Tag Archives: smoke

Cancer, Firefighter, HazMat, Leadership, Management, Podcast, Safety

The Fire Smoke Coalition

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smokecoal

I joined the Fire Smoke Coalition years ago.  It was not until I got their information at FDIC (www.fdic.com) and reviewed it that I found a wealth of resources that can change firefighters lives.

The mission of the Fire Smoke Coalition is to focus the required attention and resources on the deadly and life-long consequences of breathing  fire smoke by teaching firefighters and first responders how to Prevent, Protect, Detect, Diagnose, and appropriately Treat the exposure if it occurs.  The Coalition is comprised of firefighters and the medical community – all who embrace the challenge of teaching firefighters how to stay alive – and prevent the disease, illness and death associated with today’s deadly fire smoke.

This post links you to an interview I had with the organizations Executive Director, Shawn Longerich.  Her candor and passion for firefighter safety permeates this discussion.

Please visit: www.firesmoke.org  for further information and resources.  Support the cause that is focused on firefighter safety and health.  We can do better!

Shawn Longerich, Executive Director

shawn@firesmoke.org
Fire Smoke Coalition
323 North Delaware Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
www.FireSmoke.org

#fireofficertrust, Cancer, Firefighter, Podcast, Safety

Fire Service Cancer Epidemic

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Great job Fire Engineering and especially PJ Norwood.  Stay safe!

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SCBA Donning

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Great Video by Dale G. Pekel, on YouTube, for Donning your SCBA more effectively.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

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Why is Bathing Like Motivation?

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parrot-bath

The great motivational speaker and business pitchman Zig Ziglar was quoted: “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.”

How would that apply to us in emergency management?

Why is Bathing Like Motivation??? I’m glad you asked that question.

The point, I believe, that Ziglar was trying to make is that you cannot go long without a bath or personal hygiene; and that motivation is just as necessary.  It is a constant that needs to be in our lives.  But still, how does that correlate to those of us in Emergency Response?

Continue reading Why is Bathing Like Motivation? →

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FDNY Fire Fighters, Fire Officers Urge Congress to Renew Zadroga Act

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June 11, 2015 – Dozens of IAFF members from the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) Local 94 and Uniformed Fire Officers Association (UFOA) Local 854 stormed Capitol Hill today to urge Congress to reauthorize the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. The fire fighters and fire officers arrived by bus to attend a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health specifically on H.R. 1786, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Reauthorization Act. Following the hearing, Local 94 and Local 854 members met with New York and New Jersey members of Congress.

H.R. 1786 was introduced by Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY) earlier this year. The bill has quickly gained the support of 82 bipartisan cosponsors, and the bill’s broad support was evident at today’s hearing. Members from both sides of the aisle were quick to offer their support for the bill, as well as and praise the first responders in attendance.

The bill would reauthorize the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11 Victims Compensation Fund, which provide health monitoring, treatment and compensation for 9/11 responders and survivors in all 50 states. Unless the programs are reauthorized by Congress, they will begin to expire in October 2015.

General President Harold Schaitberger submitted a statement to the Subcommittee urging them to advance the Zadroga Reauthorization Act.

“The survivors of 9/11 should not have to worry every few years that their health care might vanish,” said Schaitberger. “They should not have to worry about how they would support their families were they to become ill. They should not have to worry about partisan politics in Washington, DC when their lives and livelihoods are on the line.”

The hearing ended on a hopeful note; Subcommittee Chair Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA) predicted that the Zadroga Reauthorization Act would soon pass the Subcommittee and Committee on its way to consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Read President Schaitberger’s Zadroga_Testimony to the Subcommittee on Health in its entirety.

A recording of the hearing is available on the House Energy and Commerce web site.

Continue reading FDNY Fire Fighters, Fire Officers Urge Congress to Renew Zadroga Act →

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Thirteen Fire Fighters Hurt: Hazmat

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Thirteen firefighters were taken to area hospitals for treatment Wednesday after fighting a garage fire in Hamilton that contained chlorine, fire officials said.

The 2:45 p.m. fire ripped through two large garages in the 2000 block of South Broad Street, gutting the buildings and at destroying two vehicles parked inside one of the garages, firefighters and witnesses said.

One of the garages contained a container of chlorine, the kind used in backyard pools, and when it burned it caused a gas that caused several firefighters to suffer respiratory injuries, fire officials said.

HamiltonFire2

At about 3:15 p.m., as an odor of a chemical hung in the air, fire officials and Hamilton police officers moved onlookers out of the immediate block, saying the fumes from the chlorine would be harmful to inhale.

And the numerous firefighters who responded were moved a block away and emergency medical officials started setting up a decontamination process for the firefighters, so they could then be taken to local emergency rooms for evaluation.

Continue reading Thirteen Fire Fighters Hurt: Hazmat →

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FDIC: THE SMOKE COALITION

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FDIC Promotions and Class Sessions

Every year the Coalition offers a “special” rate membership during FDIC.  This year the focus is on fire departments. After sending last month’s email, it became apparent that the offer needs to be extended outside of FDIC as so many department budgets have been cut that traveling to FDIC isn’t an option.  For that reason, between now and the end of FDIC, the following offer will apply to all fire departments that wish to join.  Simply download the forms and send to the Coalition.This year’s fire department membership can be purchased for $75.00 (one-time fee) and includes the following:

  • 6 individual memberships to www.FireSmoke.org for training staff
  • DVD that includes:
    • ​Virtual Smoke Symposium
    • To Hell and Back: Cyanide Poisoning training video
    • Out of Air training video
    • Aftermath training video
    • Generic power point instructor presentation

The second promotion is the individual lifetime membership for $20.00 and will only be offered during FDIC.

The third promotion benefits the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN).   Thanks-a-Knot, a Phoenix-based business, brands professions and groups with knotted bracelets.  It’s mission is simple:  helping others.  As a kick-off for 2015, Thanks-a-Knot selected the fire service as its first profession to brand with red, black and gray Knots.  Stop by the booth to purchase your Firefighter Thanks-a-Knot for only $5.00 – $1.00 of which will be donated to FCSN.  The goal is to donate $1,000.00 – so please help us make the donation a reality.

Booth Number:  10042 (Maryland Street Corridor)

FDIC Classroom Sessions:

Thursday, April 23, 2015, 10:30 am:  Jason Krusen presents Smells, Bells & Spills

The focus is on the many concerns associated with everyday responses to natural gas emergencies, calls involving carbon monoxide, as well as fuel spills. Safety concerns are discussed along with how to address them and what to look for. Participants are given suggestions for leading by example on the calls and ways to change the behavior of companies operating on the scene. Participants are given ideas and guidelines for mitigating these incidents, as well as training tips for use in their departments. Recent calls involving these incidents are also discussed.

Thursday, April 23, 2015, 1:30 pm:  Rob Schnepp presents Fire Smoke:  The Impact of Inhalation, Ingestion and Absorption and Preventing the Exposure

This program unequivocally proves that if firefighters do not change personal behaviors, they can expect disease and illness to eventually rob them of a healthy life. Students gain information, including new research about personal protective equipment (PPE) and the need to prevent exposure to fire smoke because of its toxic impact on their lives. Many departments have instituted air-management protocols that will prevent exposure through inhalation, but not all understand that inhalation and absorption continue when the body is repeatedly exposed to toxic substances through PPE. Students see why carbon monoxide is not the only substance to fear on the fireground.

“Know Your Smoke” 2015 Training – New Venues!
  • April 18, 2015; Indianapolis, IN; Register
  • May 15, 2015; Illinois Fire Services Institute; Register
  • May 18-24, 2015;  Tarrant County College; Register
  • May 16, 2015; Cincinnati Fire Academy; Register
  • June 5, 2015; Yonkers, NY;  Register
  • June 6, 2015; Dutchess County, NY; Register
  • July 18, 2015; Darlington, MD; Register
  • July 19, 2015; Long Island, NY; Register
  • August 14-15, 2015; Anchorage, AK; Register
  • September 27, 2015; Allegheny County, PA; Register;
  • October 2, 2015; Lakewood, CO; Register
  • November 13, 2015; Pasco Community College, Dade City, FL; Register
  • November 14, 2015; Camilla, GA (SOWEGA Fire Chiefs; Register
  • December 5, 2015; Glendale, AZ; Register

For those who have yet to attend “Know Your Smoke” – take a moment and listen to a few thoughts about the training.

Dix Hills, NY:  Four departments chip in to purchase Cyanokit and Save a Life!A 70 year-old man was spared death – and only because he received the Cyanokit.  The Coalition is well aware of the cost of the kit, but there is no other “antidote” approved by the FDA for cyanide poisoning in smoke inhalation.  There are other means of treatment, but not as effective as the antidote that directly counteracts the hydrogen cyanide poisoning.  In this particular case, four departments shared the cost of the Cyanokit.  According to Chief Robert Fling, Dix Hills Fire Department, “soot was visible in the man’s airway.”  Chances are he would not have survived without the antidote.  As Chief Fling so aptly stated, “The Cyanokit is the “Narcan” for smoke inhalation.” Sharing the cost of the Cyanokit may not be possible for all departments, but it’s obviously a life-saving plan worth sharing. All are to be commended and thanked for being progressive and resourceful.View the story as reported by Sophia Hall, WCBS.

Fire Smoke Coalition, Inc.

323 North Delaware  Street

Indianapolis, IN  46204

(317) 690-2542

Contact Executive Director: shawn@firesmoke.org