Firefighters Time To Work

Firefighters Time To Work. No matter how experienced you are or how many times you enter the flames every fire is a new fire. You've got this. You have trained it, experienced it, you have a team with you and the tools and training you need. Never get complacent. Never get overconfident. Trust in what you wear. In what you know. And trust in your judgement to know when it's time to go.

Photo of me just before entering a structure fire a few years ago.

 #brotherhood #courage #firefightertraining #firetruck #onthejob #staysafe #911 #rescue #fireman #femalefirefighter #team

Stay Low. Stay Together. Stay Safe. See you on the next job. 

Check out my firefighter designed apparel, gear and fire dept family gifts

Firefighter Shop

Welcome to our Firefighter Shop.  Featuring unique and custom designs for firefighters, first responders and their families all year long we design t-shirts, firefighting logo sweats, hoodies, jackets, jewelry and home decor for firemen and female firefighters that can be personalized with your fire dept logo, member numbers and names.  Stop by and visit especially today because the sales are as hot as our firefighters.

Firefighter Survival and Health

Firefighter Health and Survival is a topic that is in focus, both for firefighters and fire chiefs today.  Firefighters surviving the fire ground challenges and always changing environment that may place a fire fighter in imminent danger at any moment has become part of the critical training, education and SOG's of every fire dept that cares about their firemen, female firefighters and their communities.

    


Firefighters eat, drink and live their training and survival skills every day realizing that every fire scene is unpredictable and understanding that learning to avoid bad situations when possible, knowing how to use the Mayday, training and practicing self-survival firefighter techniques and always working as a team can mean the difference between life and death.



 

Firefighter team work, communications, buddy systems, two in two out should always be part of firefighting SOG's whether you are part of a huge fire dept like the FDNY, a suburban fire department or a rural volunteer firefighter.  All firefighters should learn their self survival techniques because no matter how good you are, fires don't always go according to plan.

 

    

Some of the greatest firefighter gifts are the acts of bravery, brotherhood and the courage to keep training and practicing what they learn to protect themselves, their fellow firefighters and keep their communities safe from the flames and the unexpected hazards.

        

Don't wait for Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week to get prepared and stay prepared.  Check out some of these firefighter resources online.

• http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/
• Fire Engineering Survival and Training Zones
• http://www.firehouse.com/

Firefighter Pride

How do you honor your firefighter pride?

Hopefully you honor it every day by training, by believing in the spirit of firefighters to do the right thing.  Is it about showing off your car plaque or by using your car to safely respond to as many fire calls as you can to back up your brothers and be there for your community.  Too often volunteer fire departments complain about how hard it is to get people to join.  It is growing harder and families are working longer hours to keep themselves going.  But sometimes volunteer fire departments forget that they are not just there for a great place to hang out.  Outsiders and new recruits often feel left out of the "group" if they aren't part of the in crowd.  Protect your fire dept from this stigma, stay professional.  Don't let ego get in the way of the oath to care and protect their community.  Welcome all who want to try to be a volunteer firefighter.  They may not be your friend, but they could end up saving your life.

Firefighter Fire Dept Maltese T Shirt by bonfirefirefighters

Do you welcome all who join your department and try their hardest, or is it just about who your friends are? Are you a team who works together to live up to your oath to the community and other firefighters who need you. Team work starts at the fire station and only then will you stand tall together to face the flames.  Volunteer firefighters should never forget that although it is not their career, it is not just a fraternity either.  Believe in each other, all of the team should be made up of all the members and not just some people's egos or idea of a place to hang out.

Firefighter Team Coat Rack by bonfirefirefighters

 

Fire Rescue More Than Just A Firefighter Logo

Fire Rescue Wear It With Pride!

Source: zazzle.com via Bonnie on Pinterest

Firefighter Rehab

Fighting fires is hard work.  Firefighters hooking up hydrants, putting up ladders, ventilating roofs and fighting structure fires while wearing turnout bunker gear are adding some serious stress and heat to any common activity.  This is true whether it is the cold of winter or heat of summer.

   

Firefighters don't always want to go to Rehab mostly because they don't want to have stop their firefighting activities, but EMT's are ready for them whether the set up big rehab stations with tents and chairs or a separate area away from the fire scene with water bottles and blood pressure cuffs. 




East Windsor Rescue Squads #1 and #2 set up Fire Rehab for firefighters providing medical evaluation including heart rate and blood pressure monitoring, fluid and food replacement as necessary, relief from the environment including shade from the sun, fans to cool the area, tents for protection from bad weather conditions and an area away from the firefighting action for rest and recovery.  Pictured above EMT Kevin Hood East Windsor Rescue #2.

Firefighters should be hydrating all day because there is no telling when the next fire will happen.  Thirst is one sign of dehydration but by the time you feel thirsty you may already be dehydrated.  Other warning signs of dehydration may include dizziness and lightheadedness, headache, dry mouth, nausea or vomiting and excessive fatigue.   EMS rehab helps firefighters avoid heat stress syndrome, it provides firemen whether career or volunteer firefighters a time out for their heart, mind and body to recuperate and the EMT's will ensure they are ready to resume firefighting activities before releasing them.

   

Fire departments should include reporting to Rehab in their SOG's and Fire Chiefs and Officers should encourage their firefighters to check in at Rehab for continued health and safety of all members.

Firefighters and EMT's pictured above take a time out to cool off and allow themselves to physically de-stress after fluids and monitoring by EMS.