By Rob Raheb, Fire Engineering

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines for training offer the minimum requirements that departments can follow to ensure that trainingneeds are being met and upheld. The problem doesn’t lie with the NFPA, but with departments and trainers who feel that the minimum is good enough when it comes to training.

We can’t afford to maximize training in all areas; it would be too costly and require adding a lot of time to a program. But arguably we cut training to the bare bones on one issue that has been surfacing over and over again–driver training.

Every day, an emergency vehicle is involved in a collision somewhere. We see it on the news, get it in our e-mail, on our Smart phones, etc. What we don’t see are the lawsuits that involve departments, personnel, and families of members. The pennies saved by cutting training on the front end turn into big dollars paid out on the back end. Departments are often called to defend themselves after a collision occurs; training records, personnel files, and a litany of other material is subpoenaed. Overtime and workers compensation cases add more to the payout.

Click here to read the entire article at Fire Engineering.

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LION is and has always been known for bringing the most comfortable and safe gear to the fire service. We’ve recently gathered feedback from firefighters about what they’re looking for in improving comfort and the interface in the head, neck and face area and have developed the brand new Contoured Comfort Collar. Field testing validated these improvements, and now we are bringing these changes to all wearers of LION Janesville® turnout gear by making the Contoured Comfort Collar standard on all LION Janesville® turnout coat models beginning Oct. 1.

Some features and benefits of our new collar design include:
–  Ergonomically shaped using contoured pattern to improve comfort and interface.
–  Smooth one piece transition at the shell/liner interface increasing comfort. No bulky seams or hook and loop to rub at the back of the neck.
–  Liner attachment at the top of the collar to allow for a natural break in order to use the collar effectively in the up or down position.
–  Continuous thermal and moisture protection around the neck and face to provide optimum comfort while the collar is upright or rolled down.
–   Versatility – up or down, improves interface with other PPE elements.
–  Standard 3” collar height with optional 4” height. Optional throat tab.

Want to know more about LION’s full line of personal protective equipment for firefighters, such as structural boots, gloves and helmets? Visit http://www.lionprotects.com/fire-and-rescue to see our product lineup.

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By Dr. Paul Davis
President and founder of the FFCC

For the uninitiate (a person unfamiliar with a specific topic or subject) upon first seeing the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge, the likely question: “What is this and where did it come from?“ Good questions, both.

Back in the dark ages of personnel selection, fire chiefs believed that big(ger) people tended to excel at the avocation. Ergo, there were minimum height and weight standards. No one considered that women would ever want a career in this most male of occupations. Disparate impact was an unfamiliar term in those days. So, in 1975, Chief David Gratz who was the director of fire-rescue service for Montgomery County (MD) and Dr. Leonard Marks paid us a visit at the Sports Medicine Center of the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health, Department of Kinesiology. They wanted to know if there was a way to measure what it took to, for example, climb a ladder and chop a hole in a roof. “Sure,” we remarked.

(more…)

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By: Ed Raposo, FireLink

What best prepares a firefighter for the job? Classroom lectures? Experience through on-the-job training? Both? Neither? Each option has its proponents and its opponents. There have been discussions (and at times, heated debates) about experience versus credentials at firehouse kitchen tables all over the country for years.

What we are really talking about is training. What training method works best? What training method works best for you? Before you answer, think about the last time you learned something. For decades, people have been studying the ways, the means, and the methods that we humans learn “stuff”. After all this research, they came up with a blinding flash of the obvious: It depends.

In this “Kitchen Table Debrief” I will talk about the various methods we use to learn new things, and how we can best ensure our organizations implement the principles and methods to help everyone continue to learn and grow.

Click here to read the entire article on FireLink.

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By STEVE SCHWARTZ
Message from LION CEO

This Sunday marks ten years since 9/11.

It’s a time for remembrance. Nearly 3,000 people were murdered. Each loss creates an unfillable void for family, friends, our fire service and first responder community, and the nation.

It’s a time for reflection. Right after 9/11, as a country, we stood as one. That sense of oneness has looked and felt increasingly fragile over the past two years of economic and political turmoil in our country.

It’s a time for renewed solidarity: to recommit ourselves to a belief in that oneness that we felt so strongly 10 years ago. The challenges we face in each of our communities and in the nation can only be solved through believing in oneness not divisiveness. Divisiveness is what our enemies hope for.

We must also recommit ourselves to the defense of our country – and to its core values. On 9/11, we were attacked by radical Islamist forces not for a specific policy, but for who we are. Remember: in 1993, under a different president from a different party, there was another deadly terror attack on the Twin Towers. It’s America – and what we stand for – that’s the target.

I thank each of our first responders for putting your lives on the line daily to keep our families and communities safe. I hope our nation never experiences anything like 9/11 again, but if we do, know that we as a company are doing everything we can to keep you safe and ready to respond to whatever challenge you face.

Stay Safe.

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The 2011 World Police & Fire Games, hosted this year in New York City, will resume Monday, Aug 29 with a revised schedule after Sunday’s hurricane cancellation. The following update is from the 2011wpfg.org site:

Jacob Javits Convention Center (No Sport will begin before 2pm)

• Air Rifle: Rescheduled from Saturday to Monday 8/29 at 2pm.
• Badminton: Moved to Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
• Basketball (5×5): 2pm START. Please check the website and email for updated schedule
• Bench Press: Meeting at 4pm in Room 1E-09 (Combat Room) on the Lower Level. Competition to start on Tuesday
• Body Building: THE EVENT HAS BEEN REVIVED. We will start with weigh-ins at 2pm. Athletes should check into the Body Building room at the back, right corner of the Athletes Village.
• Boxing: 2pm Weigh-ins and 4pm Athletes Clinic and Competitors Meeting in the Special Events Hall (Heroes Hall).
• Darts: 2pm start in the Special Events Hall (Heroes Hall).
• Judo: There will be a Judo meeting at 1pm to decide the future of Judo. Please be there. The meeting will be held in 1E-02
• Orienteering: Rescheduled to Thursday 9/1. Check the website for details
• Rowing – Indoor: Check-in and weigh-in at 3pm. Competition starts at 4pm
• Road Race: We are making an attempt to reschedule for Friday 9/2, however, this will not be a ½ Marathon, more likely to be a 10K
• Soccer – Indoor: Captain’s Meeting at 1pm on the court. Competition begins at 2pm
• Stair Climb: Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 3rd.
• Table Tennis: 2pm Start
• Taekwondo: Weigh-in Monday, 8/29 at 5pm. Competition rescheduled from Sunday to Tuesday 8/30.
• Volleyball – Indoor: 2pm Start
• Wrestling: Weigh-in at 5pm in the Combat Arena on the court. Competition starts on Tuesday at 8am.

(more…)

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FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) has been going strong for 10 years—and that’s long enough for some myths to develop about the program. Don’t let misconceptions discourage you from applying for a grant award.

MYTH: AFG isn’t designed for volunteer-based, rural, or small organizations like mine.

FACT: AFG is open to fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations—no matter its membership composition, size, service area, or call volume. Additionally, under certain conditions, rescue squads, municipalities and non-Federal airport- and port-based fire and EMS organizations may also apply. For a full description of eligibility requirements, refer to the FY11 AFG Program Guidance, Section 1, Part III.A-B.

MYTH: There’s no way I can win an award without a grant writer.

FACT: The majority of AFG grantees do not use grant writers. We know that firefighters and first responders are focused on public safety—not grant writing—and that’s why we offer support to help applicants prepare and develop a competitive application. Take advantage of the AFG resources, and if you have questions along the way, contact the Helpdesk at 1-866-274-0960 or firegrants@dhs.gov.

MYTH: My application was rejected in the past, so there’s no point in trying again.

FACT: If your previous application was denied in the past, we encourage you to reapply. Each time you apply for a grant, we look at it as a brand new application. We do not hold previous denials against you.

MYTH: Some organizations stand a better chance at winning awards than others.

FACT: Politics and favoritism have no bearing on AFG awards. AFG awards are based on need and merit. The application review process ensures that all applications are judged fairly. For more information on

Click here to find out more information about FEMA’s AFG program.

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According to FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), the open application for the AFG (Assistance to Firefighters Grant) will run from August 15- September 9, 2011. FEMA’s AFG provides funding for the essentials that firefighters and first responders need to be safe and effective on the job.

Here’s some FAQ’s from FEMA:

WHO’S ELIGIBLE FOR AFG?

• Paid, volunteer and combination fire departments and nonaffiliated EMS organizations from urban, suburban, and rural communities in the U.S. and its territories.

WHAT DOES AFG SUPPORT?

• Firefighting and EMS equipment
• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
• Fire and EMS vehicles
• Training programs
• Wellness and fitness programs
• Modifications to facilities

WHAT’S NEW THIS YEAR?

• Funding priorities have been categorized as: High, medium and low. Use our priority system to increase your chances of winning an award.
• We’ve added new items/activities eligible for funding in 2011: Behavioral health programs, boats under 20 Ft., and extended warranties.
• Flashover simulators are not eligible for funding.
• Applicants may apply for more than one vehicle. However, driver/operator training/certification is required in order to receive a vehicle award.

For more information and to apply for an AFG grant, visit www.fema.gov/firegrants.

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By Mary Jane Dittmar, FireLife

Clean. Cook. Chill. Separate. This advice, at the heart of a U.S. Department of Agriculture food safety campaign inaugurated earlier this summer, reminds us of the importance of properly preparing and storing foods to safeguard our health. The campaign was prompted in part by the outbreak of E. coli in Europe that killed almost 50 people.

Media and social media ads remind food preparers to follow safety precautions such as adequately cleaning food-preparation surfaces and utensils, washing their hands, separating raw meats from other foods, and cooking meat to the right temperature.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 48 million people a year suffer a foodborne illness, some 180,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die. Major outbreaks were caused by peanuts, eggs, and produce in the past several years. Stay abreast of food safety strategies and food recalls at http://www.foodsafety.gov.

Read the entire article at FireLife.com.

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By Michael Krueger, FireLife

It is not in dispute that everybody needs exercise. That is not to imply that we all actually do the exercise that we know we need to do. Many nonexercisers insist that because they have tried and failed numerous times, this somehow now exempts them from needing to exercise. You may as well get used to it–failure is simply part of the process. Through trial and error, you will eventually find a mode of exercise that you are willing to do. This isn’t quite success; but this is where the path to success begins.

The Problem

Most people begin a new exercise program in one of a couple of ways. One way begins on a Monday morning with your alarm going off an hour or so earlier than normal. For a moment you don’t recall why the alarm is ringing at this ungodly hour. Then you remember the new exercise program.  You slowly get out of bed, lace up your shoes, and head out to run for the first time in recent memory. You make it a little way down the street and stop, with hands on knees, gasping for breath. You remember this feeling and how much you hate to run. On the walk back home, you are alone with your thoughts and your latest failed attempt at fitness.

Another common scenario is making a pact with someone to meet at the gym. This one usually takes place after work or over the lunch hour. You go to the health club and change your clothes. You wander out onto the floor and look for your partner among the sweaty patrons; of course, you can’t find him. He didn’t show up. You feel ridiculous. You don’t want to do this alone, so you take a lap around the gym trying not to look conspicuous, return to the locker room, change clothes, and go home.

Read the rest of the article on Firelife.

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