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04
What’s been left unchecked? 14 | Front seat
Discussing call performance 18
Embracing the new norm 26
Working out without equipment 30
Dispatches
Welcoming newcomers
A
NATHAN POCOCK
DOYLE, DAVE ROBB AND JEFF JOHNSTON
THOMAS KEANEY
By Laura Aiken
What’s been left unchecked?
Injury prevention is a concern for firefighters, but what about afterthe-fact when a sprain or tear happened anyway? When an injury is said and done, what treatment is needed next? And what happens when a pandemic strikes and access to rehabilitation is effectively shut down except for emergencies for some practitioners? Under these circumtances, aches and pains may be left unchecked for too long.
Firefighters need their body in tip-top form, and a recent endeavour by the research group Firewell shows that firefighters deal with injuries at much higher rates than the general population. Firewell recently published a systematic review and meta-analysis titled “Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Canadian Firefighters,” by Goris Nazari, Joy MacDermid and Heidi Cramm. The paper is free to read in its entirety through the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health. This observational study examined the existing body of literature as it pertains to musculoskeletal disorders in firefighters, meaning strains, dislocations, fractures and pain. The review of five eligible cohort
studies and the subsequent analysis of the metrics found that firefighters have a much higher rate of injury than the general public. For example, 23 per cent of firefighters are reporting shoulder pain versus an incidence rate of six per cent in the general public. Over a year, 10 per cent of firefighters will develop a new injury, data suggests.
COVID-19 has made for a very disruptive spring, and this includes losing many types of healthcare. As occupational health therapists are starting to return to work in varying degrees across Can-
What happens when a pandemic strikes and access to rehabilitation is effectively shut down except for emergencies for some practitioners?
ada (perhaps by the time you read this, fully back to work everywhere, such is the quick changing nature of this crisis), it is a good time to check in on your aches and pains. There has been a tremendous focus on self-care messaging as of late, but there has also been a lack of available treatment for anything but the most urgent of cases
for some vocations. Is this lack of treatment catching up with you?
With pain reports being as they are in this latest wealth of information from Firewell, chances are many firefighters are muscling through and getting worse with appropriate and timely rehab options on hold.
As a firefighter, there aren’t exactly ways to avoid the labour of your work without going on light duty, which may be an undesirable option. The additional layers of complexity wrought by this pandemic may have given extra justification to those already prone to putting off an appointment with their doctor, who may have had challenges recommending, say, massage therapy or a chiropractor, when clinics were closed. If this is you, now may be a great time to check-in with any lingering injuries that might have been left unchecked through the peak of the pandemic.
July 2020 Vol. 43, No. 3 cdnfirefighter.com
EDITOR
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New Firefighter wellness app aims to catch problems early
The Aivia Health project began in 2017 when Dr. Louis Hugo Francescutti, an ER physician, and Canadian software development firm Altitude Logic, joined the Surrey Fire Service and Surrey Firefighters Association Local 1271 in British Columbia to discuss growing concerns about firefighter health. This resulted in a health and wellness surveillance app that aims to help identify health issues in firefighters in their early stages.
Nearly 400 Surrey Fire Service members are actively engaged with the system. The app allows firefighters to manage critical aspects of their health and wellness.
While aggregated data and trends can be viewed by all participating members of the organization, personal data remains anonymous, cannot be used to identify individuals and are private unless individuals opt-in to physician monitoring. The goal is catch health concerns before they reach a crisis point.
B.C.’s wildfire budget gets a boost
Citing the intense fire seasons of 2017 and 2018, the British Columbia government bumped its wildfire budget up to $136 million for the 2020 forest fire season. This is an increase of $35 million from 2019’s budget and $73 million over the 2018 budget.
The BC Wildfire Service also launched a mobile app that provides real-time wildfire information including an interactive map.
Fire Prevention Week
This year’s Fire Prevention week will feature the theme: Serve up Fire Safety in the Kitchen. Fire prevention week started in 1925 in Canada and remains a critical education tool. It will take place October 4 to October 10 this year.
Canada’s National Forestry Database found over 8,000 fires occur nationally each year and result in burning over 2.1 million hectares on average.
Saving Alberta’s rappel program
Citing budget cuts, Alberta ended its wildland firefighter rappel program last November. In response, a movement coined Save Alberta Rappel was launched to urge the government to reinstate the program.
Former Alberta rappel spotter Adam Clyne said the group hopes to raise awareness of the important work the rappel team does throughout wildfire season.
Now, some of these specialized firefighters have taken other jobs within Alberta Wildfire, eight have opted to join British Columbia’s rappel program (at the time of publication) while others, including Clyne, have decided not to take part this year as a statement to the loss.
A 2017 survey from the Canadian Institute for Public Safety and Treatment found that 44.5 per cent of the surveyed public safety personnel had clinically significant symptoms consistent with one or more mental disorders.
“We decided that we couldn’t take this laying down, not only because we lost our beloved program but because, as taxpayers and Albertans, we think this is a terrible decision,” Clyne said. “[The government] hadn’t done any due diligence before they cut the program to determine whether the cost-benefit of our program was worth it, which we truly believe there is.”
The Alberta rappel program was established in 1983. Last year’s team consisted of 63 specialized firefighters who were trained to rappel from a moving helicopter into inaccessible areas during a wildfire.
Save Alberta Rappel set up a GoFundMe page and, by the end of May, it had raised over $6,500. Some of this money was allocated for erecting billboards throughout the province, urging the government to reinstate the program — one was specifically set up in Fort McMurray on May 4, the evacuation date of the historic fire.
Clyne said the group is hoping the billboards send a message to politicians but also raise public awareness of the importance of the program in keeping Albertans safe during wildfire season.
“There’s a lot of nuances in wildland firefighting and it’s hard to explain and portray that to the public, but that’s why we have experts and why the government should start listening to them.”
The indispensable halligan
Get to know the subtle differences between halligans that will ultimately affect performance
By Nathan Pocock
Any master of their craft will tell you about the importance of a good tool. A carpenter will not choose just any hammer for their tool belt, they will purchase a good hammer to increase personal comfort and efficiency. Not that the inexpensive hammer will not pound nails, but the speed, efficiency and comfort of the nicer hammer is unmistakable.
The trade of fire fighting shares a likeness with carpentry in its need for good hand tools. In this article, we will look at the halligan — a mainstay of the fire service — and how the individual parts of the halligan impact performance.
There are many different halligans on the market, and I will cover a variety of differences in the bars out there today, allowing you to apply these principles to most if not all bars on the market. We will not be focusing on every aspect of the halligan but more on a few of the differences we find.
The purpose of this article is not to pick a favourite or declare the best. We all have our preferences and will inevitably all feel differently about each product. And, while we can modify bars to make them better suit our needs, this article is simply about bars as purchased.
To really show the differences between types of halligans let’s break down the halligan from the adz end down.
The adz: width = mechanical advantage/ distance of gap
The width of the adz is important as it defines the halligan’s greatest mechanical advantage it can achieve. The standard halligan width is 2-inches,
which, on a 30-inch bar, will give you a 15:1 mechanical advantage and 2-inches of spread between the jamb and door. The average exterior door is 1 ¾-inch thick, so having the 2-inches of spread will allow you to either open a weaker residential door or provide the space to get your forks in for an inward swinging door and continue your force.
Some halligans will come equipped with a wide adz. The Maxximus Rex for example has a 2 ¾-inch adz, lowering your maximum mechanically advantage approximately to an 11:1. What you lose in mechanical advantage, you gain in three-quarter inches of spread. The Maxximus Rex also has the Rex lock puller built into the adz.
Curve in the adz
The adz comes in all shapes and sizes, whether single
There are many different halligans on the market, and individual preferences play a large role in selection.
forged or 3-piece. If the halligan’s adz sticks out past the end of the shaft it increases the chance of deflections, as the large curve decreases the striking area and moves it off centre. If the adz has too much of a curve, it will curve back and skin the door more easily before making it around behind an outward swinging door, allowing you to pry out. Too large of a curve in the adz can also result in increased pop outs of the adz when gapping an inward swinging door as it doesn’t allow for as much contact against the door as the straighter adz does.
On the other hand, the straighter the adz, the more difficult to maneuver the tool around the soffit on the jamb. Just a little bit of curve allows the adz to negotiate the jamb without digging back into the door while we hit it into position. A slight angle will also give us ample striking surface that will cause little deflection, allowing the maximum amount of the striking force to go into the tool.
The thickness of the adz comes into play as well.
When we are forcing doors, the thinner the adz the easier it will be to drive it in as it will not require as much spread between door and jam.
Some halligans, such as the Pro-bar, Maxximus Rex, and both new and old Leatherhead bars, the adz tapers off to the end with no real dramatic change in thickness. Other bars such as the Partech 3-piece or Malven, bevel the adz to help create a thinner tip. Using vanadium steel instead of tool steel has given Maxximus Rex bar the ability to create a very thin adz without losing strength. Being able to taper off with minimal to no bevel is best.
When a bevel is present it can be found either on the bottom or top side of the adz. This small difference in manufacturing can make a big difference in performance.
When placing the adz into the door between the soffit of the jamb and the door to use our full 15:1 mechanical advantage on an inward swinging door, the halligan sits with the top side of the adz contacting fully along the door and the underside sitting on the jamb section, which will be about a half an inch thick, depending on installation and brand of door. If our bevel is on the bottom side of the adz, it will greatly reduce the amount of already limited contact on the jamb.
When the bevel is on the top side of the tool, we reduce some of the adz surface area attached to the door, but seeing as we have a 6-inch long adz on most bars, losing a bit of contact area on the door will not be the end of the world. A bevel on the top side allows our adz to gain full contact with the door jamb, allowing us to use full force against the jamb into the door, reducing the chance of the adz popping out rather than encouraging it as a bevel on the bottom side tensd to do.
On an outward swinging door, the bevel will again play a role. If we have a bottom side bevel on the adz as we get it in around the door and past the bevel, it will be sliding like a ramp against the door, pushing it towards the door jamb and causing us to work harder to negotiate the tool into position. We will also have to get the entire adz thickness past the jamb right at the tip before we can move past it.
With the bevel on the top side of the adz we have a much thinner tip to get past the outside corner of the jamb. As the adz with a top side bevel is forced between the door and jamb, the bevel will push against the door jamb itself helping force the adz out and around into position.
The top side bevel also allows a full contact crush on an outward swinging door lessening the chance of skinning the door before you start the force.
The pick
All the halligans have a similar shaped pick on them that is forged with the rest of the halligan. In 3-piece bars, the pick is made in one piece with the adz end, but due to being a 3 piece this piece is then connected to the shaft with a small pin, creating a weak point in the tool.
Both new and old Leatherhead Tools bars are forged adz, shaft and forks, while the pike is welded on after forging. For the new Leatherhead bars, all of these welds are strength-tested before leaving the factory.
The shaft: round, 8-sided, or 6-sided
There are three main types of shafts found on bars in the fire service: 8-sided shafts, like those found on bars by Akron, Firehooks Unlimited halligans and Malven; round ones like the 3-piece Paratech; and 6-sided shafts such as those found on Leatherhead halligans.
The round shaft can diminish grip when holding the bar. Most round shafts have machined-in grooves to help with this concern, but with gloves and wet environment these grooves may do little to aid that grip.
The 8 and 6-sided shafts provide a more secure grip because the corners of the shaft dig into your hand as you control the tool. The main differences between the 8 and 6-sided shafts is that an 8-sided shaft will have a flat surface leading down to the fork shoulders and their weight. The flat surface down to the shoulder of the forks can help when striking as it allows a larger surface area for the striking tool to ride down to the shoulder to strike it. The 6-sided shaft is a fair bit thicker, adding what feels like a fair amount of weight when directly compared, but it is by no means an overly heavy tool.
The forks
The forks of the halligan can be looked at for overall thickness. Typically, single piece bars will always have thinner forks than any 3-piece bar on the market, and variations in thickness vary from brand to
brand. The thinner the fork the easier it will be for you to place the fork in-between the door and the jamb, allowing you to continue with your force. Fork thickness can change by as much as 3/4-inch between brands. Much like the bevel on the adz, some forks that are thicker will come with a bevel on the end to help with the initial entry of the tool into the door. The larger the ramp, the thicker the fork blades, the more trouble you will have with getting the bar into position.
Almost all halligan tool’s forks come with a set of shoulders. This is the part of the forks that sticks out past the edge of the shaft of the halligan. Having good strong squared off shoulders, allows for close quarters striking both in single and two firefighter forces. Large shoulders with a rounded edge will not allow for easy striking as the tool will deflect off the rounded surface. Some halligans come with hardly any shoulders at all.
“The forks of the halligan can be looked at for overall thickness.”
The gap at the end of the forks can also be looked at as this gap can be used in a simple through the lock technique to remove door handles allowing for more passive forcible entry. Bars that come with a 1-inch or larger opening between the mouth of its forks allows you to place it down over a door handle and pry it from its collar giving you access to the mechanism. 3- piece Paratech, Probar, and Akron Bars fork gaps range anywhere from 3/8-inch to 5/8-inch gap and not wide enough to allow for this technique.
Gap and Set Lines
A common modification that members make to their
Looked at individually, the way various elements of a halligan are constructed changes the tool’s overall performance.
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Extrication tips
By Chad Roberts
Chad Roberts is a firefighter in Oakville, Ont. He is a member of the Oakville extrication team and competes and trains across North America. Contact Chad at chadroberts12@gmail.com.
Exposing the weaknesses: Part 2
In March, my family and I left for our annual spring trip to Florida. With COVID-19 making its way across the Pacific, we knew our travels would likely be a little different: washing hands, keeping distance whenever possible; all the basic stuff we probably should have always been doing in the first place.
But then, about midway through our trip, things started rapidly changing. To our surprise, restrictions on travel, isolation recommendations and return to work issues were swiftly introduced. That being said, we returned safely with no issues but came home to a seemingly different country, community and, overall, a different way of life.
Perhaps the most shocking was, upon my return from vacation, finding out that life in the firehall had radically changed as well. When I left for Florida, I had planned on attending three different extrication competitions and helping a new group of members get ready for their first season on our extrication team, but that all changed. There have been changes to our daily routines and response protocols but, with social distancing in the halls and training programs now on hold, we’ve now entered a bit of a lull period.
Despite all these adjustments, what doesn’t have to change is our level of competency and effort we put towards making ourselves better every day and every shift. Training and researching new topics with our respective crews has become the new norm.
I encourage everyone to take
this opportunity to get closer with your respective crews. Learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses and work together to make the group better overall.
Because the pandemic has shut down local training and events, we now have more access than ever to information and expertise from the best and most respected individuals in the fire service through online and social media platforms.
During this time, I’ve dedicated myself to seeking out new information and have accumulated a variety new ideas and tips from industry experts about exposing new car weaknesses.
The pandemic has allowed time right now to train and better ourselves and our crews.
We left off last article with multiple different options on defeating some of the more difficult scenarios we often face in relation to cutter placement, areas of greater strength and removing doors with handheld tools. This article will focus more specifically on new car technology, their ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) and how we can truly maximize some of our tool potential.
In my previous article, we analyzed some of the diagrams to identify areas and locations of ultra-high strength steel. We logically concluded that no matter what the make or model, these vehicles are continuing to get stronger and add more of this UHSS all over the vehicle, specifically in two locations: B
Photo 1: Base B post cut is made before the ram is used to push the pillar away from the transmission tunnel.
post and the upper rails along the top of the vehicle from A post to C post.
Let’s start with the B post. Not only are varying levels of UHSS being added to this location, these B posts are becoming larger, notably at the base. However, the one thing that generally hasn’t changed much are the posts remaining connected to the vehicle by multiple weld points. Therefore, when trying to perform a “B pillar rip” or “full side removal”, to get the proper tear at our b pillar base after our initial relief cut, there is a more powerful and effective alternative when trying to force UHSS (see photo 1).
Instead of reaching for our spreaders to force this post from its connection point, switch things up a little and try taking a ram and forcing the base of the B post with the opposite ram head pushing of the transmission tunnel (a piece of cribbing may be needed for support). Not only does this create a more central push on the base of our B post, but it also creates a great stress and ultimate failure on the weld points
that connect the bottom of the B post.
Next, let’s consider the upper rails. With these areas of the vehicle and posts being strengthened as well as filled with air bag cylinders and seat belt pre-tensioners, a simple option can be avoiding these areas all together.
But, how do we avoid these areas when confronted with an incident that most obviously require a roof removal or some type of displacement? Attack inside the roof rails. Create inches and the space you need. Don’t simply remove entire roofs; this will simply waste precious time for your patient. Instead, using your cutter, make dual relief cuts at the rear roof line where it meets the back windshield (see photo 2).
A couple cuts may be required to tunnel deeper into the roof line—this will depend on the amount of roof displacement needed. From here, take your spreader and ram in tandem to push the roof up and forward, creating a can opener effect (see photo 3). This can be a great option for patients in seats that can be lowered and removed
out the rear after an opening is created. By staying to the inside of the roof rails, we avoid these UHSS in the rails and our posts we would be cutting to remove a roof.
If you need a bigger or more precise opening, always remember your hand tools. A sawzall or air chisel can also be used to make a great opening at the rear roof and create a large “U” shaped opening that can be folded forward and tied off.
These areas of UHSS are the norm for us as rescuers, whether we like them or not. We need to take the time educate ourselves and train to defeat these areas. While these two locations are some of the most common for tough steel, we must also get used to seeing them in several different areas as they continue to expand. The pandemic has allowed us time right now to train and better ourselves and our crews. The online world is offering up some of the greatest knowledge base training ever, so take advantage of these great tips and ideas from some of our industry bests.
Photo 2: Seen here is a UHSS tube inserted in the upper rails of the Ford Edge, an area we may need to avoid all together.
Photo 3: Using the spreader and/or ram to push the roof up and away after initial cuts.
Front Seat
By Jason Clark
Jason Clark has been a volunteer firefighter in southwestern Ontario since 2007. Having recently made the transition to captain from firefighter, Jason has had a new perspective on roles in the fire service and riding in the front seat. jaceclark71@gmail.com or twitter @jacejclark
Discussing call performance
Watching your team jump off a truck, get to work at a hectic fire scene and bring the situation to a successful outcome is something I really enjoy as a captain. Whether it’s getting a line deployed and at the scene of a fire, forcing a door or extrication operations, team members always want the work unfold relatively smoothly.
Although a well communicated plan can have its snags, we need to be able to review our performance and look at what went well, what didn’t and what we want to change or adjust to allow for future successful operations on the fireground.
I will first begin processing how well a call went on scene as it begins slowing down. Usually, this is when the equipment is getting packed up and trucks start heading back to the hall. More often than not, your team is physically together, helping with the tasks and putting items back to a ready position for the next call.
I firmly believe that the moments right after a scene starts to slow down create some of the best learning opportunities as this allows you to run through your actions as a team and talk about what happened. It’s extremely beneficial for individual firefighters and team leaders as well.
This is especially true in the on-call world of fire fighting, where it there may be a significant amount of time before you work with those same in-
Reviewing the fire fighting response immediately following a call allows for better recall and allows for more open conversations between crew members.
dividual firefighters again. So, it would only make sense to use the time while you are all still in the team setting environment to talk it out.
I usually keep it informal —sometimes the conversation with my crew takes place on the back of the bumper of the truck when we are putting gear away or even inside the cab area of the truck on the way back to the station. But, note this conversation does not replace a post incident analysis after a significant incident takes place.
In college, I learned one of the best ways to look at the performance of a team was:
“Keep, Stop, Start”. This remains an outline I continue to stick to. It becomes self-explanatory when looking back at the team’s actions and considering what went well, what didn’t go so well and what needs to be eliminated. This is not a finger pointing session or an opportunity for passing the buck or blame around.
Instead, it’s an opportunity to become a better team while the events of the call are still fresh in your mind.
For example, we have had
Those moments right after a scene starts to slow down is one of the best times with your crew to run through your actions as a team and talk about what happened.
motor vehicle collisions that required extrication. After the patient was taken by the paramedics, I would take the opportunity to walk around the scene with the team and discuss what we encountered. This allowed me to better understand what the crew was dealing with through their perspective and gave me the opportunity to learn if there was something I could have done different to assist with the overall objective (i.e. call-
ing for more crews to assist with the task).
Fire fighting is a performance-based job and if we do not perform well, situations won’t be stabilized quickly. We do not get bonuses if we save more property or lives. At the risk of sounding pretentious, we get the satisfaction of knowing that if we did not intervene as emergency responders, things would have continued to get worse.
With the “Keep, Stop, Start” method, there may not even be anything to add to the “Stop” list but, in our line of work, there is always room for improvement and if you and your team ran a really good scene and nothing jumps out at your (like unsafe behaviours or basic skills that weren’t executed correctly), don’t go looking for something to put in that ‘Stop’ category. Take the wins when you can.
As officers, we need to be constantly monitoring our crew’s performance as well as our own. Our basic training is always our foundation of our fire fighting knowledge, but we do require ongoing maintenance and evaluation in order to keep us sharp and focused on our performance. The “Keep, Stop, Start” conversation allows the opportunity to correct mistakes that happen on the fire ground, not by making them personal, but making it about the entire team’s outlook. Most importantly, it also allows us to praise the work that our team accomplished.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
halligans is simply adding a line into their adz and two lines into their forks. These lines are referred to as gap and set lines. The initial line at 1 ¾-inch in from the tip of the forks and adz shows when you have reached the backside of the door, so you do not spend time driving into the jamb or go to shallow and skin the door.
The second line on the forks if there to show you when you have driven your forks in deep enough to ensure you have enough purchase on the back side of the door. Some bars come with these lines already in place, this is referred to as a pre-tuned halligan.
Now, all halligans can be modified to some extent: gaping the forks, squaring the shoulders, smoothing out the ramps on forks and adz, etc. The point of this article was to point out some of the differences in halligans and the changes in performance they can make. It’s important we know the tools on our rigs and their every function. I hope this small look into these details encourage you to dive deeper into understanding these and other tools we use. It is only in knowing our tool’s every capability that we can troubleshoot and problem solve to the best of our abilities. The halligan has become one of the most noticeable and reliable tools in the fire service ever since its conception in 1948 by Hugh Halligan. In the right hands, these tools will open almost any door a firefighter can encounter and shave valuable time off getting into a building for search and extinguishment.
Nathan Pocock is a career firefighter in British Columbia and a member of the technical rescue team and Canada task force one HUSAR team. He is the owner and operator of Prepare4, a fire fighting training company based in Vancouver that specializes in forcible entry and rapid intervention training as well as several other areas of the fire service. He is a husband and father of two.
The location of the bevel on the adz makes a difference. For example, a bevel on the bottom of the adz will reduce the already limited amount of contact with the door jamb.
A CALL TO ACTION
Exploring equality, diversity and inclusion as it applies to the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
By Thomas Keaney
So much is at stake when an alert is sounded: lives, property and communities are all vulnerable when facing crisis.
Across the Canadian landscape every day, men and women prepare and commit to protecting friends, families and strangers that they are dedicated to serve. Being part of the fire service is a proud vocation to have.
Presently, fire service organizations face a great call to action with regards to the pressing need to evolve our emergency service model to address Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). One of the most complex to address is that of the recommendations made by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) concerning Indigenous peoples. Ultimately, any issues that undermine cultures or devalue sectors of our communities should require us to try and create initiatives to improve our roles.
But what do we do with hurt? We have all felt the enormity of loss at some point in our lives. The gravity of the injustice for generations of Indigenous peoples has had a profound impact on the Canadian consciousness. In 2009, former governor general Michaëlle Jean asked Canadians to “embrace the luminous promise of the truth rather than push this chapter [of Canadian history] from our minds because if the present doesn’t recognize the wrongs of the past, the future takes it’s revenge.”
Particularly, when it comes to the division of both sides due to settler colonialism, it means recognition of wrong doing, understanding of our own paths to recon-
ciliation and ultimately, the ability to respond to the 94 calls to action in the TRC. We each have a role to play, precisely what that role will be is uniquely individual and this brief is intended to be a representation of a settler firefighter perspective with a desire to engage emergency service providers.
The focus of this article is threefold. First, engage partners in developing an understanding of the TRC’s desired outcomes. Secondly, increase firefighters’ awareness and education regarding the colonial history and settler presence within Indigenous culture. And, thirdly, to establish a framework to put into action the recommended calls to action and participate in a meaningful dialogue that addresses the aspirations of our Indigenous community members.
The TRC defines reconciliation as “coming to terms with events of the past in a manner that overcomes conflict and establishes a respectful and healthy relationship among people, going forward.” As public servants, we have a duty to embrace our responsibilities in the pursuit of reconciliation. We rely on strategies and tactics to guide our actions in times of crisis and should approach this in the same way. Fire does not discriminate.
Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal–Crown relations.” This will require skills- based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.
The mandate is universal. Enormous strides are needed by all to ensure we curate equality, inclusion and diversity where we live and play. As settler firefighters who have a shared desire to serve our community, we must be engaging partners who seek to understand the desire of all those we have promised to protect. To be clear, the TRC’s 94 calls to action are not intended to give Indigenous peoples an advantage over non-Indigenous peoples. In fact, the intent is to give them the same opportunities as non-Indigenous Canadians. For many non-Indigenous stakeholders, the learning curve is steep but I encourage everyone to embrace the differences and harness the shared desire to find healing and grow our communities through understanding and cooperation.
In section 57, outlining professional development and training for public servants, the TRC states: “We call upon federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments to provide education to public servants on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Much of the work of firefighters is unchanged which is good in many ways because change is often challenging. At times its uncomfortable. Sometimes, downright painful. When change agents ask us to be ‘open’ and ‘accepting’ to difficult concepts or ideologies, they are really saying, ‘trust me, the perils of the journey are worth the possible plights.” We encounter much steadfast skepticism and downright opposition to ‘change’ in the fire service. The Indigenous community are hopeful these champions of change will be moved to act, in big or small was, just so long as it’s genu-
ine. By embracing the ‘suck’ feeling of being uncomfortable with change, we become open to the evolution of our fire service. We have a lot to be proud of; traditions of valour and service, benevolence, purpose and value to our communities. The desire to increase firefighters’ awareness and education is an admirable initiative. The ability to better represent, empathize, and gain understanding of Indigenous members of the communities we serve is imperative. As settler firefighters, we must understand how the care and service we provide may be insensitive to our Indigenous community and the lands we protect has a rich importance to the Indigenous people, who are intrinsically linked to it.
Without accepting the 94 calls to action, firefighters and their respective departments may unintentionally contribute to an environment where interactions with the Indigenous community members may leave them feeling devalued. In an effort to address unconscious bias, we must acknowledge the TRC’s 94 calls to action and, through underdranding, make strides to address it. It is important to remember Indigenous beliefs about healing and wellness are both relevant and legitimate. Being mindful of the traditions and values of the Indigenous citizens we serve will go a long way to creating a desired cooperation and will certainly benefit all in times of crisis or emergency.
The recommendation for firefighters and their departments is to be proactive in gaining understanding of the desires of the Indigenous community and to partner in recognizing lands and work to address the TRC’s calls to action. Perhaps the best strategy is to assess our understanding of Indigenous culture, the significance of lands we serve, and ask what, if anything, are we doing that may be insensitive or make Indigenous community members feel marginalized.
Create a short assessment of your understanding of Indigenous communities. Start by identifying what peoples are connected to your community. What significant landmarks, events or settlements are part of your community’s Indigenous history? Honour and acknowledge these legacies. Engage the Indigenous community by rec-
ognizing that many no longer inhabit their native soil due to long standing colonialization. Consider another obstacle facing many First Nations: 82 per cent of on-reserve First Nations adults and 76 per cent of First Nations youth perceived alcohol and drug abuse to be the main challenge currently facing their community.
It is vital to recognize that while dedications and recognitions of Indigenous lands is a good thing, it is also a solemn acknowledgement and requires respectful attendance. When in doubt, connect with your Indigenous community members and they will lead you through the experience. Be a mindful witness and respectful participant. This will go a long way to advance the initiatives needed for reconciliation that “overcomes conflict and establishes a respectful and healthy relationship among people.”
My path to reconciliation has been influenced by living in a community with an undeniable Indigenous culture and history, a rare remaining Residential school (which is now the Woodland Cultural Centre), the
resilience. I respect their passion to rightthe-wrongs and their courage to invite others to participate in healing-the-hurt. The commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion need not be repentance for the sins of our forefathers. I don’t believe that is what is being asked, but rather to participate in acknowledging wrongs and rebuilding trust among all peoples. Ultimately, I gain an understanding that affects all the people I am fortunate to serve. I am not an expert on all thing pertaining to equality, diversity and inclusion or TRC but I am an active participant. I have accepted the challenge facing our industry and desire to have a positive influence over it. I encourage you to do the same.
References and Resources
• Truth and Reconciliation website: http://www.trc.ca
• National Household Survey, 2011 (Statistics Canada)
• 2008/10 Ontario Regional Health Survey
• Save The Evidence: https://woodlandculturalcentre. ca/save-the-evidence/
“In an effort to address unconscious bias, we must acknowledge the TRC’s 94 calls to action.”
Mohawk Institute and a neighbour to the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) or “people of the longhouse”. Initially, Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, and Seneca formed the Haudenosanee Confederation, more commonly known as Six Nations, with the Tuscarora joining after. This has a powerful influence over my view of the Indigenous people living the reconciliation reality. I have attended ‘Save the Evidence’ events, met survivors of the Residential schools, heard lectures on the complexity of Indigenous issues and seen the struggles up close. As a member of the Burlington fire department in Ontario, I am aware of the legacy of the Indigenous inhabitants of yesterday and today. Through it all, I have discovered I love the Indigenous people for their art, culture and traditions, but also for their humour and
Captain Thomas Keaney of the Burlington Fire Department in Ontario is a founding member of the City of Burlington’s Diversity and Inclusivity Team. He has worked to promote the benefits that a supportive, diverse and inclusive environment can bring within the fire service and the community. Keaney has been active as a department lead for MTO Driver Training, Pump Operations and EMR, as well as creating a departmental awareness program for the introduction of Mid-Rise All Wood and Mass Timber construction within his community throughout his 18 years. Outside of his role with the BFD, he is a member of the NFPA Standard Review Committee 1410 and 13E, Special Olympics and Camp Oochigeas and supporter of the FSWO. Keaney can be reached at thomas.keaney@burlington.ca.
Between Alarms
By Arjuna George
Embracing the new norm
The fire service is a creature of habit, forged by deep history, and is known to resist change at all cost. Now, we are witnessing an evolution of the service, as it is forced to evolve at unprecedented speeds right around the world. As the fire service navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves operating in unchartered dynamic environments and what many are now calling the “new norm”.
Communicating the mission has never been more important than it is now, as we battle an enemy that no one knows. During a crisis like COVID-19, communicating relentlessly within your organization is critical to success. In the first few weeks of the pandemic, we found ourselves drowning in news updates, along with flurries of policy changes, and a total revamp of our first responder medical protocols. This was all on top of the incredible stress the pandemic was already putting on society. Communication in high stress and uncertain times requires timely, frequent, honest, and focused interactions. Silence creates fear and anxiety, where open dialogue with full transparency builds trust and eliminates panic of the unknown. As civil leaders, it is equally important to deliver messages of hope and optimism, both internally and in our communities.
Emergency services across the country have had to adapt at lightening speeds to the pandemic response. Many are
using online training, virtual meetings and small group physical distancing drills and calls. The online video conference platforms have become our go-to tool for connecting with crews and spreading critical pandemic response updates. Many of us were not accustomed to meeting virtually and began missing the human component. We lost human touch and direct firefighter-to-firefighter experience. Although it was not what we are comfortable with, it did provide the opportunity to see each other, at least virtually, and provided the avenue to continue training.
These technological tools are fast becoming our new norm and may even overtake face-toface meetings in the future. The comfort level for some is a challenge but firefighters always overcome and adapt. Do not fight the new norm. Embrace it and utilize all it offers.
During these extraordinary times, we must pay extra attention to our mental health. As we navigate through the pandemic, we must stay the course, express gratitude and promote optimism. The responsibility rests with each and everyone of us. Our brothers, sisters, and the citizens depends on our strength and hopeful views.
COVID-19 has forced the fire service to be innovative in how we conduct business. Many Canadian fire departments revamped how they operate and found creative solutions to continue community enagagementwhile providing important services. To adapt we had to turn to other forms of deliv-
The online video conference platforms have become our go-to tool for connecting with the crews and spreading the critical pandemic response updates.
ering our services. Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue in British Columbia was remarkably successful in breaking new ground and delivering public outreach via live video conferencing or taped video. We were able to reach much larger audiences than normal and produce material that we can use again in the future. It not only built confidence in our presenters, but opened a whole new audience to our important fire and life safety messaging.
More innovation and creative opportunities arose across the country while cities and towns were under self isolation for weeks. The now famous drive-by birthdays provided our citizens, who where not able to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries with their loved ones, an opportunity to share their special day and have a moment of joy. Not only was it great for our community, but it proved to be just as important
for our firefighters. For the firefighters to be able to do what they do (help people), it also proved critical to their own well-being. While our call volume went down, our sense of community spirit went up. Our team was able to help celebrate an historic milestone for one senior in our community for his 100th birthday, which turned out to be extremely rewarding for our firefighters.
As we keep hearing how we will deal with the “new norm”, we must take the opportunity to help change our culture and open ourselves up to new ways of doing things. Many silver linings have been revealed over these past months, so it’s imperative we not waste the opportunity to improve. The new norm opens so many new doors for effective communications using video and online video conferencing as a part of our operations and life. I believe we will be extra vigilant moving forward with our own personal health and hygiene, which, in turn, will help protect our organizations from illness. We will also learn invaluable lessons from COVID-19 that will help us improve our response models and management of large-scale events.
As we continue to be response ready between alarms, make use of the time to connect with your crews and your community while brewing positivity around you. Make the “new norm” the best norm and further improve our service to all. Be extra kind to one another. Take care of your health and your family. We are all in this together.
Arjuna George is chief of Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue in B.C. He has served on the department since 1997. Contact Arjuna at ageorge@ saltspringfire.com
FIRE PREVENTION WEEK 2020 ITEMS NOW ONLINE
This year’s FPW campaign, “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen!™” works to educate everyone about the simple but important actions they can take to keep themselves, and those around them, safe in the kitchen.
Firehall Bookstore has everything you need to educate your community- from ready-to-use FPW kits and safety tips sheets to printable activities, logos, and more. Items will be available and shipped starting in July.
SWIFT RESCUE
A
case study about the importance of interagency training
By Reid Doyle, Dave Robb and Jeff Johnston
Few first responders would dispute the importance of interagency training. Agencies are incapable of working in silos. Even a routine structure fire requires the support of police, emergency medical services and utility companies, just to name a few resources. Despite the need for interagency cooperation, preparing for it is easier said than done. It can be challenging to find time and money to train our own staff, without the additional resources required to coordinate with community partners, especially when its benefits may not be realized until some point in the distant future. Still, departments rightly persevere to train together. In Ontario on Jan. 12, London Fire’s water rescue team and London police’s marine unit saw firsthand the value of interagency training while undertaking one of the most challenging rescues of their careers.
PREPARATION IS SUCCESS
London fire department’s special teams rely on individual team leaders to oversee training and operations. On Jan. 12, C Platoon’s water team leader, Captain Johnston was carefully watching the Thames River. High temperatures and recent heavy rainfall created significant flooding and swift water conditions. Johnston had scheduled a joint
training exercise with the marine unit but the extra rainfall had sped up the river, making training dangerous. He weighed the risks and benefits of proceeding and decided the opportunity to work with allied agencies was too valuable to pass up. Besides, he reasoned, many of the risks could be mitigated with additional safety precautions. He then consulted his police counterparts: training was a go.
Police and fire water rescue teams met at a community boat launch and discussed their objectives. For the next two hours, responders reviewed equipment and practiced swift water ferrying and maneuvering around shoreline obstacles. Flowing at almost twice its usual speed, the river was moving at an estimated 500 metres cubed/second, creating a current of 8 km/h, compounded with the water’s frigid temperature. At less than 3°C, anyone caught in these icy waters without survival gear would have about 10 minutes of movement before succumbing to debilitating hypothermia.
When the training session ended, members of the police and fire teams pulled their respective zodiacs from the river and discussed lessons learned. They been able to practice their technical rescue skills but had also gotten to know one another. As any first responder knows, there is an inherent barrier to working with strangers in emergency situations. In these instances, responders must spend valuable time and energy sizing up their ad hoc team; efforts that would be better served focusing on the task. The teams didn’t know it yet, but in about two hours, they would be called to the same boat launch for a real rescue. But, this time, they would return as teammates instead
of strangers.
THE RESCUE
At about 2:50 p.m., 911 dispatchers received reports of two kayakers struggling in the river. Fire and police teams were dispatched at 2:52 p.m. With the water moving fast, the responders knew it would be a challenge to even find the kayakers. The zodiac units raced back to the launch while other engine companies and police officers scouted bridges looking for any signs of the kayakers or witnesses who could help narrow their search.
Members of London Fire’s marine 3 unit were the first to arrive at the boat launch and began preparing their rescue craft. Soon, they were joined by the police marine unit and their larger zodiac. With the benefit of the day’s training, the teams knew that using the more powerful vessel would give them their best chance for rescue. Together they moved the fire zodiac out of the way and launched the police boat with a composite crew from both agencies.
Meanwhile, London Fire’s marine 2 unit travelled downstream past where they suspected the kayakers might be located. This would allow responders to start simultaneous approaches upstream and downstream, increasing their chance of finding the lost kayakers. The responders found a washed-out road to serve as a makeshift launch site. They drove as close to the water’s edge as possible and hand bombed their zodiac the rest of the way.
Cloudy and windy weather hampered visibility. Debris clogged the river; fallen trees and discarded furniture had clustered into artificial islands. At one point, the upstream rescue team had to navigate through a decommissioned dam al-
It can be challenging to find time and money to train our own staff, without the additional resources required to coordinate with community partners, especially when its benefits may not be realized until some point in the distant future.
most totally blocked by debris. With great care, the police zodiac pilot navigated past the dam by shooting the craft through a small opening of turbulent rapids.
On the other side of the dam, the team saw an officer onshore pointing to a pile near the river’s edge. As they moved closer, they found one of the missing kayakers sitting on top of an entanglement of sticks and logs. This floating island had provided some refuge for the kayaker but now prevented the zodiac from getting close enough for rescue. The responders knew that time was of the essence. The kayaker was showing signs of severe hypothermia; barely able to speak or move. Without hesitation, two firefighters and one police officer entered the water. To reach the patient, they had to swim, then crawl across the debris field. They secured a sling around the kayaker and moved him into the water. The responders still aboard the craft quickly pulled in the rescuer’s tender line, bringing the team and patient back to the zodiac. Once at the boat, the composite crew removed the kayaker from the water and assessed their patient a mere 24 minutes since being dispatched.
The downstream team faced similar conditions, made more challenging travelling against the current. A break in the
water’s surface allowed for the crew to identify the second kayaker. His nose and mouth had been kept above the water by his life jacket, but he appeared to be unconscious. The zodiac pilot maneuvered against the swift current bringing the boat alongside the patient. The crew then lowered one responder over the boat’s edge, holding his legs as he reached for the floating kayaker. Within seconds, the responder grabbed hold of the kayaker and the crew successfully pulled them aboard. The team then started applying their hypothermia kit to the patient as they sped towards the shore.
Onshore, the incident commander was coordinating with EMS so, as the teams returned to shore, paramedics were waiting and the patient’s were transferred without incident. Less than 40 minutes since the initial dispatch, both kayakers had been removed from the river and were en route to more advanced medical care.
Of course, the story does not end with the transfer to EMS. The kayaker’s were both admitted to the hospital in critical condition. Both have since recovered.
TAKAWAY
As departments face increasing budgetary pressures, it can be hard to obtain appro-
priate training resources. Working with outside agencies to develop realistic training is additionally difficult, and sometimes, we miss the mark. However, when done well, training pays off in spades. It prepares our minds and bodies and makes our teams faster, more confident and safer. As famously observed by the Greek poet Archilochus: “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training.”
The success of London’s water rescue teams on Jan. 12 was the product of hard work and preparation—and a little luck. Had the teams not met that morning, it’s unlikely they would have readily launched a composite crew or had the communication system in place needed to effectively coordinate rescue efforts between police, fire and EMS. It’s also important to acknowledge that session was a continuation of years of work, which can easily go unnoticed. All said and done, the water teams’ actions on Jan. 12 was an unqualified success. As we continue to face training challenges, some at the organizational level and others at a personal level, our water team will use this event as reminder about the importance of preparation and we hope that, by sharing this story, it can do the same for others.
A picture of London’s fire and police rescue teams taken during the morning’s training event. (Left to right) T. Groves, C. Dolphin, S. Millson, N. Mandigo, D. Janzen, J. Johnston, R. Brown (LPD), R. Zavitz (LPD), M. Hopkins (LPD), D. Fiegehen, M. Elrafih, D. Boric, C. Waack, A. Waack. Not pictured: C. Moir, J. Metcalfe, D. Brown.
Command of the chain
Wto reflect on health and wellness. Buy-in is a necessary step for change and nothing is a more powerful catalyst than emotion, which has certainly been elevated lately. In seeing the impact of this terrible virus the power and value of health cannot be overstated. The reality is that many life style related conditions have been brought to the forefront due to their comorbidity. Elements of lifestyle are all interwoven and ultimately create a chain. Like all chains, each link relies on the others for strength and support. We are all familiar with the term “chain of command” but please consider taking “command of the chain.”
My personal outlook and coaching style for lifestyle is simply balance not extremes. Our lifestyle is “how we choose to live our lives” and something that we can manage. Lifestyle can be managed clinically, but on a much simpler practical level day to day. Like any good form of management, this needs to deal with reality, like it or not, and have the ability to adjust based on facts and consequences. If a business ignores they are losing money, it doesn’t make it any less true, and if nothing is done about it, the outcome is obvious. One indisputable truth is that the elements of lifestyle are all connected and when one is out of sorts it has an impact on the others. All the links in our health chain have a negative or positive impact on ALL the others. In addition, if the links are mistreated over time the chain forms rust and manifests as our ailments and conditions.
Fundamental parts of the health chain include exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress management, disease prevention, body composition and so on. Let’s say, for instance, our sleep is poor. Inadequate sleep inherently affects stress and when our
calories prevents obesity, which is one of the lifestyle conditions that has been found to have a comorbidity with COVID-19.
stress rises we often eat poorly. When we choose ineffective fuel, it is common to lose drive for exercise, which over time would change body composition. You can see how they can all be connected. We could start with any of the links and work our way through in any order. Impacting the other elements of the chain in isolation is one thing, but when the whole chain rusts or weakens, that is when the health consequences are seen. Rust comes in many forms, including hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, cancers and more. All things that affect a firefighter’s health, a civilian’s health and all of our immunity.
Obesity can be a contributor to the majority of conditions that exist. This is for numerous reasons, including that much our fat may be visceral. Visceral fat is amongst our organs and in many ways is more insidious then the subcutaneous
Type 2 diabetes is based on our bodies ability to process insulin and this often surrounds the pancreas. Preventing diabetes is all about the chain. Being active, sleeping well, keeping a healthy weight, and eating nutritious foods all have a direct bearing on our prevention of this disorder. They also all play a role in a healthier lifestyle after such a diagnosis. When it comes to cancer, we have enough risk factors from the carcinogens preying on us each day at work. Please don’t allow lifestyle to add to that risk.
Whether your motivator is longevity or retirement, immunity or performance, look at the links on the chain and consider how strong each of yours are. It is easy to get our back up about lifestyle or accuse someone who speaks of the consequences of lifestyle as preaching. Preaching is advice based on morality. The connection between the elements of the chain and the consequences of ignoring them are simply a matter of fact and well documented science. We don’t want too much rust on a tool that is on the trucks. So, keep it off the links that make up your personal health and your future.
Recipe rescue
By Patrick Mathieu
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
From the quarantine kitchen
In these strange and unprecedented times of isolation and social distancing, it’s easy to see why people turn to their kitchen as a place of comfort. You can see creations from quarantine kitchens for yourself all over social media. The extra time on our hands at home has proven to be a perfect opportunity to learn some new recipes, try your hand at baking, create something new and fun for the kids to cook, or treat your pantry and refrigerator like an episode of Chopped Canada! Throughout my fire fighting career, I’ve always found great peace and reward in the kitchen, whether in the firehouse or at home. Cooking, especially with my wife and family as well as my fire fighting brothers and sisters, has always brought me great joy. Seeing the smiles and reactions during mealtime often brings me as much pleasure as cooking and eating the food itself. During this pandemic, any opportunity to find something positive needs to be embraced. For me, it’s seeing families slowing down life and cooking together, with their
“The extra time on our hands at home has proven a perfect opportunity to learn some new recipes.”
kids, stepping out of their cooking comfort zone to create something fun and different or emptying the pantry into something that may never be made quite the same again. This brings a smile to my face and I sincerely hope this is the new normal long after life returns to normal. Here are a few of my quarantine kitchen favorites to try. Now more than ever friends, eat well and stay safe!
Let’s Bake Bread
Dabbling in the baking world doesn’t get any better or easier than this! The reward versus effort is extremely high in this loaf recipe that requires no kneading at all. The result is a golden crunchy exterior and a super soft centre that looks like you picked it up from your favorite bakery. I like to make the dough and allow it to sit overnight, and then cook it first thing in the morning. Who doesn’t want to wake up to the smell of fresh baked bread?
Recipe Mash-Ups
Sometimes you just cannot decide on what comfort food you want to make. Can’t decide on nachos or
Three Ingredient No Knead Bread
INGREDIENTS:
3 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
METHOD:
1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups warm water and stir until blended. The dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours but preferably about 18, at warm room temperature overnight.
2. Pre-heat oven to 450 F. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (stewpot, cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. I use a cast iron pot.
3. Lightly flour a work surface and roll dough on to it. Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice.
4. Place dough on a piece of parchment paper and place inside the pot in the oven. Cover with a lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack and enjoy!
chicken wings? Easy, make my chicken wing nachos! Cheeseburgers or pizza? No worries, try my Big Mac pizza. Recipe mash-ups are a great way to create something new and super fun that will get the kids involved. Some of my most memorable recipes have been created this way. Just have fun with it and remember no combination is out of bounds!
What’s in Your Pantry?
When my wife and I returned from Florida during March break we were in a mandatory 14-day isolation. No stepping out of the house for anything and we took this seriously. Luckily, we had a wellstocked pantry, freezer and cold cellar. It became a daily challenge to see what we could find and create. One of my favorites was an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink banana bread. Reaching deep in the back corners of the pantry I would find things like toasted coconut, dried fruit, different kinds of flour and remnants of chocolate chip bags from recipes past. These long-forgotten ingredients needed to be put to use, so I tried them all together in a most versatile carrier — banana bread! What started out as an experiment turned into something I will recreate repeatedly.
Big Mac Pizza
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup ketchup
¼ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
1 lb lean ground beef
Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
1 pre-baked thin pizza crust
1 cup shredded old cheddar
METHOD:
1 cup shredded mozzarella
½ cup diced dill pickles
½ cup diced sweet onions
1 cup shredded lettuce
Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Chicken Wing Nachos
INGREDIENTS:
4 pounds of chicken wings, separated and wing tips discarded
2 eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
1 cup flour
2 cups ground Doritos or tortilla chips
FOR THE TOPPINGS:
1 teaspoon cumin
2 teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ cup melted butter
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese
Pickled jalapenos, fresh pico de gallo or diced tomatoes, fresh or store bought guacamole, sour cream
Everything but the Kitchen Sink Banana Bread
INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup almond flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup old fashioned oats
½ cup dried cranberries
½ cup walnuts
½ cup chocolate chips
½ cup toasted coconut
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
2 eggs, beaten
1/3 cup olive oil
½ cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 425 F. Place a pizza stone in the oven if you have one. In a small bowl mix together ketchup, mayo and mustard to make sauce. Set aside. In a large skillet, sauté ground beef, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon and continue to cook until meat is no longer pink, about five to seven minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spread a thin layer of sauce on the pizza crust. Sprinkle half of the cheddar cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese on top of the sauce. Spoon the ground beef mixture onto the pizza crust and top with the remaining cheese. Place on the baking stone, directly on oven rack, or on a baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and crust is crisp around the edges. Top with dill pickles, onion, shredded lettuce and sesame seeds. Drizzle with more sauce and serve. Enjoy!
METHOD:
Preheat the oven to 450 F. Set up three bowls for a breading station, the flour in one, the crushed tortilla chips in another and the eggs in the third. Combine the cumin, salt and pepper in a small dish and then use it to season the wings on both sides. Dip each wing in the flour first, then the eggs and then finally the ground tortilla chips. Place onto a baking sheet brushed with melted butter and repeat with the remaining wings. Drizzle the wings with the remaining butter and put them in the oven for 40 minutes until browned and crispy. Remove the wings from the oven and cover each wing with some of the grated cheese, then place back in the oven for another 5 minutes to melt the cheese. Top the wings with the guacamole, salsa and pickled jalapenos and serve. Enjoy!
METHOD:
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredients together: flour, almond flour, sugar, baking soda and kosher salt. Toss in the additions to the dry mixture: oats, raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips and coconut. In another bowl, stir together the wet ingredients: mashed bananas, eggs, olive oil, buttermilk, vanilla extract. Add the combined wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir until just combined. Bake for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the banana bread comes out clean. Check for doneness at the 45-minute mark to gauge additional time needed. Cool on a wire rack for a few minutes and enjoy!
The extra time on our hands at home has proven a perfect opportunity to learn some new recipes, try your hand at baking, create something new and fun for the kids to cook or treat your pantry and refrigerator like an episode of Chopped Canada!
Fit for duty
By Sherry Dean
Sherry Dean is a career firefighter/engineer with Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency Service. She has more than 20 years of experience in fitness and training. deansherry@bellaliant.net
Working out without equipment
Ne arly every aspect of our lives has been impacted by COVID-19. Workouts are no different. With facilities closed and equipment restrictions in stations, we were left with few options to maintain fitness and health. The impact of a second wave of this pandemic is a real consideration for each of us. Having a plan to keep fit will reduce the mounting stress of adapting to the restrictions.
If you have a decent home gym, you’re able to continue your usual regime, requiring little change. Those left with little or no equipment, working out may be more difficult. There are alternatives that also work well to keep you fit.
While the weather is good, getting outside to exercise is a great alternative which allows for social distancing when working out at the station. Pulling the truck out of the bay and moving some equipment while keeping the doors open allows firefighters to add some short distance running to a workout. Running/jogging is always a good option. Mix some cardio into any of your workout routines with short sprints of 400 meters.
The following is a great workout to ward off the “COVID 19” term referring to the weight gain related to not working out during a pandemic. Use the things you have at home to upgrade body weight workouts. Imagination is your best asset. Do something. Don’t avoid it. Stay healthy and fit.
Body Weight (Plus) –5 stations
Optional Equipment
• Sand bag wrapped in duct tape placed inside a backpack
• 2 Large laundry detergent bottles (filled with water)
• Large juice can or water bottle
• Use station equipment like hose, saws etc. if working out in the station
The workout will take about 50
laundry detergent bottles: a strict press or push press depending on weight. Just move the weight from your shoulder height to a full press overhead.
B. Jumping split squats (unweighted): Jump from lunge position on the right leg to a lunge position on the left. Repeat.
C. Reverse lunges with laundry detergent or sandbag backpack: Alternate right/left as you step back. Knee should
Having a plan to keep fit will help reduce the mounting stress of adapting to the restrictions.
minutes. Do a five-minute warm up (jog, jumping jacks, inch worms and shoulder/arm circles). Do three rounds at each station before moving to the next. Each exercise is done for 30 seconds with a 15 second rest used to move to next exercise. There is a one minute rest between stations which can be used to disinfect if required.
Station 1
A. Stairs (sand bag in backpack): Go up and down as many times as possible. If you don’t have a set of stairs, step up and downon a stool.
B. Russian twist with juice can/ water bottle.
C. Stairs (same as A)
D. Russian twist (same as B)
Station 2
A. Shoulder to overhead using
lightly touch the ground or just above before stepping forward.
D. V-ups (supine position start): Lift your head and feet at the same time, reach your arms to touch your feet in a V position and return to supine position.
Station 3
A. Burpees.
B. Shuttle run: 20 metres each way
C. Over shoulder throw (sandbag backpack): Toss it over your shoulder alternating right and left side.
D. Plank: Adapt based on fitness level. Straight arm, single arm, elevated leg or decline are all good options.
Station 4
A. Push-ups.
B. Squats with sandbag pack.
C. Kettle bell swing using laundry bottle: Swing the bottle between your knees to just above shoulders. Use hip thrust (not shoulders) to propel the weight. The bottle should be weightless at shoulder height.
D. Butterfly sit-ups: Put the bottom of feet together, knees out to the side. Start in a supine position, sit-up and touch the ground in front of your toes.
Station 5
A. Jump-ups (unweighted): Jump up two or three stairs, on to a sturdy bench/stool or simply tuck jump (jumping squat with knees coming high as possible). Keep light on your feet while landing.
B. Mountain climbers: Start in plank position with arms fully extended. Bring the knees alternately into the chest. You can also take the knee wide to the side and to the elbow.
C. Skater jumps(unweighted): Jump from side to side in a skating motion. Opposite leg should go behind jumping leg on landing. Jumps can be either in quick succession or moderately wide and high. Land lightly and use power to move from side to side.
D. Single leg deadlift using laundry bottle: With the bottle in one hand, balance on one leg and lift the other as you bend your trunk forward. Your body to toe should maintain a straight line . Your hip shouldn’t twist open to the lifted leg side. Keep your body square to the front. Alternate sides.
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• NFPA Fire Officer I
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• Fire Instructor I, II, & III
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Back to basics
By Mark van der Feyst
Mark van der Feyst has been in the fire service since 1999 and is a full-time firefighter in Ontario. He teaches in Canada, the United States and India and is lead author of Residential Fire Rescue. Mark@FireStarTraining.com
Firefighter survival: Part 2
If they are able to read the couplings correctly, the hose line aids a lost firefighter in finding their way out. As mentioned in my last article, couplings indicate the way out to safety or the way in towards the fire. But, what if there is no hose line available to read? How can a firefighter find their way out?
We first looked at the residential structure perspective for firefighter survival as this is where most structure fires occur and where firefighters find themselves in trouble. However, the fire service also responds to structure fires in other types of buildings such as the big box stores, industrial buildings, factories, office buildings, conference centers and other large open area types of buildings. Within these types of buildings, firefighters face the same dangers as in a residential structure but on a larger scale and in an open-concept space. There are different features found inside larger buildings that a firefighter can use to help themselves get out.
In photo 1, we are going to see the basic use of expansion joints. In any commercial or industrial type of building, concrete is used to produce the floor. The concrete can be kept rough or it can have a shine to it to make it aesthetically pleasing. Regardless of the finish of the concrete, it has the same common feature: expansion joints. These joints are cut into the concrete during or after it’s been poured and cured so the concrete can expand and contract during warm and cold temperatures and reduce the amount of stress placed upon the concrete. What makes the expansion joint a useful tool for firefighter survival is they run in straight lines from one slab to the other.
The next time you are inside a
Understanding various building features during non-emergent conditions will help train your mind to recognize them when a situation arises.
Number of fire-related deaths in non-residential Ontario structure fires in 2018, cites Statistics Canada.
large box store, take a look on the floor as you walk around and you will see that the expansion joints run in two different directions, at 90° angles. This means no matter expansion joint line you choose to follow, it will eventually lead to an outside wall.
Along the way, you may encounter other obstructions like shelving
that may prevent you from feeling the expansion joint underneath the obstruction but it continues in the same direction going straight to an outside wall.
Even with structural fire gloves on, a firefighter can easily feel the expansion joint and can follow it. The same methodology taught for following a hose line needs to be followed when tracing an expansion joint: once you have a hold of it, do not let go of it. Just like with following a wall, keep one part of your body (in this case, your hand) on that expansion joint. Losing the connection with the expansion joint can cause disorientation and, once a joint is found again, it may lead the firefighter in a new direction.
Another component of the expansion joint is the steel column or I-Beams. In photo 2, you will see an example of a steel column found in large box buildings. In some other large box buildings, an I-Beam may be found instead of a solid column. Regardless of the type of steel member, all align with expansion joints and run to outside walls.
The steel columns are used for structural support for the building and are secured to concrete footings. Concrete is poured around the footings, joining them to the floor.
The concrete footings will be in a square shape and will be sized based upon the steel member being used. The square concrete footing may be orientated squarely with the steel member or turned slightly to look like a diamond in contrast to the steel member. No matter how the footing is positioned, it will be joined with the concrete floor with four expansion joints running away from the steel member.
Once a firefighter locates a steel member, they can feel for the expansion joints and pick one to begin following to find an outside wall. If a steel I-Beam is used for the structural supports, the face of the I-Beam will
Photo 2: Steel column found in large box buildings align with expansion joints and run to outside walls.
Photo 1: Basic use of expansion joints can allow a firefighter to follow the lines to a wall.
lead to the outside wall. Steel structural members run in straight lines spaced out in set measurements as designed by the engineers. These straight lines run from outside wall to outside wall. Whenever I-Beams are used, they are set to face in the same direction, which allows a firefighter to feel the smooth side or the face of the I-Beam, recognizing it faces the outside wall.
In photo 3 you’ll see how a ceiling grid can also be used to lead a firefighter to a wall. The grid lines of the drop ceiling run in straight lines from wall to wall and, if the conditions allow, a firefighter can look up to see the grid leading towards a wall within the building. It may be an outside wall or an interior wall but, regardless, will al-
low the firefighter to follow.
In photo 4, we have a similar situation but without a drop ceiling. If the conditions are viable to see up and the bar joists are visible, the firefighter can also follow those to an outside wall. It does not matter what direction is taken because the structural steel supports, where the bar joists rest on, will always lead to an outside wall.
Becoming familiar with different building systems that are found in large box stores or buildings will help firefighters with orientating themselves and allow them to find an exit should they get lost. Understanding various building features during non-emergent conditions will help train your mind to recognize them when a situation arises.
Photo 3: Ceiling grids can be used to lead a firefighter to a wall.
Photo 4: Ceilings where bar joists are visible can lead a firefighter to a wall.
Dispatches
By Jennifer Grigg
Welcoming newcomers
My family recently relocated to a new home in Marathon, Ont., where my husband accepted a position as their new fire chief. It was a move that required four pickup trucks and three trailers to make a 975 km relocation from our previous home. Before you ask why we didn’t rent a truck, we did. The problem was that it started out as a 26-foot and was continuously downsized by the rental company until we ended up with a 10-foot truck as the only available option – but that’s another story.
The day I’m writing this marks our first week here together (my husband had been here for a month while I stayed back to deal with the sale of our house) and, to be honest, I’ve handled this transition with far less grace than I would’ve liked.
I joked that it was the “Canadian version of Survivor” where you’re uprooted and dropped into a freezing northern town, knowing no one, and without internet or cable during a pandemic. And, just for added fun, your puppy barks nonstop as he adapts to his new environment.
As much as I can laugh about it now, I definitely wasn’t laughing initially. I was struggling. I found it hard to let go of the life we had and embrace the life we’re now in. I missed my family, my friends, familiar surroundings and established routines. My husband had his new colleagues but I felt quite alone without my friends or family here.
However, awareness is every-
thing. Having the ability to recognize when you’re not in a good place is the first and possibly most important step in climbing out of it. Realizing that my current perspective wasn’t serving me and knowing the dangers of isolation, as someone who suffered from depression in the past, I knew enough to know I had to act.
So, I turned to the one tool that’s kept us all connected while physical distancing: social media. I reached out on the Marathon community Facebook page and posted that I was new in town and curious to know what people loved about living here. The response I received was simply amazing. I received tons of comments welcoming me to the town, residents happily sharing examples of the abundance of natural beauty and outdoor adventures to go on and offers of assistance if we needed anything. It warmed my heart. I’ve never felt so supported or accepted by a community of strangers.
This got me thinking. I hope it’s the same way in your fire department. Whether it’s full-time, composite or volunteer, the way you welcome new members (regardless of rank) says a lot about you and the culture of the organization.
Some people find it easy to fit into and welcome others into a new environment, which is awesome. You make the world a brighter place. However, for others, it’s harder for them to find their bearings in a new environment and, on occasion, being a part of a tightly knit group that they’re reluctant to let outsiders in. I encourage you to work on creat-
Jennifer Grigg has been a dispatcher, volunteer firefighter, FPO inspector and instructor. She is now a resilience and empowerment coach and certified body language trainer. Contact Jennifer at jennygrigg312@gmail.com or jennifergriggcoaching.com.
ing an environment and culture that fosters open and easy communication. If you already have gaps in the transfer of information among members, think of the impact that will also have on new staff coming in.
Reach out to new members outside of the workplace and encourage involvement in community activities, especially if they’re new to the area as well as the department. As I learned in reaching out to my new community, connection and communication brings the outsider in. The sooner you connect with new members in an engaging and authentic way, the faster trust starts to build and trust is vital to success in a profession where lives are often put on the line.
INCLUSION TOOLS:
• Well curated onboarding processes will assist with the transition, giving new members a clear set of expectations.
• Provide a list of resources, staff contact information and have computer/program passwords set up before their arrival
• Shoulder flashes, uniform apparel, boots, gloves and gear (most need to be measured to fit properly but these details could be secured in advance of their start date).
• Department T-shirts, caps, toques, jackets (less of a necessity but goes a long way to making new members feel part of the team)
• Introductions in person or via email to the rest of the staff members
I encourage you to work on creating an environment and culture that fosters open and easy communication.
