David Cain

But, that's starting to change as many departments are beginning to convert from these pen-and-paper systems to digital logbooks. Automating inspections saves departments both time and money because crews can perform their checks with greater efficiency, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks.

Although the startup costs of implementing such systems are higher than paper-based programs, the savings in the long run are substantial. "A conservative estimate is that a targeted document management effort can return as much as $20 to $40 for every dollar invested," according to a report from totallypaperless.com. These savings are the result of increased productivity; immediate access to decision-critical data; and the ability to keep, organize, and retrieve vast amounts of information like regulatory guidelines, manufacturer specs, and compliance documents.

But, the highest return on investment for departments that have taken their checks paperless comes from identifying and repairing apparatus issues early on, before the repairs become more costly and dangerous. According to Daniel Cimini, chief for the Surfside Beach (SC) Fire Department and former member of the NFPA 1901, Standard for Automotive Fire Apparatus, Technical Committee, "There are several things that firefighters can do on a regular basis to head off issues early on and that will help prevent the need for costly repairs. When everyone knows what needs to be done and what has already been done, the fire department saves time and money. Problems get caught up front, and major breakdowns are reduced drastically or eliminated altogether."

1 Computerized records have drastically increased efficiency by centralizing information, improving accessibility, and cutting down on redundancies. Digital logbooks aim to do the same thing for apparatus and equipment checks. (Photo courtesy of PSTrax.com.)

Although fire agencies do not necessarily need a software program to help them catch issues early on-Cimini has been repairing apparatus for longer than digital systems have been available-the demand is increasing as departments are asked to do more with less. Firefighters are trained in more areas today, and departments have much more specialized equipment to track, maintain, and document. Digital logbooks help departments organize and manage this multitude of information more efficiently than paper check sheets.

With the improved efficiency and transparency that comes with digital logbooks, it is only a matter of time before they take the place of paper checks. Consider what has happened with incident reporting. Before the National Fire Incident Reporting System, all incident logs were done on paper. But the move to computerized records has drastically increased efficiency by centralizing information, improving accessibility, and cutting down on redundancies. Digital logbooks aim to do the same thing for apparatus and equipment checks.

DAVID CAIN is a retired deputy chief with the Boulder (CO) Fire Department, where he served for 34 years. He works as a consultant for PSTrax.com.

By Alan M. Petrillo

Hand protection is an important part of every firefighter's personal protection equipment (PPE), and no matter what type of operations the firefighter is involved in-structural, wildland, rescue, or specialty rescue-the gloves must be designed to fit the task at hand.

Karen Lehtonen, director of products at Lion, says that fourchette-style gloves, commonly described as 3D gloves, are becoming more popular with firefighters as the desire for increased dexterity grows. She notes that Lion, which has been making firefighting gloves for 32 years, offers a full line of structural firefighting, wildland, technical rescue, extrication, and emergency medical services (EMS) gloves.

Structural Gloves

"Lion's new Rebel structural firefighting glove offers supreme thermal protection with thermal protection performance (TFP) over 60 and conductive heat resistance (CHR) well above National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requirements, especially in the back of the hand where additional protection is provided," Lehtonen says. "The Rebel's multipiece, ergonomic fourchette design mimics the three-dimensional shape of one's hand, making it easier to perform fireground tasks with less stress and hand fatigue."

1 Lion makes the Rebel structural firefighting glove, a fourchette-style glove often called a 3D glove, that mimics the shape of a firefighter's hand to make fireground tasks easier. (Photo courtesy of Lion.)

The Rebel glove is made with a double layer of para-aramid knit and leather reinforcements in high-wear areas, allowing the glove to have an excellent grip and durability, Lehtonen adds. "By using the Crosstech Insert with Film Technology, the Rebel glove can remain lightweight and flexible with breathability and liquid penetration resistance," she says.

John Zbozien, director of marketing and business development for Fire-Dex, says his company's next-generation 3D glove is the Dex Pro, a new pattern structural firefighting glove with all new materials compared with the company's first 3D glove, the FDX G1.

2 The MX-XT Mechflex extrication glove made by Lion uses a 3D design for dexterity and flexibility; has a 100-percent nylon shell; and has Spandex padding on the back for abrasion, cut, and tear resistance. (Photo courtesy of Lion.)

"With the Dex Pro, we beefed up the outer shell," Zbozien says, "with three-ounce cowhide for the palm, the back of the glove, and the knuckle guards. It's tanned with additives that allow the material to go through repeated wet and dry cycles yet stay soft and flexible. It adds a lot of durability without sacrificing flexibility, giving the glove an already broken-in feel."

Fire-Dex's G1 glove has a stitch bonded Kovenex-R double layer thermal liner, but for the Dex Pro, Fire-Dex changed the interior to an interlock weave of two Nomex layers down the back of the hand. "This is the same fabric used by the U.S. military today," Zbozien points out. "It's very flexible, and there is no restriction when bending the hand or making a fist."

The last element of the Dex Pro glove is its single layer, breathable polyurethane Vapor Flex liner, Zbozien says. Dex Pro is available with a Nomex wristlet or a leather gauntlet. "Generally speaking

Richard Marinucci

This is an example of "out of sight, out of mind" in that the vast majority of fire departments and firefighters do not really expect this type of event to occur in their jurisdiction. Perhaps it is time to review your background in this area and consider training in some of the basics needed for a professional response to such emergencies.

Sometimes a reminder that something could occur is necessary to generate the planning and training that would provide a great response that takes care of the emergency and offers the appropriate safety measures for firefighters. It seems that the further we get from an emergency the more likely we are to neglect our responsibilities to be ready. Although it has been a long time since an organization I'm affiliated with responded to this type of incident, I have responded to a single-engine plane that crashed into a garage two houses from where I lived. I have also responded to a couple of minor helicopter crashes. Because of the infrequency, my confidence level in this area is not as high as it should be.

Airport Resources

Aircraft events are most likely to occur on airport property or nearby. This is good, because airport firefighters regularly and routinely train and prepare for such events even though crashes are rare. They continue to work on their skills and knowledge and have apparatus and equipment specifically designed for the emergencies that might occur. On occasion, this is not the case. Departments, especially those on a flight path, must train and review regularly for incidents of this type even though the risk is relatively low.

Those looking for resources to help prepare them for aircraft emergencies should start with nearby airports staffed for response. They are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and are very knowledgeable. They almost always are willing to offer their expertise to help others that are not as well versed as they are. This also applies to those near military airports. Good relationships are always beneficial, and the closer you are to an airport or along flight paths, the more you need to know. Though infrequent, a crash can create a significant challenge to any department depending on the type of aircraft, the amount of fuel on board, and where the crash occurs.

In most cases, crashes do not present rescue opportunities for those on the plane. Still, there are instances where proper actions by rescuers have saved victims. It could be a case of knowing enough and being prepared in those rare instances. In addition, organizations should consider the possibility of crashes from aircraft other than fixed-wing types. Because of their design, they often have greater potential for survival.

Aircraft Types

There are more types of aircraft than I can list. To simplify, we would classify aircraft as commercial or private, jet or prop, fixed-wing or rotary, or even passive such as hot air balloons. Although I don't think a typical fire department or its personnel will ever possess the knowledge of airport crash crews regarding specifics on various aircraft, there should be some minimum familiarity and understanding. Responders should know about some of the special hazards they may face based on aircraft construction and what they carry, from fuel to cargo.

Large commercial jets do not crash as frequently as private planes, including both jets and props. The odds of the average firefight

By Paul Shapiro

Dividing this flow by the two handlines means that each line should be able to flow 150 gpm. Is your department currently meeting this standard? What would you say if I told you that it is possible for that initial 1¾-inch attack line to flow up to 240 gpm with two firefighters and is no harder to use than a 150-gpm attack line with a 100-pound-per-square-inch (psi) nozzle pressure (NP)?

Over the past several years there has been a push to lower the NP on handlines to make them more user-friendly for firefighters. The main focus has been on 100-psi combination nozzles and their nozzle reaction, especially with higher flows. Some departments that use 100-psi nozzles actually keep the flows as low as 100 gpm to make the handlines more manageable. Doing this corrects the handling issues. However, it comes at a cost by creating inferior flows. Remember-the minimum flow is 150 gpm. This article is going to show how a low-pressure nozzle in conjunction with proper hose-handling techniques can allow for an increased flow of 240 gpm using a 1¾-inch handline with an increase in nozzle reaction by no more than five pounds over nozzles flowing 150 gpm with 100-psi NP.

Before I cover how to accomplish this feat, consider the four main characteristics an interior attack line must possess: hose performance, nozzle performance, kink resistance, maneuverability.

Hose Performance

1 There are basically two types of 1¾-inch hose: that which specs out to exactly 1¾ inches and one that is slightly larger at 17⁄8 inches. Shown here, with 1¾-inch on the left and 17⁄8-inch on the right, they look almost identical. However, the 17⁄8-inch hoseline's friction loss is 20 psi less than 1¾-inch hose. (Photos by author.)

When 1¾-inch hose was first introduced back in the 1970s, its claim to fame by the hose peddlers was that it could take the place of 2½-inch hose in terms of handline flow capabilities. In those days, most 2½-inch handlines were only flowing 250 gpm, and folks were told that the 1¾-inch hose would also flow 250 gpm. What they neglected to tell firefighters was that the pump discharge pressure had to be high to move the 250 gpm with the smaller hose.

Here's an example of what firefighters saw when they tried to flow 250 gpm through the 1¾-inch hose. With their 2½-inch lines, the average pump pressures were between 80 and 150 psi, depending on the length of the line and the type of nozzle they used. When they tried to pump 250 gpm through their 1¾-inch lines, they were developing pressures easily greater than 200 psi and sometimes pushing 250 psi. This was the trade-off for using the smaller-diameter hose.

Fire hose manufacturing has come a long way since the 1970s in improving hose quality, which in turn has lowered the friction loss (FL) numbers. So, what is the FL now?

There are two basic types of 1¾-inch hose in the industry. The first specs out to a true 1¾-inch-diameter dimension. Based on a 240-gpm flow, FL in this hose is between 60 and 70 psi per 100 feet. Keep in mind that these numbers are only approximate. To come up with exact numbers, it is important to do flow tests on the hose your department uses. Based on a 200-foot hand-line flowing 240 gpm, its FL