From Fire Engineering
The United States Fire Administration (USFA) announced there were 85 onduty firefighter fatalities in the United States as a result of incidents that occurred in 2010, a 6 percent decrease from the 90 fatalities reported for 2009. The 85 fatalities were spread across 31 states. Illinois experienced the highest number of fatalities (9). In addition to Illinois, only New York (8), Ohio (8), Pennsylvania (7), and Kansas (5) had 5 or more firefighter fatalities. Download the report as a PDF HERE or text HERE.
Acting U.S. Fire Administrator Glenn Gaines noted that “When evaluating the trend in onduty firefighter fatalities over more than three decades, the past two years have seemed to reflect a possible change in the firefighting culture of the United States where Everyone Goes Home, including all firefighters.” Gaines then added, “Working closely with our partners, USFA will continue every effort to be sure that when it comes to firefighter health and safety this downward trend in onduty firefighter deaths continues.”
Heart attacks and strokes were responsible for the deaths of 51 firefighters (60%) in 2010, nearly the same proportion of firefighter deaths from heart attack or stroke (58%) in 2009.
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Photo by Mike Ong
By Mike Ong
For FirefighterNation.com
Kettlebell History
For this information, I had to refer to our department’s kettlebell subject matter expert, Bob Ross, a 52-year-old firefighter/paramedic who’s been on the Phoenix Fire Department for 27 years. He’s also a Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) certified instructor who rehabilitated himself from back surgery after sustaining an injury in 2003 that could have ended his career. He began using a kettlebell after reading an article about a new exercise program that involved using a “cannonball with a handle.” After two short weeks, Ross’ back felt stronger and less painful. He also noticed that his cardiovascular strength was starting to increase. In 2005, he became certified by the RKC. The RKC was the first kettlebell instructor course offered in the United States, and continues to certify instructors today. I’ve worked with Ross and can attest to his excellent fitness level as well as the applicability and benefits of working out with kettlebells.
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FEMA
Beginning on April 1, 2011, the web site where first responders apply for all Assistance to Fire Fighters Grants Programs will change its current web site address from www.firegrantsupport.com to the FEMA web site at http://www.fema.gov/firegrants.
All applications for FEMA’s fire grant programs including the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG), the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S) and information on the Assistance to Firefighters Station Construction Grants (SCG) will now be located at www.fema.gov/firegrants. All fire grants program documents, awards announcements, grants management workshops, success stories and program application reports and statistics will now be available at www.fema.gov/firegrants.
From FireEngineering.com
Scenario: You are operating at a fire in a one-story Class 3/ordinary taxpayer. During the incident, there are indications of a conflict or some confusion between assigned areas, most notably the interior of the fire building and the roof.
Radio report #1: “Interior to Command, we have heavy smoke, no visible fire, and increasing heat within the building.”
Radio report #2: “Roof to Command, the roof has been opened with only light to moderate smoke showing from all openings.”
So, what concerns do you have, and what actions will you take in this situation?
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By Mary Jane Dittmar, Firelink.com
That there may be a connection between air pollution and sudden cardiac death is not news. What is news, however, is that at least one study has found that “pollution-related cardiac arrests occurred when particulate levels were high but still below the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety threshold of 35 micrograms per cubic meter of air,” according to a study published in the September 20 online American Journal of Epidemiology. The research was conducted by the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. In a previous column, for example, it was reported that exposure to ultrafine particles during fire suppression should be considered a potential contributing factor for coronary heart disease in firefighters. The study was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Aug. 2010.
The North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System study looked at more than 8,000 people who suffered out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in New York City between 2002 and 2006 in relation to air pollution levels during that time. The number of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests rose four to 10 percent with each 10 microgram per cubic meter of air increase in small-particle air pollution. The eye-opening finding here, as cited above, was that these cardiac arrests occurred when particulate levels were still below the EPA safety threshold. This study adds to the growing body of research that suggests air pollution is bad for the heart. Earlier this year, the American Heart Association issued a statement noting that evidence is growing that air pollution is a risk factor in heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, has funded a number of studies on the association between airborne particles, such as sulfur dioxide and other fossil fuel emissions, and the risk of early death from cardiovascular disease. The studies found a strong relationship. One of these studies was the Six Cities Study, conducted in 1974, at Harvard University. It initiated a long-term study on residents of the cities to assess the effects of common air pollutants on respiratory and cardiovascular health. More than 8,000 subjects were studied over a period of 14 to 16 years. The focus was on the health effects of gaseous pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide (the result of coal burning), and fine particle air pollution (that comes from motor vehicle exhaust and power plant emissions). Subjects living in the more polluted cities were found to have a higher risk of hospitalization and early death from pulmonary and heart diseases as compared with those living in the less polluted cities. Fine particle pollution was proven to have a stronger association with mortality than the gaseous pollutants.
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Are you in Indianapolis for FDIC 2011, the world’s largest firefighter training conference? Be sure to check out LION’s latest offerings in booth 1533. There, you’ll be able to try out our new LION Technical Footwear on a ladder test, feel the mobility difference in our Bi-Swing back turnouts at our hammer swing, and meet our friendly sales staff!
FDIC showcases many of our industry partners, too. Stop by W.L. Gore’s booth to get a look at the brand new CROSSTECH Black moisture barrier:
Based on the newest barrier technology now available in our durable, breathable military fabrics, this new two-layer barrier maintains the same high level of breathability as our original two-layer barrier, with the added benefit of more durable performance in a wide range of environmental conditions.
If you can’t attend the show, follow the days’ activities on Twitter and Facebook. Doing a search for #FDIC or #FDIC2011 should give you an array of different accounts of things going on. Of course, you can always follow us on Twitter via @lionconnects and on Facebook for pictures, videos and updates. Talk to us!
NFPA 1855, Standard for the Selection, Care and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents, 2013 Edition
A new standard under development for specifying the minimum selection, care, and maintenance requirements for utility technical rescue, rescue and recovery technical rescue, and CBRN technical rescue ensembles is now open for public proposals. This standard is applicable to personal protective equipment compliant to NFPA 1951, Standard on Protective Ensembles for Technical Rescue Incidents. It is largely based on NFPA 1851, Standard on Selection, Care, and Maintenance of Protective Ensembles for Structural Fire Fighting and Proximity Fire Fighting; originally published in 2000 and now in its second edition published in 2008.
Although standards are drafted by NFPA technical committees, anyone involved in the fire service industry can be part of the process. To review the draft document, go to www.nfpa.org, click Codes and Standards, then select Code Development Process and click the link to Proposed Documents. There you will find the draft standard in .pdf along with the NFPA Document Proposal Form. Instructions on how to file your proposal are on the form. Proposals must be submitted by 5:00 pm EST/EDST, May 23, 2011.
Your opinion will be heard. All proposals are reviewed by technical committee members
From ManufacturingDigital.com
Scientists and engineers at defence security company, BAE systems, have created a custard-like liquid, which will give British troops greater protection and ease of movement on the battlefield.
The technology, dubbed ‘liquid armour’, has been designed to fit between sheets of strong material such as Kevlar and hardens when struck to help shield and protect soldiers.
Unlike ceramic-based armour plates used in current body armour systems to cover large areas of the torso, the technology is not heavy.
Bullet-proof jackets made from the liquid could be widely used in the Army within two years.
BAE spokesman Stewart Penney said: “The technology is best explained by the example of stirring water with a spoon.
“In water you feel little resistance to the spoon. Whereas with liquid armour you would feel significant resistance as the elements in the fluid lock together.
“The faster you stir, the harder it gets, so when a projectile impacts the material at speed, it hardens very quickly and absorbs the impact energy.”
“In addition to increasing the ballistic performance of combat body armour there is potential for developing a version that could be of interest to police forces and ambulance crews,” Penney added.
Read the full article on ManufacturingDigital.com.
Fire-sprinkler requirements in new homes are under heavy fire by opponents—mainly the home building industry. This formidable foe yields enormous political power and uses the current economic downturn as a pretext. The opposition misleads legislators and the public, including the misuse of NFPA data to reinforce its position.
It’s imperative that the fire service arms itself with the available educational and advocacy resources to educate legislators and engage the opposition with determination, commitment, courage and resilience.
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Win a FREE pair of leather firefighting boots at FDIC
We officially launched LION Technical Footwear™ at last year’s FDIC and received an overwhelming response for the extreme comfort of our boots. Try on a pair, you won’t believe the difference. Everyone who tries on a pair of LION Technical Footwear boots at this year’s FDIC in Indianapolis March 24-26, booth 1533, is entered to win a free pair!
Here are 10 reasons why you should come by Booth 1533 and try on a pair of our long-lasting, comfortable firefighting boots.
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