We in the Fire, Rescue and EMS service are typically “A” type of personality and enjoy the adrenalin rush we get from the calls we respond to. That is not a bad thing since it takes this type of person to do the job we do. How many times have you heard someone tell you that they are glad that you ...

On August 9th through the 12th, the North Carolina Fire Marshall’s Office, Department of Insurance, Fire and Rescue Division, along with the Atlantic Beach Fire Department, hosted the first pilot program for tower rescue. The classroom was held at the main Atlantic Beach Fire station and the practical work was held in Morehead City, at one of their cell tower sites. ...

*Computer Mapping in the 21st Century* Computers have become a major player in our lives over the past 10 years, and the ability to keep up with the technology lies only with those who can upgrade their computers several times a year. Unfortunately, most of us in public safety are still hoping to upgrade from two years ago. Email has become ...

In order to cover all the details involved in any specific type of extrication, one must first realize it would take more than a single article, perhaps a chapter would be in order. There are several factors that must be considered when discussing any type of vehicle extrication. We are dealing with a wide degree of expertise, that ranges from the ...

I wrote in the winter issue that I would tell the story of the rescue up at Peeks Creek in Macon County, North Carolina. Well, here is the Readers Digest version of that rescue. We had just returned from our deployment in Morganton, for hurricane Frances, when word was coming down the pipes that hurricane Ivan may also target North Carolina. ...

This thought provoking article will probably stir some feelings, perhaps even rub some the wrong way, and maybe even get a few, “he hit that nail on the head.” Especially when we look at our capabilities as a rescue provider, and what our department says we can do. The way a lot of folks see it, if we do some training ...

The million-dollar question, do we really train enough in vehicle extrication? In our minds, most of us would say yes. In reality, the answer is probably no. Can we truly train enough? We could if extrication was the only responsibility we had in fire, rescue and EMS. But we know that most of us have many more responsibilities than just extrication. ...

When you read this we will be moving into early Fall. I hope everyone’s Summer was good, and you were able to enjoy some family time, personal time and just good “ole” down time. Something we all need in our careers as Fire/Rescue/EMS providers. Sometimes we just have to put ourselves first, a totally different concept for some of us. In ...

Our mission trip to Guatemala was pretty awesome and we had a great time teaching their folks some basic rescue techniques. They were eager to learn and we plan on returning July 2010 to continue their training and hopefully get some more equipment donated. Catch my articles on the trip and what we did. Last issue we looked at how we ...

For several years now I have gone to the Appalachian Mountains with a group from my church on an ASP project where we do repairs and construction on houses of those less fortunate. These folks could not otherwise afford to have these repairs done and live with leaking roofs, in dilapidated dwellings, with dangerous wiring, and some with inferior plumbing. The ...

Well, as with anything we do, there is always something that pops up. We had a ticket issue that had to be corrected before departing Raleigh Durham. I did learn that the name that appears on the ticket needs to match the one on your passport. The name you are accustomed to, might not work. That’s what happens when you order ...

Atlanta Fire Rescue Colet Jaguar K15 Crash Truck [photo:139123] The K-15 Jaguar is a technically advanced fire truck, designed to contain and extinguish aircraft fires, with more speed and precision than the standard fire trucks. The Jaguar can reach speed up to 83 miles per hour and go from 0 to 50 in less than 20 seconds, fast for a fire ...

This is the first of a three part article on big truck extrication. *We are going to first take a look at basic truck anatomy. In article two we will discuss scene approach, hazards, and stabilization. In part three we will talk about extrication techniques.* Trucks have been around since shortly after the coming of the motorized automobile. They have become ...

Sometimes I wonder if rescuers realize just how many trucks are actually on our highways traveling each and everyday. My wife and I took a trip out west last Spring to see the Grand Canyon. I decided to drive in order to stop and see other things we might be interested in seeing along the way. Driving from North Carolina to ...

In the last two articles we have looked at how trucks are constructed, the types of trailers they may be pulling, the tremendous weights that may be involved, the hazards that come from dealing with large trucks, assessing and approaching these types of crashes, and how to look at some basic stabilization methods. Now we are going to look at some ...

We see the bright yellow buses travel our roads and highways everyday. These buses are not only carrying the future of our country, but the future firefighters, rescue and EMS workers that will inherit our plight to protect and save lives. It is our duty and obligation as rescue workers to be highly skilled and trained in rescuing this precious cargo. ...

I hope this column finds everyone well. As I write this next part on bus extrication, and we look further into how buses are constructed, I have had the opportunity to teach several more classes on bus extrication. Each time I do a class I always learn more from my students and being able to experiment with techniques. We have also ...

I hope this finds everyone well and the winter was not too bad. Sometimes it is a slight disadvantage when I write an article or column and it doesn’t reach everyone until several months later. I attended the Piedmont Fire Seminar in Winston Salem and had a chance to talk with a lot fireman. The seminar looked like it went well. ...

Sometimes the best stories are the ones you can't make up. When it comes to emergency dispatch, this tends to be the case. Sit back and enjoy this list of some of the most outrageous 9-1-1 calls we've ever heard. *Note: All videos may not be real First Video >>> [page] I Need A BambulanceWarning: Strong Language Next Video >>> ...

For those whose lives are focused around fire and rescue, this one is for you. We have compiled this series of incredible and jaw-dropping explosions for your viewing entertainment. Now sit back and be prepared to have your mind blown! #15: Chemical Tanker → [page] Chemical Tanker Comment on this Video #14: Backdraft Levels 2-Story Building → [page] Backdraft Levels ...