Helmet Safety & Straps

Comment

Comment by Todd McKee on October 29, 2008 at 5:38pm

Chief Avillo

Below is the link sir

Todd, Diane mentioned you were looking for this video:


http://www.clipsyndicate.com/publish/video/725208?wpid=117

Pete
FE Web guy

Comment by Todd McKee on October 29, 2008 at 12:33am

Chief Avillo:

I asked Diane to find it for you I could not find it either. Please accept my apologies for not putting the link on the blog.

Todd McKee

Comment by Anthony Avillo on October 28, 2008 at 8:50pm

i can't find that video
would love to see it

Comment by Todd McKee on October 27, 2008 at 7:51pm

I did the first scratch with the guys today while we were on duty, The video tells it all and allows the guys see the importance. The next time they put the helmet is when i will see if it worked or not!

Todd McKee

Comment by Anthony Avillo on October 27, 2008 at 5:18pm

sometimes the best way to to start from scratch and keep scratching

Comment by Todd McKee on October 26, 2008 at 1:18pm

Thanks Chief & Very Well said!

I will keep the push up no matter how many #1 signs I get

Todd McKee

Comment by Anthony Avillo on October 25, 2008 at 12:39pm

hey todd
it's like this
the whole department must support it
the chiefs and company officers
if the top of the dept. does not enforce it, there is no use beating your head against a wall trying to enforce it
i have gotten it to be adopted as gospel in our dept because i never gave up. i have also gotten it enforced at the fire academty i teach at -- it just makes good sense and sets a good safety example
we had a captain fall thru a shaft window and hit his head -- his helmet was buckled as was policy on my shift -- as a result, he lived -- it became policy across the job -- no chin straps, no waist straps, no seat belts -- charges
the key is to set expectations and to let them know what u r going to enforce and that u mean it befotre thye evver go out on the firegroound or training ground, or hose-terting ground -- anytime the helmet is on
sometimes the shot heard round the world is necessary to get the point across -- hit the biggest guy -- when he falls, all the others run away (comply), but like i said, if your dept administration will not support, it will be a long uphill battle

there's an old saying-- you can never be better than your boss" and sometimes u have to fight a battle more than once to win it
this policy in NHRFR did not really happen overnite and it is now about 90% compliance and some of our chiefs still don't get it but it is better than i have ever imagined
Before the injury to the capt, i was trying to get it instituted across the job but hit resistance, even from some of my own chiefs, but whenh the guy fell into the shaft and the chinstrap saved his life, it was time to push it and the chief brought into it and supported it
stay the course -- in the end, no one in his right mnd can argue with safety -- the 38 LODD and 44,000 injuries on the firegroound in 2007 attewest to the fact that as supervisors, we can do better
NEVER TURN YOUR HEAD TO ANY SAFETY ISSUE
If you do, you are not wirth the bars or horns on your collar or the money they pay u
enough of this tangent -- make safety more than lip service -- live it every day

Comment by Todd McKee on October 22, 2008 at 2:11pm

Chief:
I would touch base with Chief Avillo in regards to suggestions on getting firefighters to buckle up. Yes it is a great video that FE posted!

Your Friend,
Todd McKee

Comment by Todd McKee on October 21, 2008 at 9:33pm

Never! " I simply asked him to button his lid " , I walked away and saw him in the reflection of the truck give me his friendly reminder!
I hope you liked the video and don't forget to buckle up!
Todd McKee