Date: 10/15/2012 Body: ​The University of Washington's Environmental Surface Sampling for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) in Washington Fire Stations Report is Available. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a bacterium that is resistant to common antibiotics. MRSA can cause minor or severe skin infections, surgical wound infections, bloodstream infections, and pneumonia. Fire service professionals may have a higher likelihood of exposure to MRSA when ...

Date: 8/17/2012 Body: Looking at the statistics of fire ground injuries and deaths, I realized that I could be the most dangerous thing on the fire ground. 60% of fatalities are over the age of 40 (that’s me), 30% are over the age of 50 (that’s me, soon). The number of deaths by heart attack is 44%. That doesn’t have to be me. Many younger firefighters look critically at the older firefighters, questioning their physical condition. Many have even said, “We should have higher fitness ...