Comments for First Generation Firefighter http://1stgenerationff.com Just another FireEMS Blogs - Firefighter Blogs, EMS Blogs & Podcasts site Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:01:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on First Post in a While by Best of the Rest – Nathan’s Christmas, Call for Photos, Reasons, Good Enough?, and Much More! | The Fire Critic http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/11/26/first-post-in-a-while/#comment-45 Best of the Rest – Nathan’s Christmas, Call for Photos, Reasons, Good Enough?, and Much More! | The Fire Critic Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:01:02 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=113#comment-45 [...] 1st Generation Firefighter – First post in a while [...] [...] 1st Generation Firefighter – First post in a while [...]

]]> Comment on Experience based training by Panama http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/14/experience-based-training/#comment-20 Panama Sun, 30 Sep 2012 14:35:41 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=25#comment-20 Troubleshooting potential SCBA problems in the heat and smoke under the stress of rescuing one of your fellow firefighters can be an insanely daunting task. Also, you should check certain SCBA parts before others. For example, during training, we often find the first thing RIT firefighters want to check for is the cylinder's air pressure, but that doesn't much matter if the firefighter's face piece is missing. To solve this problem, RIT firefighters should follow this step-by-step troubleshooting guide. Troubleshooting potential SCBA problems in the heat and smoke under the stress of rescuing one of your fellow firefighters can be an insanely daunting task. Also, you should check certain SCBA parts before others. For example, during training, we often find the first thing RIT firefighters want to check for is the cylinder’s air pressure, but that doesn’t much matter if the firefighter’s face piece is missing. To solve this problem, RIT firefighters should follow this step-by-step troubleshooting guide.

]]> Comment on What’s an emergency? by mables35 http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/27/whats-an-emergency/#comment-11 mables35 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:52:09 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=66#comment-11 Good post. We have a notorious caller who is disabled and uses City FD/EMS to come pick up his remote when he drops it. I swear, can't make this stuff up! The city I speak of does triage 911 and I have seen benefits and detriments to this. The nearby town i live in doesn't triage, but is MUCH smaller, therefore less emergencies. For the city FD if a call is "mandown" or "unknown medical" or "toe hurts for 3 weeks" they respond Code 1 (flow of traffic) if they are at a hospital dropping off they may take a few min to get rig back together then roll. A CPR in progress call or even a chest pain/SOB or bleeding, etc would get nearest inservice engine crew and closest available ambulance Code 3. Sounds pretty good right? Well I am also an RN in an industrial setting, and once had a pt go down on me in a bathroom no where near our facility. I went to help with what I could carry and asked security to call 911, the call came in as unknown medical mandown, took 30 min for response. Just so happened that I knew the crew and we discussed what happened. My lesson learned is that from now on I call 911 and make sure that age, status and location are clearly defined. I "know" better, imagine a hysterical mom of a choking infant or 3rd party caller who thinks that dad may have passed out during a phone call, i can think of plenty of situations where a 911 dispatcher would have to make some VERY TOUGH decisions, I guess I just hope that training and judgement err on the side of caution? I agree with above: It's their emergency, not ours, we are their to make everything all better. Good post. We have a notorious caller who is disabled and uses City FD/EMS to come pick up his remote when he drops it. I swear, can’t make this stuff up! The city I speak of does triage 911 and I have seen benefits and detriments to this. The nearby town i live in doesn’t triage, but is MUCH smaller, therefore less emergencies. For the city FD if a call is “mandown” or “unknown medical” or “toe hurts for 3 weeks” they respond Code 1 (flow of traffic) if they are at a hospital dropping off they may take a few min to get rig back together then roll. A CPR in progress call or even a chest pain/SOB or bleeding, etc would get nearest inservice engine crew and closest available ambulance Code 3. Sounds pretty good right? Well I am also an RN in an industrial setting, and once had a pt go down on me in a bathroom no where near our facility. I went to help with what I could carry and asked security to call 911, the call came in as unknown medical mandown, took 30 min for response. Just so happened that I knew the crew and we discussed what happened. My lesson learned is that from now on I call 911 and make sure that age, status and location are clearly defined. I “know” better, imagine a hysterical mom of a choking infant or 3rd party caller who thinks that dad may have passed out during a phone call, i can think of plenty of situations where a 911 dispatcher would have to make some VERY TOUGH decisions, I guess I just hope that training and judgement err on the side of caution?

I agree with above: It’s their emergency, not ours, we are their to make everything all better.

]]> Comment on What’s an emergency? by Wolf http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/27/whats-an-emergency/#comment-10 Wolf Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:30:09 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=66#comment-10 Sadly some folks see their stubbed toe or knee pain as an emergency because it hurts and this is the most traumatic thing they have ever had to face. Some people are also chronic 911 junkies who actually have a NEED to call for help. Doctors in the local hospitals here are starting to get tough on these frequent flyers and refuse them them any "pain management" drugs until all the labs/x-rays come back (in most cases they are all negative) then cut them loose. The implementation of the 911 system makes it so easy to dial those magical numbers and the guys in the big red truck or the guys with the bed on wheels show up and fix whats wrong. Most (what we all would call the bulls**t calls) are usually scared lonely people who need some type of kindness shown to them and a little human interaction, even if only for the 10 or 20 minute ride to the ER. It's not hard forget the human factor in the equation when we get called out at 2am and have to crawl out of that warm rack and into a cold rig because Jane Doe is having a panic attack and calls 911 and says she is having chest pains. Don't forget that there is a flip side to this coin, the person who is in active MI and says he's OK and that it's just gas because he doesn't want to be a bother and have any fuss made over him. Nursing homes are a whole other story, 90 yr old Esther falls 3 days ago and started acting funny around noon so they put her in bed. Now it's 4am and they think maybe she needs to go in and get looked at... imagine that... 911 is another beast all it's own, we will get tripped out for active seizures and it's given the lowest response priority (right up there with a hang nail) next call is a psych and it's given the same response priority as a cardiac arrest... These are the things we all love and hate about EMS but it's also what makes it EMS. What is an emergency is a relive question, it is dependent on the person and their perceived level of comfort in dealing with a set of circumstances. Sadly some folks see their stubbed toe or knee pain as an emergency because it hurts and this is the most traumatic thing they have ever had to face. Some people are also chronic 911 junkies who actually have a NEED to call for help. Doctors in the local hospitals here are starting to get tough on these frequent flyers and refuse them them any “pain management” drugs until all the labs/x-rays come back (in most cases they are all negative) then cut them loose.

The implementation of the 911 system makes it so easy to dial those magical numbers and the guys in the big red truck or the guys with the bed on wheels show up and fix whats wrong. Most (what we all would call the bulls**t calls) are usually scared lonely people who need some type of kindness shown to them and a little human interaction, even if only for the 10 or 20 minute ride to the ER. It’s not hard forget the human factor in the equation when we get called out at 2am and have to crawl out of that warm rack and into a cold rig because Jane Doe is having a panic attack and calls 911 and says she is having chest pains. Don’t forget that there is a flip side to this coin, the person who is in active MI and says he’s OK and that it’s just gas because he doesn’t want to be a bother and have any fuss made over him.

Nursing homes are a whole other story, 90 yr old Esther falls 3 days ago and started acting funny around noon so they put her in bed. Now it’s 4am and they think maybe she needs to go in and get looked at… imagine that…

911 is another beast all it’s own, we will get tripped out for active seizures and it’s given the lowest response priority (right up there with a hang nail) next call is a psych and it’s given the same response priority as a cardiac arrest…

These are the things we all love and hate about EMS but it’s also what makes it EMS. What is an emergency is a relive question, it is dependent on the person and their perceived level of comfort in dealing with a set of circumstances.

]]> Comment on What’s an emergency? by oldhead http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/27/whats-an-emergency/#comment-9 oldhead Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:27:59 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=66#comment-9 I'm a first generation firefighter too. No history of ANYONE in my family EVER having been associated with the Fire Department, and to this day I still can't figure out how I ended up a Fireman. That said, I'm coming up on my 27th year in a big city Fire Department and as I look back I realize that for the most part it's been a great ride, and it's been a true honor and privilege to serve and work with some of the finest people on the planet. As for what constitutes a true emergency, trust me, you'll never figure it out. It's been my experience that the people who don't need 911 call at the drop of a hat and those who truly need us are hesitant to call. You know them, they're the ones who are all apologies when you show up, doesn't matter if they're having a heart attack, they've lopped their hand off with the lawn mower, or their freakin' house is on fire, the first thing out of their mouth is, "I'm sorry I called." Damndest thing I've ever seen. The only advice I have to offer is embrace and love the stupid people, they are your job security and they are an endless source of entertainment. You will never run out of stories and when you tell them to outsiders who aren't associated with the Fire Department they'll never believe you. More importantly, love the guys you work with. They'll be the ones you can lean on in good times and bad, and trust me, sometimes it'll seem like nothing but bad times. They're the ones who will ALWAYS be there whether the dog leaves you, your kids leave you, or your old lady leaves you. These are the guys you will form lifelong friendships with, the guys who will be there through thick and thin, the guys who got your back no matter what, the guys who'll drag your ass out of that building right before the roof crashes in and then look you straight in the eye and say, "GODDAMN, that was fun!" So tighten up your seatbelts, grab aholt of the Jesus Christ bar and hang on, you've got front row seats to the greatest show on earth, the human condition! I’m a first generation firefighter too. No history of ANYONE in my family EVER having been associated with the Fire Department, and to this day I still can’t figure out how I ended up a Fireman. That said, I’m coming up on my 27th year in a big city Fire Department and as I look back I realize that for the most part it’s been a great ride, and it’s been a true honor and privilege to serve and work with some of the finest people on the planet. As for what constitutes a true emergency, trust me, you’ll never figure it out. It’s been my experience that the people who don’t need 911 call at the drop of a hat and those who truly need us are hesitant to call. You know them, they’re the ones who are all apologies when you show up, doesn’t matter if they’re having a heart attack, they’ve lopped their hand off with the lawn mower, or their freakin’ house is on fire, the first thing out of their mouth is, “I’m sorry I called.” Damndest thing I’ve ever seen. The only advice I have to offer is embrace and love the stupid people, they are your job security and they are an endless source of entertainment. You will never run out of stories and when you tell them to outsiders who aren’t associated with the Fire Department they’ll never believe you. More importantly, love the guys you work with. They’ll be the ones you can lean on in good times and bad, and trust me, sometimes it’ll seem like nothing but bad times. They’re the ones who will ALWAYS be there whether the dog leaves you, your kids leave you, or your old lady leaves you. These are the guys you will form lifelong friendships with, the guys who will be there through thick and thin, the guys who got your back no matter what, the guys who’ll drag your ass out of that building right before the roof crashes in and then look you straight in the eye and say, “GODDAMN, that was fun!” So tighten up your seatbelts, grab aholt of the Jesus Christ bar and hang on, you’ve got front row seats to the greatest show on earth, the human condition!

]]> Comment on What’s an emergency? by Mick Mayers http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/27/whats-an-emergency/#comment-8 Mick Mayers Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:35:44 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=66#comment-8 Good article. As I see it, an emergency is anything that has the potential to get worse if it isn't properly addressed. We are in the business of responding to emergencies. Interestingly enough, what we consider an emergency doesn't necessarily line up with what the average joe thinks is an emergency, or even what the cops and docs think is an emergency. In my experience, those "weird labs" calls you speak about are an emergency to the hospital in the aspect that they have finally cleared a bed and an empty bed is a bed costing them money. That is not an emergency, but the docs certainly seem to leverage us into action by using it as one. The broken nail is an emergency in that the individual is probably so dependent upon others to make decisions for them that they don't even know what a real emergency is. Stupid, yes; emergent, not really; but in their perspective, why not call 9-1-1? They'll come solve the problem for me. Just like everything we deal with in this job, we have a more cynical eye because we have genuinely seen it all, and if we haven't, we've seen something that resembles it. So our perspective is a jaded one. For me, unless my kids have an active arterial bleed, they can walk it off. So despite a few near-misses that have gotten me in trouble for underestimating the severity of my childrens' health (hey, they teach me to look for life-threatening signs, not red spots, so no, I didn't catch their Scarlet Fever and I don't remember covering that in paramedic class), my kids are probably a little tougher than the rest of the linoleum lizards at school. Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is an emergency. Our job is to go there, put a smile on our faces, stop the loss (or perceived loss), and help facilitate their experience. Be that pointing out that the flowing water from the leaky pipe can be solved by turning off the water to the house (from the service valve they didn't know existed), to splinting a hiccup, or whatever calms them down and reassures them that all is well in the world. Good job. Keep the faith and remember that the first pulse to check at the scene is your own. Unless it is our house burning down, it isn't our emergency, it is theirs. We're there to make things better. Stay safe. Good article. As I see it, an emergency is anything that has the potential to get worse if it isn’t properly addressed. We are in the business of responding to emergencies.

Interestingly enough, what we consider an emergency doesn’t necessarily line up with what the average joe thinks is an emergency, or even what the cops and docs think is an emergency.

In my experience, those “weird labs” calls you speak about are an emergency to the hospital in the aspect that they have finally cleared a bed and an empty bed is a bed costing them money. That is not an emergency, but the docs certainly seem to leverage us into action by using it as one.

The broken nail is an emergency in that the individual is probably so dependent upon others to make decisions for them that they don’t even know what a real emergency is. Stupid, yes; emergent, not really; but in their perspective, why not call 9-1-1? They’ll come solve the problem for me.

Just like everything we deal with in this job, we have a more cynical eye because we have genuinely seen it all, and if we haven’t, we’ve seen something that resembles it. So our perspective is a jaded one. For me, unless my kids have an active arterial bleed, they can walk it off. So despite a few near-misses that have gotten me in trouble for underestimating the severity of my childrens’ health (hey, they teach me to look for life-threatening signs, not red spots, so no, I didn’t catch their Scarlet Fever and I don’t remember covering that in paramedic class), my kids are probably a little tougher than the rest of the linoleum lizards at school.

Just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so is an emergency. Our job is to go there, put a smile on our faces, stop the loss (or perceived loss), and help facilitate their experience. Be that pointing out that the flowing water from the leaky pipe can be solved by turning off the water to the house (from the service valve they didn’t know existed), to splinting a hiccup, or whatever calms them down and reassures them that all is well in the world.

Good job. Keep the faith and remember that the first pulse to check at the scene is your own. Unless it is our house burning down, it isn’t our emergency, it is theirs. We’re there to make things better. Stay safe.

]]> Comment on About by Andrew http://1stgenerationff.com/about/#comment-7 Andrew Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:59:23 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?page_id=10#comment-7 Thanks! I look forward to hearing any thoughts/comments you have in regards to my posts. Thanks! I look forward to hearing any thoughts/comments you have in regards to my posts.

]]> Comment on About by Robby O http://1stgenerationff.com/about/#comment-6 Robby O Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:34:39 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?page_id=10#comment-6 Nice to see another VA blogger!!!! Nice to see another VA blogger!!!!

]]> Comment on Experience based training by Best of the Rest – Rescuing Myself, Fat Firefighters, Complacency Kills, FF Certification, Kenny Hendrick Memorial, and Quick Drills | The Fire Critic http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/14/experience-based-training/#comment-5 Best of the Rest – Rescuing Myself, Fat Firefighters, Complacency Kills, FF Certification, Kenny Hendrick Memorial, and Quick Drills | The Fire Critic Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:35:42 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=25#comment-5 [...] 1st Generation Firefighter- Another blog from Southwest Virginia? Apparently so, although I have no clue who it is. Two posts have been written. We will give them some time to see if they last. Latest post: Experienced Based Training [...] [...] 1st Generation Firefighter- Another blog from Southwest Virginia? Apparently so, although I have no clue who it is. Two posts have been written. We will give them some time to see if they last. Latest post: Experienced Based Training [...]

]]> Comment on Experience based training by Andrew http://1stgenerationff.com/2012/01/14/experience-based-training/#comment-4 Andrew Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:28:29 +0000 http://1stgenerationff.com/?p=25#comment-4 I'm not familiar with that particular trailer, however our county does have one available for us to use. I wanted to get them comfortable with wearing the SCBA and knowing in a familiar environment what happens when the low air alarm goes off. I know from personal experience, if you don't know what it's like it will scare the hell out of you when you're on a call and it happens. Thanks for letting me know about the trailer, I'll have to look into it. I’m not familiar with that particular trailer, however our county does have one available for us to use. I wanted to get them comfortable with wearing the SCBA and knowing in a familiar environment what happens when the low air alarm goes off. I know from personal experience, if you don’t know what it’s like it will scare the hell out of you when you’re on a call and it happens. Thanks for letting me know about the trailer, I’ll have to look into it.

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