Standardized K-9 credentials
I read with great interest “Is There A Need for Standardized K9 Credentials?” (Brett M. Martinez, January 2005) because this has been a hot topic in the SAR dog community periodically for the 21 years I have been a dog handler. It is generally conceded that it is not possible to write one credible and meaningful standard to which all SAR dog teams across this country can train and test. The conditions under which teams must search vary too greatly.
Unfortunately, the conduct of a few validates all the reasons Martinez cites for promoting the consideration of standardization. Self-deployment is usually perpetrated by those who aren’t affiliated with a recognized unit. Credible SAR dog units do not tolerate that behavior from their members. The protocol of most units is, the dogs stay in the vehicles until the handler has an assignment. Credible SAR dog units don’t tolerate “K-9s on parade.” Handlers are expected to check in at the command post for their assignments without their dog. They should be wearing their unit uniform and should appear neat, clean, and ready to do the job and have ID visible. Often, the ID indicates what the handler and K-9 are certified to do and doesn’t require embellishment on the part of the handler.
Although clarification is permissible, overstating abilities is a definite red flag. Maine has statewide standards to which all SAR dogs and handlers must test. If a handler and dog haven’t certified to these standards, they are not deployed; there is an exception if out-of-state units have comparable standards and testing procedures.
Each year, each team must recertify unless is has had a find in the preceding year. It would be nice to have an outside evaluator certify our teams, but it isn’t practical. It would take an enormous amount of time and be financially unfeasible to test all of our teams outside the unit. This is the case for a number of really good SAR dog teams located in the extreme reaches of this country.
Maine Search and Rescue Dogs enjoys a reputation of excellence in the SAR dog community and with our primary user agency, Maine Warden Service. No handler testing team is going to put that reputation at risk by signing off on a less-than-acceptable performance by that team.
While Martinez’s list of questions to ask of a SAR dog handler is excellent, I suggest that the time to ask those questions of the volunteer SAR dog unit is not during the incident but after you need the resource. For those who will have the responsibility of calling a SAR dog resource, I have some suggestions: Find out which SAR dog units you would call. Contact them and ask for a copy of their standards and testing procedures. Ask for a list of agencies they have worked for, and contact some of them for references. Ask to come to a training session, or ask them to come to you and do a demo. Once all of this is accomplished, you will know if they just talk the talk or actually walk the walk. You will know if you want this unit on your next lost person incident.
Jennifer Fisk
President
Maine Association for Search and Rescue
Certified Handler
Maine Search and Rescue Dogs
Seat belt policy
This refers to the January 2005 Roundtable relative to departmental policies regarding the wearing of seat belts. In my response, I said our fire department does not have a policy that specifically addresses the use of seat belts. It has come to my attention that our department does in fact have such a policy. The “Apparatus Operation Vehicle Road Operation” policy states, “The company officer or acting officer is responsible for the safety of all persons riding and operating Fire Department apparatus. The company officer shall make certain that all persons riding on the apparatus are seated, with seat belts fastened before the vehicle starts moving.”
I was unaware of this policy at the time I wrote my response to the Roundtable. This was a lesson learned for me.
Michael J. Allora
Lieutenant
Clifton (NJ) Fire Department
A “timely” Editor’s Opinion
I finally got a chance to open my February 2005 issue of Fire Engineering. As usual, I checked out the contents section to see who wrote what and then, again as usual, I went to the Editor’s Opinion to see what Bill Manning had written. His opinions are always good and interesting and often are written to spark a little enthusiasm, or even a little debate, to get the fire service talking or to go after some deadbeat politician. Sometimes, it is to rally behind one of our causes like funding issues, staffing, education, standards, safety, and the list goes on. The editorials end up posted on bulletin boards and are talked about at the Thursday night drill or at the coffee table during shift change.
But when I opened up this month’s issue I jumped out of my chair and yelled “PERFECT TIMING, BILL!” I have been referring to “How White Is Your Helmet?” for years, ever since it was originally written some 10 years ago. I have made copies of it to send to some people as a confirmation that they are doing the right thing, and I’ve sent it to some of the people out there who need to remember what it’s all about.
I know firsthand that a fire chief today must understand the administrative side of our profession (notice I didn’t say business) and that you have to understand budgets if you’re going to go out and get your people stuff and better pay. You have to understand the legal aspects of the fire service, proper hiring practices, objective promotional and disciplinary systems, labor and management issues, and all of the stuff that falls on that side of the table. But, you also have to understand what takes place on the fireground or the pin-in accident, what it’s like to work shift (if you’re paid) or what it’s like to come in for a call (if you volunteer) two hours before you’re supposed to go to your real job and worry about being late. You have to remember what it’s like to work in a firehouse and what your people need and want.
I use this Editor’s Opinion all the time. It also reminds me of a call I was on, where all of the chiefs had parked their cars in a half circle and were standing behind this chief’s SUV looking at the beautiful cabinetry that held the radios, phones, and so on, making the “big” decisions standing in the exhaust, when I noticed that the back of this vehicle was really well outfitted with a very expensive wood cabinet setup and noticed that right there in one of the pockets was his turnout gear. It was folded nicely, and not a spot on it; the helmet was in perfect condition and shining; and right next to it, in its own pocket, were his golf clubs all beat to hell.
Then, everything made sense-the chaos surrounding the way the incident was running and nobody doing much at the back of the car except elevating their CO levels with the exhaust.
I agree with Bill Manning: A chief doesn’t have to be crawling down the hallway as the troops beat their way into a burning building to be considered a good chief, but he has to have an understanding of what the troops are going through to truly understand what’s going on with them and what they need and how to support them. It’s kind of like the football coach who never once stepped out onto a football field and got roughed up. I know there have been a few coaches who did extremely well without ever having played the game, but they are a minority.
In a time when our fire service tradition seems to have slipped the minds of some of us in the fire service and our heritage-where it all came from, where we all came from, and how and what it took to get us here-has ended up in a dusty corner of the firehouse, the timing of the reprinting of this Editor’s Opinion couldn’t have been more perfect. I thank Bill Manning for being there for us always and for keeping the good tradition of the fire service alive.
Rick Lasky
Chief
Lewisville (TX) Fire Department
PPE adds to reality of training
This refers to “How We Became Better Prepared,” by Chris Freeman (Real-World RIT, February 2005). The article is great. I am planning to use it as a handout during FAST/RIT training.
I have only one concern-the photos. Three of the photos show personnel practicing skills that every firefighter should know; however, the personnel performing these techniques in these photos are not wearing the full personal protective equipment (PPE). This does not give our personnel the “true stress” involved should they have to perform the technique in a real-life situation. One training issue I personally never waver from is the use of full PPE. Remember, if you practice like you play, you’ll play like you practiced!
Chris Whitby
Training Officer
Middletown (NY) Fire Department
