July 2014 Blog Posts (36)

How Can We Reach The Future Of Our Service?

Here's my Fire Engineering June issue cartoon, and to prove that blind luck does exist, here's a just published article from CBS about firefighter obesity.  …

            Sitting on my couch last night watching TV and just relaxing, I saw an update from Fire Engineering about a LODD in the Houston Fire Department. I read the details about the incident up to that point and immediately my thoughts went out to the firefighters in Houston and the affected families. There are usually a few things that go through my head when I hear about a line of duty death. The first thing is usually think about is that firefighters family and…

“This SOP is not for me to follow it must be for you…….Oh yes, well I know I wrote it, but I never intended to actually follow it……….I meant for you to follow it……well if you want too. The main thing here is that if something happens I can say that I had an SOP in place and you didn’t follow it so I won’t be…

I am a firm believer in the phrase "Never say never, never say always". Just remember each technique you are currently using was more than likely created from firemen trying something new. Extrication Quick Tip #11 is showing a directional pull of a steering wheel using hydraulic speaders, chain, and an A post. This technique is quick and easy to set up with limited…

The fire service is a unique place to say the least. Right or wrong, from the moment you walk in the doors of the firehouse or training academy you are being judged. Not just because it’s the fire service, but because it’s human nature. Now, don’t get me wrong, as a new person in the fire service it is fully your responsibility to be an upstanding, motivated, dedicated and…

At times numerous firefighters feel alone while they are at work, despite having numerous people around them.  Each day, firefighters everywhere feel as though they are the only ones that care. Caring in the fire service is a great thing because it usually results in pride and dedication; but what no one tells you is that it truly can become a curse to many of us.  Caring can bring an unexpected loneliness some days, caring can bring heavy self criticism, but in the end it is a…

AT THE NAIL

We begin and end our every shift day at the nail.…

Independence Day known as the Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 freeing our county from the “kingdom of Great Britain.” We celebrate this day with fireworks (dearly loved by our firefighters), picnics, family time and other celebratory activities in our communities.

We have to remember that Independence Day was hard fought and won by our forefathers as there was much blood spilled on the…

This is a story about two types of Rapid Intervention Teams. The Stagnant RIT, and the Progressive RIT. A RIT or Rapid Intervention Team is a group of firefighters who are organized together to rapidly intervene if a firefighter, or crew of firefighters need help on the fire ground. Think of it like this, RIT is the insurance policy for every person on the fire scene. This team keeps special tools and equipment together, so if there is a MAYDAY where a firefighter gets trapped, then this…

Turk is big. Turk is tough. Turk is nasty, and Turk is rough. But little did Turk know, that on one faithful call, in a tree big and tall, that he would become smitten with a kitten named Toots. Now, embarrassed and shocked, and with the fear of being mocked, Turk…

Today I want to give you a taste of the type of workouts that you will find in the Ultimate Fire Athlete Workout and it comes with great timing and a lot of significance... The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation provides resources and funding (via grants and donations) towards remembering our fallen and protecting our current firefighters.  This "tribute" workout is…

My department recently redesigned our apparatus.  We went from small cramped trucks to nice roomy trucks.  With this change we had to evaluate how our trucks were set up.  What was good, what was bad and are they the most efficient for our calls and staffing.

The configuration of our hose beds was a big change. Sticking with our old way of doing things was going to be a challenge.  This forced us to do something we’ve really never done before.  Research, practice and more…

Have you ever thought to yourself, “What in the world are they talking about? Do they work for the same department?” Maybe you are stuck in the world of Wizard of Oz management. It often boils down to perception. Those in the station are closest to the work (responding and assisting the people in the community). Those at headquarters are…

By Ron Kanterman-July 2014

Some of you have heard that for some reason when you get to the third time of anything, it’s a charm. It’s true. As a boss, I’ve been blessed throughout the years with being around good and great firefighters. Being the Chief at Merck in New Jersey and then for the Mohegan Tribal FD in South East Connecticut were wonderful experiences. They were wonderful because of the officer cadre and the folks on the line as well.…

Frank Brannigan said the building is our enemy and we need to know our enemy. Some have amended that with the fire is our enemy but the building is our battlefield and we must know the terrain in which we are to do battle. Either way you put it building construction is important to everything we do. However just the subject of building construction is VAST and unending. Engineers, construction companies, contractors, developers, etc. are always trying to come up with cheaper, and more…