By Diane Feldman, Managing Editor
He has a what?
Members of Miami-Dade (FL) Fire Rescue responded to a residence on an EMS call. They were greeted at the door by a woman who told them, “Boy, I’m glad you’re here.”
“What seems to be the problem, ma’am?” the truck captain asked.
“It’s my husband. He has a Heineken,” she replied.
“He has a what?” the truck captain asked.
“He has a Heineken.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” the truck captain said. “We don’t know what you mean.”
“You know, when you bend down and tear something in your stomach. He has a HEINEKEN.”
“Oh, you mean a hernia,” the captain replied.
St. Patrick’s Parade in Memory of Fallen Brothers
Hundreds of New Jersey shore area firefighters are expected to march in the Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 2. The firefighters are marching to pay tribute to all fallen firefighters. Robert Jenkins and Chip Cavanaugh are organizing the march for the South Monmouth County Fire Chief’s Association.
Jenkins says: “Last year’s march of firefighters was an unforgettable experience Members of the FDNY marched shoulder to shoulder with us. For those of us who marched, it was an honor to walk alongside our FDNY brothers.”
The parade will step off behind the Union County Fire & Police Bagpipe Band, comprised of 74 members, and led by the Color Guards of the Bradley Beach Fire Department and Fort Monmouth Fire Department. Fire departments or individual members interested in participating in the parade can call Bob Jenkins at 732-292-1100, ext. 12, or Chip Cavanaugh at 732-604-0551.
Do you make a difference?
Chief Donald Anthony (Ret.), LA City Fire Department, speaking at the FDIC West Main Program in Sacramento on February 12: “Let me issue this challenge. Can you honestly say that the fire service and especially your department are better off at the end of your shift? Did you make a difference? Don’t talk about the way it was in the good ol’ days. In 10 years, these will be the good ol’ days.”
That isn’t shuttle debris!
It has been a few weeks since the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster, and the Lewisville (TX) Fire Department is still responding to calls of citizens reporting they have found shuttle debris. In one case, fire department members were called to the roof of one residence, only to discover the “debris” was actually bird droppings. In another call, members responded to a citizen’s backyard and were able to identify the “debris” as dog poop from the homeowner’s own dog.
Let’s view RIT in a new way
T.J. Welch, assistant chief and training officer for the Alameda County (CA) Fire Department, during a panel discussion at FDIC West in Sacramento on February 13: “When people get a RIT assignment, they say, ‘Damn.’ I’d like to hear them say, ‘I have brothers and sisters in there. What am I going to do to get them out?’ “
If you have a tidbit for the Fire Yenta, e-mail dianef@pennwell.com.
Past Yentas
2/7/03
1/24/03
1/10/03
Click here for Fire Yenta–2002
Diane Feldman is a 13-year veteran of Fire Engineering; she has spent the past 12 years as managing editor. She has a B.A. in English/communications. Previously she was an editor at the American Management Association in New York City.
