PoliceOne recently posted this list of 14 simple rules for patrol. There are other forms and interpretations of these rules out there, but this list encompasses a good many points that are helpful to law enforcement officers.
Is your department considering establishing an in-house PPE care and maintenance program? The NFPA 1851 standard says that designated department members must be trained by the element manufacturer to perform advanced cleaning, advanced inspection and basic repairs.
In addition, the manufacturer must provide documentation confirming that members have been trained. PPE manufacturers have chosen different methods to provide training to fire departments. For your convenience, Lion’s online training program is available 24/7/365.
After reviewing the information, you take a multiple choice test and upon passing we issue you a training certificate. If you’re having a bad day and you don’t pass the test, you are welcome to try it again. In fact, we encourage you to come back periodically to refresh your skills and to confirm that the methods you are using in your in-house program conform to our requirements.
In addition to our online training program, you will find training videos on routine inspection and routine cleaning. Routine inspection and routine cleaning is the responsibility of the individual firefighter, although NFPA 1851 has no training requirement. To ensure that your members are equipped to spot a potential health or safety problem with their PPE, we suggest that all members review these training videos.
The appearance of your station uniform helps communicate a high level of authority and professionalism to the general public. Budget concerns and uniform allowances balanced against safety and departmental regulations sometimes make this level of appearance costly to maintain. Getting the most out of uniform dollars becomes a critical a component in the selection and upkeep of a station uniform. Because of these concerns, Nomex® is the uniform choice of many fire departments. Inherent flame resistance, durability/longer wear life, ease of maintenance, and an estimated wear of life three to four years, makes a better long-term value in the fire service than the other NFPA 1975 compliant uniforms, including garments made of 100% cotton.
The average cost per year for a Nomex around $88. Only poly/cotton blend uniforms are a better value (with an average cost per year of $36), but the blends are not NFPA 1975 compliant as they are not flame resistant and will melt under high heat. Extending value goes beyond the initial purchase decision. The right care and maintenance of your existing uniforms will save money in the long run. The following cleaning tips will help get the most value out of your uniform by maximizing wear life: (more…)
Turnout coat and pants are essential to firefighter safety. Improper fit, whether too loose, too tight, or too small of an overlap, can cause serious injury. Check out the following video consisting of two parts: a guide to accurately measuring the body for turnout gear and a demonstration to test the gear for proper wear.
The comfort level of a helmet is much more than a matter of personal preference. It directly corresponds to how closely the fit of your helmet matches the dimensions of your head. Since no two heads are alike, this requires certain components of the helmet be adjustable so each can properly fit your head’s unique size and shape. Comfort is also a safety concern. It’s well established that a comfortable helmet will be worn longer with less fatigue.
Center of gravity
This is determined by how your suspension system (straps) interfaces with the top of your head. The center of gravity is established by the intersection of the front and back suspension straps with the side straps. A properly seated center of gravity will provide optimum balance. There should be little to no “wobble ”, either from side-to-side or front-to-back. To achieve maximum comfort and effectiveness, the straps must be adjustable. This allows you to determine where the center of gravity will be located.
“The peace officer who is psychologically unprepared for a gunfight is fighting two people when he goes into a gunfight. He must conquer both himself and his adversary.”
- Chic Gaylord, 1960.
It’s widely known that most police officers never shoot their gun in the line of duty, no matter how long they’ve been in the service. But that doesn’t mean officers should be unprepared to do so. Dave Spaulding, a 28-year law enforcement veteran, has written an article giving four tips for prevailing during a violent confrontation:
Stay in the fight. The person to get off the first solid hit is more likely to win the fight. Also, getting shot does not mean death. Unless you’re killed instantly or bleed out within minutes, it’s unlikely that you’ll die.
Stay alert. Felons are more likely to travel in groups so keep an eye out for other offenders.
Call for backup as soon as you can. Safety in numbers. You’re more likely to succeed if you have more prepared officers with you.
Medical self-help. Wear your armor. If you are shot, stay calm and stop the bleeding to the best of your ability then call for help. Trained paramedics are usually only minutes away in most areas. Plus, some shooting schools provide street level trauma care courses. Attending one could save lives, including your own.
Remember: it’s your life on the line along with the lives of your fellow officers and any innocent bystanders. Do all that you can to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
The NFPA 1851 standard says that only Verified Independent Service Providers (ISPs) can make major repairs to your turnout gear. It also says that, if they are verified, they are qualified to clean, inspect and repair all of your PPE.
Before selecting your ISP, you may want to consider whether other services needed by your department are available:
Does the ISP use a tracking system to record advanced cleaning, advanced inspection and repairs, and other NFPA 1851 record-keeping requirements?
If your department only wants to outsource major repairs, will the ISP help train members on in-house cleaning, inspection and basic repairs?
If your department does not have back-up gear, does the ISP have loaner gear for you to use during the maintenance cycle?
There are a wide range of services available to fire departments, but not all ISPs supply all services. You should therefore evaluate the needs of your department and select the company that can best meet your needs.
(Editor’s note: This is the second part of a two-part series on what you should look for when outsourcing your PPE maintenance).
A few weeks ago we posted a blog on Lion Connects about the State of New York’s “rope law” that requires all interior firefighters serving populations of less than one million working on a building’s second story or higher to be trained and furnished with self-rescue equipment (specifically rope and components). The intent of the law is to provide safe emergency egress in the event that a firefighter must escape from the upper stories of a building through an opening that is not designated as an exit. Equipment must meet NFPA 1983, Standard on Life Safety Rope and Equipment for Emergency Services, 2006 edition.
Despite legal challenges, the law went into effect last December. The state’s Department of Labor is now issuing citations to fire departments that are not in compliance with the law. Click here to read a recent article in Fire Engineering: NY State Fire Departments Must Comply Fully with Department of Labor Code Rule 800.7.
“Departments need to be moving forward on compliance with this legislation,” said Thomas LaBelle, Executive Director of the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs. “If the Department of Labor shows up and you have done nothing, you are going to have trouble.”
The article outlines the four distinct steps that the authority having jurisdiction must take in accordance with the law:
A senate bill and an assembly bill are being considered in the state’s legislature that would allow departments more latitude with their emergency egress solutions. Nonetheless, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs encourages departments not to delay compliance with the final regulation.
PoliceOne picked up on an Associated Press report regarding the emerging use of social media channels in law enforcement. Agencies are going undercover online by using aliases and fake profiles to gather information on suspects on Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin, Twitter and other sites.
According to the report, the online investigations have been met with both success and suspicion. Civil liberties groups are concerned about privacy and the legal implications of impersonating others and using false identities online.
Are you a volunteer firefighter? Check out the National Volunteer Fire Council’s (NVFC) white paper on minimum training requirements that meet NFPA 1001, Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications.Click here to read the article and to download the white paper.
The NVFC is committed to ensuring that volunteer firefighters have an appropriate level of training to safely and effectively carry out their responsibilities. The organization’s website, www.nvfc.org features vital resources and information for fire and emergency service volunteers.
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