stinger, which is able to carry heavier payloads of about 3.2 kilograms, strong enough for lights and larger cameras. The Stinger retails in Canada for upwards of $20,000.
This spring Darley introduced its newest drone, the InstantEye, in partnership with Physical Sciences Inc., at FDIC in Indianapolis. The smaller, lighter UAV model sells in Canada for about $10,400, and is loaded with fire-specific features, including battery fail-safes, three different plug-and-play cameras and wind resistance. For another few thousand, the InstantEye can be equipped with a thermal imaging camera.
Mike Mocerino, a robotics project manager with Darley, said the focus of the InstantEye model is on safety.
“(Other) systems are great for hobbyists, but on a professional level you need fail-safes built in,” he said. “If the battery goes dead, the unit is going to automatically go back to the operator and land . . . there are little things like that to make sure the user has control of the system.”
Despite similarly strict government regulations in the United States, Mocerino said, many fire departments are using drones successfully. Lots more departments are interested, he said, but are waiting to see if the government creates more definitive rules on UAV use.
Darley works with Micmac Fire & Safety Source Ltd., to distribute the InstantEye in Atlantic Canada. All other Canadian sales and inquires go through Darley in the United States.
According to Transport Canada’s regulations, UAV operators need
to have training. While the type of training is not specified if the drone weighs less than two kilograms, most UAVs on the market fall between two and 25 kilograms and in that category the government requires operators to complete a pilot ground school program. Details are on the Transport Canada website.
According to users, however, it’s pretty simple to learn how to fly.
“Basically I could take you and teach you how to fly a drone in 10 minutes; that’s how easy it is,” Callaghan said. “Now that’s not going to make you an excellent flyer, but you’ll be able to put the drone up and fly in around.”
Hammond, too, said training was not difficult for Burlington fire -
fighters; four members have completed the training and can operate the drone on scene.
“We didn’t require any specialized training,” Hammond said, although manufacturer DJI provided online virtual flying lessons. “Most of the training is in-service; going into fields and parking lots and making sure you are good at taking off and landing.”
Darley offers one-on-one train -
Bill Hammond, supervisor of training, Burlington Fire Department
ing upon purchase to teach department members how the UAV operates.
“The [InstantEye] system handles a lot of the preventative measures,” Mocerino said, “but the operator has to be trained and really proficient with the system to avoid and loss or damage.”
On Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Deputy Chief Arjuna George said his department has
worked with drones but it has not purchased any for regular use. A concern, George said, is dedicating a volunteer firefighter to operating the drone.
“The biggest thing I see is having somebody who is able and qualified to use them, that’s going to be the tricky part,” he said.
George said he might consider delegating UAV use to non-firefighters from the community with an eager interest or previous knowledge of drones – similar to his department’s use of field incident technicians (FITs), civilians with training in radio communication, as command aides.
While Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue does not have immediate plans to acquire a drone, George
said he expects the department will eventually do so. He compared the evolution of interest in drones to that of the thermal imaging camera.
“Like the TIC, when it first came out only certain departments had one; now it’s almost mainstream, standard equipment.”
In Ontario’s Wellington County, Fire Chief Brad Patton is hoping to have a drone by July and is working with DJI to make it happen.
“Situational awareness is huge now in the fire service,” Patton said. “It just makes sense to have that eye in the sky.”
Chief Rob Evans in Redwood Meadows, Alta., said his department originally purchased a drone to survey the nearby Elbow River
during high water and flooding.
“Since purchasing,” he said, “we have come to the realization that the uses for the drone are as endless as the imagination. Scene size-up, investigation photography, training videos, searches, hazmat incident size-up and on and on.”
After having a drone in service for more than a year in Burlington, Hammond agrees that UAVs are simply an added piece of fire-service equipment.
“It depends on the call and it depends on the time of day,” he said. “If we have the opportunity to fly it, it is up there. It’s another tool that’s accessible to both the firefighters and senior officers running the scene.”
Communication, positioning, water supply, nozzle and pattern, all come into play By Dave Baird
Is your department using an aerial master stream to full advantage at major fire incidents? Effective and timely use of a master stream can make all the difference to the outcome.
Picture the charred remains of a large commercial building, or a three-storey wood-frame apartment building from which the roof has been completely burned. Typically, in these scenarios, the master stream is used as a surround-and-drown tool, and certainly, in some cases, that may actually be the best use of the stream. But there are many fires at which early water application and proper stream management will provide better outcomes.
Science has proven that a fire can double in size every 30 seconds to one minute, so it stands to reason that the earlier firefighters get an effective water stream on the fire, the better the outcome will be. Think about how long it takes to get water on target. Timing exercises have shown that suppression crews take an average of 90 seconds for handline deployment from time of arrival to water on target from the exterior at a house fire. This timespan increases significantly for an interior attack on a low- or mid-rise structure, and could take 15 minutes or longer for a highrise.
Recent studies by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) show that application from the exterior and correct stream usage improve the interior conditions of the structure. But what about the cases in which the fire cannot be accessed with a handline from the ground? Consider fires that are above the fifth floor, or have an object such as a wood or glass deck railing blocking the stream access. Three-storey, wood-frame, unsprinklered apartment buildings are common here in British Columbia. Such situations can make access with a handline challenging, if not impossible. Rapid and safe exterior water application from an aerial master stream can confine the fire, buy time to set up for a move to the interior and make a positive difference to the outcome.
Reo Jerome is a captain and acting battalion chief with the Surrey Fire Service. He agrees that timely water application can make a difference.
“Once we arrive to a fire we have a window of opportunity to get the right amount of water in the right place,” Jerome said. “Accomplishing this objective with an aerial master stream can be very challenging without prior training.”
So how long does it take to position the apparatus, stabilize and get water on target? Training officers at the Justice Institute of BC fire and safety division in Maple Ridge developed an aerial strategies and tactics course to help equip firefighters to use their aerial apparatuses to their full advantage.
“Many fire departments across Western Canada use quints, and many of them respond as the first-out apparatus with at least four firefighters on board,” Jerome said.
“Time trials have shown that once the vehicle is in position with the spring brakes applied, water can be on the target in less than three minutes, and in some cases in as little as two minutes. Our job as firefighters is to create a toolbox of tactics throughout our careers so that we can pull the appropriate tactic out if and when the
opportunity presents itself. That is why we train!”
Knowing how to apply a timely and effective master stream is not as easy as one would think. Communication, aerial positioning, water supply, nozzle and pattern, and the safe use of the aerial device all come into play.
Precious time can be lost just getting the apparatus into the correct position. Landscaping, parked cars, and other emergency vehicles may all prohibit access to the best position. Both the operator and the officer need to be involved in the decision about where to best position the turntable (note the use of the word turntable versus aerial). Good communication is key.
Once the placement decision is made, best practices recommend that the truck be backed into position (rear mount) to allow for maximum reach of the aerial ladder. This also allows for a quick escape, if necessary. Developing backing hand signals that enable quick vehicle placement can be critical. In Surrey, we teach firefighters to drop a road cone in the spot where the centre of the turntable should end up, and a spotter then helps the operator to back into the location; this frees the officer to deal with more urgent matters. It sounds obvious, but effective backing and hand signals that both the
Acting Capt. Dave Baird has worked in the suppression division of the Surrey Fire Service for more than 21 years. In 2012 and 2013 he was a committee member for the validation of the IFSTA Aerial Operators Handbook. DCBaird@surrey.ca
spotter and operator clearly understand should be standardized and regularly practised within a department to ensure quick, effective and safe communication.
Scrub is a term that describes the amount of surface area of the structure that an aerial tip can access. If only the master stream is used at the incident, scrub is not an issue. If, however, the master stream is followed up with rescue or other access to elevated floors, then placement requires maximizing the scrub area. Whenever possible, the aerial device should be positioned at the corner of a structure to increase the scrub area; this allows access to two sides of the building and maximizes safety in the event of a collapse or falling debris. It is also important to understand the limitations of the nozzle angle on your aerial apparatus. Some nozzles are limited to 15 degrees to prevent too much side load from nozzle reaction, while others have a range of 90 degrees.
Speed is always important, and that means use of the water tank needs to be considered until a secure water source is obtained. Sometimes called an “aerial blitz attack,” this is a tactic that has been used by experienced fire-ground officers. As per NIST study recommendations, limited duration bursts of water should be used, rather than continuous water application. This prevents excess pressure in the compartment from steam production (and also prevents draining the tank in a big hurry!). A straight- or solid-stream pattern allows for deeper penetration and continuous venting of heated gases around the stream as it enters the compartment. The desired outcome is to confine the fire and make conditions more tenable for interior operations. The operator raises the pump pressure to ensure an effective stream, then opens and closes the aerial discharge valve to allow for controlled bursts from the master stream. A pressure governor should be used in RPM mode. If the pump is in pressure (PSI) mode, small pockets of air can develop, which can cause the governor to drop the engine to idle, affecting stream accuracy, penetration and reach.
Science has proven that a fire can double in size every 30 seconds to one minute, so it stands to reason that the earlier firefighters get an effective water stream on the fire, the better the outcome will be.
Headsets are useful for communication between the pump operator on the pump platform and the aerial operator on the turntable. Often the pump operator will not be able to see the stream, so will need advice from the aerial operator to understand if the burst is reaching the target in the time patterns desired. Headsets also reduce engine and scene noise, allow for easy communication between operators, and have a calming effect. It is also extremely important that the pump operator stay at the panel to reduce the engine to idle as the tank nears empty. If the pump is allowed to run at a high RPM while dry, damage to the pump will occur.
Some aerials have remote-control devices that allow for better visibility; the user is able to aim the nozzle on the target while the aerial operator is swinging the
ladder into position. This simultaneous activity can save precious time for achieving water on target.
There is debate over adjustable fog or a smooth-bore nozzles. For many years my preferred nozzle was the 1 3/4-inch smooth bore. The 800 gpm at 80 psi that this nozzle provides seemed a reasonable amount of volume from an aerial device, and the solid stream allowed for maximum penetration. But due to gravity-feed limitations and the smaller internal piping between the tank and the pump, drawing off the tank will give only a reliable 500 gpm, no matter what the nozzle provides. So really the 1 3/8-inch nozzle tip is the way to go.
The main arguments against the adujustable fog nozzle were the plugging that can happen on long-duration incidents, and the better reach that can be achieved with a smooth-bore nozzle. But these modern nozzles are automatic, which means an internal piston and spring cause the nozzle to give the correct stream depending on the pressure applied and the water that is available. The automatic nozzle also has the variability of the straight, narrow or wide fog pattern, which could
be an advantage for use as exposure protection. These nozzles have decent reach, are better for foam production and have a wide range of volume. The straight stream setting produces a stream that is pretty similar to a solid-bore stream.
If the operator has been asked to deliver a specific gallonage from a specific stream pattern, it is important to note that an eye will need to be kept on the flow meter, as the nozzle will give an effective-looking stream even if volume is low. Relay pumping is recommended for distances of 91.4 metres (300 feet) or more from a hydrant, and dual high-volume lines are recommended for a distance of less than 91.4 metres.
A master stream is a powerful tool and, if not handled properly, can destroy property and threaten lives. Never apply a master stream into the interior of a building in which there are firefighters or civilians who are not protected behind a fire barrier such as a door or firewall. The pressure created from improper stream application can cause the heated gases to move throughout the interior, which can quickly cause conditions to deteriorate.
City of Surrey Deputy Chief Larry Thomas advises aerial personnel to use caution and train ahead of time if early use of the master stream is to be considered.
“Commercial and multi-residential building fire rates in Surrey are steadily declining as the city grows,” Thomas said. “The challenge for fire services in the future is how to maintain the tactical fire suppression skill sets among its staff (of more than 350 in Surrey).
“Tactics such as this should not be broadly applied without ensuring all fire officers and their crews have a thorough understanding of the fire dynamics, building construction and occupant status. Although using master streams from an aerial device can be very effective in certain situations, they can be equally dangerous if applied by someone without the pre-requisite knowledge of what and why they are selecting this tactic. In cities or towns with lots of non-fire protected commercial and multi residential building stock, the aerial master stream application – utilized as an initial attack tactic – should be a tool given consideration.”
Another safety consideration is the weight of the
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water being applied. A gallon of water weighs about 4.5 kilograms (10 pounds). A flow rate of 800 gpm for 10 minutes is equivalent to 3,629 kg (8,000 pounds) a minute – that’s more than two full-size pick-up trucks every minute! If you have been flowing the master stream for long periods of time with no positive effect on the fire, and you do not see the water exiting the building, a lot of weight is sitting somewhere, shut it down.
“Officers in charge of aerial apparatuses need to inform and empower their operators to move or shut off the stream if it is not hitting the desired target – just like we do with a handline”, Jerome said.
Aerial master streams can be effective tools at major incidents to confine fires and make conditions better for fire crews; they do not need to be simply a surroundand-drown tool. Through training and practise with master streams, fire crews learn to recognize the need for a master stream, and use it effectively to minimize property damage and reduce risk to firefighters and civilians.
By Tim Llewellyn
Tim Llewellyn is a firefighter for the Allegheny County Airport Authority in Pittsburgh, Penn., and an instructor for a number of fire academies and training faculties. llewllyn.fire@gmail.com
Thermal imaging cameras (TICs) have been used in the fire service for interior structural firefighting since the 1990s. Every fire department that participates in interior firefighting operations should have at least one TIC in its equipment arsenal. The TIC should be used regularly at incidents and in training. Some fire-department leaders are hesitant to allow TICs to be used during training operations – particularly for livefire training – due to their high cost and the justifiable fear of breakage or damage. While this is understandable, leadership must understand that firefighters need adequate training on equipment for situations and environments they are likely to face.
With a TIC, firefighters can see through smoke and darkness, which allows them to do interior tasks more quickly and safely. The images displayed on the screen can help firefighters identify travel paths, obstacles and heat sources, and to find fire victims with relative ease compared to traditional blind, search-by-hand techniques.
The first step to successful TIC training is to take the device off of the truck and bring it along during every structural firefighting drill (and incident) – even if the drill does not pertain to TIC use. Too often the TIC is left behind in favour of irons, hooks and cans. Training officers should
set up the drills so that firefighters operate in teams that are equipped just as they would be if they came off of the fire truck at an actual incident. I can recall several fires at which I left the TIC in the cab simply because I wasn’t in the habit of taking it with me.
Here is a simple and safe, but realistic TIC drill that can be performed at almost any fire house with minimal equipment. A furnished office or residential space works well. It is important to use rooms with furniture or other obstacles rather than empty training rooms. Ideally, run the drill when it is dark outside, then turn off the lights and close the blinds; make the area as dark as possible.
Divide the large group of firefighters into teams of two or three firefighters – one firefighter (the officer or team leader) has the TIC and the others are the firefighters who
will search the areas. Give the crew the task of moving through the darkened area to perform a primary search using an oriented-search technique. The leader holds a position – the oriented position – usually at a door or entrance, or on a hoseline, while verbally directing the firefighters into the room. Using only the information from the TIC display, the leader must communicate what is seen or not seen, or areas that need to be searched. The key to success with this drill is that the TIC holder communicates only what is seen on the display, and not what may be noticed via any ambient light. This will simulate, as closely as possible, navigating through a smokefilled structure.
From the oriented position, the leader scans the room with the TIC. Remaining at the oriented position, the leader, using the information on the
TIC, directs a firefighter into the room and around hazards. Any area in the room that the leader cannot see on the TIC display , such as the far side of a bed or desk or inside a closet, must be searched by hand. The leader directs the searching firefighter to the unseen areas for a manual search.
The team leader should not only keep track of the searching firefighter(s) with the TIC, but should also monitor the fire conditions and other fireground activities.
Once the firefighter has searched the area, the team leader then verbally directs the firefighter around any obstacles and back to the oriented position in the quickest and safest manner possible. The team then moves to the next area or room, using the TIC as a guide, and repeats the process until the primary search is complete.
This drill focuses on communication between what is observed on the TIC display and the searching firefighters. If the team leader can not make out what is observed on the TIC, or there are obstacles blocking the view, that area must be searched by hand.
Effective TIC use starts with learning and practising the basics – observing what is seen and communicating that information to others timely and efficiently. That said, firefighters must not rely solely on TICs for navigating smokefilled structures. As with any technology, TICs can fail and are only as reliable as the batteries that power them. We must be proficient at basic search techniques as well as TIC-assisted searches. As always, training is key.
By Mark van der Feyst
Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1999; he is a full-time firefighter in Ontario. He teaches internationally and is the lead author of Pennwell’s ResidentialFireRescue. Mark@FireStarTraining.com
There are many different rapid-intervention team (RIT) techniques for rescuing a downed firefighter from a structure. Most techniques are employed based on specific situations, such as ropes for a sub-level rescue or the Denver drill for a narrow aisle and high window sill. But there are some commonalities among different techniques that can be applied in a very basic way.
One of the most basic ways to rescue or remove a downed/injured firefighter from a structure is by using the window. So why the window? In accordance with local, provincial and national building codes, almost all buildings have windows to provide natural light, a means of escape and also natural air ventilation for the occupants. This provision of the building code also provides fire services with a quick means of egress for both the RIT members and for the downed firefighter. The easiest removal path is via the nearest means of egress – more often than not it is a window.
One of the more common window-rescue techniques is to make an enlarged opening. Firefighters are able to make a window into a door by cutting and enlarging the wall section below the sill down to the floor level on either side of the jack posts, and also horizontally to either one side. This type of window rescue is easy to accomplish but requires the manpower to prep the window and make it into a larger opening.
Removing a downed firefighter through a window that is not enlarged requires the firefighter to be lifted up to the sill and then – if the window is on an elevated floor – down a ladder. The hardest part of the window rescue is lifting the downed firefighter from the floor up to the window sill and then out the window. RIT firefighters need to be proficient in different techniques to lift a person up to a window sill. There are a
few options to consider for this: the 2:1 mechanical-advantage system, the fulcrum lift and the ramp lift.
The 2:1 mechanical-advantage system uses a rope, a set of pulleys and carabineers, a ground ladder, and a guiding crew, to lift a firefighter up off the floor, out the window and down to the ground. The mechanical advantage system requires four RIT firefighters, two of whom will employ basic hauling practices to accomplish the lift. Once the downed firefighter is lifted up off the floor, he or she is redirected out the window and then lowered down to the ground. See
The easiest removal path is via the nearest means of egress – more often than not it is a window.
the July 2013 issue of Canadian Firefighter for a more detailed description of the 2:1 mechanical-advantage system.
The fulcrum lift and the ramp lift are two options for which the RIT firefighters will have to exert physical strength to lift a downed firefighter. For the fulcrum lift, the downed firefighter is positioned so that his feet face the window wall. The RIT members then push or bring the downed firefighter closer to the wall so that his knees are bent and his buttocks is as close to his feet as possible. This position of the knees is the fulcrum for the lift. The RIT members then take hold of the downed firefighter around and under the arms and push upwards and into the downed firefighter. The RIT firefighter waiting on the ladder outside can assist by reaching in and grabbing the downed firefighter’s wrist or SCBA shoulder straps and pulling upwards.
The ramp lift involves creating a ramp out of a door from the interior of the building or a roof ladder. Insert the roof ladder or door through the window so that one end rests on the window sill and
the other end is positioned on the floor. Generally a roof ladder is longer and stronger compared to a door, but it depends on the type of door being used. With the ramp in place, the downed firefighter is dragged up and unto the door or roof ladder so that the RIT members can then lift up the floor end of the ramp and slide the door or ladder and firefighter out the window to safety. This technique works well for a ground-level window and rescue. Using this technique on a second storey is very difficult since the downed firefighter will have to be transitioned from the ramp into the arms of a RIT firefighter on a ground ladder. There are three different ways to take the rescued firefighter down a ground ladder: across the arms, knee drop and cradle. The knee drop and the cradle are the two most difficult ways because they are slower than the cross-arm method and only used when the feet of the downed firefighter are presented first
out the window. The simplest and most common method is across the arms. As you can see in photo 1, the downed firefighter was lifted up to the window, positioned out the window and placed across the arms of the RIT firefighter horizontally. One arm goes under the armpit and the other arm goes through the legs of the downed firefighter. The RIT firefighter has both hands on the beam of the ladder so as to maintain control all the way down.
If the downed firefighter is larger, two RIT members may be required to bring the firefighter down the ladder. In this case, use two ground ladders placed side by side below the window sill (as pictured in photo 2) and have both RIT members secure the downed firefighter across their arms.
Using windows is a quick and relatively easy way to remove a downed firefighter, but these methods will only work with much practice and persistence.
By Randy Schmitz
Calgary firefighter Randy Schmitz has been extensively involved in extrication for 23 years. He is the education chair for the Transport Emergency Rescue Committee in Canada. rwschmitz@shaw.ca @firedog7
Responders on the scene of collisions see the direct results of safe or unsafe vehicles. While motor vehicles are much safer than they were 30 to 40 years ago, the death rate due to crashes is still very high.
As a first responder, it is helpful to know what national standards are in place and how consumers can choose the safest vehicles.
New-car buyers have an abundance of information available to them – prices, styles, features, sizes and safety technologies. While most consumers rate safety as a top priority, they may not know how to determine which vehicles are the safest.
The good news is that consumers have access to independent and government-run new-car assessments and crash-test programs to learn about vehicle safety.
In Canada, vehicle manufacturers must adhere to motor-vehicle safety standards. These standards are set, regulated and enforced by Transport Canada, and governed by the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Act and Motor Vehicle Transport Act.
In the United States, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a branch of the Department of Transportation, writes and enforces rules and regulations called the federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS). The NHTSA performs various rear-end, frontal, rollover and side-impact crash tests, and is also responsible for consumer vehicle safety through the new-car assessment program (NCAP), first developed in the late 1970s.
The NCAP informs consumers
The good news is that consumers can look at independent new-car assessments and crash test programs to learn about safety information.
about vehicle-safety enhancements and works with the automobile manufacturers to entice and exceed the FMVSS minimum requirements when designing new vehicles for market.
Vehicles manufactured for the 2011 model year were subjected to significant upgrades made to the NCAP, including more stringent crash-test parameters.
Currently NCAP uses a five-star rating system that includes sideand frontal-impact crashworthiness and a vehicle’s resistance to rollover. In a nutshell, the scores are calculated from the measurements of the loading and deceleration movements of the crash-test dummies during crashes.
As a result of the NCAP success, nine other countries created programs to encourage the supply of and demand for safer vehicles.
The automobile industry requested that Transport Canada and the United States Department of Transportation adopt the same regulations to speed up the testing process for vehicles sold in both countries.
Canada now aligns with the United States in almost all aspects of regulated vehicle safety standards.
While there may be some differences in regulation and vehicle options between Canada and the United States, vehicles that are sold in both countries have similar, if not the same crash-protection systems.
Under this assumption, vehicle models sold in Canada that are tested under the NCAP program would achieve the same results in a Canadian crash test. (For simplicity we will refer to the harmonized
crash testing methods from both countries as North American standards.)
Another agency, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), also tests for vehicle crash worthiness; it is an independent safety-research group funded by auto-insurance companies.
The front-crash test propels a vehicle directly into a fixed barrier at 56 kilometres per hour (km/h) (35 miles per hour (mph)), with the full width of a vehicle’s front end coming into contact with the barrier. Belted crash-test dummies in the driver and passenger seating areas are equipped with sensors to record the level of force placed on the head, neck, chest and legs. The measurements correlate with injury. Prior to 2011, only the head and chest results formed the basis of the star rating. Individual star ratings are then assigned to the front passengers.
Note: some automotive experts have criticized NHTSA’s full-frontal, rigid-barrier test as unrealistic because head-on crashes into a flat, solid wall are relatively rare. Others argue that real-world or not, flat-barrier testing is a good way to gauge the effectiveness of the restraint systems.
The side-impact test involves a car hit on the driver’s side by a 1,360-kilogram (3,000-pound) car going 61 km/h (38.5 mph). This test replicates a side hit at a T-intersection.
The side-impact scores are recorded for the driver and left-rear passenger.
Only a chest-injury measurement determined the safety score for vehicles that were designed before 2011. For 2011 and later models, the score calculations
include the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis for the driver, and injury to the head and pelvis for the left rear-seat passenger.
In addition, a separate side-impact test with a pole has been added into the evaluation and directed at the driver side to assess the chance of injury.
A small-sized adult female crash test dummy is placed in the driver’s seat and is secured with a seatbelt. The test vehicle, angled at 75 degrees, is then pulled sideways at 32 km/h (20 mph) into a 25-centimetre (10-inch) diameter pole at the driver’s seating location. This test mimics a side-impact crash involving a narrow, fixed object such as a utility pole or tree.
Instruments measure the force of impact to the dummy’s head, chest, lower spine, abdomen, and pelvis.
Unless otherwise noted, the side-pole rating is an evaluation of injury to the head and pelvis for both the driver and front-seat passenger.
The IIHS frontal-crash test focuses more on a vehicle’s primary restraint devices such as seatbelts, and secondary supplemental restraints such as frontal- and side-impact airbags.
Another evaluation criteria that makes up the crash-rating assignments is how well the vehicle can repel forces imposed upon it during the crash. The vehicle’s structural integrity is put to the test.
Note: IIHS now conducts two series of front-crash tests, one that engages 40 per cent of a vehicle’s front and a newer test, initiated in 2012, that uses a smaller overlap, engaging just 25 per cent of the car’s front. (Find out more about small offset frontal crashes in the April issue of Canadian Firefighter.)
IIHS uses a striking barrier that is 136 kilograms (300 pounds) heavier than the NHTSA’s 1,360-kilograms barrier.
The striking range of impact is higher for the IIHS test – bumper height of a truck or SUV rather than the bumper height of a standard sedan that NHTSA uses.
IIHS scores injury characteristics on the head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis and left leg.
The two dummies used in the IIHS side-impact crash test are either a small adult female or a 12-year-old child. One is the driver, the other a left-rear passenger.
IIHS has added rear-impact testing to its repertoire. A high number of injuries are caused by rear-impact collisions, whiplash being the most common. In the IIHS test, neck trauma is evaluated
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using the vehicle’s seat attached to a moving sled. The test simulates a rear-end crash about equal to a motionless vehicle being struck at 32 km/h (20 mph) by a vehicle of the same weight and bumper height. This particular test helps car manufacturers develop head-restraint systems that reduce whiplash-type injuries by cradling the occupant’s head.
Both IIHS and NHTSA gather the information from crash tests, add up the scores, and then give a total score for overall crashworthiness.
IIHS ranks vehicles using a four-level scale: poor, marginal, acceptable, and good.
IIHS compiles its total assessment score from five tests: small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength, and finally the rear-impact test, which records impact forces on a patient’s head and neck during the crash test. (See photo 1 for an example of ratings for an IIHS small overlap front crash test.)
Recently IIHS has started
to test pre-crash avoidance technology that helps prevent crashes by alerting drivers to an impending collision and will be incorporating this testing into future crash-evaluation criteria.
NHTSA assigns one to five stars to the vehicle tested, which indicates the level of safety. One star means strong probability of injury or death; five mean there is a low likelihood.
NHTSA performs three tests; moderate overlap frontal, standard side impact, second additional side impact with a pole directed at the driver’s door, and a rollover test.
As one example, NHTSA combines the driver frontseat rating from the side-pole test with the driver front-seat rating from the side-barrier test for a combined side-barrier and pole front-seat rating. The side-crash rating is compared to the side-crash performance of an average vehicle in the test vehicles fleet. A lower than average risk of injury is better; occupants in these vehicles will be less likely than average to sustain injury in side-impact
collisions with other vehicles or stationary objects such as trees and utility poles.
• 5 stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is much less than average
• 4 stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is less than average to average
• 3 stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is average to greater than average
• 2 stars = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is greater than average
• 1 star = Side crash injury risk for this vehicle is much greater than average
Just because a vehicle is more luxurious and expensive, certainly does not mean it is any safer than an entry level vehicle.
To determine what vehicle is the best in terms of safety, have a look at the test results from both organizations. One vehicle may have superior performance in a NHTSA side-impact test but a low score in a small offset frontal crash configuration from IIHS.
Since both organizations test differently and offer separate results, an overall compilation of comparative results from both is the best bet.
A vehicle that scores high on most of the two organizations’ tests is likely at low risk for typical vehicle hazards. Another safety reference is
IIHS’s top safety awards, the Top Safety Pick and the Top Safety Pick+. Vehicles must earn good or acceptable small-overlap ratings and good ratings in the institute’s four other crashworthiness tests – moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints.
The plus is awarded to vehicles with available front crash-prevention systems that earned an advanced or superior rating from IIHS.
Remember that the manufacturers have to meet only a minimum safety standard and only through public demand will manufacturers focus on vehicle safety.
Just because a vehicle is more luxurious and expensive, certainly does not mean it is any safer than an entrylevel vehicle.
In the foreseeable future it is conceivable that some vehicles will have the technology to avoid standard crashes; this is due to 50 years of innovative engineering stimulated by regulatory processes, consumer awareness and demand.
It is crucial that those of us who work in emergency services, and consumers, maintain pressure on manufacturers to continue this safety progression if we are to see a day when road travel will not end in so many unnecessary and avoidable fatalities.
The more informed we are the safer we all will be.
Stay safe.
By Patrick Mathieu
The sandwich has long been revered as a quick, comforting and portable meal, found everywhere from children’s lunch boxes to the menus of fine-dining restaurants.
Everyone loves a good sandwich and that’s because there are no rules to building one: open the fridge door and create any combination of whatever you can find to put in between two slices of bread, and you have made a sandwich.
But there are secrets to a successful sandwich build. A lot has changed since the 18th century when the fourth Earl of Sandwich ordered meat in between bread.
Although we may believe some sandwiches, such as the grilled cheese, came from heaven, sandwich lovers have travelled the world and picked up exciting condiments, vegetables and meats along the way.
There are now endless layering and combination strategies. Wikipedia lists a couple of dozens examples, ranging from the simple BLT to the famous Philly cheesesteak and everyone’s favourite peanut butter and jam.
Every culture may have a claim to the best sandwich – from the Vietnamese Banh Mi, to the Philly Cheesesteak, or the Classic Cuban to the Croque Monsieure – but the only undeniable winner is the lover of sandwich!
Here are some tips that I have learned from countless mouth-watering attempts to build a better sandwich at home, as well as recipes for my favourites from around the world.
• Contrast is the key. Great sandwiches balance everything inside. Got something salty? Add
Experiment with ingredients, but also with balance, layering, cutting
and serving.
According to the GuinessBookof WorldRecords, the record for eating sandwiches is held by Peter Dowdeswell. He ate 40 jam and butter sandwiches (each 6 inches X 3 inches) in 17 minutes, 53.9 seconds on October 17, 1977.
Patrick Mathieu is an acting captain at Waterloo Fire Rescue in Ontario. He was recently featured on Food Network’s Chopped Canada. stationhousecateringco@ yahoo.ca @StationHouseCCo
something sweet. If you have something chewy, contrast it with something crispy. And if you’re using a fat (and you should be using a fat) add something fresh or acidic. Play with all kinds of different ingredients and layering combinations and enjoy every minute of your trials!
• Don’t cut corners. When you are building a really amazing sandwich, don’t get caught up in the idea that sandwiches are made for casual convenience. Just think – thinly sliced, grilled flank steak will do more for your sandwich than a package of roast beef cold cuts. Same thing goes for cutting up your own delicious roast chicken as opposed to something in a package called chicken loaf. Devote a little time to the details and you will reap the rewards.
• Brush your bread with something. Sandwich perfection begins when a warm piece of bread meets a slathering of something tasty. Tops and bottoms of the sandwich should have smears of something to build layers of flavour. Mayonnaise is the king of condiments and will make any sandwich taste better. For grilled breads, add a brush of olive oil or garlic butter to grilled breads. Expand your condiment options with different aiolis (garlicky mayo), hummus, pureed roasted vegetables or vinegary hot sauces.
• Slice everything thinly. Nothing is worse than losing the inside fillings of your sandwich with every bite, or having everything slip out onto your plate. From the meat and cheese to the vegetables, make sure every-
thing inside is either thinly cut or cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Choose bread wisely. Not every sandwich should be built on a chic baguette. Consider your type of sandwich: are you grilling it, toasting or warming your bread, or just enjoying a super fresh, soft loaf? You might not even choose bread at all – there are plenty of other options (see my chicken and waffle slider in the online version of this columm.) Consider the science of the perfect sandwich; it all depends on the layering, toppings and how long before the sandwich is served to decide which bread will work. One thing is for sure, the fresher the bread, the better your sandwich will be.
• Don’t forget the crunch. There is something undeniably great about biting into a sandwich and experiencing a little flavour-bomb crunch. Use pickles or different types of pickled veggies. Try using sauerkraut, kimchee, crunchy shallots or even a sprinkling of potato chips. Having different textures keeps the mouth guessing and wanting more.
It is possible to take all the parts of any ordinary sandwich – bread, meat, cheese, vegetables and condiments – and turn them into something very extraordinary, transcending all of its individual parts.
Experiment with ingredients, but also with balance, layering, cutting and serving.
You will soon find that options and combinations are endless, and the fun is in building.
Find more recipes, at firefightingincanada.com/ hot-topics/health-and-safety
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 large yellow onion, sliced Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/3 cup whiskey
4 8-ounce strip steaks
5 ounces blue cheese crumbles 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 tbsp whipping cream
1 baguette, cut into 4 pieces, sliced in half, tops reserved for another day
Extra virgin olive oil
1 large clove of garlic, sliced in half
Arugula, dressed in a little olive oil and lemon juice and seasoned with salt and pepper
1. Heat the butter in a large heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Stir in the yellow onion, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally until softened and golden, for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir in the sugar, then pull the pan off the heat and carefully add the whiskey. Ignite the whiskey with a gas flame or a long kitchen match and cook until the flames die down. Continue to cook until the onions are glazed, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then season with salt to taste.
2. Preheat your grill or grill pan to high heat. Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper on both sides. Grill on each side for 3 minutes until grill marks form. Place the steaks on the top rack if necessary and finish cooking until the internal temperature reaches 52 C (125 F) for a medium-rare steak.
3. In a bowl combine the blue cheese, bread crumbs and heavy cream until the mixture comes together.
4. Once steaks reach 52 C, divide the blue cheese mixture between the steaks and pat it evenly over the top. Adjust the oven to broil setting. Broil the steaks for 3-5 minutes.
5. Brush the baguette with a little olive oil and place on the grill for just a few minutes to get char marks. Remove from the grill and rub with the garlic. Place a blue cheese encrusted strip loin on top of a baguette bottom. Top with some whiskey glazed onions and a handful of arugula. Enjoy!
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2 cups Thai sweet chilli sauce
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
Pinch of crushed red pepper
INGREDIENTS–
1 baguette, split and grilled and cut into 4 1/2 cup mayonnaise Liverwurst pate
3 large carrots, julienned
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 1/4 pound daikon radish, julienned
1 cucumber, thinly sliced lengthwise
10 large cilantro sprigs
1 jar pickled jalapeño slices
1. Put the chicken in a re-sealable plastic bag with all but 1/4 of the sweet chilli sauce. Seal the bag and marinate for at least an hour.
2. In a small saucepan, bring the water, vinegar, sugar, salt and crushed red pepper to a boil. Transfer the brine to a large bowl and let cool to room temperature. Add the carrots, onion and daikon and cover to keep them submerged. Refrigerate the vegetables for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. Drain the vegetables just before using.
3. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade and grill the chicken over moderate heat, turning once until just cooked through, about 14 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let rest for 5 minutes. Roughly chop the chicken thighs into bite-size pieces and toss in a bowl with the remaining sweet chilli sauce.
4. Spread the cut sides of the baguettes with mayonnaise and grill for a couple of minutes to warm. Bring to a cutting board to build your Banh Mi. Spread a generous amount of liverwurst on the top and bottom pieces of bread. Arrange the cucumber slices on the bottom halves. Top with the chicken and then the pickled vegetables. Garnish with the cilantro sprigs and pickled jalapeno. Close the sandwiches and serve right away. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS– OLIVE SALAD
1 cup pitted olives, preferably a mix, roughly chopped
2 tbsp capers, rinsed, dried, and roughly chopped
2 to 3 Italian hot-pickled peppers (such as pepperoncini), chopped
3 tbsp olive oil
INGREDIENTS–
4 ounces salami, thinly sliced
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp minced shallots
1 tbsp minced celery
1/2 cup roasted red pepper strips
4 ounces hot mortadella, thinly sliced
1 loaf focaccia, halved lengthwise
4 ounces provolone cheese, thinly sliced
4 ounces hot capicola, thinly sliced
1. Combine olives, shallot, celery, red peppers, capers, hot peppers (if using) and olive oil in a small bowl. Stir to combine. Season to taste with vinegar, salt, and pepper.
2. Tear out some of the doughy insides of the bread if it’s especially thick, and lay bread slices down face up on cutting board. Spoon olive mixture on both top and bottom halves. Layer meat and cheese onto bottom half, then top with the top half. For the best flavour, wrap in plastic and allow bread to soak up the juices for one hour before serving. Cut into quarters and serve. Enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
12 1/2-inch-thick slices pound cake
12 good chocolate squares, such as Ghirardelli or Lindt
Options: cherry preserves, peanut butter, sliced bananas
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
Confectioner’s sugar, for garnish Raspberries, for garnish
1. Lay pound cake slices on a work surface.
2. If using the options (and I highly recommend using them all!) cover 6 of the slices with peanut butter, 1/2 tablespoon of the cherry preserves and then the banana slices. Top each with 2 pieces of the chocolate. Top with remaining pound cake slices and brush melted butter on both sides.
3. Using a non-stick skillet or griddle, grill sandwiches over medium-low heat until chocolate has melted and bread is a golden brown color. Dust sandwiches with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm. Garnish with fresh raspberries. Enjoy!
By Jay Shaw
We have all heard the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” used in and around the emergency services. This saying dates back to the 1970s American government bureaucrats who implored the Carter administration to stop meddling in things that didn’t require fixing. Organizational change-management initiatives and philosophies are the kryptonite to this famous mantra. People in general don’t want change, even when change is necessary. Change is what I describe in some of my consulting lectures as one of the scariest words and or phrases in the world – that and income tax and cancer. Recently in Manitoba, another scary phrase – fire-EMS integration – enraged many across the emergency sector.
Some reporters have accused firefighters and paramedics of grandstanding, empire building and trying to promote their own initiatives. Everyone in the emergency services has their own opinions regarding the merits of a philosophy that has both succeeded and failed across North America. I’m not going to debate integrated systems since I, too, have an opinion based on my own knowledge and experiences. For Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service, integration works and I like it. And while many say integration doesn’t work for them, Winnipeg continually answers phone calls from interested parties who want to explore and learn more.
Many factors go into a municipality’s decision about its service model. Service is the primary
. . . in some cases fixing what may or may not be broken is all about the lens through which you choose to look.
focus, and we should not have to remind each other of that. How you serve your customers may or may not be up to you, but deciding what goes into that service is a very complex proposition. First, a department needs to have a comprehensive understanding of its own unique relationships with its municipal, provincial and federal governments. The simple relationship between who provides and pays for what service in your region can have a major effect on the process of changing or staying the course. Secondly, a department must understand its community, listen to its stakeholders on all sides and ask tough questions. Everything from labour agreements to comprehensive hazard, risk and vulnerability assessments can impact how a municipality moves forward. Borders, rail line, demography, asset allocation mapping and political culture could all play a role in deciding what is best
for customers.
What makes sense for your area may not work for a community 50 kilometres away. Logistics, staffing, resource allocation, cost sharing and comprehensive data analysis all need to be examined before a municipality makes a decision to put some or more paramedic gear on your fire truck or buy another ambulance.
And, informed decisions are not solely based on evidence from other agencies saying a particular service model works or doesn’t work. The information you collect may look like a juicy 20-ounce prime cut, grass-fed steak, but how are you going to sell that steak to a primarily vegan community? It does not matter what sauce you use to season it, the community will not buy what you are selling. Decisions in a fire department should always go back to what serves its citizens – what they want and need. The hard part is determining the differences between want and need and choosing the right one. No one said this process was going to be easy. In some cases fixing what may or may not be broken is all about the lens through which you choose to look.
Learning more about your own community and exploring its needs through due diligence sounds like a simple solution, but it’s a scary process. No one can decide for you, and no one system of response will work for every department. However, I have a feeling that if folks examine the process a little deeper, words such as change and integration won’t be as scary or create so much controversy. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and give someone a call, because if it is broken and you don’t fix it, you are more likely to stir up controversy. Making no decision is in fact a decision as well.
