Inside this issue
Australian Wildfires............... 1
FANNING THE FLAMES
Hot Ap. & Editorial Cartoon .. 1
Page Two Girl ........................ 2
Volunteer Firefighter’s
April 2009
Cool Tools ……………………...2
Don’t Sweat it! ....................... 2
Fire Funnies……………………3
Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 4
Hot Apparatus Is That Your Face Or
Are You Wearing A Mask?
By: J. Diemert
What do you wear to protect your lungs at a wildland fire? A cloth bandana?
A fiber dust mask? Nothing at all?
Tired of spend the next day coughing or blowing out black snot, then maybe
you should be looking into something to protect your lungs and throat. I
suggest the Whiffs Xcaper Brush Pro® Mask or the Manta X 30 ® .
The Brush Pro® Mask is a Advance Nomex mask that matches your bunker
gear and holds a special gel filled disposable filter to block the finest of
particulate that are contained in smoke. The breathing port of the mask is
made of Nomex knitted hood material which also carries a 1050° heat rating.
The Brush Pro mask is lined with blue Indura ® Ultra Soft ® cloth with a
If you have something to submit? hydro lone finish. This material helps to wick moisture from the firefighters
Send it by email to face and prevents the transfer of radiant heat to the skin.
fanningtheflames@ymail.com.
The contents of the filter include a combination of a proprietary, all-natural
plant extract which is hypoallergenic, and styrene beads. This formula makes
Editorial Cartoon the Xcaper filter feel moist and cool to the touch. The gel will not steam, so
there is no risk of steam burns. The styrene beads are used as a medium to
trap the particulate matter and allow the filter to fit any shape or size face.
Laboratory tests indicate that the Xcaper filter will trap anhydrite water-
soluble gases such as Hydrogen Cyanide, Carbon Monoxide and Acrolein!
The filter will last 8-12 hours in a wildland situation. For optimal
performance, keep the Xcaper filter in its original vacuum sealed, airtight bag
until ready to use.
This mask is something to consider with the wildland season on our door
step. You can check this product out at www.xcaper.com.
Real Men Don’t Need CISM?
By: J.Diemert
Have you ever come home from a call and found yourself not feeling right.
Feeling like you are out of sorts or even feeling worse maybe you are
experiencing Critical Incident Stress.
At one time this was called “being shell shocked” or “battle fatigue”, now we
realize that this doesn’t only happen to soldiers. Anyone who has had to deal
with a critical incident can be affected by CIS.
In the past there was no understanding of the effects of CIS. Firefighters just one
day could not do the job anymore or “burned out”. The person fell into
depression or even became suicidal. Many failed marriages and
Page Two GirlI chemical dependencies were the result of dealing with the memories
and emotions of a “bad call” alone.
The tough guy attitude of some firefighters and some fire departments
directly contributes to staff turn over and burn out. No one can handle
prolonged stress without some way to manage it.
I had heard about CISM and been to workshops and like so many
others thought that it was just a bunch of handholding hooey. That was
until my department had a very bad call that took the lives of two
locals. Something in my mind told me that this was going to be a bad
situation for a number of our members due to the fact that we knew the
victims. I got the chief to place a call to a CISM that I know. We
started the debriefing and defusing process as soon the incident was
over. I have no doubt that this is the reason that we retained all of our
members and give them the help that they needed to deal with their
emotions.
This is now a standard procedure for our department whenever there is
a call that doesn’t have a positive outcome. The guys have come to
believe and rely on this program. I can tell you that this has helped me
as a lifeguard many years ago.
While I was in high school and university I was a lifeguard. I worked
this job for eight years. I had some basic rescues and injury patching
Ya I find the whole outfit too hot also! during my career. I was well trained and good at my job.
One day I had to make a rescue on a 5 year old that a parent had just
Page Two Brought To You By: dropped off at the swimming pool on their own. I performed CPR on
the child and brought him around. I did everything by the book and the
child lived. I should have been on the top of the world, but I wasn’t. It
became evident to me that I was finished. I could no longer do the job.
Now I realize that I and the others involved should have had critical
incident stress. We should have had a team brought in to talk to us.
Great Patch of the Month Even if I never returned to the job, it probably would have shortened
the healing process. I just needed someone to talk to face what had
happened. That is what CISM really is just facing it and getting it all
out.
Do people on your department have a need for a CISM program? You
bet they do! If you do not have measures in place for accessing CISM
assistance start working on it now rather when you need it. It is just a
matter of making some calls to a mental health clinic and asking if they
can direct you to qualified CISM people in your area. Get to know
them before it is an emergency.
If you want to learn more about CISM follow the link below. It is in all
of our best interest. We are all in this together.
http://www.niagararegion.ca/living/health_wellness/ems/pdf/cism.pdf
What Is My Role?
By: J. Diemert
FDNY Station #9 We all know our role on a fire scene or an accident, but what is
the role of the firefighter in a search and rescue incident?
I am a retired ground searcher with South Eastern Alberta Search
and Rescue (SEASAR). I trained and worked as a ground searcher
for six years with the organization, trained in urban, urban disaster
and wilderness search and rescue. I am also a retired Search and
Rescue Dog Handler (SAR K9) with the Canadian Search Dog
Association.
When someone goes missing a concerned person makes a call to
911. This call is routed to the police. They will then start an
investigation. In Canada only the police may initiate an official
SAR mission. If a fire department is contacted the police must be
called to start the search process.
Cool Tools: The police department becomes the IC on the scene. They are the
A Cool Tool That Is A Real only group that can dispatch SAR groups. The municipal police
Lifesaver! and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have many
This month’s tool isn’t really a tool at all it is a SAR resources at their fingertips. They have access to ground
pill. That is right a pill. What if I told you this search teams, K9 teams, air search teams, ATV teams, horse
tiny little pill could make the difference of life teams, trackers, low to high angle rescue teams and many other
and death for many firefighters every year. helpful groups.
What is this amazing pill? Baby aspirin. That is Once the SAR teams are on scene they will set up their command
right. The little colored pills that mom gave center and start the grid search and dispatch the teams.
you.
These are not untrained civilians that just wander around in the
In talking with a firefighting friend of mine, he woods calling out names. These people are well trained dedicated
told me that his doctor told him to take a baby volunteers. They are skilled at what they do and have a lot of
aspirin before he climbed on the truck to go to a experience.
fire.
They will come ready to work for hours with all their own
We have all heard about aspirin therapy for equipment. Their kit will include everything they will need for at
heart attacks, but that is for old guys right? least a six to eight hour call out. They will come with their own
Wrong it is for anyone over 40years old and I GPS and radio systems, first aid equipment, food, water and in
have to admit, that is me. some cases more advanced rescue equipment.
In researching this topic, I found that the jury is
Show them the same respect for their training and skills as you
out on the dosage. Most did say that one baby
would have them show you. This is their “game” not yours. You
aspirin would do more good for you than harm.
are the untrained pedestrian in this situation. Follow their lead and
The biggest concerns are ulcers, allergies and
thinning of blood. their leaders rules and procedures.
I know that I am going to put a bottle in my Your job will most likely be that of a search assistant. This is
locker and toss one in on the way to my next someone who is less or not experienced in searching. They are
fire. I have more issues to publish and more teamed with a confident searcher who will lead you through the
page two girls to bring you. process. They are your superior in this situation. The lost subject
does not care how high your marks were at fire college or how
See you on the line. JD many structure fires and vehicle accidents you have worked. It
will come down to the training and experience of the SAR tech.
You may be asked to stay at the base as a reserve or awaiting a
possible rescue or recovery. Waiting is the worst part. You have
Slow Down! It Can Happen To You. to let them do their job until your expertise and experience is
needed.
Another thing that you must prepare yourself for is the eventual
find and what you will find. This is not the movies. In six years
of SAR my K9 and I never found anyone alive. This is a sad
reality. You have to mentally prepare yourself for the worst,
especially if it is a child you are looking for.
You may never be used in a SAR mission, but knowing what to
do is important. I suggest searching out a representative from
your local SAR group to come and talk to your department.
Better yet find out when they are having their next training search
and go as an observer. Knowledge is never wasted time.
If you live in Canada and don’t know who to get in contact with,
send me an email and I will help you find someone in your area.
If you live in the U.S. contact your local sheriff’s office and they
should be able to help you. We are all in this together. JD
Look Outs
This is your newsletter let us know what
you want to see in it or just drop a line to
let us know what you think. Send your
emails to Jay Diemert at
ftf@firefighting.net.
You can also check us out at our website
www.fanningtheflames.synthasite.com.
We are posting your tattoo, motorcycle
and patch pictures at the site.
Stop Sweat!
HEADLINE IT! Is the answer to
keeping sweat out of your eyes this fire
season. See there product and read their
success story at
www.headlineitstore.com.
Eggs Water Flow Alarm - Serves 8
2 - bag of frozen potatoes (hash browns, gems or
ranch cut your choice)
1 - 24oz Monterey Jack Cheese (or your favorite
cheese)
4 - Tomatoes
16- eggs
1 - 1/2 cup crushed red pepper
12- bacon strips
Cook bacon separately in microwave ~5 strips at a
time at 5 1/2 mins or until crispy.
Fry potatoes in large deep skillet until slightly brown.
Add crushed red pepper.
Add freshly diced tomatoes on top of potatoes
. Add freshly grated cheese on top of tomatoes.
Crush and add bacon bits to tp of cheese.
Add eggs, one at a time, to top of cheese/bacon
following the rim of the skillet.
Cover with med heat. The eggs will cook from the
steam generated.
Recipe by Firefighter: Tim Gardner - FF/Paramedic
Henderson Fire Department,Station 91, Henderson Nevada