Winter 2021
Product Service Guide
Product Service Guide
Winter 2021 3
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A Case for Clean Turnout Gear By John Gary
The protective clothing that isolates the firefighter from the fire is most often referred to as turnout gear, bunker gear, personal protective equipment (PPE) and also the firemen’s ensemble. While having full time involvement in the commercial laundry industry and therefore needing to know about laundering turnout gear, I have developed a personal interest in helping to protect those who protect and rescue us. I started out with a bit of understanding about personal protective gear from reading equipment manufacturer’s literature and from listening to fire chiefs who were knowledgeable on the subject. Since then, years of regular conversations with firefighters at conferences and at their own fire stations, have shown me that many still have an aloof attitude about cleaning turnout gear. I think this probably comes from either not knowing how important clean turnout gear is or from wanting to look battle hardened and actively engaged rather than non-participatory when arriving on the scene of an emergency. Some firefighters tell us they wash their gear at home, some take it to the laundromat and some say that it never gets washed. Therefore, I propose to offer some of the basic reasoning behind cleaning turnout gear. Most of what follows is rooted in the NFPA standards as well as my own industry experience. I am not trying to parallel or summarize the NFPA standard but provide a good argument for not ignoring the condition of your PPE gear and methods to use and not while laundering. The National Fire Protection Agency is an organization with a mission to help minimize the risk of fires and the effects of fire worldwide. The NFPA develops codes and standards to help achieve this mission. Standard 1851 details the care of firemen’s turnout gear and includes methods for record keeping, cleaning or “decontamination” and regular inspection for each set of turnout gear. The 1851 standard is not a rule or law but a set of recommendations. The full NFPA 1851 document can be purchased at www.NFPA.org.
The Dangers of Contaminated Turnout Gear
Turnout gear worn on previous fire-related calls, without cleanings in between, diminishes in ability to protect the wearer. Soot and other products of burning leaves various materials deposits on and in the fibers of the protective gear and causes the surface of the protective gear to be less heat reflective. Heat absorption on the surface of the turnout gear in the presence of oils and other flammable materials can lead to re-ignition or flashover. Not only is the turnout gear likely to catch fire itself, but dirty gear is also harder to be seen by others on the scene. Perhaps less obvious, carbon based soot increases conductivity raising the potential for electrical shock when coming in contact with live wires such as in structures or vehicles. Over the long term, turnout gear that is always dirty doesn’t last as long. This has to do with the fibers that make up the shell of the turnout gear and how soot and other particles settle on and in those fibers. These particles and burned bits can be abrasive. With the regular movement and bending of the
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gear material, the foreign matter can cut and wear the fibers. Cleaning the gear shell every six months or when obviously soiled reduces the amount of abrasive particles. Turnout gear worn on previous calls presents other kinds of hazards. While on the job, firefighters come in contact with carcinogenic materials, toxins and communicable disease found in blood or other body fluids. These hazards can then be carried away to potentially cause harm later by ingestion, inhalation or absorption from touch. The firefighter, or anyone else who has contact with the turnout gear, is then at risk. Even less hazardous contaminates can cause health problems with repeated exposures over time. Hazardous or not, the soot itself is a good median to absorb toxins and carcinogens which means the harmful contaminates can accumulate over time. Regular cleaning and cleaning as soon as possible after exposure minimizes these hazards.
What To Avoid When Cleaning Turnout Gear
While working in the commercial laundry business I find dedicated people who take all kinds of things home for laundering. This includes things like table linens used in their catering business, dirty diapers from their diaper route service and animal bedding from the veterinary clinic they work for. Some of these practices are a bad idea as is taking soiled turnout gear home for cleaning. Primarily this is because of the hazardous contaminates mentioned earlier and is multiplied if others live at the same address. Simply said, you can expose yourself or your loved ones to the hazardous materials found on the shell of your turnout gear either by direct contact or through the family washing machine. Whether at home or elsewhere, residential washers are a poor choice for washing turnout gear. Top load washers accelerate wear and tear on the turnout gear because of their relatively small sized tub and agitator. Top load washers hold onto and preserve blood borne pathogens and other contaminates in residual unseen water left below the tub and in the scratches of porcelain coated tubs and other plastic parts. Residential front load washers with more sanitary stainless steel tubs are only slightly better because most still have exposed plastic and rubber parts. What’s more, residential front load washers are most often “Energy Star” compliant machines meaning they use very little water and spin very fast in the extraction part of the cycle. Neither of these features are what you want for laundering turnout gear. Turnout gear requires adequate flushing in a machine that is big enough to handle the bulk and a more delicate final spin speed so as to not force water though moisture barrier membranes or damage seams. As a side note, grocery store laundry detergents used in the home are the wrong chemicals for cleaning turnout gear. They are not pH balanced and almost always have fragrances and softeners. These additives as well as bleach or products containing bleach are able to deteriorate turnout gear fabrics. Some firefighters say the local laundromat is their solution for dirty turnout gear. At the same time, laundromat operators
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sometimes ask about accepting this type of business. Laundromats do usually have the right kind of large capacity commercial front load washers. However, this is another place where other people will be using the same machine and cross contamination is a risk. The only way this could work is by flushing the washer with an additional cycle after the turnout gear is washed and removed. This means you would have to pay twice to wash once. Other factors include using turnout gear specific soap and being conscientious about not contaminating other public surfaces with soiled elements. For these same reasons, it would not be acceptable to leave turnout gear with the attendant of a laundry that is uninformed and does not have a dedicated service for turnout gear. Dry cleaning facilities are also not a good option for cleaning or decontaminating turnout gear. First, dry cleaners almost always tag garments by punching a hole in them with a tag gun or stapler. Next, dry cleaners process a lot of laundry items with the same carts, hands, tables and equipment, so again, cross contamination with other laundry and the workers in the facility is likely. Dry cleaners unaware of or unable to accommodate the special needs of turnout gear will use soaps and chemicals; spin speeds in their washer and drying methods that may harm the gear. Some fire stations hand wash their protective gear, which involves scrubbing with a brush and rinsing with a hose. Heavy scrubbing and high- pressure washing must not be used. Hand washing may be better than nothing but can put the person doing the washing in direct contact with the dangerous contaminates we are interested in clearing away. At the same time, hand washing may offer little control over where contaminates end up. Even where proper laundry equipment is available, using a hose to prewash because soil is heavy is likely unnecessary due to many modern washers having programs for additional fills and wash times. Clean laundry comes from not only washing but also drying, and special considerations must made for turnout gear. Dryers, sometimes called tumblers, similar to ones found in the home, laundromat, dry cleaning facility and so on are tough on turnout gear and should not be used. The continual mechanical action of the tumbling coupled with large heavy fasteners leads to unnecessary wear and tear, therefore shortening the expected service life of the gear, if not visibly damaging it. A highlyunmanageable or uncertain heat level typical of drying tumblers is damaging to moisture barriers and creates a fire hazard by possibly igniting residual contaminates like oil on the gear shell.
What To Do
One option is to have an outside company specialized in handling turnout gear wash, dry, inspect and even repair the gear for you. The obvious disadvantage of sending turnout gear out is that you don’t have it readily available for use. Some stations work around this by coordinating firefighter off duty time with turnout gear maintenance or they may have two sets of gear per firefighter. Cost can become a significant factor and is frequently the reason people seek alternative laundry cleaning solutions. Installing suitable dedicated laundry equipment right in the fire station provides an easy and direct solution for handling contaminated gear. There are no washers specifically designed to wash turnout gear, but with few special requirements, most commercial washers referred to as washer-extractors can be used for this purpose. This machine should be sized large enough to handle the bulk and weight of at least one set of gear, if not two or three sets at a time, depending on the needs of the fire station. Being able to wash at least one complete set of gear is a
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These machines are typically unacceptable for laundering turnout gear. Some stations like these for personal laundry and have a washerextractor dedicated for their turnout gear. good qualifier that the machine is not too small for the job. Also consider that larger capacity washer-extractors have a larger door, making careful loading and unloading of bulky turnout gear easier. To avoid damage to the moisture barrier and the seams of the garment, a controllable or limited spin speed within 100 G-force is required. With other details like optional automatic soap dispensing, the utility requirements and the space needed for installation, it is easiest for you to have an equipment representative visit your site to help you get started. Drying turnout gear also requires special care since typical methods used for drying other laundry as discussed earlier cannot be used. Some fire stations simply air dry their turnout gear by hanging it up (out of direct sunlight) and waiting. The obvious draw back here is time and maybe a mildew smell from the slow process lengthened by seasonal humidity. Alternately, some equipment manufacturers have designed specialized drying cabinets that do the job much faster by circulating regulated warm air around and through the garments without mechanical action or using gas to heat the air. In most cases four to six sets of turnout gear, boots and gloves can be dried together in a couple of hours. Again, because of the size and other requirements of this equipment, it is most helpful to have an equipment representative to consult with when planning. In the end no equipment manufacturer or soap company can specify instructions on how to properly clean your particular type, model or brand of turnout gear. It is best to start with the instructions or recommendations provided with the turnout gear.
COVID-19
Firefighters and Workers’ Compensation For more than two months, most of the nation has stayed at home under some form of national guideline or order by a Bill Smith state governor. At the same time, healthcare workers, first responders and other essential workers have put their health and lives as well as that of their families on the line. Most of you have probably gone to work each day thinking, “if I get sick, at least I’m covered by workers’ comp.” Is that thought correct? The answer may be much more complicated than you would have ever imagined. Most firefighters are employed by a city or county government. As such, any workers’ compensation claim would be filed under the jurisdiction of the workers’ compensation law of the state in which they work. In virtually every state, workers’ compensation benefits are the exclusive remedy for a worker who is injured on the job. That means that the only claim that can be filed against the employer for the injury, or in this case sickness, is a workers’ compensation claim. As it relates to COVID-19, states fall into three categories. The categories are states where COVID-19 is likely compensable; states where COVID-19 claims are likely not compensable; and states where we simply don’t know which way these cases will be decided
Accident or Occupational Disease Without getting too technical, most states recognize job-related conditions as either an accident or an occupational disease. Examples in their simplest form would be that of someone falling from a ladder as an accident and someone developing brown lung disease
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from years of working in a textile plant as an occupational disease. Each state may have a somewhat different definition of an accident and of an occupational disease. From the examples cited above, even without knowing each state’s definition you might realize that coronavirus infections may not fit squarely under either definition. The moment of infection of COVID-19 is likely related to a single one-time exposure as opposed to months or years of inhalation of particles so this looks more like an accident. However, there is no outward trauma and the disease process itself is more akin to an occupational disease. Further, some states exclude “ordinary diseases of life” as being compensable as an occupational disease. So, which is it and how do you proceed in your state? The answer once again depends on the law in your state. As a South Carolina workers compensation lawyer, I would file it both ways. However, I think that it fits the definition of accident better in South Carolina. In speaking with my colleagues in North Carolina, many of them seem to believe it better fits the definition of an occupational disease in North Carolina.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proving that COVID-19 was contracted by a worker on the job is on the worker. Think about that for a moment. You’re a first responder running to multiple scenes per day, transporting sick and potential COVID-19 patients to emergency rooms daily. Not only that, but you live with your co-workers at the fire station who have been doing the same thing on other calls exponentially increasing your exposure risks. However, at the same time we are seeing community spread of coronavirus. How do you prove that the exposure you had two weeks ago transporting a patient from a nursing home to a hospital is the event that caused your positive test? The defense will be trying to cast doubt to show that you could have acquired the infection
pumping gas, stopping at a restaurant to pick up takeout food, or from your neighbor. Clearly, the most likely source of infection is at work but how do you prove that definitively? In almost every case, you have to have a medical opinion stated to a reasonable degree of medical certainty that the infection was most probably caused by your exposure at work. Can this be done? The answer is yes but the more exposure you can show, the more likely you are to prevail
Presumptions
Many firefighters are familiar with heart attack, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder presumptions that have been passed in some states around the country over the last few years. These presumptions are designed to make it easier for first responders to obtain workers’ compensation benefits should they suffer from these disorders or diseases that happen all too frequently because of exposure on their jobs. As of this writing, 13 states have passed some form of presumption for healthcare workers and first responders who test positive for COVID-19. I am privileged to serve as President of WILG (WORK INJURY LAW and Advocacy Group). WILG’s mission is to protect the rights and benefits of injured workers across the country. In early April we issued a letter to all governors and state legislatures demanding presumptions of compensability for essential workers. That letter follows: The good news is that many states have passed presumption legislation and many others are still considering presumptions. Bills are pending in both the North Carolina House of Representatives (H1057) and in the South Carolina House of Representatives (H5482) that would establish presumptions of compensability for first responders. Presumptions have come about in three ways: legislative action; executive order by a governor; or under the rulemaking authority of a state workers’ compensation commission. The bad news is
that pushback from employer and insurance industry groups have knocked down a couple of presumptions under the second and third methods. The most foolproof way to get a safe presumption is through a state legislature but this is often the way that takes the longest amount of time while people are suffering at this moment If a worker contracts COVID-19 on the job and is successful in his claim, benefits are available. While benefits vary from state to state, in general the worker would recover two-thirds of his average weekly pay while out of work, payment of all causally related medical expenses, and an award for any permanent disability. If the worker died from the exposure, his or her dependents would receive 500 weeks of compensation. First responders, healthcare workers, and other essential workers have acted as heroes during this pandemic. COVID-19 infections often do not fit cleanly within definitions of state workers’ compensation acts. It is likely that in both North Carolina and South Carolina these types of cases can be won but, as always, proving a discrete injury can be troublesome. However, it would be unconscionable for these heroes to not be covered for the hazardous work they have done for the rest of society.
William L. “Bill” Smith II is a founding partner of Chappell, Smith and Arden. He has concentrated his practice on representing injured workers for 35 years. Smith graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law in 1984. He currently serves as President of the Workers’ Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG) and is a Fellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers. He has also served as President of Injured Workers’ Advocates in South Carolina. He has chaired the Workers’ Compensation Section of the South Carolina Bar as well as serving as an officer of the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Educational Association and Kids Chance of South Carolina. He serves on the Commission for Lawyer Conduct as appointed by the South Carolina Supreme Court.
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The DO
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Glenn Clapp
u o d s Ma r a z a ter H T i
Essential Knowledge for the Hazmat Technician
It is always exciting to start a new class of hazmat technicians out on their first day of class. After the introductions and the student thoughts of “What did I get myself into?” and “There is no way we can go through all of the material in this book in two weeks,” we settle down into the building blocks of hazmat response — regulations. During the fog of this first day of class, we delve into the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations. While some may question why we need to cover such regulations, the need to do so is undeniable due to the fact that hazardous materials technicians may encounter hazmat incidents on the highway, railroad, or water in which the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations apply. Technicians may also interface with employees at facilities that ship hazardous materials who by virtue of their job duties are required to receive DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Training. The DOT Hazardous Materials Transportation Regulations (abbreviated as the HMR) exist within Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 100-185. Under the HMR, hazardous materials employees that perform certain
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functions relating to hazardous materials transportation are required to complete training in the areas of general awareness/familiarization, function-specific training, safety training, security awareness training and in-depth security training — the latter is required if the facility is required to have a security plan. The training is required within 90 days of employment or a change in job function and recurrent training is required every three years. For in-depth security training it is required every three years or within 90 days of the implementation of a revised safety plan. One of the areas in which we encounter the HMR as hazmat technicians is in the case of shipping papers. Whether we are looking at a bill of lading in highway transportation or a consist in rail transportation, hazardous materials are required to be listed by their basic description. This information is found in the HMR within the Hazardous Materials Table (HMT), in which hazardous materials are listed in alphabetical order of their proper shipping name. Information in the HMT is listed in specifically designated columns. Column one is not part of the basic description,
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but rather may contain any of six symbols utilized to further describe the entry. For example, a “+” fixes the proper shipping name, hazard class and packing group for the entry without regard to the entry meeting hazard class or packing group definitions. An “A” indicates materials that are subject to the regulations when transported by air, and a “D” designates proper shipping names which are only appropriate for domestic transportation. The basic description of hazardous materials consists of the information contained in columns two through five of the HMT, but not in the numerical order of columns. The first component of a basic description is found in column four, which is the UN/NA ID number of the material. As we know the UN/NA ID number is a four-digit number that identifies a hazardous material or family of materials. The second component of the basic description is found in column two of the HMT and is the proper shipping name of the material. The proper shipping name is indicated in bold type, with text in italics denoting additional descriptors that are not part of the shipping name but may be used. The third component of the basic description is found in column three and is the hazard class or division of the material. This element is a numerical entry that describes which of the nine DOT Hazard Classes or divisions thereof the material is categorized within. The final component of the basic description is found in column five, which is the packing group of the material. The packing group represents the relative hazard of the material and is represented by Roman numerals and may be preceded by “PG”. PG I materials present a great danger; PG II materials present a medium danger and PG III materials present a minor danger. An example of a basic description would therefore be as follows: UN 1090, Acetone, 3, PG II The order of the basic description elements was changed to the present-day order on January 1, 2013. In addition to the basic description elements listed above, the complete shipping description required on a shipping paper would include the basic description plus the total quantity of the material — except when transported by aircraft — or the total net mass per package for air transportation; and the number and type of packages. The HMT also contains several additional columns of information that pertain to additional shipping information. Column six corresponds to the labels that are used to identify individual packages. The primary required label and any required subsidiary labels will be noted in column six. Column seven lists codes that are used to denote special provisions for transportation that are covered in 49 CFR 172.102. Any letters preceding the numerical code specify the mode of transportation the special provision refers to (e.g. “A” for air, “B” for bulk transportation, etc.). Column eight refers to packaging authorizations and is divided into three subcolumns (8A, 8B, and 8C). Column 8A refers to any packaging exceptions, and the number indicated specifies the exact location in 49 CFR 173 at which the exception is found. For instance, “153” indicates that the exception is located at 49 CFR 173.153. f no exceptions exist, the word “None” will be displayed in Column 8A. Exceptions are grouped by DOT Hazard Class, and additional exceptions exist for limited quantities, other regulated materials (hazardous materials shipped in limited quantities presenting a limited hazard, such as consumer commodities), and reverse logistics
shipments. Columns 8B and 8C refer to non-bulk and bulk packaging requirements. Non-bulk packages are those with a capacity of 119 gallons or less for liquids, a net mass of 882 pounds or less and a maximum capacity of 119 gallons or less for solids; and a water capacity of 1000 pounds or less for gases. Bulk packages are those above the capacity/mass thresholds that are stipulated for non-bulk packages. As with column 8A, the numbers specified in columns 8B and 8C refer to the location in 49 CFR 173 at which the packaging requirements are found. The next column in the table- — column nine — refers to the quantity limitations per individual package for transportation by passenger aircraft or rail (column 9A); and cargo aircraft (column 9B). The limitations are specified in kilograms or liters. The designation “Forbidden” indicates that the material may not be offered for transportation or transported by the mode of transport indicated. Further information on Columns 9A and 9B can be found in 49 CFR 173.27 and 175.75. The final column in the HMT is column 10, which refers to vessel stowage requirements in transportation by water. Column 10A indicates the location or locations at which the material may be stowed. The codes utilized in column 10A are defined in 49 CFR 172.101(k)(1 - 10). Column 10B displays codes that indicate other provisions for transportation by water. The definitions of those codes are found in 49 CFR 176.84. As can be witnessed in our discussion above, the Hazardous Materials Table is designed for use by hazardous materials employees that perform certain functions related to hazardous materials transportation. As hazardous materials technicians, however, we should also be familiar with the contents and use of the HMT. Personally, I view HMTrelated training in the same light as the requirement of the prerequisite chemistry of hazardous materials class to be completed prior to certification as a hazmat technician in the State of North Carolina. Many personnel ask why should such training is needed, and I always reply that our credibility on the hazmat scene is difficult to obtain but can be easily lost. By completing the training discussed above, we can speak the same language at hazmat scenes as the personnel we interface with. This allows our credibility to remain intact and the knowledge gained assists immeasurably with the successful mitigation of hazardous materials incidents. As always, stay safe out there and be sure to visit the North Carolina Association of Hazardous Materials Responders website at www.nchazmat.com
Glenn Clapp is a past president of the North Carolina Association of Hazardous Materials Responders and has over 22 years of fire service and emergency management experience. He is currently an Improvement Specialist with the Industry Expansion Solutions Division of North Carolina State University and is a volunteer firefighter with the Fairview Fire Department. He is also a Technician-Level Hazmat Instructor, an Executive Fire Officer, a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager and a Certified Fire Protection Specialist.
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How to Become The ‘Wolf of Aggressive Fire Ground Tactics’ Leonardo Dicaprio starred in the 2013 movie “The Wolf of Wall Street” where he played a very aggressive stockbroker that had an uncanny ability to motivate people. There is one scene where he is addressing his entire office and he has their complete attention. He is screaming at the top of his lungs and yells that if they can’t take it, “then you should go get a job at McDonalds because that’s where you belong.” There may be a colorful adjective, or maybe an adverb in the live version of his performance, because it is the movies. So while scrolling through Instagram the other day, I came upon this same short movie clip and it was making a little different statement. It was saying that if you were more concerned about your safety as a firefighter, than aggressive fire and search tactics, then you should go, well you know the line by now. I am all about being an aggressive firefighter and being a member of what would be described as an aggressive department. In fact here are a few things that will help you become better prepared to be that aggressive firefighter or The Wolf!
Know Your Gear
The most important tool you will have is your turnout gear. You cannot do your job correctly unless you have a good set of bunker gear and know how to operate in it. I am sure you have been through the drill of quick dressing for time, but you must learn not only how to put it on quickly, but truly know and understand your gear. Be a student of how your turn-out coat and pants are assembled, understand what material is utilized to make the entire ensemble, how it reflects or dissipates heat and what layers of protection are in the gear. Become that go to person on turnout gear in your department, the one that serves on the selection committee and makes the gear recommendation representing the other members. Work to develop your dexterity to function on the fire ground in your gloves. Be skilled enough that once you put your gloves on you never need to take them off. Have the capacity to perform every required task with your gloves on. Purchase good gloves and take care of them, and they will save your hands! Often we see firefighters that have been caught in situations and were burned,
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and I would safely say that many have burned hands because they didn’t have their gloves on. I understand this is a bold statement, but I also know that if you recognize that you must learn to wear your gloves from the moment you don your other gear, you significantly increase your chances of not getting your hands injured. Understanding your gear also includes your Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Learn every valve, how the regulators work, how the PASS device (Personal Alert Safety System) operates and how to repair it. If possible, become a certificated repair tech for your organization, which not only benefits you personally, but also the department and will allow you to gain as much knowledge possible of the entire SCBA.
Tools of the Trade
Once you have mastered your gear, it is a normal progression to move to the tools you will need to become that aggressive firefighter. Training shouldn’t be the only time that you handle or operate tools that are required on the fire ground. Just as you inspect the fire apparatus every shift you should take time to not only ensure that the tool is working properly but truly operate the tool as you would at the fire scene. For example, we have all taken the chain saw or vent saw off the truck every morning and started the engine, then placed it back on the truck, thinking that we have inspected the saw and it is now ready for the next call that it may be required at. More than once I have a seen a firefighter at an emergency scene that couldn’t operate a chain saw, which can be a highly dangerous piece of equipment if handled incorrectly. This is why it’s so important to take that saw and use it, run several tanks of gas through it cutting up some type of wood. I have taken an unskilled recruit firefighter that has never used a chain saw before to a wood yard, and just let them cut up log after log to just become comfortable with the saw. It is a much safer and controlled environment than attempting to learn how to cut with a saw on a roof at night. So, learn that saw, what type of motor it has, what type of fuel it uses and why. How to swap out the chain for a new one in the dark, and how to sharpen the old chain to be as sharp as the new one. Ensure that you keep it clean and ready for the next call, now that you are prepared to use it. Do this with all of the other tools on the truck as well. Never let a shift go by that you do not have a tool off the truck and training on it in great detail. You should be the master of all of the tools at the fire ground.
Fire Behavior
Over the last few years there has been a significant amount of new developments, discussion and training on fire behavior. So there can be no excuse for you to not become highly proficient on the subject. From Underwriters Firefighter Safety Research Institute and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to the many other training and research websites and videos online, there is an abundant amount of information out there. Make time to take advantage of these many resources and develop a vast knowledge on how fire grows and travels throughout a residential or commercial structure. This will allow you to better understand your everyday job.
Once you have mastered your gear, it is a normal progression to move to the tools you will need to become that aggressive firefighter. Training shouldn’t be the only time that you handle or operate tools that are required on the fire ground. Know Your Enemy
Chief Frank Brannigan once wrote “The Building is your Enemy.” What he was saying, was that you should “Know your Enemy”! His text book “Building Construction for the Fire Service” now in its seventh edition, has become the building construction bible for firefighters. So, to be the very best you can be and prepared to do battle with the enemy, it is imperative that you understand building construction. You should not only study Chief Brannigan’s book, but get out and study your own district, learn what buildings are there and how they are built. Discuss the many different possibilities within the buildings in your district. Start with the similar residential structures and how a fire would impact the overall integrity of the building as the fire grows. Discuss with your crew your plan of attack to include hose line and ladder placement. Lastly, discuss what would be a “Go or No Go situation”. You may be surprised to find several different opinions, which is OK, but it’s great to talk about it well before pulling up on a building fire at 3 a.m. Being a good firefighter is important to any member that has ever walked into a firehouse. However, there will always be different individual personalities. Some may be very aggressive and some not as much, but they may not need to go work at McDonalds. I have always been impressed with McDonalds, they take an extremely diverse group of people, from all over the world and produce a consistent product. We may need to take a little better look at their training program.
Chief Keith Padgett serves as the Fire and Emergency Medical Services Academic Program Director with Columbia Southern University within the College of Safety and Emergency Services. A 38-year member of the fire service, Padgett previously served as fire chief of the Beulah Fire District in Valley Alabama and as the chief/fire marshal for the Fulton County Fire-Rescue Department in Atlanta. He holds a master’s degree in leadership with an emphasis in disaster preparedness and executive fire leadership and a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration.
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EMS and First Responder Objectives During Pandemic I think that it is important to communicate the two main objectives of EMS and first responders during this pandemic. The first priority is for providers to protect themselves by following their protocols and using their PPE correctly. The second and equally important priority is to decrease the rate of James Winslow transmission so that our communities can care for the large number of patients over time instead of all at once. I feel confident that EMS and first responders are in a strong position to help our communities weather this pandemic, save lives and do it safely.
Protect Yourself
Use your PPE as instructed in your protocols. If providers follow recommended screening of patients and use PPE as instructed, they will be safe. Everyone should be trained on correct donning and doffing. We know that people who work in public safety want to help people and do their jobs. It is still important for them to remember that if a provider feels sick, they should not go to work. They should inform their supervisor and take care of themselves. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we cannot take care of others. Perhaps even more importantly we do not want to spread disease. Also, be sure everyone in your agency understands the North Carolina SC2 High Consequences Pathogens Protocol. Providers are also encouraged to refer to the CDC website which addresses EMS workers and first responders.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/guidance-forems.html
Summary of Key Changes for the EMS Guidance • Updated PPE recommendations for the care of patients with known or suspected COVID-19: — Facemasks are an acceptable alternative until the supply chain is restored. Respirators should be prioritized for procedures that are likely to generate respiratory aerosols, which would pose the highest exposure risk to HCP. — Eye protection, gown, and gloves continue to be recommended. If there are shortages of gowns, they should be prioritized for aerosol-generating procedures, care activities where splashes and sprays are anticipated, and high-contact patient care activities that provide opportunities for transfer of pathogens to the hands and clothing of HCP. — When the supply chain is restored, fit-tested EMS clinicians should return to use of respirators for patients with known or suspected COVID-19. • Updated guidance about recommended EPA-registered disinfectants to include reference to a list now posted on the EPA website. Information from the CDC pertaining to Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for COVID-19 in the United States.
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Decrease the Rate of Transmission
Our second objective is to slow the rate of transmission as much as possible. Most patients do not get very sick with COVID-19. If we can slow the rate of transmission over a prolonged period, then the healthcare system can care for that number of patients. If we cannot slow the rate of transmission then our healthcare system will be confronted with a huge bolus of patients over a short period of time. Our job is to help slow the rate of transmission and avoid the huge surge of patients. We can help accomplish this by appropriately screening patients, using PPE correctly, and assisting public health with slowing community transmission of disease. Our role is critically important. Each agency should work with their local health department to determine if there are ways that they can assist with screening, contact tracing, and other infection control measures. EMS and other first responders serve a critical role in protecting our communities so that they can better weather this pandemic.
Dr. Winslow has worked at Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem for the past 11 years. He was appointed as the Medical Director of the NC Office of EMS in 2011. This document contains all protocol, procedures, and policies for all EMS agencies in North Carolina.
How Many More Will Die Before We Learn Best Practices? There has been a lot of discussion recently — as well there should be — regarding the number of responders being struck at roadway incidents. There are also many people offering their opinion as to the reasons why and several different approaches for preventJeff Allen ing these tragedies. We are exposed to the drunk drivers every time we set up on a roadway incident. These drunk, distracted, drowsy, drugged drivers no longer care about the first responders at a wreck scene on the roadways. When they are asked to slow to get around a scene, they feel inconvenienced and get frustrated and angry quickly. There are documented cases of deliberate struck by incidents due to this anger and frustration. As an Incident Management Specialist I can tell you that there is no one leading factor that results in these numbers and there is truly only one fix. A single struck by fatality is one too many however there are ways to address this issue. First, the wrong time to learn about the free Traffic Incident Management (TIM) training that is available to every law enforcement officer, firefighter, medic, tow operator, public works employee, coroner and more, is when you are being cross examined in a court of law after a struck by injury or fatality. If you have no understanding of best practices it will only be a matter of time before you will be litigated against. Why we are struggling to get all of these disciplines into this no charge training is beyond me. The price of the training is certainly not a factor. Second is the lack of funding for law enforcement officers on our roadways. If we doubled the number of Highway Patrol Troopers and they became much more visible, people would slow down and more proactive traffic stops would prevent much of the dangerous behavior that we see every day. The cost of this roadway carnage is much higher than the cost of putting more troopers on our roadways. Third, if we got serious about our Slow Down Move Over laws and made the fine several thousands of dollars with four to six points deducted, then directed all police officers to strictly enforce this law, we would probably get more compliance
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on the roadways. So in reality, knowing how the legislative process goes, second and third choice are probably out of the question. How about choice number one? As I write this column nearing the end of May 2019, only 28 percent of our law enforcement officers, 48 percent of firefighters and 12 percent of our medics in the U.S. have completed TIM training according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), including 44 percent total in South Carolina and 41 percent in North Carolina (these percentages actually may be high). The obvious question is, why are these numbers so low? The same statistics from the FHWA tell us that on average we lost 10 law enforcement officers, 10 fire/rescue personnel and 40 to 60 tow operators each year from struck by incidents in this country. Some people have stated that first responders have taken a passive approach to safety. If all of your personnel have not had TIM training, then this is absolutely correct for your department. This training offers a multidisciiplinary approach to everyone working together with safety as the main focus. The best practices offered in a four hour detailed presentation brings home how all responders to roadway incidents can operate together, and go home at the end of the call. And contrary to popular opinion, TIM training is for all roadway incidents, not just interstates. TIM training is for any and all personnel who might respond to a roadway incident for any reason from the Sheriff or Chief, to the brand new rookie cop or firefighter. Traffic Incident Management training shows how to set
up a scene so that when everyone works together and follows the best practices outlined, the majority of traffic will slow down and the scene will be much safer for all involved, including first responders and the motoring public. In almost every case, when I complete this important four hour training, either a training officer for a department who participated, or a city or county risk manager will tell me that all of their people need this training and then they ask me when can I come back to present it to their public safety people and their public works personnel. As a technical committee member of NFPA 1091, Standard for Traffic Incident Management Personnel Professional Qualifications, I cannot overemphasize the importance of TIM training. Regardless of whatever new tools or products that are introduced which may or may not enhance your safety on our roadways, much like the best practices we learn in Incident Command System training that work on every incident, being trained in the best practices with the TIM program will greatly increase your chances of going home after every roadway call. Period. After spending over two decades responding to roadway incidents both on interstates and most other types of paved surfaces, I can speak from experience when I say that Traffic Incident Management training is critical. I encourage each and every one of you to check with your state agency responsible for this training. In South Carolina, go to SCTIMNetwork.com or call (470) 2480293 for classes that are scheduled anywhere in our state, or to request a class at your department.
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Fire, Arson and Explosion Investigation Training Program February 22-25, 2021
NAFI’s 2021 International Fire Investigation Training Program offers a broad overview of NFPA 921 and Fire Investigation concepts. This program is suitable both for newer investigators and for more advanced students. www.NAFI.org