More on “controlling your helmet”
Concerning “Controlling Your Helmet” (Training Notebook, December 2004), the authors seem to make an easy task difficult. I suggest the following steps (note that the chinstraps need to be adequate length):
1. Place the helmet on your head with the chinstrap loose.
2. Remove the helmet backward. Let it hang loosely around your neck (like a sombrero).
3. Don your face piece and protective hood.
4. Replace the helmet, and tighten your chinstrap.
This approach requires far less dexterity and allows both hands to be free while donning your mask and hood.
Al Duncan
Stockton, California
Firefighter fitness
Thanks to Fire Engineering for publishing several articles about health and fitness and about how overweight firefighters can get into shape. When we stop paying benefits on cardiac deaths, then maybe we might wake up and go run.
Jody Craig
Louisville, Kentucky
Agrees with approach to WMD events
“Approach WMD Events with a New Mindset” by Chase Sargent (“Weapons of Mass Destruction: Determining Your Readiness” supplement to Fire Engineering, November 2004) was the best article I have ever read on this subject. Sargent stated very clearly the issues and explained them better than I have in my discussions over the past years. I would like to reprint the article for distribution to every fire department in the state of Florida.
I am actively involved in our statewide planning process and have made many of the same arguments with minimal success.
Ron Rogers
Tampa, Florida
Funding mechanism for local preparedness
Bill Manning’s comment in reference to the Sen. Chuck Schumer (NY) bill (“SPECIAL ‘BILL-ETIN,’” Editor’s Opinion, January 2005) concerning “removing the middleman, the states” is very disappointing.
The next catastrophic event will involve not only a city, a county, or a single region. The next event will involve at a minimum regions within a state, or the entire state. Since the city of New York has more first responders than most states, I believe this means an entire state response for most of us. What is Westchester County, New York, going to do when the event exceeds its capability?
Does the comment mean that the California OES is just a middleman?
We are building a statewide response capability, based on regions, and are being welcomed as a coordinator. Regions must have common operations, training, and logistics to ensure the interoperability and seamless transition and integration of resources. I hope this bill is significantly modified.
We as a county, and the fire service as a national effort, must get on the same page.
William Vedra
Battalion Chief (Ret.)
Columbus, Ohio
William F. Vedra Jr.
Deputy Director
Ohio Homeland Security Division
Columbus, Ohio
Bill Manning responds: Thanks for your comment. I don’t suggest that state governments aren’t a critical entity in the response system or that statewide coordination isn’t required. However, in my opinion, state governments often are not the most efficient means of supplying equipment to, and ensuring the readiness of, local jurisdictions. In many cases involving fed-to-state-to-local funding, state governments act like a “broker,” taking a healthy portion of the cut right off the top for administrative fees-and that’s 20 percent (or so) that never makes it to the troops.
Regarding January’s Editor’s Opinion, great editorial! I, too, am fed up with the IAFC’s politics-as-usual approach to fire service problems. Thanks to Bill Manning for writing it.
Burton W. Phelps
President
Society of NFA Instructors, Inc.
I want to thank Bill Manning for the wakeup call in his January editorial. Those of us who have been around for awhile often wonder why things seem to stay the same or move very little. I can’t comment on some of the things in the editorial because I don’t have the history or knowledge, but one thing I have experienced is the National Fire Academy. It has been underfunded almost from the start.
There is a history of reducing the budget to crisis and then a last-minute appeal by the fire service to restore its funding. It happened in the late 1990s after a push by the employees brought the issue to light (the White Paper and employee union’s document). Issues were identified then that contributed to the problem. Those same issues have been creeping back into the picture for a few years. As they say, this train has been coming down the track for awhile.
While the fire service organizations have focused their attention on the FIRE Act and terrorism money, the supposed “high priority” National Fire Academy operates on less than $20 million, a pittance of the other funds. To say there is no money and to continue to buy hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment tells me where the priorities are. Someone once said that you don’t need to tell me what you think is important to you because I can see it in your actions.
Regarding law enforcement, Manning wonders how law enforcement would respond. I contend they don’t let it get to the point of crisis, so we don’t know. Their leadership has built a solid foundation and has constant vigilance on their programs. They plan and anticipate and read trends. When they identify a priority, you can tell by their actions.
If we are to continue to improve and grow as a profession, it will only happen with improved training and education. If the NFA is to be our flagship, we need to fund not only delivery but also all the support programs needed to keep it on the leading edge. Our leaders need to get out in front of the issue and not wait until crisis time. Of course, we can keep gathering information, but most leaders know you will never have it all and need to work off instinct and experience. I know this may contradict the action taken to support Bernard Kerik, but the circumstances there were different. A very quick call to fire service folks in New York might have thrown up a red flag.
Although Manning’s style might be to hit folks right between the eyes, his message is right on target. Thanks to him for raising the issue and getting us thinking.
Richard A. Marinucci
Chief
Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department
