Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.)

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Fire service proximity suits: What are they used for and what are they made of?

Specialized clothing designed to protect workers from high levels of radiant heat has been around since the 1930s. Those first suits, developed to industrial workers, used asbestos fabric as the protective layer.Asbestos has long since been replaced by increasingly high-tech fibers such as vacuum-deposited aluminized materials that reflect the high radiant loads produced by a fire.When most firefighters hear the term “proximity suit,” they envision the protective ensemble used by firefighters as...
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8 questions to ask apparatus vendors at a trade show or conference

Two things about fire apparatus have never been truer: They are complex pieces of machinery and technology, and they are expensive. Getting to know fire apparatus manufacturers and the products they have available is an important part of any fire chief’s job description or that of one of their deputies. And while many manufacturers have developed very sophisticated websites that can provide a wealth of information to perspective buyers (e.g., interactive features, such as designing your next fir...
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Innovations in fire apparatus design continue to make fire apparatus safer

Firefighters face numerous hazards on the job, and vehicle crashes are among the most dangerous. To mitigate these risks, fire apparatus manufacturers have implemented several advanced safety features designed to protect firefighters in the event of a crash. These innovations not only enhance firefighter safety but also improve the overall performance and reliability of fire apparatus.Let’s consider some of these many innovations and their impact on firefighter safety.Vehicle data recorders (VDR...
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15 quick elevator speeches every firefighter should have at the ready

Every firefighter is a representative for their fire department. Full stop.It’s vital that all firefighters, no matter their rank or agency type, embrace the role of fire department representative. After all, you never know when a citizen is going to stop you to ask a question on a variety of topics (e.g., smoke alarms, safe cooking practices, flammable liquid storage) or when you’ll find yourself in a situation where you have a few minutes to convey an important life safety lesson or even offer...
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Mental health literacy: From Awareness- to Operations-level understanding

I’ve found that there are many parallels between how a fire department responds to hazmat calls and how a fire department responds to firefighter mental health issues.We’ve been talking about firefighter mental health issues for several years now, providing education and training to firefighters at what can best be described as the Awareness Level. Those efforts have focused on threats to a firefighter’s mental health, abnormal responses to those threats, and steps that firefighters can take to...
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7 truths about fire service retirement

Retirement from a life-long career can be a stressful event, regardless of the field. Research conducted in the military and law enforcement fields shows that retirement from a career in public safety can be more stressful than retirement from the civilian workforce.Most firefighters I’ve ever had the pleasure to know have worked hard to get their first job. For many of us, that journey started in the volunteer ranks where we cut our teeth in the business.Many others worked for two or three paid...
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5 ways firefighters use thermal cameras

Thermal imaging cameras detect infrared radiation emitted by objects, allowing them to visualize temperature differences. This allows firefighters to see through smoke, darkness, and certain obstacles to locate fire victims and other firefighters, where visible light-based cameras would fail.In 2000, the Los Angeles Times called the thermal imaging camera, “perhaps the best advance in fire equipment in the last 25 years – and the most expensive.”The use of thermal imaging cameras (TICs) in the f...
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Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems: The alternative to the firefighter SCBA shuttle

When a fire “goes vertical,” originating on an upper floor in a multi-story structure like a high-rise office or apartment building, the #1 logistical problem that the incident commander (IC) must address is how to keep interior crews supplied with breathing air.The most common strategy has been for the IC to commit firefighters to a shuttle system whereby firefighters carry SCBA cylinders up several floors to a drop-off area. Other firefighters above that area come down, pick up the cylinders a...
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Protect your fire apparatus from salt corrosion this winter

Old Man Winter is blowing nasty weather across much of the country. It’s time to start thinking about how to protect your fire apparatus and ambulances from the corrosive nature of the salts used to keep roads and highways free of snow and ice.Spreading salt on slick roads lowers the freezing point of snow and ice. When cities add salt to the roadway, the freezing point drops from 32 degrees F to 20 degrees F or lower. Salt also helps drivers gain more traction during severe weather situations.N...
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It’s time to consider human factors in NIOSH firefighter fatality investigations

Firefighters are not robots – at least not yet! – which makes the recent discussions about the concept of human factors in firefighting particularly relevant. But what does human factors mean in the context of our day-to-day operations? In short, it’s the impact of human behavior and performance, including our decision-making on the scene.Human behavior patterns suggest that even the most well intentioned, best-trained, consistently performing individuals and work groups can, and do, commit erro...
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5 fire engine pump operator mistakes

I’ve always taught firefighters training to become a motor pump operator (MPO) that nobody is busier than the MPO in the first 10 minutes of any fire.There is a lot of knowledge, skill and hustle that must be employed to establish a water supply, supply the attack lines or appliances and carry out support tasks identified by the MPO’s own observations such as scene lighting, pulling additional hand lines or raising ground ladders.Recently, I connected with a fellow firefighter on LinkedIn who li...
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Water supply basics: Hydraulics for pump operators

The legendary football coach of the Green Bay Packers, the late Vince Lombardi, is said to have uttered these words to his team in the locker room after a poorly played game the day before: “Gentlemen, we’re gonna get back to basics. This is a football.”Call them what you will, but the “basics” or “fundamentals” are the foundation for good performance in any discipline, and being a competent motor pump operator (MPO) is no different.In a previous article, How to calculate and overcome friction l...
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More tips on how to become a great pump operator

5 fire engine pump operator mistakes was a compilation of my own experiences as a motor pump operator, along with comments solicited from fire service colleagues via social media, and included a list of 18 pump operation tips. Most of us who use social media are well acquainted with “likes” and “shares.” Some people even provide feedback in the comments section. In the case of the above article, one of our readers did even better than that. The reader provided such great follow-up comments that...
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‘Crew, this is a fire engine’: A back-to-basics approach to the driver/operator job

Following a rather dismal performance by his Green Bay Packers football team, legendary coach Vince Lombardi was said to have stood before his team the following Tuesday and delivered these remarks: “Yesterday’s game was a horrible exhibition of football. Starting with today’s practice, we’re going to get back to the fundamentals of this game.”Then, holding up a football, he stated, “Gentlemen, this is a football.”In this article, we’ll look at some of the fundamentals that firefighters must mas...
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Introducing the first ever hands-free station boot

When it comes to footwear for demanding professions, the Alpha Freedom Hands-Free station work boot stands out as a game-changer. With their “step in, step out” technology, these work boots are designed for those who prioritize speed, agility and readiness, and they redefine what it means to be efficient in the field. I love these boots! I had the opportunity to give a pair of the six-inch Alpha Freedom work boots a test drive, though I was a bit surprised when they arrived in a box that had “O
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This DIY fireground medic kit could save a firefighter's life

Scenario 1: You and your engine company are the first unit to arrive at a reported house fire. It’s a two-story, single-family dwelling with heavy fire showing from upper floor windows on Sides A and B. Laying in the front yard is an unconscious 50-something woman. The ambulance responding on the alarm is several minutes out. Scenario 2: Several fire companies are engaged in fire suppression in three apartments on the third-floor of a multi-family dwelling. A sudden smoke explosion rocks the s
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Firefighters, what’s in your turnout gear pockets?

Modern turnouts certainly contain more “cargo space” than gear from previous decades, so it’s no surprise that firefighters are filling the extra space with their favorite tools. Ask any firefighter to empty the pockets on their turnout gear and it’s likely you’ll have enough inventory to stock a small hardware store. From pliers and screwdrivers to nylon webbing and multi-tools, your average firefighter is ready for whatever comes next. In 2013, I posed the question “what’s in your turnout coa
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What's in your turnout coat pockets?

Firefighters are by and large an innovative lot when it comes to tools and techniques. I’ve always found that one of the hotbeds of this creative energy can be found in the pockets of a firefighter’s turnout coat. I posed the following question to my 300+ Facebook firefighter friends: “What’s in your turnout gear pockets?” Here are some of the responses I received: • Firefighter Tittle (Pa.): Two pairs of gloves, pink safety glasses, Nomex hood, hair ties, medical gloves, ear plugs (for firewo
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9 traits of a good company officer candidate

Probably the biggest leap any firefighter makes in his or her career, be it paid or volunteer, is to a company officer position. That first promotion is akin to a shoot from a seedling bursting through the soil and stretching toward the sun. With the proper groundwork and care, those shoots reach full potential. But without it, they fall prey to the forces bent on uprooting them. So how does a chief officer assess the potential for a firefighter to take on a leadership role in a fire departmen
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The threat is real: How firefighters can protect against skin cancer

It’s common knowledge that firefighters face an increased risk for developing many types of cancer, hence our increased efforts to minimize firefighters’ exposure to the chemicals, chemical compounds and carcinogens found on the fireground. But did you know that skin cancer is one the most common type of cancer that firefighters develop? Firefighters face unique dermal exposures. While there is limited research on risk factors and occupational hazards related to skin cancer in the firefighter w
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