ROBERT TUTTEROW

A couple of weeks before this year's FDIC International, I received a link to a YouTube video about the Collingwood (Canada) Fire Department, which had installed an infrared sauna in its fire station.

The sauna is for firefighters to detoxify their bodies after being exposed to the products of combustion or other hazardous materials. The video captured my attention, and I started researching the concept. During my research, I learned that the sauna manufacturer was going to be an exhibitor at FDIC International. On the first day of exhibits, I made it a priority to see the sauna in operation in the Lucas Oil Stadium. My curiosity was piqued even more by the experience.

Crazy Idea

Okay, at first blush, the idea of a sauna in a fire station might seem a bit absurd and far beyond where our customers would want their tax or donated dollars allocated. Fortunately, the manufacturer, SaunaRay, has created a well-advised marketing strategy and has tagged its infrared saunas as "detox units." Many studies confirm that sweating is the most effective way to rid the body of toxins. It is a well-established fact that firefighters are exposed to toxins on a routine basis when fighting fires and handling contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE) and firefighting equipment. The detox process is for firefighters to ride a stationary bike inside the sauna at a low to moderate work load for 30 to 45 minutes following a fire. Afterward, the firefighters take a shower. Firefighters at the Collingwood Fire Department attest that this system works well for ridding the body of toxins.

There are some skeptics about sweating as a means of detoxifying the body, but the overwhelming body of science indicates it works. There are several ways of ridding the body of toxins, including urine, feces, and tears. However, sweating is by far the most effective, especially in ridding the body of heavy metals like chromium and lead.

Why the Concern?

Some fire service personnel may still wonder what all the fuss is about. A few years back, a chief of a metro fire department told me that cancer in firefighters was no more a concern than in the general public. What? The Firefighter Cancer Support Network has data to back up its claim that "cancer is the most dangerous and under-recognized threat to the health and safety of our nation's firefighters." It cites information from the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) that reveals the following about the rising rate of cancer among firefighters. For the 10-year period of 1993 to 2003, there were 31 firefighter cancer deaths among its members before age 60. For the 10-year period of 2003 to 2013, there were 298 cancer deaths among firefighters before age 60! Compare that to cardiac deaths among its members before age 60. For the period of 1993 to 2003, there were 40 deaths. For the period of 2003 to 2013, there were 167 deaths. To underscore the rising problem, for the year 2014 (all ages) there were a total of 117 IAFF deaths. Of them, 62 percent were from cancer; 19 percent were cardiac-related. Other causes also totaled 19 percent. And for IAFF members under the age of 60, 17 percent of deaths were cardiac-related while 62 percent were cancer-related. By the way, that same metro chief will not advocate for his firefighters to get annual medical exams. Yes, there is considerable work to be done on awareness and prevention of cancer in firefighters.

As mentioned earlier, the saunas used for detoxification use infrared heaters. Specifically, the sauna uses "far" infrared rays. This is important because the spectrum of rays helps accelerate sweat (while gently riding a

BY ALAN M. PETRILLO

Fire departments have a number of options for turnout gear storage, from purpose-built locker-type units with lockable security doors to units open to the air that allow turnout gear to dry faster.

Turnout storage lockers come in single-, double-, triple-, and six-pack versions as well as the length of a wall for a custom built setup. Turnout gear storage units have pros and cons, and their use is closely related to the interior style of the fire station, the amount of space available, the budget to purchase them, and aesthetic considerations.

Wall-Mount Storage

John Groves, vice president of sales and marketing for Groves Inc., manufacturer of both the Ready Rack and the Red Rack, says, "In 1984, my brother Hank became the distributor of the first commercially-designed turnout gear storage racks that were put on the wall of the firehouse at the Cary (IL) Fire Department. The fire department had hooks on the wall for turnout coats with the bunker pants and boots on the floor, so the gear didn't dry out, got moldy, mildewed, and deteriorated. The Ready Rack solved that problem by using a hanger and rack to dry the turnout gear quickly and allowed it to last longer."

1 Groves Inc. makes its Red Rack in two-, four-, and six-locker units and also in single- and double-sided versions. Shown are Red Racks wall-mounted and, at the right, a three-unit mobile Red Rack. (Photo courtesy of Groves Inc.) 2 Gear Grid made this custom six-unit double-sided freestanding turnout gear storage unit for the Forest Lake (MN) Fire Department. Note Gear Grid's wall-mounted gear storage unit on the rear wall. (Photo courtesy of Gear Grid.)

Anna Aho, marketing specialist for Gear Grid, says her company's wall-mount lockers are its most popular offering in the turnout gear storage market. "The wall-mount lockers are all steel and are built in our shop and set up on site in the fire station," Aho says. "They can be customized where you have six lockers on one wall and 10 on another, or whatever configuration the fire department needs. All of the firefighter's turnout gear fits inside the locker, which can be enclosed with a door and lock if necessary. We also manufacture stainless steel hangers for the turnout gear to hold it open to dry inside the locker."

FreeStanding Units

Gear Grid also makes freestanding turnout gear lockers with adjustable feet to account for uneven floors, Aho points out. "They also are made out of steel and can be bolted to the floor if that's what is needed. We've also done some custom jobs in the middle of a room where we run power to the lockers to take advantage of our power bars that can charge cell phones, hand lights, and radios in the locker."

Groves says that the standard Red Rack is a three-locker unit, although the company also makes Red Racks in two-, four-, and six-locker units and also in single- or double-sided models. "The two- and three-locker units are only single-sided," he notes, "but the four- and six-locker units can be either single- or double-sided. And

RICHARD MARINUCCI

Departments that make bad decisions when acquiring apparatus will not only pay for it with scarce resources, but they will also pay for it when it contributes to poor performance and years of compromising on-scene execution.

The consequences will last a long time. Next to personnel, apparatus is the most expensive item in a fire department budget. Besides the cost, the units are expected to last for years while remaining reliable so that quality service can be maintained. This should lead departments to invest in the proper research and information gathering prior to purchasing apparatus.

One of the ways departments and individuals can gain as much information as possible regarding purchasing and maintaining apparatus is to attend the Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) Apparatus Specification and Safety Symposium. The 28th annual event will be held January 18-20, 2016, in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is a gathering of individuals specifically focused on acquiring and maintaining emergency apparatus. It includes fire service members of all ranks, mechanics, and apparatus and component manufacturers. There is no other such event that includes this mix of attendees solely with the theme of apparatus.

Those who attend have the opportunity to choose from a variety of workshops that address specification writing and vehicle maintenance on virtually every piece of apparatus available-from aerials to ambulances. There will be sessions on pumps and plumbing, diesel emissions maintenance, aerial controls, emergency lighting, and drone technology in the fire service. There will be other workshops covering some of the more managerial aspects of apparatus purchasing and maintenance. This will include the political realities involved in organizations, other fire department and firefighter experiences, ideas to maximize productivity and use, and how apparatus fits in with Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings.

As safety is the most important part of the FDSOA, there will be sessions on safety relative to apparatus, including operations and even issues that can contribute to future problems. One such area is the need to understand the effect of weight on apparatus performance. Departments need to realize the importance of axle weight management, and there will a great workshop presented by industry experts Mike Wilbur and Jason Witmier on this topic.

The Symposium will open and close with two dynamic and well respected speakers. Jim Juneau, a long-time contributor to the fire service and an attorney, will deliver the keynote address and present his perspective on legal issues relative to apparatus. He has been a part of the Apparatus Symposium many times and always delivers an informative lesson to attendees. Reviews of his previous appearances are outstanding and clearly indicate that those who attend benefit greatly.

The conference will close with Gordon Graham speaking on risk management. While many in the fire service have had the opportunity to sit in on one of his classes, there are many who have not had the pleasure. Even those who have been in a workshop by Graham will benefit, as this presentation will combine the risk management issues relative to apparatus as well as safety concerns in the fire service. The information is critical to those looking to improve performance as an organization and individually. This program is not just for fire service personnel but will also prove beneficial to manufacturers and vendors.

The networking opportunities will be plentiful, and this aspect of the Apparatus Specification and Safety Symposium should not be overlooked. There is