Chris Mc Loone

As I write this, I am in Hannover, Germany, navigating my way through the largest fire industry trade show in the world: Interschutz.

It's difficult to describe Interschutz. The show boasts approximately 1,500 exhibitors, all of which are spread across multiple buildings. Getting lost is not difficult—both literally and getting lost in the multitude of products themselves. There are so many, it's almost hard to decide where to start.

As I write this, I've attended the show for two days. Believe it or not, there are four days to go. There have been things I've never seen before and some that I actually expected to see. You might think there wouldn't be much to learn at an international show like this. Some might have the mindset, "They fight fire differently than we do here, so why bother?" I disagree with both sentiments.

First of all, there are close to 100 American companies here. So, right away it's clear that an international event like this is important to the United States fire service industry. Don't think that American exhibitors aren't walking the floor looking to learn what our brethren across the pond are doing when they lay out their apparatus. For example, there are very few, if any, preconnected handlines on these trucks. I saw few threaded couplings. The lack of preconnected handlines is obviously a tactical difference between the two continents. The hoses are rolled up and in the side of the trucks. But, where they were placed on the truck was of interest to me. They are donut-rolled, and the trucks have "slots" on them for the hoselines to be stored vertically. I don't question the tactical reason for such a setup, but I do like that slot design. It keeps the compartment looking squared away.

Second on my list is the extrication challenge taking place each day. Twenty-nine teams from 16 countries are competing in this challenge. It allows participants to practice their skills on the latest vehicles. It's not often that you get a chance to watch rescue teams from different nations going through extrication evolutions. There is always something to learn by watching how others do things.

I touched on equipment storage above when I mentioned the hose rolls, but there is even more to it. The amount of equipment that these fire departments figure out how to squeeze into apparatus that is often shorter in length than what you find in the States is amazing to me. Understandably, some of it is not in a great spot, and I did wonder how I would go about retrieving some of it, but every single square inch on these trucks is used.

Also of note is how American manufacturers must navigate the global marketplace. It's not as easy as you would think. Every country has its own standards. And sometimes, each county or city has its own set of standards. Picture a different standard for equipment in all 50 states and a company trying to produce a flashlight or self-contained breathing apparatus for each state. It's not always easy designing products for the global marketplace. Where we gain, however, is when manufacturers bring ideas back.

Perhaps most important is that Interschutz only comes around once every five years, and when that happens, some companies wait for Interschutz to unveil new products. If you have the resources to come for the week, don't you think seeing new products from the vendors we know in the States for the first time is worth it? Some might, and some might not. Some might be abl

Chris Mc Loone

Hopefully you noticed this month's cover photo of a hands-on training (HOT) evolution at FDIC International 2015. Depicted in the photo are attendees participating in the Heavy Vehicle Extrication HOT evolution preparing to stabilize a fire apparatus.

It was sort of an impromptu component of the class. The truck was available, and there aren't many occasions when firefighters have a chance to practice extrication from a fire apparatus.

I'll be honest-I was pretty psyched when I heard the truck would be used during the final evolution. It fit perfectly with what the class was all about-the challenges of extrication from heavy vehicles like over-the-road trucks and tour buses. Although it goes without saying, extrications from these heavy vehicles bring unique challenges and, in many instances, unique equipment to the table. Part of what the class is all about is providing an opportunity to train on extrication from vehicles that are hard to come by. There aren't many, if any, training academies that have the resources to acquire heavy vehicles. So, the fire apparatus fit right in. It's a heavy vehicle, and it has a variety of different construction features we won't find in other heavy vehicles on the road.

Now, why was I so psyched? First, I haven't seen a fire apparatus cut apart during training, so what it would take to complete an extrication from this truck intrigued me. According to the instructors, the plan was to force the door, remove the door, clam shell the roof, and roll the dash. The instructors were hoping for a challenge. As one remarked to me, "I am an officer on an engine, and I sure hope that A post is difficult to cut." Second, I saw this as a whole new component to training that falls into the category of "saving our own."

Shortly before FDIC International 2015, an apparatus accident in Georgia seriously injured four firefighters. The apparatus in question left the roadway and hit a tree. One firefighter was trapped. How often do we drill on how and when to call a "Mayday," on self-rescue techniques, and on RIT? The one area we do not drill on is fire apparatus extrication. One reason is because we don't often come across available fire apparatus to use for such training. When we do, the apparatus, much like the vehicles we often use in training, does not feature the most recent construction or safety features. Pulling up on an apparatus accident with entrapment in the fire truck isn't that different than pulling up on an accident and realizing a friend is trapped in the car or, worse, a loved one. Emotions run high and, in many cases, we're looking at something we never figured we'd look at. Also, it's not like we have an automatic RIT dispatched whose sole purpose is to go in service if something goes wrong and we get involved in an accident.

But, as great as this opportunity was, I find myself troubled that it is so necessary today. We are crashing apparatus at an alarming rate for any number of reasons-some our fault, some not. Shortly before this writing, a tanker rolled over en route to an incident, but it wasn't until the end of the incident when an apparatus returning to the station discovered the accident. The crash resulted in a line-of-duty death. Imagine pulling up on that and what would be going through the crew's and officer's minds. How would you approach that vehicle if you're first on scene and you're an engine company?

Although it's sad that it has become so necessary, we must prepare through

Most employees feel frustrated, concerned, upset, or discouraged at some point during their work day. Why? Because they disagree with the boss, don’t support the suggestion of a colleague, or otherwise possess different views from the vocal majority. And yet almost none of these employees share their opinions in a way that gets results. They either clam up because they figure it’s politically unwise to disagree with the majority or the authority, or hold their differing opinions inside until they eventually blow a gasket. That is, they toggle from silence to violence. Neither method gets an idea out into the open where it can be made part of the collective view—and neither method helps improve working conditions or relationships.

Why do we routinely toggle from silence to violence? We go to silence because we dread crucial conversations. These are interactions where stakes are high, opinions differ, and emotions run strong.  We fear them because our past experience has taught us that if we’re both emotional and honest, bad things are likely to happen. So we go to silence. Better to let someone else speak his or her mind then risk our own reputation...

What image in your mind do you have of a leader? It was very clear what leadership looked like when George Washington was leading troops across the Delaware River. He was standing upright leaning into progress with eyes on the objective, one knee up braced for action, but with a sense of calmness. An early image of fire service leadership looks very much the same; recall Currier and Ives prints. All of them have scenes of action, a bent knee, and eyes on the objective, leaning into the task. In every multi company scene there is, a commander, bugle in hand, majestically pointing the way. These images indicate what fire service is very good at, coordination, where others see chaos. That coordination is that what is critical to our safety, the safety of the citizens we serve, and the quick solutions to progressing problems.

Today the image portrayed of fire service leadership is often from television; a chief officer with a white helmet, grey hair, and deep creases of character in his face, with a presence of calm competence. He is usually behind the main characters not part of the action but playing a role we all know the importance of.