Patients needing important medical treatments such as kidney dialysis are being transported by fire truck and the National Guard as snow-covered roads continue to create hazardous driving conditions.

In Baltimore for example, the fire department and National Guard are traveling down rough roads to pick up patients and take them to Maryland Transit Administration vehicles, said spokesman Howard Libit.

The coordination is part of an ongoing effort to help city residents facing health challenges during the storm, Libit said. During the height of the blizzard, Libit said patients who did not need to be stabilized on stretchers were transported to hospitals in fire engines. In advance of the storm, city officials worked with dialysis patients to schedule any Saturday appointments on Friday.

Officials with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene said the agency has asked providers to alert them about high-risk patients who need specialized medical services, said spokesman Chris Garrett. The providers coordinated with patients on Thursday and Friday to mitigate the need to get treatment in the immediate aftermath of the storm, he said.

For more information, view www.baltimoresun.com

Live from TenCate Protective Fabrics headquarters in Georgia, join Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton as he visits with TenCate’s Mike Stanhope and Bart McCool.  They will explain why specifying certain fabrics is very important when choosing gear, the benefits from protection, to comfort, to durability, to cleaning. TenCate will also share some upcoming innovations to look out for in the coming year.

TenCate Protective Fabrics uses fiber from all the names firefighters trust like PBI and DuPont Kevlar. In our four U.S. manufacturing plants, our 500+ employees make the inherent flame-resistant fabrics that all garment manufacturers then use to create the structural turnout gear, wildland gear and stationwear more firefighters in the world wear than anyone else.  Seven out of 10 U.S. firefighters rely on the technical textiles from TenCate Protective Fabrics.  

Visit www.tencatefabrics.com for more information on their products.  

By Bill Adams

In my opinion, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, is a consensus guideline. It is not a law. Compliance is voluntary. It is, however, a nationally recognized safety standard that has been adopted both directly and indirectly by many political subdivisions. The threat of possible legal action in the event of an “incident” involving a noncompliant apparatus coerces fire apparatus manufacturers (OEMs) and purchasers to abide by its requirements.

NFPA 1901 Section 4.21, Statement of Exceptions, allows OEMs to manufacture a noncompliant rig, provided that both the purchaser and the OEM (and possibly a local contractor such as a dealer) sign off. Sentences 4.21.1 and 4.21.2 list the sign-off particulars. Sentences  a common practice that works to the benefit of all parties, especially when the contractor supplies ancillary accoutrements such as lettering and loose equipment as well as Section 15.9.3 required reflective striping and chevrons.

A drawback to saying “we’ll take care of it later” is that “it” might not get done, or it may not comply with NFPA 1901. In particular, I am addressing the color of rear reflective chevrons, which NFPA 1901 restricts to red alternating with either yellow, fluorescent yellow, or fluorescent yellow-green. Don’t panic. There are no NFPA Police or Chevron Cops that check for compliance when apparatus are placed in service. The OEM has been paid and is on to the next deal. In all fairness to OEMs, most will address noncompliance with a customer—up to the point where it may jeopardize the next sale.

I have nothing against rear chevrons, nor do I have a personal preference for their colors whether the NFPA’s or white and black, blue and white, yellow and black, dark green and light green, or whatever. I also have no qualms with requiring reflective striping on the sides and front of a rig. If it makes the firefighters’ work environment safer, I’m for it. 

What I do question is the lack of consistency in the level of conspicuity of striping colors on all sides of a rig. Conspicuity means how well you can see it. It should be equally visible on all four sides.

Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy is defined as being disingenuous, insincere, and having a double standard. I believe some purchasers are hypocritical when addressing reflective striping and chevrons. Some willfully disregard NFPA 1901’s requirements for rear chevron colors. Yet, they will jump up and down and demand to be provided with other NFPA-compliant equipment because “they have to meet the standards.” They are hypocrites—period, end of discussion. Esprit de corps, tradition, and company pride are not justifiable reasons to disregard a safety standard you personally don’t like and only follow the parts of it you do like. That’s just wrong. 

I believe the NFPA can also be hypocritical. Disclaimer: My opinion is not based on “not getting my way” as admitted to below. It is an assertion based on principle: a belief in “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

The NFPA has a public process whereby changes, additions, deletions&l

Bloomingdale (NY) Volunteer Fire Department Inc., pumper-tanker. Kenworth T370 cab and chassis; Paccar PX9 380-hp engine.