The Firehouse Emergency Services Expo recently concluded its 14th annual show. During the seminar program, three sessions dealing with the varied aspects of terrorism and how it affects the fire service were presented. Less than a week after the conclusion of the Expo, a plot was uncovered to bomb several targets in a Brooklyn, NY, neighborhood.
As the description of one of these timely seminars read, "It's not a matter of who, where or how but when." Thankfully, no one was injured or killed this time. But it's an incident that should reinforce all that's been said lately that the time to prepare and train is now, not when the event happens. Like an old song says, "We've all got a long way to go and a short time to get there."
Another major focus at this year's Expo was firefighter safety. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in its latest annual survey of firefighter fatalities, states that firefighter deaths last year continued to decline. Oddly enough, this year in New York State alone, more than a dozen firefighters have died in the line of duty.
Mayday, accountability, rescuing trapped firefighters and emergency vehicle operations were only some of the specific Expo seminars that placed emphasis on a subject that still badly needs to be discussed: returning firefighters to the firehouse after an alarm in the same condition in which they left.
In the NFPA report, the second-largest category of firefighter deaths was attributed to accidents that occurred while firefighters were responding to and returning from alarms. Going fast and making a lot of noise doesn't cut it anymore. Look at all the motor vehicle accidents we respond to in which we have to extricate victims, provide medical attention or take care of fluid spills. If you can't arrive safely to perform a service, then what's the point?
Speaking of all the vehicle accidents we respond to, Ron Moore said it best, that we train on and cut up 15-year-old cars at the same time the average vehicle on the road today is under three years old. We're in a rescue jet-lag. Ron's monthly column, University of Extrication, brings you state-of-the-art information on what's new on the road today. It's information we all could use when responding to the next accident.
Recently, the fire service lost a battle but not the war. It's the communications fight over reallocating radio spectrum to public safety agencies. The fire service should not rest until it receives the spectrum to which it is entitled, urged Bill Webb, executive director of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI).
Remember, when the experts panic they call the fire department. Last year, it was around 12-13 million times.
