We had planned this issue on building safe training facilities long before college student Adam Brunt died during ice-water rescue training in February in Hanover, Ont.
Just before we went to print in late September, the Hanover Police issued notice that no criminal charges would be laid against the owner of the private, third-party training company that ran the exercise.
The Ministry of Labour, however, continues its own investigation and has another four months to determine whether it will charge the owner/trainer under the Occupational Health and Safety Act – perhaps a bit of a conundrum given that there was no employer/employee relationship between the instructor and the student.
Regardless, the fatality –Brunt was the second student to die in a training exercise with this particular provider – renewed discussion and debate about possibly regulating third-party trainers, NFPA certification and, particularly in Ontario where firefighter candidate testing is being standardized, the need for students to pad their resumes with these extra courses when the departments re-train them using their methods and best practices anyway.
There’s not enough room here for thorough debate. Certainly, there are excellent trainers – many hired by fire
departments – that provide qualified instructors and quality programs. But two students have died, so clearly something needs to be fixed.
Adam’s father, Al Brunt, is determined to make a difference – lobby politicians, change legislation, whatever is necessary to ensure that training becomes safer.
And in that he is not unlike Miles Boulter, the subject of our cover story on page 16.
There is not a firefighter on
Adam’s father, Al Brunt, is determined to make a difference – lobby politicians, change legislation, whatever is necessary . . .
Prince Edward Island who doesn’t know Miles Boulter. Boulter runs the PEI Firefighters School. He built the desks in the classroom. There’s a full-size model of Boulter’s house inside the training building, used for teaching search and rescue.
Boulter built it. And they came. He made a difference.
There’s a similar facility in Comox, B.C., where Chief Gord Shreiner is the man with the plan to ensure his firefighters and those from surrounding departments experience top-notch training, often.
In Thunder Bay, where I participated in a Drager Live Fire Training Tour event in early September, 68 firefight-
ers experienced live fire during FireCon, northern Ontario’s annual training weekend; it was the largest live-fire training event Drager had done to date at the Thunder Bay Fire Rescue training ground – 34 departments!
Drager runs the annual training weekend in Peace River too; and it has grown with Drager’s help and the passion for training exuded by Chief Lance Bushie and High Level Chief Rodney Schmidt.
Back in the Maritimes, the Nova Scotia Firefighters School has just undergone an extensive facelift – its new training building and props are second to none.
At FireCon, I was impressed when the trainers offered again and again to show me, again and again, transitional attack (SLICE-RS), until I had it down pat.
And I was impressed by how safely the entire two days of training were run – as an incident with ICs, accountability, cold zones, warm zones and hot zones, and strict protocols.
Training weekends and programs happen everywhere, all the time. Every weekend, my Twitter feed is full of tweets and pictures from events at which volunteers volunteer their time and expertise to make sure everyone goes home – every time.
Let’s make sure they do.
October 2015 Vol. 38, No. 4 firehall.com
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Calgary Fire wins hockey gold
Calgary firefighters have claimed a spot in hockey history. The Calgary Fire Department hockey team took first in this year’s World Police and Fire Games held in Fairfax, Va., in June and July. The team was victorious in the gold-medal match against a team of Moscow police on July 1 – Canada Day – with a final score of 5-4.
Firefighter Colin Senkow, co-organizer along with Brad Olsen, called the win a relief after six years of training for the gold medal. —
MARIA CHURCH
Mississauga Fire earns extrication title
A Canadian department is once again the champion of the North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge. Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services extrication team won first overall at the competition held in Long Island, N.Y., Sept. 8-12. Oakville Fire Extrication Team was the defending champion and took home bronze. — MC
College offers PTSD-resiliency program
A college in British Columbia has launched a continuing studies program for first responders that aims to teach resiliency to traumatic events. Langara College in Vancouver is running the 10-month certificate program, called Strategic Resilience for First Responders, for the first time this fall.
Program co-ordinator Ruth Lamb said the courses are experiential and can help both in prevention and treatment. The program developed from more than 15 years of clinical research projects, she said, some of which focused on firefighters and fire departments.
Learn more at www.langara.bc.ca/ resilience — MC
5-4
The final score for Calgary Fire’s hockey team to win gold at the World Police and Fire Games.
Winnipeg union launches PTSD support website
Within three days of launching, a website created by the United Firefighters of Winnipeg to support members with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) received more than 20,000 hits.
That, union president Alex Forrest said, shows it’s working.
Mississauga Fire extrication team won first place overall at the North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge in Long Island, N.Y., in September.
The website ptsdtalk.ca went live in August and features powerful testimonies from experienced Winnipeg firefighters who were diagnosed with PTSD.
“This website,” Forrest said, “is really the logical progression of our work that we’ve done in attaining legislation in Manitoba that recognizes PTSD as an occupational hazard of fire fighting.”
In June Manitoba became the first province in Canada to include PTSD in its presumptive legislation so that all diagnosed workers can more easily access compensation.
“There’s now a great responsibly on us to prevent and assist our members in the area of PTSD,”
Forrest said.
The website features information on the new legislation and how to access compensation, and, more importantly, encourages firefighters to recognize PTSD and move past stigmas.
“We come from a culture that it’s important for firefighters to help others and not admit that you need help yourself,” Forrest said. “That’s a roadblock we run into many times, and these videos are destroying that roadblock.”
But the messages are also a filled with hope, he said, because PTSD is a treatable mental illness.
The website will be continually updated and will eventually include referrals for treatment. As well, Forrest said the plan is to add new testimonials not just from firefighters but also paramedics, police and other first responders.
“It really can be a resource for all first responders across Canada,” he said. — MC
To learn how the MSA G1 improves fire-ground communications and request a demo, visit msafire.com/breathe. WHEN YOU GO IN, WE GO
Between alarms
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
A guide to using tablets on the job
Iam an evangelist for technology in the fire service, but I also see the importance of keeping things simple and know that gadgets do not always improve efficiency on the job. While I still default to making my own notes and lists with pen and paper, there is a case to make for using tablets in the fire service.
I feel that tablets are superior to paper binders and laptops housed in our fire trucks for two main reasons, size and speed.
Paper pre-fire plans, maps, extrication, emergency response and rescue field guides all take up extremely valuable real estate within our trucks. Plus they are slow to navigate and a pain to update when you have multiple binders.
As for laptops, they can easily store all your pre-plans and important documents, but do not allow for rapid access because of slow boot-up speeds. Laptops can have battery issues, they are bulky and, unless you spend a lot of money on a tough, rugged model, they will not stand up to the harsh fire-ground environments.
Scout out a member, preferably someone who is already a techie, to assist in set up and maintenance.
the buy in from firefighters on its use within the department’s operations. If it works for your department, begin a department-wide roll out.
As we all know, technology changes rapidly so maintenance is key when incorporating tablets into your department. Scout out a member, preferably someone who is already a techie, to assist in set up and maintenance.
Here are some tips for incorporating tablets into your operations:
stored data is only possible with an Internet or cellphone data connection. Since Internet access is not always an option, cloud storage is not an ideal stand-alone system. As a backup plan, import documents, checklists and pre-plans directly onto the device.
1. Maintain a clean home-page screen. Tablets allow for multiple app screens, so keep the default screen clean and only display the apps you use most often. All the other apps are best suited for the secondary pages. Multiple apps that are similar are best stored within folders to cut down on clutter. We call this type of organization #3amSimple.
Tablets are an affordable option and can be up and running for about $500. Tablet batteries are much more robust and can last up to 10 hours on a single charge. Tablets are compact, extremely portable and lightning fast; with a one-button push they are ready to handle your emergency. Right out of the box tablets are fragile devices, but for less than $100 you can purchase a hard, rubberized case that protects the tablet from drops, water and scratches. Tablets are not fire proof, of course, but the cost of replacing a tablet is a fraction of the cost of a new laptop.
I suggest starting out by purchasing one tablet; use it, test it, and get
Tablet tips:
1. Maintain a clean home-page.
2. Position most-used apps on the dock.
3. Create an easily identifiable background image when using multiple tablets.
4. Use cloud storage, but upload important files as a backup.
2. The most-used apps such as your fire department mapping, preplans, and so on, are best positioned on the dock at the bottom of the screen. The dock remains constant no matter what page you are on. Speed is everything when you are dealing with emergencies so the more you can do to simplify firefighters’ access to information, the better.
3. For easy identification of a tablet if you are using more than one, create a background image that displays the apparatus number or name. A quick solution is to take a photo of the truck using the tablet itself and save that as the background.
4. Cloud storage is becoming more common and while this advancement is fantastic, it also has a few issues. Access to cloud-
Salt Spring Island Fire Rescue chose the iPad with Wi-Fi and 3G mainly because the majority of our membership at the time was already very comfortable and familiar with the iPhone.
Our department members use the iPads every single day, and specifically two apps: I Am Responding and Canvas. I Am Responding (IAR) is a one-stop-shop tool that shows all our pre-plans, hydrants as well as the mobile firefighter response. This app is a great tool for better management and rapid access to key information.
Canvas is a terrific app that we use for all our equipment inventory and truck checks. The checklist format is simple, quick to use and, best of all, easy to update. When a truck-check form is updated and uploaded on one device, all the devices reflect the update and run off the most current checklist.
One of the greatest challenges we face with iPads (tablets) is keeping all our information updated to the latest version. You don’t want each tablet to have a different version of pre-plans. Apps that automatically sync with all devices are a real bonus.
The fire ground is a fast-paced environment that doesn’t allow for slow computers and busy binders. Tablets provide an abundance of information, versatility and speed that firefighters and fire-ground managers need at 3 a.m.
Fit for duty
By Sherry Dean
Build an exercise foundation
How do I start lifting weights? What are the best exercises to learn? How do I know if I am doing things properly? These are questions that everyone who works out had to learn at one time. Some folks had a friend or professional help them at the beginning, but for many people a strength program is daunting and frustrating, and often leads to quitting.
Employing a personal trainer is one of the best means to help you with a specialized program, but doing so is not always feasible. Be very careful whom you ask for advice. Just because someone has been lifting weights for years does not mean he or she is a good source of information. If you have a trusted source, use it, but make sure it’s a credible source. The Internet is loaded with good advice, but be selective and find out the website’s credentials.
The following are must-do exercises that help with overall strength, and are a great way to build your foundation for other exercises. Once you have good form and can complete these, you should be ready to add to your repertoire.
Maintaining proper form is a must. If you have to cheat to lift, lower the weight you are using. Build the foundation of your exercise before you add more weight. Improper form leads to injury. If you hurt while you are doing an exercise, chances are you are doing something wrong and should make adjustments.
Back squat
There are many myths about squatting: it’s bad for your knees, it’s bad
for your back, you should only squat to 90 degrees, and so on. Squats are great – they target quads, hamstrings, glutes and core muscle groups – but they are hard. Don’t avoid them. You may not be able to squat to parallel at first, but you should aim to get below parallel for the best results. Keep your glutes and core activated. Your knees should be pressing outward over your feet and not caving into the middle. Press from your heals and keep your head up.
Always keep in mind your individual restrictions. If you have a knee or back injury, consult a professional. However, as a firefighter, you need to consider whether you are fit for what is necessary on scene.
First-time squatters should aim to complete 10 to 15 reps. Women should begin with approximately 50 per cent of their body weight and men about 70 per cent. If in doubt, go lighter, but add weight when you can complete a set without difficulty.
Pull-up/chin-up
Even for some men, a proper pull-up is challenging, but you can definitely get there. Start with a close grip, palms facing you (chin-up), which should be an easier exercise than a wider grip with palms facing away (pull-up). If you cannot do a pull-up, either jump to raise your chin above the bar or use a bench to step up and do a negative rep. Slowly lower yourself down, then jump or step back up and repeat. Challenge yourself by pulling up as far as you can or hanging in an isometric contraction (not moving, but pulling up) for as long as you can.
There are exercise bands you can
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
hook under your feet for assistance, or if you have a partner, he or she can take some of your weight by holding your feet (knees bent).
You want to eventually begin the rep with fully extended arms and your body completely hanging below the bar. No bent elbows! Complete your pull-up by raising your chin – or better yet, your chest – above the bar.
If you can complete five consecutive pull-ups, add a five-pound weight and work up from there.
Push-up
There are many forms of push-ups such as spider mans, pikes, varied widths, moving, and so on, so you won’t get bored with the variations. Do not start from your knees; get them off the floor and do a negative lower, nice and slowly, just as you did with your pull-ups. You can push-up against a wall or a table to change your angle until you can get those knees off the ground.
Work at increasing the number of consecutive push-ups and aim for 30. Once you can complete 30, begin changing it up. Move your hands closer or farther away, take one of your feet off the floor or hold a plank at the bottom of each pushup. Try everything.
Cardio
Don’t forget about your cardio. I know, I know you hate cardio! Too bad – do it anyway. Pick something you like, but work hard at it. Bike, jog, ice skate, swim, it doesn’t matter, just do it at a rate that makes you breathe hard for at least 15 minutes. Use interval training to improve your effort. For example, go hard for one minute followed by a one-minute recovery, then work up to two minutes high intensity, one-minute recovery, and so on. Before you know it, you’ll be invincible.
Stay fit and stay safe!
If you hurt while you are doing an exercise, chances are you are doing something wrong and should make adjustments.
Dispatches
By Jennifer Grigg
Learning from the journey
Growth is a part of life, and growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. However, it’s not always the end result that creates the growth. I discovered this summer that sometimes you grow from the process.
Those who read my column know that I have struggled with depression and anxiety on and off over the years. At the end of 2013, I took time off work to face my issues head on and do the work necessary to put the underlying issues to bed once and for all.
Facing my problems wasn’t easy and it certainly wasn’t a quick fix; it included regular visits with a therapist, homework, medication for depression and almost four months off work. Four months is a short period of time in the grand scheme of things when you consider that I had been dealing with the struggle my whole life.
While things continued to improve for me on a personal level, they also improved at work. I took on a new role to cover for a co-worker who was on an indefinite leave and juggled two short-term jobs. When a temporary employee was brought in to cover my position in the planning department, I moved to the building department full time, and have been there for the better part of a year.
It was during this time that I came to realize my forgotten potential. As my confidence grew, I approached my boss about the possibility of taking some building-code courses and was thrilled when presented with the opportunity to tackle my first course.
As the year went on, my boss and
Jennifer Grigg has been a volunteer with the Township of Georgian Bay Fire Department in Ontario since 1997. jhook0312@yahoo.ca @georgianbayjen
I talked about the possibility of me becoming a building inspector since a couple of our current inspectors are close to retirement. I was excited by the prospect but less so about the timeline. It would be two to three years before I would have the chance to apply, and there is never a guarantee I would get the job.
I was anxious to take on more responsibility and really believed that it was an opportune time for a career move; both of my daughters are now in high school, and I was in a very good place in my life mentally and emotionally.
I was anxious to take on more responsibility and really believed that it was an opportune time for a career move.
My boss kept telling me to be patient and in utter frustration I said to him one day, “When a flower starts to grow you can’t stop it!” His response?
“Quit putting fertilizer on it then.”
Not what I wanted to hear, but it did make me laugh.
I then had an a-ha moment: it occurred to me that if my boss thinks I have what it takes to be a building inspector, why was I not pursuing fire-inspector positions? That is, after all, where my passion lies.
I began applying to fire-prevention positions just to see what would happen. I wondered if I had kept my foot in the door enough to even get
an interview. I take at least one fire-prevention course at the Ontario Fire College every year to keep myself current, but it’s not the same as doing the job.
While at the college in July, I received a call from Owen Sound Fire and Emergency Services to interview for a fire-prevention officer position. I was excited and reluctant at the same time. Owen Sound is a two-hour drive from where I live and not doable in the winter, which would mean staying during the week, and only being home on the weekends. Even in good weather, the drive would add four hours to my workday.
The night before the interview I struggled with whether to go or not. The drive would definitely be a factor, and although my kids are older and I had declared this to be the perfect time for my new career to begin, I still worried about being that far away.
I asked a mentor of mine, “How far do you go to follow your dream?” I knew I would not forgive myself if I did not at least go for the interview, and decided to keep an open mind and just enjoy the process. Every interview is a learning experience, and this one turned out to be a great one.
During the interview I felt calm and relaxed – a big deal for someone who has a history of anxiety in certain social situations. I chatted with an amiable firefighter before my interview, which helped put me at ease. Although I knew that my answers were not the strongest – I have limited current experience to draw from – I still felt very positive about it all.
I didn’t get the job, but I did gain valuable knowledge and insight about myself and how far I have come in the past two years.
It’s amazing how empowering it can be to take a step outside of your comfort zone.
FitSmart
By Brad Lawrence
Incorporate lifting tempo
The fire hall and the fitness centre both provide opportunities to be surrounded by like-minded individuals. As with the fire hall, the water cooler in the gym is where I find myself continuously learning each and every day. I’m always interested to see what other trainers are trying, not just with their clients’ programs, but also with their personal programs. The latest buzz in the fitness world is on exercise tempo. Knowledge of tempo training has been around for decades, but it has become more prevalent lately in structured training programs.
Lifting tempo, simply put, is the rhythm by which you raise and lower the weights. This includes lowering the weight, pausing at the bottom, raising the weight and pausing at the top. The full sequence creates a lift tempo for that movement. It sounds basic, but strength coaches are incorporating structured tempo training into regular routines. The beauty of lift tempo is that just about anyone can incorporate it, from a novice to an elite athlete. And recent research shows there’s good reason to do so.
Lift tempo is presented in four digits and measured in seconds and will look something like this: 2-0-1-0.
This 2010 is a fairly standard lift tempo that you are likely loosely following without even knowing.
The first digit always describes the eccentric phase – the time in seconds it takes to lower the weight from the top of the lift to the bottom.
The second digit is the pause at the bottom of the lift. A traditional lift generally yields 0 – or no pause.
The third number is always the concentric phase of the movement
– the time in seconds it takes to reach the top of the lift. In certain programs you may see this value as an X, for example 20X0. An X value calls for an explosive concentric movement, or as fast as possible while maintaining comfortable control of the load.
The fourth number denotes the time in seconds of the pause at the top of the movement, or the pause between reps. Generally you’ll see a value of 0 with the exception of certain exercises for which a pause between reps will increase difficulty (pull-ups, for instance).
To better grasp the concept of tempo, try a walkthrough on a familiar movement. Envision the 2-0-1-0 sequence for a traditional bodyweight squat.
1. Take two seconds to lower from starting position to the bottom of the squat.
2. Pause for zero seconds at the bottom of the squat.
3. Take one second to push up from the bottom of the squat to the top.
4. Pause for zero seconds between the first rep and the second with your knees just shy of locked out at a full standing position.
Each rep of your set follows the tempo, and tweaks ordinary exercises into very different demands on your muscle.
Benefits of a slow tempo
(3030, 3130, 4040, 4140, 5030)
Slow tempo lifts require you to use lighter weights, but will increase the total time your muscles are under tension. Time under tension increases muscle strength and size. Lifting at a slow tempo forces your body to build stability around those working muscles and very commonly throughout your core. While the
Brad Lawrence is a firefighter with the Calgary Fire Department and a certified personal trainer who specializes in training and nutrition for emergency responders. bradmlawrence@gmail.com
For the majority of people, the most practical application of tempo training is to improve the body’s composition.
weight you’re lifting is lighter than normal, it’s important to still reach that muscle failure with every set in order to have a high metabolic output that is great for fat loss. With an exaggerated eccentric phase, these lifts also commonly increase muscle soreness, but in turn boast greater endurance gains. Slower tempos also provide a perfect opportunity to focus on proper technique.
Benefits of a faster tempo (1010, 10X0, 2010, 20X0)
Faster tempos generally recruit the highest volume of muscle groupings per lift, and the quick explosive nature also allows us to lift heavier loads. As we’ve discussed in past columns, heavier loads lead to hypertrophy and fat loss, two great benefits. The quick pace of these movements also helps activate our fast twitch muscle fibers.
Lifting Tempo:
For the majority of people the most practical application of tempo training is to improve the body’s composition. Simply put, a longer lift and increased time under tension consumes far more energy than a standard lift. Higher energy consumption increases metabolism, adds muscle strength and size and burns fat – all good things right? The trick when designing a tempo program is variety. There is no golden tempo for success, and the possibilities are endless to revitalize old movements.
As with any new program, plan it ahead of time, on paper, before you hit the gym floor. Start off by incorporating tempo into every second workout, and pick a manageable sequence to start; 3010 for instance. Use the tempo on your comfortable lifts (squats, dumbbell press, hamstring curls and so on) and move forward as you gain confidence. When you feel ready, simply switch the tempo.
Train with a purpose and you won’t be disappointed. Happy training.
If you build it . . .
Partnerships, dedication and hard work turn training-centre dreams into state-of-the-art facilities
By Laura King
For Miles Boulter, the PEI Firefighters Association school is a field of dreams.
Boulter, with some help but as the driving force, built the school into the state-of-the-art training ground it is today; and firefighters came – in droves.
The school is named for Boulter, who is, perhaps, Canada’s most modest firefighter. The street on which the school is located is called Miles Boulter Drive, a tribute to P.E.I.’s best-known firefighter, a soft-spoken soul who, as all island firefighters know, is rarely lost for words!
That happened on perhaps only one occasion, back in 2010, when Boulter was named the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs volunteer chief of the year. His acceptance speech comprised two words: Thank you. (He received the Canadian Volunteer Fire Services Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013.)
Boulter’s vision for the island fire school was decades in the making. His passion for training led to the school’s expansion – a live fire simulator, a new confined-space area. Visitors to the school, without exception, are awed by the life-sized model of Boulter’s two-storey home – used for search and rescue training – inside the main training building.
Boulter is at the school every day – Tilley hat firmly planted on his head during the hot island summer –overseeing the training schedule.
His passion for keeping island firefighters safe drives the creative fundraising that has helped to make the school a cutting-edge training ground that serves the needs of the province’s 1,000 firefighters: annual dues, government grants, sponsorships, partnerships.
Boulter has been an island firefighter since 1972; he became the school’s chief instructor in 1991. And he’s sticking around.
Miles
Boulter’s passion for firefighter safety is the driving force behind the PEI Firefighters Association school
As Boulter told the Summerside Journal Pioneer: “One of three things will take place for me to leave; one, it’s no longer fun. The second one is I am no longer physically able to do it and the third and most important one is the first time I tell a student or instructor that ‘we’re doing it this way because we’ve always done it this way.’ At that point I’m no longer moving the association ahead and I will fire myself.”
There are similar training grounds and schools across the country – in Peace River, Alta., Waverley, N.S., Comox, B.C., Meaford, Ont., for example – built by women and men as passionate as Boulter about firefighter safety and willing to champion the cause; funding ingeniously attained, props built by teams of firefighters.
If you build it, they will come.
PHOTO: SCOTT STEVENSON
Comox Fire Training Centre
LOCATION: 1870 Noel Ave. Comox, B.C., (located behind fire station)
WEBSITE: www.comoxfirerescue.org
RUN BY: Comox Fire Rescue, Chief Gord Schreiner
HISTORY: Started in 1997 with a couple of sea containers and has evolved into four permanent structures and hundreds of props.
ADMINISTERED AND MAINTAINED BY: Comox Fire Rescue, Chief Gord Schreiner
FUNDED BY: Some municipal capital; mostly funded through revenue from training.
COST: Replacement cost is in excess of $1 million.
PROPS/EVOLUTIONS: Everything! All live-fire props, dozens of others props for TIC, search, auto ex, firefighter survival; everything we need and we’re always adding.
LIVE FIRE? Yes, Justice Institute of BC live fire 1 and 2, seven-room, two-storey concrete burn building (Mrs. Smith house).
CLASSROOMS: Two; one holds 60 the other 15 students.
APPARATUS: One, 1996 engine.
INSTRUCTORS: Yes, lots of very well-trained, seasoned and qualified. They are our best assets.
ACCREDITATION: NFPA 1001/2 firefighter, live fire, hazmat and some officer programs through JIBC.
AVAILABLE COURSES/PROGRAMS: Lots; schedules are published twice per year.
WHO/WHAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN THERE? About 500 students per year, mostly from Vancouver Island but also some from other parts of British Columbia and Alberta.
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE? Fire-department managed, a not-for-profit business approach and great instructors working in an innovative fire department and community.
FUTURE PLANS: Maintain and enhance programs and facilities.
BEST TRAINING MOMENT: Many; I love seeing “real learning” taking place and the big smiles on the students’ faces!
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING FACILITY: Awesome, innovative, effective.
— COMOX FIRE CHIEF GORD SHREINER
Nova Scotia Firefighters School
LOCATION: Waverley, N.S.
WEBSITE: www.nsfs.ns.ca
RUN BY: The fire service in the Province of Nova Scotia by way of a board of directors representing each county in the province, the Nova Scotia Office of the Fire Marshal, Fire Service Association of Nova Scotia in addition to nine members at large.
HISTORY: The Nova Scotia Firefighters School (NSFS) is a not-for-profit society founded in 1967 to address the need for professional fire-service training in the region. NSFS was incorporated under the societies act in 1977. Today the school provides emergency response, industrial, and specialized technical training in support of public safety, governmental, and industrial agencies. The school employs 12 full-time staff at its headquarters in Waverley and 69 part-time instructors and assistant instructors geographically dispersed throughout the Maritime region.
Since its founding student attendance has consistently increased. In the beginning, there were approximately 200 students annually, increasing to an annual enrolment of 1,000 by the late 1970s. Today’s enrolment is approximately 6,000 per year.
Infrastructure improvements over the years have allowed for a greater diversity and volume of course offerings. Currently the school is in the process of the installation of nearly $2 million in new infrastructure to expand capacity, course offerings, training fidelity and most importantly safety in training.
FUNDED BY: The school receives a partial operational grant from the Province of Nova Scotia but primarily operates through course-revenue generation.
COST: 2015 operating budget $1.9 million.
PROPS/EVOLUTIONS: The school has dedicated trainers/props for ventilation, hose, forcible entry, confined space, high-rise, hazmat and more. In addition we have a dedicated smoke house, class-A burn building and a new fire-training tower on the way.
LIVE FIRE: NSFS has the capacity to perform class-A, class-B liquid, and LPG fires. There is an existing oil/water-separation pad, class-A burn building, and mobile burn unit. The school is constructing an additional live-fire training tower with three LPG-fired and two class-A fired burn rooms.
CLASSROOMS: The school has three classrooms with a seating capacity of approximately 120 students.
APPARATUS: Two pumping trucks and one aerial apparatus to support training.
INSTRUCTORS: Six full-time instructors and 34 part-time instructors, all are certified to NFPA 1041. Instructors have a wide variety of skills and specialties ranging from post-CBRNE event response to swift-water rescue.
ACCREDITATION: IFSAC and ProBoard
AVAILABLE COURSES/PROGRAMS: Including but not limited to Firefighter I and II, confined space, Instructor I and II, ice and water rescue, vehicle extrication, rapid intervention, thermal imager, driver/operator, incident command and safety officer.
A full list is available at http://www.nsfs.ns.ca/ index.php/courses/
WHO/WHAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN THERE?
Training is provided for volunteer and career firefighters throughout the Atlantic region and beyond, industrial fire brigades, the offshore segment in partnership with Falck Safety Services Canada, and commercial and specialty clients.
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE: We are a not-for-profit society owned by, run by, and operated by firefighters for firefighters. We have intensely dedicated, talented, motivated individuals who truly care about and invest in student success.
FUTURE PLANS: To improve training and to lead the industry by training in context, challenging ideals, researching, and integrating technology in the learning experience.
BEST TRAINING MOMENT: When you see an individual for whom it didn’t come naturally graduate as a competent and capable firefighter due to determination, commitment, study, practice and hard work.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING FACILITY: Dedication, knowledge and skill.
— JOHN CUNNINGHAM, executive director of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School
Peace River Fire Training Center
LOCATION: West Hill Industrial Park, Peace River, Alta.
RUN BY: Peace River Fire Department and County of Northern Lights Fire Department.
HISTORY: The West Hill training site has been used by the Peace River Fire Department for about 16 years. The site was originally used by the Town of Peace River’s public works department but is now the home of the PRFD/ CNL training center. Initially the fire department used the site for vehicle-extrication practice, fire-extinguisher training and some small homemade exterior firefighting props. The site has expanded, and continues to expand, to include hazmat props, ventilation props and multiple large, engineered, interior and exterior live fire props.
ADMINISTERED AND MAINTAINED BY: Peace River Fire Department and County of Northern Lights Fire Department.
FUNDED BY: The Town of Peace River and County of Northern Lights as well as corporate donations, which include Drager Safety Canada, Ruel Brothers Contracting, Blue Wave Energy, Tolko and Ainsworth OSB Mills.
COST: Annual training budget of $42,777; we are open to training external clients and renting the facility.
PROPS/EVOLUTIONS: Swede Survival Phase 1 flashover simulator (class-A fuel), used to instruct/observe fire behaviour, flashover recognition/prevention, rollover and fire flow paths.
Swede Survival Phase 2 flashover simulator (class-A fuel), used to instruct entry procedures, transitional attack, fire flow paths and flashover recognition/prevention.
Swede Survival Phase 5 multi-level live-fire simulator (class-A fuel), used to instruct fire attack, hose handling/advancing, fire flow-path control, and search-and-rescue techniques with a maze room, multi-floor evolutions, and vertical ventilation.
instruct class-B fire attack, vehicle fire prop, propane tank fire prop and barbecue fire-techniques prop.
MISCELLANEOUS PROPS: LPG rail-car housing, school bus, ventilation prop, DOT/TC 306/406 tank car, propane tree, SCBA confidence course and widow-bailout trainer.
LIVE FIRE? All LIVE FIRE!
CLASSROOMS: The classroom is located one block away at PRFD/CNLFD Hall #4. The PRFD/ CNLFD command trailer can also be used as an on-site mobile classroom.
APPARATUS: 150-gpm engine, 3,500-gallon tender with a 1,250 fire pump, command trailer, hazmat truck used as medical/vitals station.
INSTRUCTORS: Chief Lance Bushie and eight instructors certified to NFPA 1001 Level 2, 1041 Level 1 and 2, 1403 Live Fire Training Fixed Facility Credential and certified by Drager/Swede Survival.
ACCREDITATION: The PRFD/CNLFD instructional staff are certified to the NFPA 1041 Fire Service Instructor, NFPA 1521 Incident Safety Officer and NFPA 1403 Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions standards
AVAILABLE COURSES/PROGRAMS: The PRFD/ CNLFD routinely instructs NFPA 1001 Firefighter, NFPA 1002 Fire Apparatus Driver/ Operator, NFPA 1051 Wildland Firefighter, NFPA 472 Dangerous Goods Awareness and Operations, NFPA 1006 Vehicle Extrication and Technical Rope Rescue courses.
WHO/WHAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN THERE? In addition to the Peace River and County of Northern Lights departments, multiple departments from northwest Alberta have used this training site. Also, the Peace River Pulp Mill (Diashowa Marubeni) Emergency Response Team has taken training at the West Hill Training Site. We also offer provincially funded regional fire training courses involving departments from northwest Alberta.
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE? Quality of the training props and experience/training of the instructors.
FUTURE PLANS: High-angle rescue platform, multi-level fire training unit (class-B, LPG) skills trainer.
BEST TRAINING MOMENT: April 30, 2015 – livefire training at the Peace Regional Fire Conference, as the ops chief and looking over the training ground watching 57 students participating in training, with five live-fire props running concurrently, ICS system in place and running smoothly, Chief Rich Graeber looking at me and giving his fatherly approval.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING FACILITY: Professionalism, skill and integrity.
—PEACE RIVER FIRE CHIEF LANCE BUSHIE
Meaford Regional Firefighting Training Centre
LOCATION: 81 Stewart Street, Meaford, Ont.
WEBSITE: www.meaford.ca
RUN BY: Meaford Fire Department
HISTORY: Built in 2013
ADMINISTERED AND MAINTAINED BY: Meaford Fire Department
FUNDED BY: Donations from local service groups, firefighters association and council.
COST: $173,000
PROPS/EVOLUTIONS: Fully furnished residential apartments. Chimney fire and garage. Approximately 30 various layout options.
LIVE FIRE? No.
CLASSROOMS: One classroom with seating for 35 students.
INSTRUCTORS: Contract instructors as needed.
ACCREDITATION (NFPA ETC): All courses are taught to NFPA standards where applicable.
AVAILABLE COURSES/PROGRAMS: Basic, advanced and specialized auto extrication, basic emergency management, fire officer level I, fire services instructor I, medical first responder, firefighter survival, introduction to fire prevention, quality breathing air for SCBA administrators and standard first aid.
WHO/WHAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN THERE? Various, open to all departments.
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE? Cost, location and quality of training.
FUTURE PLANS: Expand to include the Public Service Health and Safety Association courses such as trench, confined, agri rescue, traffic, etc.
BEST TRAINING MOMENT: Quote from a training officer of 24 years regarding firefighter survival course taught here: “This is the best training I have ever received in my career.”
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING FACILITY: Realistic, effective and qualitative
—MEAFORD FIRE CHIEF MIKE MOLLOY
PEI Firefighters Association fire school
LOCATION: 68 Miles Boulter Dr., Milton Station, P.E.I.
WEBSITE: www.peiffa.com
RUN BY: PEI Firefighters Association board of directors
HISTORY: Originated 1968 and was slowly built over the years to what we have today; always owned and managed by the firefighters of Prince Edward Island.
ADMINISTERED AND MAINTAINED BY: Volunteer chief instructor Miles Boulter and a large group of volunteer assistants.
FUNDED BY (OR HOW): Small provincial grant ($25,000), commercial training, cost recovery billing to fire departments. Every firefighter in the province is a member of the PEI Firefighters Association; the PEI Firefighters Association owns the school.
COST: Annual budget of approximately $300,000
PROPS/EVOLUTIONS: Block house, ladder tower, live fire training simulator, confined-space simulator, interior-building simulator, triple-combination pumper, three classrooms and kitchen facilities.
LIVE FIRE? Yes.
CLASSROOMS: Three.
APPARATUS: Three (two engines and a hazmat response vehicle).
INSTRUCTORS: Chief Miles Boulter and 60 volunteer instructors.
ACCREDITATION: NFPA
AVAILABLE COURSES/PROGRAMS: Confined space (awareness, entry, rescue), hazardous materials (awareness, operations, technician), auto extrication, fire attack, pumper operation, instructor techniques, emergency fire-services instructor ( Level I), A volunteer firefighter – A breed apart, Making a difference, fire-service management Level 1, fire extinguishers, defensive driving.
The PEIFFA school also assists training island firefighters by arranging qualified instructors to train in specialized areas including ice
rescue, high-angle rescue and other areas as required. We have recently added medical first responder courses to meet the growing need in the fire service.
WHO/WHAT DEPARTMENTS TRAIN THERE? Island-wide, 36 departments as well as some from other provinces. Facility also rented to Holland College use for its fire-service program, utilizing our instructors. All provincial Level 1 and 2 practical training is conducted at the fire school.
SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE? Dedication of volunteers, good relationship with provincial government and office of the fire marshal.
FUTURE PLANS: Additional training props, replacement apparatus. Command simulators.
BEST TRAINING MOMENT: Having Chief Alan Brunacini speak at the grand opening of Boulter Station.
THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING FACILITY: Safe, realistic, firefighter-owned.
TIM JENKINS, past president, PEI Firefighters Association
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Tim-bits
By Tim Llewellyn
Creating and using tactical checklists
Most firefighters in Canada and the United States agree that the numbers of big calls are dwindling, or are few and far between. While most departments are experiencing a slight increase in call volume, the number of significant fire calls is declining. The majority of firefighters are volunteer, or on-call, so there are even fewer chances they will respond to large fires.
At the same time, firefighters face increased complexity in the nature of modern-day fire responses and ever-changing technical expertise needed for mitigation. With fewer incidents through which to gain experience, how can firefighters keep track of the necessary tactics?
A solution is tactical worksheets. Even though these worksheets, also known as command boards, are easy to use and inexpensive to build or obtain, not all fire departments use them.
Training experts tell us that skills and detailed memories are perishable unless used frequently. We all like to believe that we are competent and well-trained experts who can handle every incident we face, but do we really remember every detail of what decisions and tactical assignments should be made at every type of incident? Tactical worksheets can help us!
There are many types of tactical worksheets that can be purchased, but I’ve found that home-made ones are the most efficient and widely used; if you made it, you are more likely to use it. To create a general worksheet you will need a small dry-erase board, a label maker or vinyl adhesive letters and numbers,
Tim Llewellyn is a firefighter for the Allegheny County Airport Authority in Pittsburgh, Pa., and an instructor for a number of fire academies and training faculties. llewellyn. fire@gmail.com
A
If you choose to make your own, do a quick Internet search to look for good ideas.
and a roll of thin, automotive pin striping. Incident-specific worksheets are best created on a computer, printed and covered with dry erase-capable lamination sheets. Grease pencils work better than dry-erase markers in wet weather. Using plain paper makes it easier to add the checklist to the complete report following the incident, but it will not be weather resistant.
The commercial versions of command boards are well laid out, well-constructed and durable, but they sometimes cram too much information into too small of a space, and can require a lot of writing. It seems that some of these boards were created by and for larger municipal fire departments that have the luxury of staffing a chief’s aide position at the incident-command post. Most incident commanders do not have the time or the ability to fill in small information blocks. And, with the limited staffing that most departments face today, chief’s aide positions are not a reality at most command posts.
The tactical worksheets with the simplest layouts contain only the main tactical objectives for the
incident, listed in a preferred order of occurrence with a check box to the side to indicate if it has been addressed. This worksheet can also double as an initial-accountability system; beside each task, simply write the unit designation, location and the time it was assigned. Some of the major items to include for a structure-fire worksheet are size-up, water supply, 360-degree view, primary search, attack line, back-up line, control ventilation, utilities and salvage.
Remember, a tactical worksheet serves as a reminder to perform or assign a recommended or required task, so if you’re going to make one for your department, gather input from other officers and firefighters. Also include the main tactical points that you intend to put into practice. Worksheets such as these are wonderful memory aides for technical-rescue incidents in order to address all of the complexities involved with those specialties. If you choose to make your own worksheet, do a quick Internet search to look for good ideas. Fire departments often post their worksheets online.
Once you’ve made your tactical worksheet, it is imperative that you begin using it during training or live incidents. It is one thing to sit at a desk in an air-conditioned room and read over the bullet points and scribble notes; it is a whole different story to stand in a street wearing turnout gear with your portable radio blaring in your ear, sirens and horns approaching and firefighters running by asking you for assignments. You must be able to read and comprehend the worksheet, give commands, receive feedback, mark and write on the sheet appropriately and legibly and then move on to the next item. It does take practise and can add a bit of a challenge for any incident commander, but tactical worksheets do offer advantages; give them a try!
BY TIM
PHOTO
LLEWELLYN
homemade worksheet can include a checklist of initial tactical assignments as well as an area to sketch the incident scene.
Tanya Bettridge is an administrative assistant and public educator for the Perth East and West Perth fire departments in Ontario. tbettridge@pertheast.ca @PEFDPubEd
The booth fairy
How to get people to stop, listen and learn
By Tanya Bettridge
You can see them coming. It’s almost comical that they think you won’t notice their evasive manoeuvres. There are the power-walkers who blow by your entire row, there are the if-I-don’tmake-eye-contact-I’m-safe folks, and then there are the ones who glance in your direction, their sensors picking up the safety aspect of your display and they high-tail it to the next area of booths. If my chief would let me, I’d post a sign that says, “We see you. We know you’re avoiding us on purpose.”
We can’t force people to stop and talk about fire safety. The good news is there are some simple – and inexpensive – ways to make people want to spend time at your booth.
Two words: free draw
Like toddlers to puddles, nothing attracts show-goers or event attendees like a chance to win something and the word free. Thanks to smoke and carbon monoxide alarm legislation, valued prizes can be safety related, too. Give away three carbon monoxide alarms a day, or two CO alarms and a grand prize of a home-safety prize pack, (which can consist of a few smoke alarms, a CO alarm, some batteries and a bunch of fire-safety information).
Here are some other cool ideas for prizes/ draws:
• Ask a fire safety question – those who answer correctly get an extra ballot.
• Hold a separate draw for kids. Although a six-year-old might enjoy a smoke alarm, he/she might enjoy being a fire chief for a day even more. It doesn’t cost money and it’s a very exciting prize for the kiddos.
• Smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders are
all great fire-safety-type prizes.
• Host a dinner for six at the fire station. Full-time, part-time or volunteer departments can all manage to offer dinner at the station; it makes for a unique, muchtalked-about prize. If you have the space, it could be a barbeque for more than six people.
• Per-person draws: instead of ballots, get a click-counter and give a prize to every (e.g. 100th) person who stops and talks to you.
• Bundle prizes: the words, “Prize pack” mean there is more than one prize and in the minds of the general public, it’s something amazing and a must-have!
As people walk anywhere near your booth, loudly ask, “How are you today? Make sure you enter our free draw!” Literally wave them over toward the ballots. Very few people will reject your offer of a free
chance to win something. As people start lining up to fill out a ballot, seize the opportunity to chat about all things fire safety (or whatever the theme is of your booth).
Word will quickly spread at an event that your booth has firefighters and a free draw. The more people who line up around your booth, the more others will become curious about the fuss.
They’ll
take it if you bag it
I’m sure at some point, somewhere on Earth, a study was conducted on human fear of brochures. Until I find that study, we’ll just have to rely on the experience of many public educators and firefighters. People hate brochures; they’ll take 100 pens before they’ll take one rack card. So how do fire-service personnel get the info to the target audience? Bag it.
Think about what attracts you to booths at a trade show; the same techniques that draw you in there, such as a bag of unknown freebies, can easily work for your fire-safety booth at the town fair.
PHOTOS: LAURA KING
A bag is a promise of treasure, a pouch in which mysterious goodies are waiting for them. Plus, bags helps show-goers carry all those pens they mooched from the previous row of booths. Bags are even more effective if they are given to children. Children love the responsibility and ownership of carrying their very own bags of stuff. So throw in those colouring books, crayons – and yes, absolutely fill it with brochures! At the very least, you know people are taking the information home with them. While that is a win-win for all, I see it as fire department 1, brochure hater 0.
Nothing attracts like popcorn
If your booth has a popcorn machine you may as well double your booth staff, because that’s how popular you will be. No other scent wafts through the air like freshly popped popcorn. Rent a popcorn machine or borrow one from a local organization. Ask someone to sponsor the purchase of the supplies in exchange for getting a logo on the popcorn bags; it’s likely more financially feasible than you think.
Speaking of popcorn bags, here is your two-for-one solution: customize your bags with fire-safety messages.
Here are a few cool bag-customization ideas I’ve come across over the years:
• Fire Prevention Week theme
• Fire safety trivia – one side has questions, the other side has answers
• Sponsor’s logo on the front, fire-safety message on the back
• A sponsor’s coupon right on the bag that is good for the company’s booth at the same event
• A list of events your fire department is attending that year
There are a lot of options when you combine a booth attraction with your department’s messaging.
Think outside the booth
Smart companies use cross-promotion as an effective marketing tool. Why should the fire service be any different? If you find out ahead of time who all of the vendors/exhibitors are, you can come up with creative ways to encourage people to visit certain booths – including yours.
Here’s a scenario using the popcorn bags: You find out that the local hardware store will have a booth at the home and garden show your fire department is scheduled to attend. In advance, approach the hardware store managers and ask if they would give attendees $2-off coupons for carbon-monoxide alarms if they are presented with a card that says, “I talked fire safety with ABC Fire Department.” Since you’re in a position to talk fire safety and make it worth people’s time to do so, you’ll also be directing traffic to the hardware store’s booth where they can submit your cards to get the hardware store’s coupons. The coupon then directs traffic to the actual store.
Another example is to look at the exhibitor map/layout, find the vendor that is stuck in the poorest location and strike a similar deal. This is especially handy if it’s a food-type vendor who can give out a free sample if your recent booth visitor recites the fire-safety password or, better yet, a cooking fire-safety message.
If you park it, they will come
Is there anything more enticing than the big, red truck? If space allows, absolutely park a big, shiny, red fire truck near your booth. Got access to an antique truck? Even better! Kids and adults alike love getting their pictures taken with fire trucks. Ensure you have some firefighters on hand who can pose with people for pictures.
Everyone smile and say, “Fire safetyyyyy!”
Having a fire truck sets your booth apart from the rest; it’s a crowd-pleaser and can be spotted from quite a distance away. If it’s
safe to do so, turn on some lights and sirens once in awhile to make sure everyone around knows you’re there. I know many kids who will literally drag their parents toward the sound of a fire truck.
Tell me, show me, try me
The best fire-safety booth is one that offers all types of learning – fire-safety information in the form of brochures, rack cards, posters, banners and signs (tell me); audio/visuals, trucks, equipment, gear, safety devices and more to see (show me); most importantly, a booth that is interactive and gets people involved in fire safety (try me).
Fire extinguisher training, stop, drop and roll demonstrations, trying on bunker gear, going through an obstacle course, or aiming a fire hose – all are designed to get people of all ages to experience some aspect of fire safety. Interactions can even be as simple as allowing kids to test those super-noisy smoke alarms and CO alarms. What kid doesn’t like to make noise!
The key to the booth
The most important aspect of the fire-safety booth is the personnel. Booth staff must be willing to approach everyone who comes near the booth, engage in conversations, get low and talk with the kids and be prepared to answer all kinds of questions.
It’s important that the people working your booth are passionate about fire safety and actually want to be there. Can-dowanna-do attitudes will transfer into exchanges with booth visitors. You just never know whose lives you saved that day.
A chance to win something is a never-fail technique to draw in a crowd. Hand out coupons for items such as CO alarms or home fire extinguishers.
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 the lead author of Residential Fire Rescue. Mark@FireStarTraining.com
RIT – using the Stokes basket
In the world of technical rescue, the Stokes basket is a main piece of equipment. The basket is used for patient packaging and transfer from one elevation to another during a rope rescue, confined-space rescue, or even water rescue if it is equipped with floatation devices. Many fire departments carry Stokes baskets on their fire trucks for rescue scenarios, but this versatile piece of equipment is also valuable for the rapid intervention team (RIT).
A RIT operation requires that many different types of tools and equipment be gathered and staged. The wish list of equipment is shown in photo 1, but the Stokes basket benefits a fire department the most when there is minimal equipment – a RIT kit, a set of hand tools such as the Haligan and flat-head axe, a thermal-imaging camera and a search-rope bag.
When two firefighters are assigned to set up RIT, their first step is to gather all the needed equipment from the fire truck or trucks. Instead of making multiple trips, the Stokes basket can be used to carry all the equipment at once to the staging area. As shown in photo 2, all the necessary equipment is in one place and ready for quick deployment. The Stokes basket keeps the equipment together and out of the way of other operations; it also makes it easier to move the RIT staging area to a different location if need be.
Time is the essential factor for the downed firefighter and getting him or her medical attention is the priority.
Depending on the type of rescue, specialized or technical rescue equipment may be needed during the RIT’s deployment. For example, if a lift operation is required, the team will need air
bags, cribbing and possibly portable hydraulic spreaders. All of this equipment is too much for one or two RIT firefighters to carry at once. The Stokes basket can be loaded up with the required equipment as shown in photo 3 and then carried into the structure by two or three RIT firefighters.
If more cribbing is required during a lifting operation, the basket can be sent back out, reloaded (see photo 4), and then brought back inside.
Before bringing in equipment, be sure to connect all the air hoses, test them and have full cylinders so that when they
are used inside, there is no wasted time trying to make the connections in a limited-visibility environment.
A downside to using the Stokes basket for deploying equipment is its size. The basket is about six feet long and does not bend so going around corners can be tricky. The Stokes, therefore, is not the best option if the structure’s layout involves many tight corners.
A benefit of using the Stokes basket to deploy equipment is that it can be slid along the floor. A rope system can also be used to help guide and pull the basket. A good option is the simple 2:1 mechanical
The staging area for a RIT operation should include, at minimum, a RIT kit, a set of hand tools, a thermal-imaging camera, a search-rope bag and a Stokes basket.
A Stokes basket can hold all of the essential equipment for a RIT operation so that it is ready for quick deployment.
advantage system, which involves a rope, a set of pulleys and carabineers, a ground ladder and a guiding crew. See the July 2013 issue of Canadian Firefighter for a more detailed description of the 2:1 mechanical-advantage system.
Once a downed firefighter has been freed from any obstructions and is ready for removal, a Stokes basket is then used as the transport device for which it was originally designed. As shown in photo 5, the downed firefighter can be easily removed through enlarged openings by a team on the inside passing the basket out to a team waiting on the outside. This
operation can be accomplished with as few as two RIT firefighters but is best accomplished with at least four. A team of four firefighters ensures the basket is balanced during the transfer from the inside to the outside.
Securing the downed firefighter to the Stokes basket, as is done in rope or confined-space rescue, is optional. Time is the essential factor for the downed firefighter and getting him or her medical attention is the priority.
If your fire truck has a Stokes basket, be sure to grab it and make it a part of your RIT-staging equipment.
Be sure to connect all the air hoses, test them and have full cylinders ready to go before taking the equipment inside for the operation.
If more cribbing is required during the lifting operation, the Stokes basket can be sent back out and reloaded.
A downed firefighter is loaded into the Stokes basket and passed through an enlarged opening.
Extrication tips
By Randy Schmitz
Lifting a vehicle off a patient
Acommon rescue
incident in the fire service involves a person trapped underneath a motor vehicle; this may be a result of a pedestrian being struck at a road crossing, or a weekend mechanic working on the underside of a raised vehicle unattended when the support method fails. There are a few options to remove a patient from this intensive situation quickly and effectively with the least amount of danger to the victim.
Rescuers’ tools of choice vary depending on what they carry on their rigs. Most first-response vehicles carry hydraulic spreaders, Jackall jacks, high- and low-pressure lifting bags, wheeled floor jacks, and a standard extension ladder, all of which can be used as a space-creating devices.
For all lift-type evolutions, rescuers need to follow the lift-aninch-crib-an-inch rule. In such cases where a person is impinged or is in direct contact with a large object, even less than an inch is best practice.
Let’s start with the most readily deployable tool – the hydraulic spreader. Spreaders are versatile and usually easily accessible on trucks.
After initial assessments are done, it is important to secure the front or rear tires with blocking or rubber wheel chocks to stop any vehicle movement. The vehicle can move up to an inch or more even when it is in gear or placed in park. If safe to do so, and won’t affect the patient underneath, engage the emergency brake to help
Randy Schmitz is a Calgary firefighter extensively involved in the extrication field. He is the education chair for the Transport Emergency Rescue Committee in Canada. rwschmitz@shaw.ca @firedog7
.
. . having options in your mental toolbox allows for the best possible outcome for your patients.
reduce movement.
The second most important aspect to reduce vehicle movement is blocking the side opposite your lifting position in order to take the suspension out of the equation. Doing so prevents one end of the vehicle from crushing down onto a patient while you force the other end upward.
The next step is to continue to stabilize the side of the vehicle at which you’re lifting. At this time, use a lift platform to place the spreader tips as close to the patient as safely possible while ensuring that the weight on the patient is lifted off first.
In this case, the strongest area of the vehicle is the rocker panel
directly below the driver’s door. Ensure the metal in this location is solid and strong and can handle the pressure of the spreader as it lifts the vehicle.
A standard inverted step chock and a wedge of equal width work well together as a lift platform to reduce the amount of space between the ground, the spreader tips and the underside of the vehicle.
From here, insert the spreader tips in between the rocker panel and the lift platform. Then, under the direction of the extrication officer, slowly engage the tools and begin the lift.
This part of the evolution requires strict control to reduce load
The hydraulic spreader is placed at the rocker panel directly below the driver’s door. The rocker panel is the strongest area of the vehicle and can handle the pressure of the spreader as it lifts the vehicle.
If space permits, a ladder is an effective lifting tool that is simple to operate.
A ladder works well when there is ample room around the vehicle.
PHOTOS: RANDY SCHMITZ
shift or failure. The lift must be done slowly enough to allow for even insertion of a wedge or suitable blocking material. There must be minimal distance at all times between the underside of the vehicle and the blocking. Initiate a freeze periodically to check for instability and ensure all blocking remains intact throughout the entire lifting operation.
It is imperative that a rescuer is located as safely as possible next to the victim to monitor for sufficient patient removal space. Lift just enough to remove the patient with a couple of centimetres of space between him or her and
the underside of the vehicle’s components. Keep the lift height to a minimum; the higher the lift, the more unstable the vehicle or lifting tools may become.
A Jackall or first-responder jack deployed as a backup device is of great benefit during the lifting phase. If a load shift does occur, the jack can capture the weight of the vehicle temporarily and allow responders to reposition the primary tool and complete the lift.
Another means of creating space quickly is to use a standard extension ladder. A ladder works well when there is ample room around the vehicle.
Once again, begin by blocking the opposite side of the vehicle.
Next, situate two invert-
ed-step chocks so that the thinner ends are placed just beyond the underside of the rocker panel as close to the patient as possible; the chocks
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Use the Jackall or first-responder jack as a backup device during the lifting phase in case of load shifting or failure.
Vermilion Alberta
Extrication tips
should be roughly 50 centimetres (20 inches) apart, so that the ladder rails are centered in the middle of each step chock.
Depending on the height of the step chocks, a 4x6 wedge can be used to fill space and increase the angle of the ladder once it is placed on top of the makeshift fulcrum.
Avoid extending the flyand-bed section of the ladder; rather keep it in the stowed position to allow for maximum strength of the rails while lifting the vehicle upward. Place a piece of rubber mat or protective material between the ladder rails and the underside of the rocker panel to minimize damage to the ladder.
Once the ladder is in position, a minimum of two rescuers should position themselves at the end of the ladder and on either side of the rails. Again under the direction of the extrication officer, the two rescuers use their body weight to apply downward pressure on the ladder and slowly control the upward lifting motion of the vehicle.
As the lift slowly progresses, another two rescuers positioned on either side of the ladder at the vehicle are cribbing and inserting wedges to maintain as minimal clearance as possible in case of load shift or failure.
Be aware that any ladder used for a rescue of this type should be inspected and tested for damage.
The total time for these evolutions should be anywhere from one minute to two minutes from start to finish.
Here is a list of the various
lifts are great tools for a one-man operation and allow for excellent fine-tuned control, but are time consuming to set up.
tools used to perform the above tasks and their pros and cons:
Spreader
Pros: high lift capacity, requires minimal space to insert tips to lift large objects, and is quick to deploy from its location on the rig. The spreader is often the tool of choice for rescuers.
Cons: small surface area of tips can cause an unstable load the further the spreader
Bag
A floor jack has a high lift capacity, but may take up valuable space on an apparatus.
arms are apart, requires placement on a strong, solid section of the vehicle to handle the pressure of the tips.
Lift bags
Pros: requires a small insertion space and has high lift capacity with excellent finetuned control, great for a one-man operation.
Cons: time consuming to set up, may cause load shift and requires a flat surface on which to lift.
Jackall
Pros: versatile, quick to deploy and can operate in limited
space. Good backup or secondary device for one-man operation.
Cons: an inherently unstable and load-bearing handle that can strike the operator if he or she is caught off guard.
Ladder
Pros: quick deployment, simple to operate, can rapidly lift heavy objects with body weight.
Cons: requires large, open area to operate, at least a twoman operation, and may damage ladder, or fail if ladder is already damaged. Requires protective material between the ladder and car to minimize damage.
Floor jack
Pros: can be wheeled into place quickly, has the ability to reach a lift point from a distance due to the long handle, and high lift capacity. Cons: may take up valuable space on a fire apparatus, limited versatility for other tasks, can be hard to control the release speed of the weighted object.
Having options in your mental toolbox allows for the best possible outcome for patients.
Not all tools and their applications will work in all rescue situations, however, consistent training helps rescuers to make clear, confident decisions.
I would like to dedicate this column to Todd Nabozniak and his family; Todd lost his father, Russell Nabozniak, to an unfortunate incident and thus I was inspired to write this material. RIP Russell; you are missed as a father, husband and grandfather.
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
Getting back in the kitchen
My wife and I celebrated our recent wedding with a two-week honeymoon adventure in Thailand. One of the main reasons we chose this beautiful country (which we would highly recommend to anyone!) and travelled halfway around the world was, of course, the food!
Thai cuisine is very much ingrained in the country’s identity and we got to experience that by taking cooking classes in three different regions. All of our wonderful Thai chefs and instructors taught us to cook the way their grandmothers or parents taught them; everything was made simply, from scratch, using fresh ingredients from root to stalk.
My wife and I were taught, among other things, to make curry pastes, milk from grated coconuts and shrimp stocks for soups. There were no cans, jars or premade/pre-packaged anything and you could taste the difference!
All our instructors also mentioned a dilemma in their food culture – that today’s young Thais just don’t cook anymore. Young people in Thailand would rather eat out, have meals prepared from the assortment of shop houses and street vendors or use pre-made alternatives, than take the time to prepare things themselves.
We went to a local market with one of our Thai chefs and she showed us the difference between the ingredients used by a good home cook and those used by a shop house or street vendor. While fresh herbs, spices, fruits, vegetables and meats were all available, there were also a lot of packaged food options. All of the packaged items were full of sodium, MSG, artificial colours and many ingredients that, even to a Thai, were unexplainable. I find it intriguing that a culture that is world famous for its food and that has such incredible fresh ingredients available almost year round suffers from packaged-food. I guess it doesn’t matter whether you are from Thailand or North America, today’s hectic lifestyles, laziness in the kitchen and ease of take-out have taken the joy and pride out of making
INGREDIENTS
2 hanger steaks, trimmed of excess fat and silverskin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1 tbsp olive oil
5 tbsp cognac or brandy or beef stock
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp minced flat-leaf parsley
1. Season the steaks liberally with salt and pepper. Melt the butter and oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Once the pan begins to smoke, add the steaks.
2. Cook the steaks, turning just once after about four minutes or until an instant-read thermometer shows 130 F in the thickest part. Remove pan from heat and transfer steaks to a cutting board and loosely tent with foil.
3. Add four tablespoons of cognac/brandy to the pan and stir, scraping any browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Return pan to medium-high heat and cook for about 20 seconds. Add cream and mustard, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring vigorously until the sauce just comes together. Stir in remaining cognac/ brandy and keep warm over low heat.
4. Slice the hanger steaks across the grain in 1/4-inch pieces and drizzle sauce over top. Serve steaks garnished with parsley and black pepper. Enjoy!
meals from scratch.
I believe most firefighters fall into the too-busy-to-cook category. Between working long shifts and juggling home life, sometimes it’s hard to imagine where dinner fits in. Well I am here to help! In my cooking classes that I teach in Waterloo, Ont., my main goal is to get families back
INGREDIENTS
1 pound vine-ripened tomatoes, quartered and seeded
5 cloves of garlic, smashed and peeled
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups homemade chicken stock
1/2 cup finely sliced fresh basil leaves, plus more leaves for garnish
1 (825-milliliter) can crushed San Marzano tomatoes
1/2 loaf sourdough or country loaf bread, torn into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
1. Preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. Put the tomatoes and garlic on a baking sheet and toss with a couple tablespoons of oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast until the tomatoes are softened and the edges are beginning to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Drizzle about one tablespoon of oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the basil and stir for about 30 seconds. Add the canned tomatoes with their juice and the chicken stock and season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to just a simmer then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Stir in the bread and simmer for two to three minutes.
4. Stir in the oven-roasted tomatoes, garlic and any cooking juices into the saucepan and simmer for another three minutes. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
5. Ladle into serving bowls and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil and fresh basil leaves.
in the kitchen cooking together. We cook with simple, fresh ingredients and I provide recipes that are easy to replicate. Families that cook together stay together, and no matter how busy you think life may be, there is a recipe for you.
During our Bangkok cooking lesson we bought ingredients at a market, cooked
Tomato and bread soup
Blue cheese encrusted steak sandwich with whiskey glazed onions
Smoked
salmon, asparagus and orzo salad
INGREDIENTS
1 cup uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
2 hot-smoked salmon fillets, flaked
1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup fresh dill, chopped Kosher salt freshly ground black pepper 1 pound of asparagus, trimmed and cut into three-inch pieces
1. Bring six cups of salted water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add the asparagus and cook two minutes. Remove the asparagus from the pan, plunge into ice water, then drain and set aside.
2. Return the asparagus water to a boil and add the orzo, cooking according to package directions. Once drained, drizzle with a little olive oil and fluff with a fork and set aside.
3. Gently fold together the smoked salmon, orzo, asparagus, onion, lemon zest and dill. Drizzle the salad with the lemon juice and olive oil and season to taste with salt and pepper. Fold gently to combine and enjoy!
them from scratch and enjoyed seven homemade courses all in three hours. This inspired me. Maybe families would be inspired to get back into the kitchen if they saw just how easy it is to prepare a homecooked meal. I’ve super simplified the recipes below so that they can be made with five to eight ingredients. These recipes are meant to inspire you and are beneficial in many ways. You will:
• Save time during those busy weeknights with recipes that are easily prepared.
• Create much healthier meals using fresh, whole ingredients instead of packaged, pre-made or take-out food. You will know exactly what you are
INGREDIENTS
8 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup heavy cream
4 lemons, juice and zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1. Whisk together four eggs and four more of the yolks, reserving the remaining four whites. Whisk in one cup of sugar and place in a small saucepan. Add the salt, juice and zest and stir until smooth.
2. Place saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring often until the mixture thickens; about 10 minutes. Pour through a fine strainer into a large bowl and chill.
3. Whisk the reserved egg whites with remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a bowl until stiff peaks form. Fold gently into the curd until well combined and set aside.
4. Whisk cream and vanilla in a bowl until stiff peaks form and fold into curd mixture. Spoon mousse into serving cups and chill before serving.
putting in your body!
• Save money at the grocery store with a short ingredient list and also avoid the cost of eating out.
• Spend more quality family time preparing and sharing a meal together. The benefits of preparing meals from scratch are obvious and I believe the only obstacles for families are simply finding the time to get in the kitchen, and knowing what to use when they get there. My honeymoon in Thailand gave me a lifetime of incredible memories and inspiration. I have a drive and passion to get families back in the kitchen cooking together. Hopefully these recipes will help get you there!
Mousse au citron
WellBeing
By Elias Markou
Bio-monitoring for firefighters
Have you ever tested the amount of heavy metal you have in your body? Do you know which toxic elements are stored deep inside your tissues? These are very important questions all people should ask themselves, but it’s even more important that firefighters do so.
I have been involved in firefighter wellbeing for almost 15 years and in this time conducted thousands of firefighter physical exams. Over the years I have modified the exam to include health basics and a more detailed assessment of cardiovascular, hormonal and immune screening. I collect specific data about every organ system in the body by observing, measuring and testing urine and blood.
Ten years ago I stumbled onto a specific test called a urine element analysis, or a heavy metal test. I first decided to conduct this test on myself, as I do with anything I recommend to my patients. Much to my amazement, I realized my body was filled with toxic metals from everyday life and especially from my time as a firefighter. This realization changed everything in my life, and was when I began to change the lives of my firefighter patients.
As a firefighter I always thought I was healthy, and when I left the fire service I continued to think my health was impeccable and I had nothing to worry about. Don’t we all as firefighters think we are healthy?
Ten years ago I decided to bio-monitor all my firefighter patients and determine a baseline test on the volume of heavy metals in their bodies. Bio-monitoring is the term used for the analysis of
urine, blood, saliva and stool for toxic chemicals to determine chemical exposure and bio-accumulation. Bio-accumulation is the term used to describe the build-up of heavy metals and chemicals in the human body. While the presence of chemicals does not mean you have a diagnosed condition, we know from a number of studies on firefighters that toxins have the ability to stress the body, and that long-term chemical presence can lead to chronic conditions.
. . . my body was filled with toxic metals from everyday life and especially my time as a firefighter.
I recommend that every firefighter be tested for toxic metals and begin the process of removing or chelating out these metals. Such metals include mercury, arsenic, aluminum, lead, tin and uranium. The word chelation comes from a Greek word meaning claw. A chelating agent removes toxic metals from the tissues and fluid around cells and brings them back into the circulatory system so that they can be measured and eliminated by the liver and the kidneys via urine.
Chelation has been around for thousands of years and was done using herbs such as cilantro and parsley, as well as the single-cell algae chlorella. Modern-day chelating agents are synthetic chemical compounds and include DMPS, DMSA, alpha lipoic acid and EDTA.
the body.
Toxic heavy metals are known to block the beneficial effects of essential vitamins and minerals such as zinc, calcium and vitamin B6. These metals are aggressive and replace essential nutrients that are important to biochemical processes. For example, lead can replace calcium in bone while mercury can block vitamin B6 action in the central nervous system. Toxic elements can also increase the body’s volume of free radicals that contribute to tissue inflammation and chronic disease.
Many firefighters remember certain events in their careers that resulted in environmental exposures. A single large exposure event to a toxic agent is rare and is generally considered a medical emergency. But small exposures to heavy metals can accumulate over time and can cause chronic health conditions. Measurement of toxic elements in urine can help determine if accumulation has occurred, although having higher-than-expected levels does not prove toxic elements are causing symptoms.
Just one of the essential vitamins and minerals that toxic heavy metals are known to block.
DMPS is an amino acid used to bind mercury, arsenic, bismuth and lead. Alpha lipoic acid, a highly anti-oxidant agent, is transformed in the body into a compound dithiol dihydrolipoic acid that is able to chelate arsenic and mercury. DMSA, another amino acid, can be given intravenously or orally and is commonly used to chelate lead, arsenic and mercury. Finally EDTA is a crystalline acid commonly given intravenously to chelate lead. These agents all do one thing: they pull the metals out
My patients that have undertaken environmental monitoring or bio-monitoring in the past 10 years have been able to identify toxicity levels and undergo detailed chelation programs to remove them. The chelation process takes between 12 and 18 months, but is a valuable treatment for firefighters to eliminate chemicals and heavy metals in their systems. The IAFF website includes some newly posted information on bio-monitoring at iaff.org/HS/ SubstanceExposures
Consider learning more about bio-monitoring and looking into testing options. In this toxic world, bio-monitoring is here to stay and it will likely become a very important way for firefighters to monitor their health.
Elias Markou is in private practice in Mississauga, Ont., and is the chief medical officer for the Halton Hills Fire Department. Markou was a volunteer firefighter for six years and is now a firefighter health expert and blogger. dmarkou@mypurebalance.ca
From the floor
By Jay Shaw
Beware of the brain trap
Knowing what you don’t know could be the key to solving all of your problems.
But, what if we don’t actually know what we should? Or worse, we think we know but we are misinformed.
Many organizations operate with what I call brain trap – great people working under a system of beliefs and structures that are obsolete and possibly dangerous (it goes way deeper than this but in fewer than 800 words I have to keep it short.) These antiquated beliefs become learned behaviours over time. No matter how you look at it, society progresses; unfortunately we have to move sometimes at the pace of our slowest walker. In some cases, a critical event such as an injury, loss of life, or business failure shakes an organization to its core and sparks the realization that it is time to change; but many inside the organization may not be ready.
Jay
If a firefighter is able to escape a low-risk event with little or no consequence by circumventing a rule, then, over time, that unsafe action becomes routine and acceptable. Now imagine a firefighter escaping a high-risk event but ignoring the proper procedures. If we accept this type of behaviour, we could be setting ourselves and our organizations up for a critical failure.
Our day-to-day routines, what we see, analyze, and make decisions about every second, are created from our collective experiences; and these experiences, in turn, form our perceptions that dictate the how, why, what and when we decide to do things. If you check your fire truck every day and the same equipment is in the same compartment every single time, you start to perceive that it will always be there. In reality there are many times when the equipment is not there – while it was used, maintained, sent out for service and replaced.
When we refuse to accept new inputs or information that may change our behaviours we actually start to accept what is wrong as a reasonable action.
What if your body of knowledge is based on experiences that formed perceptions that are actually wrong?
What if your body of knowledge is based on experiences that formed perceptions that are actually wrong? If your department has never really embraced professionalism and is beholden to a system of beliefs that were once considered acceptable, you are working under an outdated belief system. Do you never clean your gear or still think a dirty helmet is cool? Is hazing the rookie acceptable? Does your department still have a fire-hall beer fridge? What do these actions or lack of actions say about your department’s ability to operate clearly? Is your perception of these examples positive or negative?
A new term has emerged in the fire world that was recently brought to my attention. The term is normalization of deviance, and it’s just another way of saying brain trap. Normalization of deviance is loosely defined as the process of letting your perceptions normalize incorrect actions, behaviours and or processes until they seem perfectly acceptable.
Normalization of deviance is what took down two space shuttles and collapsed the United States space program, twice. Normalization of deviance allowed NASA to accept a faulty O-ring on a solidrocket booster that was deemed a critical component for launch success. After several missions during which nothing happened, NASA started to normalize the failure, or deviate from the safety standard, and slowly, over time, the faulty O-ring became acceptable. In 1986, the space shuttle Challenger blew up about a minute into its launch when an O-ring failed and super-heated fuel leaked through, destroying the rocket and killing seven astronauts. The sick part about this is that some NASA engineers’ perceptions were not normalized – they did not have brain trap. In fact, those engineers pleaded up the chain of command that the fuel leak was predictable based on the data and the known facts. But because nothing bad had happened before with a faulty O-ring, NASA chose to ignore the warning and perceived the situation to be safe.
After the tragedy, you would think there would have been lessons learned; however, in 2003 the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry and killed seven more astronauts. The heat shields designed to protect the shuttle had been damaged before, but were perceived to be acceptable.
So ask yourself how you perceive things in your department. Are you normalizing the deviation of behaviours, processes or procedures because, “That’s just the way it is done around here”? I can think of many things in my personal life and at work that I should probably stop accepting as normal risks; the problem is sometimes those risks might affect someone else and that is not only a brain trap, but also just not good enough anymore!
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