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100,000 Firefighters are not wrong

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FIREFIGHTING, SMOKE & OUR CANCERS (Part 2)

As firefighters, the discussions on the previous THROUGH THE SMOKE Show could not have made our hair stand up any more than it did! That “Firefighter Cancer Study”, done by University of Cincinnati (UC) environmental health researchers blew us away…sort of. It’s not as if we DIDN’T know about the problems-we just didn’t really WORRY ABOUT IT. But maybe now, it seems, we are….well, maybe. The UC-led team analyzed information on 110,000 firefighters from 32 previously published scientific studies to determine the comprehensive health effects and correlating cancer risks of our profession. Sheesh.

SO WHY NOW? We always knew to WEAR OUR SCBA…but we don’t always listen. In some towns, we RARELY listen. We KNOW wearing SCBA made sense…but we didn’t really worry about it when there was just some smoke. We also never thought that a little soot on our face or hands was a problem. We never really thought about those outside-such as the chiefs, the pump operators, the safety folks, the sector bosses, the EMS personnel and even the fire photographers and others who were actually IN the smoke…even though it would clear “in just a little while”. SO NOW WHAT?

Join Through The Smoke Host Chief Billy Goldfeder with both his guests, Dr. Grace LeMasters, PhD, and for his first time joining us, Dr. James Lockey, MD from the Univ. of Cincinnati, the leaders in this FIREFIGHTER study for PART 2 with more frank and NO NON-SENSE discussion of these concerns in protecting firefighters. Listen….if we don’t pay attention to these EXPERTS…odd’s are, some of us will never pay attention and the results are predictable-and now, PROVEN.

LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS WEEKS SHOW:
• University of Cincinnati Cancer Study Press Info
• U.C FF Cancer Article
• IAFF’s Project Hero PPE Program
• Smoke Inhalation Poisoning Study
• Smoke Inhalation Treatment
• Smoke Perceptions, Myths and Understandings
• Firefighter Cancer Support Network
• FirefighterCancer.org
• http://www.firegrantsupport.com

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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Vehicle and misc fire apparatus safety / design

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This month’s show covers the gamut of fire apparatus design and safety, but starts with the sobering facts of safe vehicle operations. In recent months, three apparatus operators were indicted after vehicle accidents that killed a fellow firefighter and injured civilians.

Mike Wilbur mentions the fact that investigators immediately check the weight of the vehicle and often times the units is over loaded. Tom Shand starts the discussion on becoming compliant with NFPA 1901 Standards for apparatus, including weight and how important it is for department’s to specify the weight of their unit in the contract. Other 1901 standards include deck guns and scrub areas on ladder trucks that are often affected by the height of the cab.

The idea of “tag-on” orders is another theme in this show, but the Apparatus Architects caution department’s to make sure the unit is specified and sized for each department involved. This podcast ends with thoroughly checking for pitfalls in the contract for a unit. Does your committee read the fine lines? Do you know the ins and outs of contracts for new apparatus? The Apparatus Architects talk in-depth about the pros and cons of the final paperwork that everyone signs on the dotted line.

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The Leaders Toolbox: Misson Statements and Motivaiton

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What is your department’s mission statement? Does your department even have a mission statement?

While we welcome 2007, it maybe time to reevaluate your organizations mission statement, or work to make sure you have one. In this Leaders Toolbox podcast, Fire Chief Richard Gasaway looks at the different reasons for creating and maintaining the body of your mission statement. Do you know your statement? Do your members know? If not, this Leader’s Toolbox will offer ideas for making the mission statement a daily thought.

Another issue that Chief Gasaway tackles in this podcast is keeping firefighter training to mandated levels. A volunteer training captain requests some motivation on how to keep his departments members well trained, while working with the chiefs and the firefighters to make sure mandates are followed. For volunteers, you can offer classes at different times, but make sure each of firefighter knows they have to keep their knowledge up to speed.

If you have suggestions, questions or comments, please e-mail them to: podcast@firehouse.com

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