Once again, we are pleased to announce the honorees in our Firehouse® Magazine Heroism & Community Service Awards program, and take pride in highlighting the bravery of these outstanding individuals. This feature begins on page 94.
We would also like to recognize the judges for this year's program: Chief Charlie Dickinson of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire, Chief Luther Fincher of the Charlotte Fire Department and Chief Dennis Rubin of the Dothan, AL, Fire Department. I'd like to include comments from Chief Dickinson regarding the nominees in this year's program: "Individually they all are exceptional acts above and beyond the normal call of duty. Collectively they bespeak in the highest tradition of the fire service in placing themselves at great risk when others need their help so desperately! Indeed noble acts by firefighters who have demonstrated exceptional courage under extraordinary circumstances."
Our thanks also go to our corporate co-sponsors, whose generosity provided the cash awards for the program. They include The Charles Evans Foundation, V.H. Blackinton & Company Inc., Microflex Medical Corp., Mattel, Go Pro Insurance, and the sponsors of the Alfred E. Ronaldson Medal and Alfred E. Ronaldson Spring Golf Classic.
Firefighters and fire companies will always be needed, even though fires are down in many areas of the country. Since many firefighters around the country respond to more auto accidents and extrications than structural fires, we have put together a varied collection of articles dealing with automobiles and many things that firefighters should be aware of. Ron Moore's second installment of the "University of Extrication" series training notebook looks at the percentage of fatalities in vehicle accidents resulting from side impacts. See page 41. How to operate at an incident involving a Volvo that has side-impact airbags can be found on page 46. Pete Lund details how to remove the victim from the vehicle following sound, safe procedures on page 78. A two-part report on alternative-fueled vehicles provides interesting procedures in operations involving liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), methanol, ethanol or electricity. See page 80 for more details. After you've responded to a vehicle incident in which someone has been seriously injured and must be airlifted to a trauma center, the use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) can save time in directing a medevac helicopter to the scene. See the cover and page 111.
Fred Endrikat covers confined space rescues and tells why it is important to understand the environment within the space, since rescuers sometimes become victims themselves. Miscalculating can lead to serious effects on all involved. And learn more about foam firefighting from Mike Wieder. On page 120, he explains the advantages and disadvantages to using foam on fires, and points out many misconceptions about foam and its uses. Read about how two-inch hose is increasing in popularity in an article by David P. Fornell; see page 134.
Our congratulations again to those who were chosen for our heroism awards and to all firefighters, past and present, whose heroic deeds have been an inspiration to us all.
