By Carl Nix

Firefighters spend hours training. Our training includes pump and aerial operations, donning turnout gear, hose extending and pulling drills, ceiling breach exercises, forcible entry drills, and victim drags and carries. My 30 years in the fire service have taught me how critical firefighter training is. Quite simply, our lives depend on it. All of us have stories of battling a fire where we feared we might not make it home safely. That’s when you know the training you’ve had made a difference.

I didn’t mention thermal imaging training on my list, but it needs to be there. All too often, departments forget how important thermal imaging training is to a firefighter. Training on a thermal imaging camera (TIC) shouldn’t just be about observing fire behavior and how it looks on the TIC’s display. It must also include training on the basic functions of the TIC so firefighters develop a solid understanding of the tool. Firefighters who, hopefully, are deploying this technology during emergency operations can overlook or not be aware of some of the basic TIC capabilities.

The biggest obstacle to effectively using the TIC is getting it where it needs to be. Deployment of the TIC is key but often overlooked during training exercises. Think about what’s required of you when you answer a call. Everyone is moving fast, and the action around you can seem chaotic. How many times have you exited your apparatus and forgotten the TIC? How many times have you had to go back to the apparatus to get the TIC? It happens to all us, but if we train to always grab the TIC when getting off the truck, it becomes second nature. Firefighters should practice removing the TIC from their apparatus or directly from their apparatus’ charger, if they have one, while wearing the gear they would have on when exiting the truck. Then, they can practice attaching the TIC to their gear or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). When attaching the TIC to their gear, firefighters should find a place that keeps the TIC within easy reach but does not interfere with performing basic tasks.

1 Overhaul is a good time to train with a TIC as well; use a TIC to find hidden fires or smoldering materials that could cause the fire to reignite. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

Keep thinking about approaching your emergency incident. You grabbed the TIC and attached it to your gear and are now heading toward the structure, where you see smoke billowing from the windows. You put on your gloves. Now you have to operate the TIC with your gloves on. It sounds easy, but it can be challenging during an emergency situation. Firefighters often use the TIC during nonemergency situations without wearing gloves. It becomes more difficult to operate a TIC in an emergency. Firefighters need to become familiar with where the TIC’s power button is and practice finding it with a gloved hand in the dark while wearing an SCBA face piece. This helps firefighters learn to capably turn the TIC on in a blind situation when the unit either has been inadvertently powered off or needs a battery change. Be sure to include training on all of the TIC buttons, not just the power button. This will help firefighters develop a familiarity with the TIC’s buttons, their locations, and their functions.

When training with a gloved hand, don’t forget to also train on changing the TIC’s battery. Replacing the batter

By Carl Nix

Firefighters spend hours training. Our training includes pump and aerial operations, donning turnout gear, hose extending and pulling drills, ceiling breach exercises, forcible entry drills, and victim drags and carries. My 30 years in the fire service have taught me how critical firefighter training is. Quite simply, our lives depend on it. All of us have stories of battling a fire where we feared we might not make it home safely. That’s when you know the training you’ve had made a difference.

I didn’t mention thermal imaging training on my list, but it needs to be there. All too often, departments forget how important thermal imaging training is to a firefighter. Training on a thermal imaging camera (TIC) shouldn’t just be about observing fire behavior and how it looks on the TIC’s display. It must also include training on the basic functions of the TIC so firefighters develop a solid understanding of the tool. Firefighters who, hopefully, are deploying this technology during emergency operations can overlook or not be aware of some of the basic TIC capabilities.

The biggest obstacle to effectively using the TIC is getting it where it needs to be. Deployment of the TIC is key but often overlooked during training exercises. Think about what’s required of you when you answer a call. Everyone is moving fast, and the action around you can seem chaotic. How many times have you exited your apparatus and forgotten the TIC? How many times have you had to go back to the apparatus to get the TIC? It happens to all us, but if we train to always grab the TIC when getting off the truck, it becomes second nature. Firefighters should practice removing the TIC from their apparatus or directly from their apparatus’ charger, if they have one, while wearing the gear they would have on when exiting the truck. Then, they can practice attaching the TIC to their gear or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). When attaching the TIC to their gear, firefighters should find a place that keeps the TIC within easy reach but does not interfere with performing basic tasks.

1 Overhaul is a good time to train with a TIC as well; use a TIC to find hidden fires or smoldering materials that could cause the fire to reignite. (Photo courtesy of Bullard.)

Keep thinking about approaching your emergency incident. You grabbed the TIC and attached it to your gear and are now heading toward the structure, where you see smoke billowing from the windows. You put on your gloves. Now you have to operate the TIC with your gloves on. It sounds easy, but it can be challenging during an emergency situation. Firefighters often use the TIC during nonemergency situations without wearing gloves. It becomes more difficult to operate a TIC in an emergency. Firefighters need to become familiar with where the TIC’s power button is and practice finding it with a gloved hand in the dark while wearing an SCBA face piece. This helps firefighters learn to capably turn the TIC on in a blind situation when the unit either has been inadvertently powered off or needs a battery change. Be sure to include training on all of the TIC buttons, not just the power button. This will help firefighters develop a familiarity with the TIC’s buttons, their locations, and their functions.

When training with a gloved hand, don’t forget to also train on changing the TIC’s battery. Replacing the batter

By Robert Tutterow

Much has been written and spoken about firefighter safety and fire apparatus.

Though a lot has been done, there are still issues that remain, such as seat width. The fire service definitely does not need to lose its focus on apparatus safety. However, the focus needs to be widened to address firefighter health. Specifically, the contamination from the products of combustion to the cab interior and the equipment carried on the apparatus poses health risks.

Typical Scenario

To date, the main focus of contamination has been on personal protective equipment (PPE). This only makes sense because PPE is “personal”-i.e., it is in direct contact with the body. But, what about all the other contaminated equipment firefighters encounter?

The following scenario is common in the U.S. fire service: Firefighters respond to a working fire, engage in suppression, extinguish the fire, and return to the station. A few hours later, they receive a call for a medical emergency. They respond, render aid, package the patient for transport, and return to the station. What just happened? Firefighters wore contaminated gear (especially pants and boots) inside the apparatus cab for the return to the station after fire extinguishment. The seats are cross contaminated. The firefighters respond to the medical emergency wearing the station work uniforms, which become cross contaminated. They then are likely to enter a residence or place of business and spread the contamination. Then they return to the station, again riding on contaminated seats, and go into the station and sit on day room or kitchen chairs. The cross contamination continues.

Not Just the Seats

The previous scenario has other layers. Think about footwear. Is anything more contaminated than the bottoms of boots following a working fire? Firefighters place the bottoms of those boots directly on the apparatus cab floor. An emergency medical service (EMS) call comes in, and the firefighters, wearing the station work shoes, contaminate those shoes when they enter the cab. The contamination then spreads to the scene of the EMS call and eventually back into the fire station.

Aside from PPE, think of all the other equipment on fire apparatus that is contaminated. In fact, try to think of a piece of equipment that is not contaminated. Pieces of equipment that are the most grossly contaminated are attack hose, nozzles, and tool handles.

Solutions?

What are the solutions? Only time will tell as this becomes more of an issue. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network is starting to look at overall contamination, and research grant applications have been submitted to study the problem and identify best practices.

From a design perspective, apparatus manufacturers should consider interior cab finishes that are nonporous and easily cleaned-especially seats and flooring. There have been discussions about removable floor mats for apparatus. Perhaps something like the popular WeatherTech floor liners should be considered. Would the lip pose a trip hazard? These are easily removed, cleaned, and replaced. There have also been suggestions for seat covers that are easily removed and cleaned. Or, perhaps a disposable seat cover is a practical approach.

Decontamination wipes should be as common in and on apparatus as toilet paper in a restroom. The wipes, such as FireWipes, which were introduced at this year’s FDIC International, can be used to wipe the skin as well as parts of the apparatus such as: grab handles, grab rails, door latches, seat belt buckles, steering wheels, seats, etc. The wipes are specifically designed for firefighters to remove car

By Robert Tutterow

Much has been written and spoken about firefighter safety and fire apparatus.

Though a lot has been done, there are still issues that remain, such as seat width. The fire service definitely does not need to lose its focus on apparatus safety. However, the focus needs to be widened to address firefighter health. Specifically, the contamination from the products of combustion to the cab interior and the equipment carried on the apparatus poses health risks.

Typical Scenario

To date, the main focus of contamination has been on personal protective equipment (PPE). This only makes sense because PPE is “personal”-i.e., it is in direct contact with the body. But, what about all the other contaminated equipment firefighters encounter?

The following scenario is common in the U.S. fire service: Firefighters respond to a working fire, engage in suppression, extinguish the fire, and return to the station. A few hours later, they receive a call for a medical emergency. They respond, render aid, package the patient for transport, and return to the station. What just happened? Firefighters wore contaminated gear (especially pants and boots) inside the apparatus cab for the return to the station after fire extinguishment. The seats are cross contaminated. The firefighters respond to the medical emergency wearing the station work uniforms, which become cross contaminated. They then are likely to enter a residence or place of business and spread the contamination. Then they return to the station, again riding on contaminated seats, and go into the station and sit on day room or kitchen chairs. The cross contamination continues.

Not Just the Seats

The previous scenario has other layers. Think about footwear. Is anything more contaminated than the bottoms of boots following a working fire? Firefighters place the bottoms of those boots directly on the apparatus cab floor. An emergency medical service (EMS) call comes in, and the firefighters, wearing the station work shoes, contaminate those shoes when they enter the cab. The contamination then spreads to the scene of the EMS call and eventually back into the fire station.

Aside from PPE, think of all the other equipment on fire apparatus that is contaminated. In fact, try to think of a piece of equipment that is not contaminated. Pieces of equipment that are the most grossly contaminated are attack hose, nozzles, and tool handles.

Solutions?

What are the solutions? Only time will tell as this becomes more of an issue. The Firefighter Cancer Support Network is starting to look at overall contamination, and research grant applications have been submitted to study the problem and identify best practices.

From a design perspective, apparatus manufacturers should consider interior cab finishes that are nonporous and easily cleaned-especially seats and flooring. There have been discussions about removable floor mats for apparatus. Perhaps something like the popular WeatherTech floor liners should be considered. Would the lip pose a trip hazard? These are easily removed, cleaned, and replaced. There have also been suggestions for seat covers that are easily removed and cleaned. Or, perhaps a disposable seat cover is a practical approach.

Decontamination wipes should be as common in and on apparatus as toilet paper in a restroom. The wipes, such as FireWipes, which were introduced at this year’s FDIC International, can be used to wipe the skin as well as parts of the apparatus such as: grab handles, grab rails, door latches, seat belt buckles, steering wheels, seats, etc. The wipes are specifically designed for firefighters to remove car