Carl J. Haddon

Regardless of the size, location, or makeup of a given fire department, we all have our mechanisms in place to spec things like new apparatus and equipment. Throughout that process, we traditionally look for things like compatibility, warranty, delivery, and fit and finish, among other things.

We may notice that an FDNY spec for a new apparatus looks like the best of the best, but we are also forced to realize that the length of the apparatus or the tank and pump capacities are not compatible with our firehouses or our response areas. We utilize this process to spec and vet everything from trucks to self-contained breathing apparatus, to turn out gear, but do we use these same processes when considering bringing in outside training programs to teach our firefighters?

Recently, there seems to have been a rash of life-threatening and life-ending mishaps during various external training programs across the country, and I will simply let that fact stand alone.

From safety, to cost, to relevance, why wouldn’t we want to seriously vet any training program of instructors that we look to bring in, or travel to attend classes with? I’ve been a fire service instructor for more than 20 years; I would and do hope that anyone who considers bringing me in for training would do their homework to make sure that I’m the right guy for the job.

I also understand that the word “job” can have several meanings. If the real “job” is public relations or “wiz bang star power,” then by all means bring in the largest amount of horsepower that your department can afford. On the other hand, if you want specialty training that needs to be taught with your specific applications in mind, wouldn’t you want to look around for the best program for your needs?

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Without getting too deep in the weeds with this, allow me to offer a quick example that I encountered while teaching overseas recently. The assignment was to teach Incident Command System levels 300 and 400 classes. In my opinion, both teaching and taking these classes make watching paint dry look exciting. These classes were made mandatory for the island’s upper management of various government agencies. Many of those in attendance had taken these classes previously (not from me) but retained very little.

When I asked them why they thought so little of the prior trainings and instructor, they all said that it was difficult to absorb because the class was taught directly from the book, with l

Sutphen—Belgium Cold Springs Fire District, Baldwinsville, NY, SPH 100 platform quint. Monarch cab and chassis; Cummins X15 600-hp engine; 100-foot aerial platform; Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; Harrison 10-kW generator. Dealer: Nick Catalino, Vander Molen Fire Apparatus Sales and Service, Syracuse, NY.

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Hands-on product demonstrations available at CMC booth #1535

CMC is excited to showcase our latest rescue products at FDIC 2022. Visitors will be able to demo the CMC CLUTCH™ by Harken Industrial™, the comfortable and customizable ATOM™ Harnesses, the innovative LEVR™ Escape System featuring the Flash.G™ and Flash.2™ Escape Anchors, the new SL Anchor Straps, and more!

CMC CLUTCH by Harken Industrial

The CLUTCH is the latest evolution in rope hardware that enables the technical rope professional to do more with less. Developed with Harken Industrial, the CLUTCH is a single versatile tool for efficient hauling, controlled lowering, smooth personal descent, easy ascending, belaying, and TTRS. Now available in 13 mm and 11 mm models, the CLUTCH moves seamlessly between anchor-based systems and personal use. Both models are certified to NFPA (G) and ANSI. 

ATOM Harness Series

The ATOM Series, our most comfortable harness line, incorporates improved architecture, ergonomic lightweight padding, intuitive new features, and a range of options that can fit every user. The Build Your Own online tool allows you to design an ATOM harness to your unique needs and specifications. Choose from a multitude of options to create your optimal harness system.Stop by our booth totry on the ATOM Harness and use our Build Your Own online tool.

LEVR Escape System with Flash.G and Flash.2 and the BT Escape System

Designed to assure rapid emergency egress with safe, controllable descent, the LEVR Escape System is built around the CMC LEVR descender, a next-generation device that uses its lever-shaped handle for progressive descent control, fast and easy horizontal pay-out, reliable edge transition, and intuitive operation. The LEVR Escape System is now available with two anchor options, Flash.G and Flash.2, both certified to NFPA standards as emergency escape anchors and escape descent control devices. The new LEVR BT Escape System allows advanced users to lower a victim before lowering themselves in a sequence referred to as the Byrne Technique. Purpose-built for efficient execution, and stowed in a compact, dual-sided deployment bag, this system makes it possible to save more than one life during emergency escape situations.

Additional Highlights

Along with our new line of products, CMC will provide customer favorites for hands-on demos, including the SL Anchor Straps, CMC Tech Packs, Texora Slings, CMC MPD™, CSR2 Pulley System™, Arizona Vortex, and AZTEK ProSeries® System. The ATOM and Outback Harnesses will also be available for visitors to try on. Stop by CMC Booth #1535 to learn more about our rescue products and educational resources, demo our gear, and chat with sales reps and CMC school instructors. Visit www.cmcpro.com/fdic-2022 for more details.

About CMC

Since 1978, CMC has been dedicated to making the most reliable equipment and providing the best training for professionals working in the most demanding, high-risk environments. As co-founders of the Society of Professional Rope Access Technicians (SPRAT), the International Technical Rescue Symposium (ITRS), and the International Technical Rescue Association (ITRA), CMC remains committed to innovating across all work-at-height industries. CMC is an employee-owned company and an ISO-9001 certified manufacturing facility. For more information, visit www.cmcpro.com.

FDIC International 2022 takes place April 25-30, 2022.

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