Safety reminders necessary
I read Editor in Chief Bobby Halton’s “Brown M&M’s” (Editor’s Opinion, Fire Engineering, July 2011) with great interest. I found it to be very interesting and funny at times, but mostly it was downright serious. I am a level II fire instructor at the Middlesex County (NJ) Fire Academy, where I am involved in teaching four Firefighter I classes throughout the year. Each new class of recruits is an adventure, to say the least.
Halton’s points in reference to the basics hit the nail on the head perfectly! In the limited time we have for each class lecture or practical drill, we constantly remind the recruits to do the basic things on the fireground: “put your helmet strap on,” “get your eye protection on,” “put on your gloves,” “keep your helmet on while on the fireground” (even if it is 90°F out in a summer class), “buckle the bottom SCBA strap.” Unfortunately, the summer daytime class is made up of recent high school graduates who are joining volunteer departments. They hear stories of firefighters getting killed or hurt at fire scenes, but they don’t have the perspective that it could be they who might be killed at the next fire.
Once these recruits pass their state exam and have completed the necessary classes for graduation, we have to turn them loose. Once they get into their own departments, it is up to their company officers to reinforce what was taught in the fire academy. This does not always happen!
Rich Kosmoski, M.S.
President
Emergency Services Management
New Jersey Volunteer Fire Chiefs Association
Lest we forget
To say that “On Behalf of a Grateful Nation” (Editor’s Opinion, August 2011) was inspiring and eye-opening would be an understatement. The emotions of anger, disbelief, sadness, among others, I felt on 9/11 10 years ago came rising to the surface once again. As time goes by and I see the public’s, including my community’s, attitude toward the fire service dwindle farther into the depths of just not caring again, it frustrates me. I’m very thankful to have Editor in Chief Bobby Halton and others like him as voices and advocates for the fire service. The editorials have been very inspiring and have given me a renewed sense of purpose in what I do. Although I try to do more in my own community, it’s nice to see someone who is unafraid to speak the truth. Thank you.
Kevin M. Vyvyan
Captain
Union Grove-Yorkville (WI) Fire Department
Confined space rescue: heed lessons
On May 8, 2010, in Middletown, Ohio, a worker inspecting a manhole from the outside became incapacitated and fell into the hole. Moments later, two firefighters lowered their captain into the hole to conduct the rescue. All three firefighters were overcome and nearly perished in the rescue attempt.
On May 26, 2010, in Liberty Township, Indiana, a worker was overcome and collapsed in a 10-foot-deep pit. A civilian attempted the rescue but was overcome as well. Two Liberty Township firefighters arrived on scene and attempted a rescue; they were also overcome. The original victim died.
On September 6, 2010, in Tarrytown, New York, a firefighter attempted to rescue an incapacitated worker in a manhole. Both the victim and the rescuer died from exposures in the confined space.
What is the common denominator here? Failed rescue attempts. The rescuers obviously felt that they were doing the right thing entering into the confined spaces to perform a rescue. Allowing your emotions to control your response to a situation is dangerous and many times deadly! We must use our heads and think through the problem. Use your skills and talents to find a solution; do not become part of the problem. It is easier said than done, but not entering a confined space may be the smartest thing to do. After all, if you go down, who will rescue you?
I am a lieutenant with more than 27 years of service in firefighting and technical rescue. I also belong to a state urban search and rescue team and have cross-training in confined space, trench, high-angle, structural collapse, and swift-water rescue. Firefighters do not typically receive technical rescue training during their careers. This training takes time above and beyond the normal training requirements. Some firefighters look at the extra time commitment as a burden and decide not to pursue it. Unfortunately though, the public persona of a firefighter is that “you can help.” This may or may not be the case and can lead to devastating results just as in the incidents above. Firefighters often “attempt” to effect a rescue even in an area that is beyond their level of training.
The May 8, 2010, incident cited above came in as a call for a worker who had fallen. On arrival, the officer in charge should have noted immediately that the worker had fallen inside a manhole and that a manhole is always a confined space. In a confined space rescue, some common denominators should be established. Air monitoring, fall protection for rescuers, retrieval methods, traffic, and any other hazards of the space that could be present should be identified and addressed prior to entry. We must size up the situation and identify hazards at confined spaces just as we do at vehicle accidents and structure fires.
Atmospheric hazards are invisible most times. Carbon monoxide alone is a huge problem and, as we all should know, is colorless, tasteless, odorless, and undetectable without the use of an air monitor. Oxygen deficiency can occur for many reasons. The effects of oxygen deficiency are instant and will incapacitate a person immediately. It should be mandatory that responders to every type of confined space incident monitor the atmosphere before entering, even if the worker is conscious and talking. The monitoring must be performed before entry and during entry for all rescues to ensure that the space is safe to enter and to work in.
Most common atmospheric hazards can be attributed to oxygen deficiency, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and flammable atmospheres such as methane or natural gas. A simple blower can do wonders to provide a fresh air supply into the confined space and “turn the air over,” removing or minimizing the hazards. Nevertheless, atmospheric monitoring of all confined spaces is a must and should never be dismissed, as conditions can change instantly.
All three rescues above would not have ended so tragically had the atmosphere been monitored before a rescuer was allowed to enter the space. It is bad enough when a worker or a civilian enters a confined space and is overcome with ill effects; fire and rescue personnel doing the same without following standard operating procedures must stop. Many departments may not have the resources, abilities, and financial backing to teach a 40-hour confined space technician course, but awareness training is simple. In about two hours, anyone can be taught how to identify a confined space and determine the possible hazards of that space. At that point, everyone should be able to identify a hazardous situation and know when to call for help. The bottom line is that awareness training is simple and cheap and should be a tool in the firefighter’s toolbox. Not having awareness training is no excuse today, especially when we are called to perform all sorts of rescues.
The real question is this: If a tanker truck overturns in your area and is spilling a liquid on the ground and the driver is out of the truck lying in the middle of the road, would you approach the truck? Your answer will determine the next phase of training needed or at best will determine if you are on the right track to protecting yourself, your crew, and the lives of civilians.
Scott Goodwin
Lieutenant
Ballville Township Fire Department
Fremont, Ohio
