Letters to the Editor
Lewd advertising has no place in the fire service or at conventions for firefighters
A few months back, you wrote an editorial to the men in the fire service saying the days of sexual harassment of female firefighters need to come to an end. There’s a flip slide to that issue that’s the purpose of this letter.
As a vendor, I’ve recently attended the Lancaster Fire Expo and the New York State Fire Chiefs Show. I found it very offensive to see posters of nude women or women who are dressed seductively in partial turnout gear plastered all over the convention and hotel areas.
One company hired “America’s #1 Fire Poster Model” to depict women as firefighters. I believe that kind of advertising is completely unprofessional and should have no place in this industry. In another booth, there was “Hotshots in the Fire Service,” a group of professional female firefighters glamorizing sex in the fire department. I suggest an editorial should be written regarding the women of “Hotshots” and others who are using sex to make money from the men whose respect they demand at the station. If sexual harassment is to be seriously addressed, this type of garbage should be eliminated from the gatherings that literally hundreds of thousands of both fire service and nonfire service people attend.
I’d be more than happy to put my money where my mouth is and help in anyway I can to put pressure on the companies using this form of “advertising.” However, I may simply be an oddball in the crowd and find that no one really cares.
Mike Oltersdorf
Sales Manager
Emergency Resource
Fort Collins, Colo.
The plane truth on “Excuses” and another weighty matter
I’d like to compliment Captain Kenneth Ray Young on his article in the June issue entitled “Excuses, Excuses.” I’d like to point out a small, insignificant error, though, that struck me as funny. Captain Young stated that a B-52 bomber struck the Empire State Building, when in fact it was a B25. Had a B-52 struck the building, chances are it wouldn’t have gotten off so lucky!
Keith VV. Lloyd
Firefighter
Rural Metro Fire Department Maricopa County, Arizona
I’ve been a subscriber to your fine magazine for almost 20 years and have enjoyed it very much. In fact, 1 still have every issue I’ve received. I pull them out from time to time and reread the articles. But as 1 was reading the June issue, I noticed two errors in the article “Excuses, Excuses.”
On page 36, the designation of the aircraft that hit the Empire State Building was wrong. It wasn’t a B-52 (which is a jet aircraft and hadn’t been built at that time), but a B-25 propeller-driven aircraft.
The second error is the weight of the breathing apparatus. 1 knew it was heavy when I wore it, but isn’t 331 pounds overdoing it a bit?
David J. Me Ginn
Former member of Spencerport (N. Y.) Volunteer Fire Department
Editor’s Note: The references to the B52 bomber and 331 pounds of breathing apparatus were typographical errors on our part. “B-25” is, of course, correct; as for the breathing apparatus, the original manuscript listed the figure at 33 pounds.
Medical command posts
I’m working on the design and implementation of a medical command post for a major disaster, specifically a jumbo passenger jet crash or any disaster with up to 500 patients involved. We plan to equip a 7’-bv-12′ trailer with a generator, oxygen capabilities for 25 or more patients, and medical supplies.
I’d like to hear from any department that has a such a project in effect or a similar plan. I’d like to know its design; the number of patients it can handle; the supplies used; its communications setup; and its cost. Please send all information to: Dawn Lowery, Airport Safety Officer, P.O. Box 190204, Anchorage, Alaska 9519-0204.
Dawn Lowery
Airport Safety Officer
Anchorage International Airport
Editor’s Response: Bravo, Mike! I, too, was at the New York conference and was surprised and disappointed that such a cheap carnival trick was used. When questioned on the issue of those posters and their sale, I responded that I believed that the majority of the fire service membership would reject the concept that you describe. I was only looking at the moral and ethical aspects. You identify other issues that are equally and even more important.
The female issue in the fire service is as volatile as it is serious, as misunderstood as it is accepted. To make use of cheap and lewd advertising gimmicks at the expense of a sensitive issue was shortsighted, and in my opinion, downright stupid.
My only frustration is that more members and associates didn’t speak out as strongly as you did.
I hope your closing remarks prove to be false. I, for one, was offended and as a product of the fire service believe there are many more who care.
We enjoy hearing from our readers. Whether you have questions or comments, write to Fire Engineering, 250 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10001.
