Robert Avsec, Battalion Chief (Ret.)

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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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When talking about reducing cancer in firefighters, where is CAFS?

Firefighters develop several cancers at rates higher than those in the public. Naturally, the fire service has focused more attention in recent years on reducing firefighter exposure to the chemicals, chemical compounds, and carcinogens present in the smoke of today’s interior structural firefighting. Advice typically centers on these recommended actions: • Engaging in initial contaminant reduction after exiting the hot zone. • Using personal wipes on face, neck, forearms after the removal of th
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How to calculate and overcome friction loss

One of the pump operator’s primary goals is to provide the fire attack crew with the necessary water flow to get their job done. There are plenty of things that the pump operator must get done in the early stages of a fire, and none are more important than this. One of the pump operator’s critical tasks is determining what pump discharge pressure to set for each supply or hand line. To determine this, the pump operator must first know the total gallons per minute flow, that is, the desired resu
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eDispatches: 20 years of service to first responders

From its beginnings in 2004, eDispatches has become an industry leader in providing essential communication services to emergency responders, from the smallest volunteer fire company to the largest municipal fire department. As the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, let’s take a walk down the proverbial memory lane, reflecting on the impact of eDispatches’ innovations over the years. The spark that ignited the fire In 2003, Tom Stearn was a full-time IT professional and volunteer firefig
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7 factors to consider in your next information management system

The importance of fire departments using data – collecting it, analyzing it, developing solutions from it – should no longer be in question. The challenge now is how to process more data faster – for preparedness, prevention, operational insights, and firefighter safety and wellbeing. This is where information management systems come into play. But how can fire department decision-makers identify the right solution for them? Start with the following seven factors: • Comprehensive solution. Look
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The ventilation/cancer prevention connection

A time-tested acronym for fire suppression, RECEO-VS stands for Rescue, Exposures, Containment, Extinguishment and Overhaul, with the tacked-on Ventilation and Salvage addressed as a “when needed, where needed” tactical operation. But as we’ve learned more about the increased risks for firefighters to develop cancers (when compared to the public) from the chemicals, chemical compounds and carcinogens present in the smoke of today’s structural fires, firefighters must reevaluate the importance o
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Source capture: The gold standard for keeping toxins out of fire stations

Fact: The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2012 reclassified diesel exhaust (DE) from probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A) to carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) based on evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer. Fact: Research shows that firefighters are at risk of exposure to the gases and diesel particulate matter (DPM) present in diesel exhaust in fire stations. Fact: Research shows that prolonged exposure to DE or DPM can increase the risk of cardio
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5 firefighter safety issues we shouldn’t still be talking about

“A Little Less Talk and a Lot More Action” was a popular 1993 song by country music performer Toby Keith. Hard to believe that it’s been 30 years. It’s also hard to believe that there are still firefighter health and safety issues of roughly the same age that garner so much discussion even today. During the 30 or more years that some of the problems listed below have been on the fire service radar, how many firefighters have been killed or injured? How many firefighters have had their lives or
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Fireground contaminant exposure control: Is the fire service really committed?

By now every firefighter or fire officer should know that during fire suppression, overhaul, live-fire training and fire investigations, they are being exposed to the chemicals, chemical compounds and carcinogens present in the smoke of today’s structural fires – even after they return to the fire station and begin cleaning and decontaminating fire apparatus and equipment. They must also know that the International Agency for Research on Cancer identified the occupational exposure of firefighte
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The Vulcan Clutch: Taking portable lighting to new heights

When Streamlight brought its Vulcan line of portable hand lights to the fire equipment market, it was a ground-breaking advancement in portable hand lights for use by firefighters and EMS personnel. The rechargeable and waterproof Vulcan hand light gave firefighters a personal lighting device with a 180- degree articulating head that used three C4 LED bulbs within deep-dish parabolic reflectors to produce a tight beam with optimum peripheral illumination. Its rechargeable 8800 mAh Lithium-Ion b
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