Posts
- 08:28 Lots of Patient assists. You'd think people on O2 would know how to operate their own regulators. #
- 09:34 Anchorage has no cable tv, no internet and cell signal is weak at best. This is going to be a long 12 hours. #
- 11:35 Slow morning, but now only 4 ambulances metro wide. Guess people are waking up now #
- 13:41 2nd run Overdose Consious PT= nasal intubation x 3 attempts & IV #
- 14:24 3rd run 26yo M seizures = IV & transport. #
16 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
15 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 05:10 Power came back on @ 22:24. Finally got some sleep. Now I'm up and off to work @ Firehouse today. 1st day back from vacation #
- 08:05 Drove Engine 31 to shop for PM. Only took 40min to get there. #
- 10:07 Why promote a guy to sergeant then not let him ride up as officer? Answer: Because he doesn't have enough experience #
- 10:08 Solution: Let the firefighter you didn't promote ride up as officer. WTF?!?! #
- 10:10 I'm disappointed in the lack of pride & ownership in my department today #
- 10:31 Power has been out almost 24hrs. Dry sprinkler systems losing pressure = lots of water flow alarms. #
- 11:42 Dr.'s Office - gas generator running in basement; CO 275ppm in basement. Yes patients were in waiting room #
- 12:09 Long lines at gas stations. Had to push our way in for fuel, guage says 1/4 tank. Why the rush on gas? #
- 13:26 Off work for 5 shifts. 5827 junk emails waiting for me. Spammers suck. I hope they die. #
- 16:16 Yesterday they did 38 runs. Today we only have 9 but we are having trouble keeping up with the paperwork. #
- 18:16 Going to eat dinner, then finish paperwork. Tomorrow should be a fun day for paramedic ride time (power still out everywhere) #
- 20:18 Washing cloths & bedding. Tired. #
- 21:54 Posted new blog. fyrdog21.blogspot.com/ I miss the job I loved. #
- 22:10 www.ted.com Great place for advanced thinking. Presentations are good too. #
Day of Reckoning
The day after the day after. Yes That is what I said. The people who are experiencing life after a storm are not the brightest (although in my district they are are well educated). You will see the twitter log of the stupidity I have witnessed today, but I thought I might expand on a few.
Dr.'s Office - gas generator running in basement; CO 275ppm in basement. Yes patients were in waiting room
What on earth was this Doctor thinking? Her husband, a licensed electrician, made a valient effort to get the office open and wired a gas generator into the circut panel in the basement. I am not electrician, but it appeared that the wiring was correct and it would not back feed to the power grid (which would pose a danger to all the electricians working to repair the downed powerlines). This is a good way to ensure that you can power what is needed without running a mile of extension cord. Good thought perhaps, but to place the toxic fume emmiting power plant in the basement of the Doctor's Office is worthy of a Darwin Honorable mention. THey did make an effort to open the doors and try to naturally ventilate the basement (it had two exterior doors on either end of the building, with one leading up stairs to the office proper). We took our CO detector and found 305ppm of carbon monoxide. The experts recommend that no one is exposed to more than 35ppm over a 10 hour period (NIOSH) and not more than 200ppm. I would have hoped that the Licensed Medical Doctor knew the dangers of CO in her own business. I guess not. The patients that were waiting to be seen understood why we had to evacuate the building, but I don't think they were too happy. How would you feel if you were poisoned AT the Doctor's Office?
Why promote a guy to sergeant then not let him ride up as officer? Answer: Because he doesn't have enough experience
Well...Ok here is the scoop (yes a large lighting fixture used to produce broad soft light with no shapable beam), the person we just promoted to sergeant is not allowed to ride in the officers seat because he does not have enough experience. One of the candidates who was passed up for promotion DID ride as officer. WTF? Why promote someone then say they don't have enough experience to perform their job as officer? I have nothing against the two persons, I just do not understand the logic behind that decision. I did not apply for promotion and with this logic passing as leadership I don't think I am going to try any time soon.
I'm disappointed in the lack of pride & ownership in my department today
Seems simple enough. Today was my first day back from vacation. I knew this was going to be a difficult day with the storms that passed through yesterday. I tried to think about the greater good and suggested that we drive around and survey the damage in our district. My thought was to help clear roads that were blocked by trees (not with wires, I don't feel like playing with that much electricity) and provide good PR for our department by offering a hand to those in need. I was told that the Chief wanted us to clean up our parking lot. The lot was not in NEED of cleaning, it only would have improved the cosmetics of the station. A co-worker stated that he made that suggestion to the 1st Platoon Major and the response was "That's NOT our Job". That is a crappy attitude.
Anyone who follows fire service talking circut is familiar with Al Brunacini former Chief of Pheonix Fire Department (AZ), and Rick Lasky Cheif of Lewisville Fire Department (TX). Chief Brunacini championed the high end constomer service (not unlike Disney's idea of Guest Service). Brunacini is known for stories about this philosophy. One run PFD made was a medical call on a male. He was having some medical problem and needed to be in a hospital. The man was pouring a new sidewalk when the medical emergency happened. The Pheonix FD engine that made the run, returned to the mans house and poured the remainder of the person's sidewalk. Now that is service. Chief Lasky has taken this to the newer generations of Fire Chiefs. Chief Lasky makes the talk circut with his "Pride and Ownership - A Firefighters love for the Job" book and subsequent seminar presentation. Lasky's approach is the same as Brunacini's (and Disney's).
Two days ago I had a similar experience during my paramedic ride time. We made a run on a middle age man who fell down the stairs. He was helping move a washing machine up from a basement. The man refused transport to the hospital. My perceptor suggested that we move the washing machine for the man (so we don't have to come back when he hurts himself again). The whole process did not take more than 5 minutes (we took the machine to the street) and we went on our way. I admit that I did not want to perform heavy lifting (we did have a furniture dolly that they were using), but I understood how important that was for the patient. We not only treated him with respect, but we moved the washer for him (not That's Constomer Service). We got good PR and we were assured not to return when he tried to move it again.
That is what we should be doing. Going above and beyond for the community. Somedays I forget the good Karma that we can spread with much ease. I am ashamed for all the times I took the lazy way out. I hope to be a better person in the future.
Dr.'s Office - gas generator running in basement; CO 275ppm in basement. Yes patients were in waiting room
What on earth was this Doctor thinking? Her husband, a licensed electrician, made a valient effort to get the office open and wired a gas generator into the circut panel in the basement. I am not electrician, but it appeared that the wiring was correct and it would not back feed to the power grid (which would pose a danger to all the electricians working to repair the downed powerlines). This is a good way to ensure that you can power what is needed without running a mile of extension cord. Good thought perhaps, but to place the toxic fume emmiting power plant in the basement of the Doctor's Office is worthy of a Darwin Honorable mention. THey did make an effort to open the doors and try to naturally ventilate the basement (it had two exterior doors on either end of the building, with one leading up stairs to the office proper). We took our CO detector and found 305ppm of carbon monoxide. The experts recommend that no one is exposed to more than 35ppm over a 10 hour period (NIOSH) and not more than 200ppm. I would have hoped that the Licensed Medical Doctor knew the dangers of CO in her own business. I guess not. The patients that were waiting to be seen understood why we had to evacuate the building, but I don't think they were too happy. How would you feel if you were poisoned AT the Doctor's Office?
Why promote a guy to sergeant then not let him ride up as officer? Answer: Because he doesn't have enough experience
Well...Ok here is the scoop (yes a large lighting fixture used to produce broad soft light with no shapable beam), the person we just promoted to sergeant is not allowed to ride in the officers seat because he does not have enough experience. One of the candidates who was passed up for promotion DID ride as officer. WTF? Why promote someone then say they don't have enough experience to perform their job as officer? I have nothing against the two persons, I just do not understand the logic behind that decision. I did not apply for promotion and with this logic passing as leadership I don't think I am going to try any time soon.
I'm disappointed in the lack of pride & ownership in my department today
Seems simple enough. Today was my first day back from vacation. I knew this was going to be a difficult day with the storms that passed through yesterday. I tried to think about the greater good and suggested that we drive around and survey the damage in our district. My thought was to help clear roads that were blocked by trees (not with wires, I don't feel like playing with that much electricity) and provide good PR for our department by offering a hand to those in need. I was told that the Chief wanted us to clean up our parking lot. The lot was not in NEED of cleaning, it only would have improved the cosmetics of the station. A co-worker stated that he made that suggestion to the 1st Platoon Major and the response was "That's NOT our Job". That is a crappy attitude.
Anyone who follows fire service talking circut is familiar with Al Brunacini former Chief of Pheonix Fire Department (AZ), and Rick Lasky Cheif of Lewisville Fire Department (TX). Chief Brunacini championed the high end constomer service (not unlike Disney's idea of Guest Service). Brunacini is known for stories about this philosophy. One run PFD made was a medical call on a male. He was having some medical problem and needed to be in a hospital. The man was pouring a new sidewalk when the medical emergency happened. The Pheonix FD engine that made the run, returned to the mans house and poured the remainder of the person's sidewalk. Now that is service. Chief Lasky has taken this to the newer generations of Fire Chiefs. Chief Lasky makes the talk circut with his "Pride and Ownership - A Firefighters love for the Job" book and subsequent seminar presentation. Lasky's approach is the same as Brunacini's (and Disney's).
Two days ago I had a similar experience during my paramedic ride time. We made a run on a middle age man who fell down the stairs. He was helping move a washing machine up from a basement. The man refused transport to the hospital. My perceptor suggested that we move the washing machine for the man (so we don't have to come back when he hurts himself again). The whole process did not take more than 5 minutes (we took the machine to the street) and we went on our way. I admit that I did not want to perform heavy lifting (we did have a furniture dolly that they were using), but I understood how important that was for the patient. We not only treated him with respect, but we moved the washer for him (not That's Constomer Service). We got good PR and we were assured not to return when he tried to move it again.
That is what we should be doing. Going above and beyond for the community. Somedays I forget the good Karma that we can spread with much ease. I am ashamed for all the times I took the lazy way out. I hope to be a better person in the future.
14 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 09:01 Morning. Sunday. My one day off. Hopefully we can relax and Ike remnants won't be too bothersome. #
- 14:27 Wind hit us hard. Power out all over city. Multi working fires. Expect to go to work early tonight. #
- 14:54 75 mph wind gust. Should calm to 40-50 mph in an hour. Most of city w/o power. Cell towers are extremely busy. No Wx nets on yet. #
- 16:48 Wind calmed down. T-storms 2nite. 145000 people w/o power in Louisville. Mayor to speak in 10 min. #
13 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 05:47 Hello world, it me. Waiting to see what you have today. i'll do my best paramedic impersonation and treat the sick. I'm ready. #
- 07:05 06:57 Fire run w/ middletown. Sump motor over heated, no fire #
- 08:33 Meaning in life is arbitrary. Why ruin the universe with rigidity? #
- 09:58 Ok listen, your nausea is NOT worse than the PT who is intubated. There are priorities & breathing trumps nausea. #
- 10:32 Here's one for you squeekers (audio techs) you you run you power supply cable along side of you snake? #
- 10:34 Oh yeah and the power supply is standard outdoor 3 prong plug powering a rack & console. #
- 11:51 What do you want to do when you grow up? No really I am taking a poll. Let me know. #
- 15:46 Your heart does not like you when consuming Red Bull. Don't let Paul drink them. #
- 17:11 Big brown won another race (not by much). Was it all steroids? One more race then he retires to stud farm. #
- 19:36 I can't believe the UK vs MTSU game is only on pay-per-view. Freaking stupid ESPN #
12 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 07:20 Daily chores done at EMS. Time to test the lazy boy's #
- 11:00 Driving Med 933 today. Busy during downpoar (4 runs). #
- 11:39 Eating at Red Pepper Deli 4 lunch. Watching Ike coverage. #
- 13:36 Had awsome corned beef & coleslaw sand. Peaceful lunch then got a run. I like to stay busy. #
- 15:51 It is amazing how the standard of living can be so poor in a wealthy area. Poverty is a social disease. #
- 16:07 Young drivers: Put down the phone, pull 2 the right and stop for emegency vehicles is this that freaking hard 2 understand? #
- 20:48 Dairy Kastle has the best Sundae w/ real hot fudge! Watching Ike on weather channel. #
11 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 23:58 Going to sleep. I've got tomorrow off! WooHoo! Need to go for a swim tomorrow. #
- 10:46 Uploading Vacation photos to Flickr. New App. @ Facebook should see pics on profile page. #
- 11:17 Upload complete. See photos here tinyurl.com/FLA08. #
- 11:47 cooliris looks a little like Adobe Lightroom (which BTW is the best photo editing /mgmt software out there IMHO). Testing Twhirl. Very nice #
- 13:23 Added SPB mobile shell to my Tilt. Always looking for best GUI for WM6.1 (which is crap). #
- 15:34 Off to the Mary T Meagher pool for a water workout. It is hurricane season afterall. #
- 15:41 I need to do that more often. It's been a long time since I swam for excersize #
- 17:46 Enough flying and dying. Time to surf the web and creat chaos #
- 19:06 Checking the facts and trying to spread the word about www.Factcheck.org. Educate yourself. #
10 September 2008
Twitter Log
Follow me on Twitter
- 06:41 Morning Metropolis, Paramedicc student is back on duty. Please keep hands and legs inside the ride at all times. #
- 10:15 First run of the day. Two students today and I'm on 2nd truck (which means we're up next). Pandora.com is very cool. need wm6 client for it. #
- 10:22 Hadron Collider will NOT cause destruction of the Universe. Really people, check your physics before ranting on about theories #
- 12:33 Pulled pork BBQ for lunch. Got 2nd run & was canceled. #
- 14:05 75 yo male Hypotension, but only occasionally. A-fib on the 12 lead #
- 15:06 Lazy team leaders in the combined special teams are making me angry. No one wants to see beyond themselves. #
- 23:38 Set up LoudTwitter to post daily log of tweets to my blog. This is cool. fyrdog21.blogspot.com #
Addendum
The FEMA post was in response to a phone call that I had with a coworker and friend. He has been working on this issue since we were on standby for Gustav. The JCWRT was deployed back in 2005 for Katrina, and we thought we might get the call again.
He made several phone calls to local and state Emergency Managers to verify our status. According to Kentucky EM we are now a Type 1 Swiftwater/Flood Rescue team. We have the manpower, equipment and training to meet the FEMA guidlines for a Type 1 Team. Type 1 is the best you can be and many water rescue teams strive to be classified as type 1.
According to my friend, only three resources are dispatched directly from FEMA. US&R (Urban Search & Rescue teams, otherwise known as Task Forces), National Guard, and Coast Guard. All other teams are deployed via the EMAC.
Does this increase the possibility of deployment to Texas for Ike? I have no idea and neither will they until it happens. In hurricane aftermaths water teams mostly evacuate and search flooded areas. There might be a need for this (California already has two Type 1 water teams en route to Texas) and we might get the call. Until then we can train thoroughly and prepare for all possibilities.
He made several phone calls to local and state Emergency Managers to verify our status. According to Kentucky EM we are now a Type 1 Swiftwater/Flood Rescue team. We have the manpower, equipment and training to meet the FEMA guidlines for a Type 1 Team. Type 1 is the best you can be and many water rescue teams strive to be classified as type 1.
According to my friend, only three resources are dispatched directly from FEMA. US&R (Urban Search & Rescue teams, otherwise known as Task Forces), National Guard, and Coast Guard. All other teams are deployed via the EMAC.
Does this increase the possibility of deployment to Texas for Ike? I have no idea and neither will they until it happens. In hurricane aftermaths water teams mostly evacuate and search flooded areas. There might be a need for this (California already has two Type 1 water teams en route to Texas) and we might get the call. Until then we can train thoroughly and prepare for all possibilities.
FEMA and other four letter words
Most people are aware of the Hurricane Ike that is threatening the coast of Texas. Before Ike there was Gustav. And in between there was Hanna. There are rescue teams currently being staged in the area for Ike. My water rescue team Jefferson County Swiftwater Rescue (JCWRT) is still located in Louisville. Why?
I don't know. According to our command staff we are listed as a state resource. The only way to deploy us is for the State Emergency Management Agency (EMA) of the affected area to request us through an EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact). In our case the Governor of Texas would need to declare a state of emergency, allowing the Texas EMA (technically it is the Governors Division of Emergency Management {GDEM}) to begin their search for resources through the EMAC. GDEM would have to call Kentucky EMA and ask them if we have resources for flood/swiftwater rescue. Should they need/want our assistance the JCWRT would get notified by Kentucky EMA to deploy to Texas (we would also get staging instructions for where to report to in the state of texas). This is how states request Mutual Aid from other states.
A rather complicated procedure, we can mix it up by adding a federal response. FEMA has different requirements for teams that wish to be of assistance. They have a whole host of lists and requirements, and forms to fill out to be listed as a FEMA Resource. For the purpose of full disclosure I do not know if there is a federal response for Ike. I do know that there is an official State of Disaster Declared by the Governor of Texas (as of the 7th Sept. 2008). I do not know the difference between State of Disaster and State of Emergency. I will look into these and report back (to all two of you who read my blog).
I am an emergency worker, and I like helping people. My job is to assist the general public and other emergency services personnel when requested. I like this, no in fact I get giddy when I get the opportunity to perform. Sitting around playing tiddlywinks (or mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms) is not why I show up to work. Janitorial services are, unfortunately, required but I really would rather be out there in the middle of all the disasters helping those in need (despite my wife not liking the thought of me being deployed and away from home). Idle hands do the devils work and this blog is proof.
I don't know. According to our command staff we are listed as a state resource. The only way to deploy us is for the State Emergency Management Agency (EMA) of the affected area to request us through an EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact). In our case the Governor of Texas would need to declare a state of emergency, allowing the Texas EMA (technically it is the Governors Division of Emergency Management {GDEM}) to begin their search for resources through the EMAC. GDEM would have to call Kentucky EMA and ask them if we have resources for flood/swiftwater rescue. Should they need/want our assistance the JCWRT would get notified by Kentucky EMA to deploy to Texas (we would also get staging instructions for where to report to in the state of texas). This is how states request Mutual Aid from other states.
A rather complicated procedure, we can mix it up by adding a federal response. FEMA has different requirements for teams that wish to be of assistance. They have a whole host of lists and requirements, and forms to fill out to be listed as a FEMA Resource. For the purpose of full disclosure I do not know if there is a federal response for Ike. I do know that there is an official State of Disaster Declared by the Governor of Texas (as of the 7th Sept. 2008). I do not know the difference between State of Disaster and State of Emergency. I will look into these and report back (to all two of you who read my blog).
I am an emergency worker, and I like helping people. My job is to assist the general public and other emergency services personnel when requested. I like this, no in fact I get giddy when I get the opportunity to perform. Sitting around playing tiddlywinks (or mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms) is not why I show up to work. Janitorial services are, unfortunately, required but I really would rather be out there in the middle of all the disasters helping those in need (despite my wife not liking the thought of me being deployed and away from home). Idle hands do the devils work and this blog is proof.
04 September 2008
Reunion of sorts
A few old technicians from the Magic Kingdom gathered this evening to visit and catch up with my wife and me. This is not unusual for people to meet and greet visitors but it felt different. I found that I was more comfortable sitting around the table with the people that I worked with more than six years past, than I am with my own platoon at the firehouse. The sub culture of the firehouse is known for it's family like atmosphere. The high stress events that endure during our tours are supposed to bring us together like a family (albeit a family of sweaty guys who desperately need a shower after a fire). The people who I worked with during my short three year tour at WDW are more like family than most of the people at my fire station. I do not know how or why and I am not sure if this will change. The stories we tell each other from hurricane ride out (Hurricane Floyd) to Grad nite confusions are fondly remembered by all. I have always felt like there was something special about my time at the Kingdom and tonight I found that other people had similar thoughts. Many people left the company or have moved into other positions in other parks, but during our time in the Kingdom we held court and will always remember.
Many thanks to Ralphy, Marni, Scott, Eric, Ben, Joey, Stacey, Nina, Jeanine, Carrie for spending an evening with us. Mike & Laura (our gracious hosts for the past three days) we cannot repay the kindness you have shown us, thank you for helping us feel welcome.
Tomorrow we tour Epcot (that was OUR favorite park to visit).
Many thanks to Ralphy, Marni, Scott, Eric, Ben, Joey, Stacey, Nina, Jeanine, Carrie for spending an evening with us. Mike & Laura (our gracious hosts for the past three days) we cannot repay the kindness you have shown us, thank you for helping us feel welcome.
Tomorrow we tour Epcot (that was OUR favorite park to visit).
26 August 2008
Balance
I am a strange mixture of Daoist and budhist. Balance is very important to maintain. Daoism teaches yin and yang. Polar opposites that exert equal influence on the subject, thus maintaining balance.
Today I feel the influence of both yin & yang. I am a technology geek. I like my fancy phone and I like playing on computers. I am addicted to facebook, twitter and this blog (even if it doesn't appear like I post a lot). I think all these social networking web sites are a good thermometers of the society.
Nature, camping, outdoors and other earthly activities. I really enjoy the solitude found in the middle of nature. Complete seperation from the proverbial rat race, surviving on the land. This sounds like a testosterone influenced dream. I was in a happy place in the Scottish Highlands. I can't wait to return. My wife and I wish to take a camping trip, and I was hiking as often as I could before paramedic class took over my free time. I still want to go camping, hiking, caving, canoeing, climbing, rappelling and all sorts of other outdoors things. Hopefully when I finish this I can take some of these hobbies back. Our dogs really liked the hikes in the parks. They would like to go hiking again.
This is my example of yin & yang. Yes I want both at the same time. Patience is a virtue.
Disclaimer
The twitter blogs (which update my facebook status) are the end result of my brain running free and an outlet to spew my blackness unto the world. Environmental factors also apply. Lack of sleep is a major factor. Exhaustion is like many other mental impairments (alcohol, recreational drugs). The brain runs wild and the filter that society forces on us is off lookng for a munchie fix.
Yes this is me liberated from you. Welcome. Stay a while.
25 August 2008
The question posted above in large type font is Why the Monkey?
Lexington Fire Department has a "mascot" per sae. Some creative individual decided to poke fun at the Rescue company in Lexington. Thus we have Rescue Monkey. I am not a member of LFD but I appreciate the effort and humor. I am one of the rescue guys on my own fire department, and I am the #2 to the rescue guru. So I have adopted rescue monkey, because I am tired, I get little sleep, and I don't have time to produce my platoon's logo for rescue. The previous post is our official platoon logo that I created. Yes we are the black sheep and thats the way we like it.
Learn more about rescue monkey here
29 May 2008
Day
Why am I always so tired after a shift at the firehouse? This is not a complaint just a notation of an average day of work for me:
04:04 -Wake Up (if I choose to skip morning workout I wake at 05:02)
05:15 - Workout at Louisville Athletic Club
06:30 - Arrive at Worthington Fire Station 3
Change into uniform and eat breakfast
Exchange info with 1st Platoon (what's broken etc.)
07:00-09:00 We do our "Daily Routine" which includes clean bathrooms (we have 3); Check duty trucks (Engine 1831 & rescue 1881) and run all equipment on duty trucks; Empty Trash; Scrub bay floors (M,W,F), Check emergency equipment and engine/pump operations on other apparatus (Quint 1857 & Tanker 1869); On Saturday we buff the waxed floors; Review apparatus maintenance requests (my platoon is responsable for apparatus maintenance and we have to either repair the truck or shuttle the apparatus to the appropriate maintenance facility) Weekly apparatus checks (every day we have an apparatus that we check all the fluids, inventory the apparatus, clean the tools, check tire pressure, and we perform monthly checks on ladders and SCBA)
09:00 - 11:30 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have weekly training. Friday Saturday and Sunday we have monthly Special teams training (confined space resuce, rope rescue, hazmat, water rescue). If we do not have any training we continue the weekly apparatus check (takes three personnel approximatly two hours to complete these checks). Begin our Fire inspections, Hydrant testing, hose testing, truck visits (where we go to a location that has requested a fire apparatus to visit; birthday parties, community events, schools, events the Community Risk department have set up), Station visits (where a group has arranged to come to the fire station for a tour), Target Hazards (AKA pre-plans). We do not have all these each day but we usually have one or two of these events every day. Work on Cost Recovery forms (we bill non-residents for MVa's).
11:30 - 12:30 Lunch (usually moving more apparatus around to repair facilities)
12:30 - 15:00 Finish any weekly or monthly checks of apparatus; after lunch is kind of project time. Some people have tasks that they are assigned by the chief or the battalion chief. I am kind of the database management person, where I spend time writting reports in our DBMS (and I have three reports I am working on at the moment). We also use this time to prepare for classes we are teaching to either our recruit class or the department (each fire service instructor has to teach a certain amount of huors every year). We will also repair apparatus when we get parts in from supply stores. Continue the hydrant testing, fire inspections et al. Oh yeah and we have to respond to Fire & EMS runs during the entire 24 hour period.
15:00 - 16:00 Crew goes to workout (either at the gym or other outdoor activity)
16:00 - 17:00 Try to catch up on paper work. Although we try to enter runs after we get them. We also have to enter the truck check sheets, training activities, community risk activities, inspections (lots of compute work during this time). One person cooks dinner during this time also.
17:00 - 18:00 Dinner
18:00 - 19:00 evening cleaning. we empty the kitchen trash, mop the floors, empty the trash in the administrative offices.
Usually after the evening duties we can have our own time however we still have to finish all paperwork before our shift ends at 07:00 so the the officers are finishing their paper work. We average 3-5 runs per shift. Some days these are easy runs and other days they require a mountain of paperwork. Recently my shift has had most runs between 19:00 - 23:00.
I don't normally get to sleep until 00:00 (thats midnight). Sometimes we get more runs during the night. On average I am awake for twenty (20) hours when I am at work before I get the chance to sleep. Occasionally we have easy days (Sundays are good days). I have left out the quarterly training for special teams that a few of us attend. I am on the Hazmat Team, Trench Team and Water Rescue team. Once a quarter each of these teams have training that I am required to attend.
No wonder I am so tired when I get home.
04:04 -Wake Up (if I choose to skip morning workout I wake at 05:02)
05:15 - Workout at Louisville Athletic Club
06:30 - Arrive at Worthington Fire Station 3
Change into uniform and eat breakfast
Exchange info with 1st Platoon (what's broken etc.)
07:00-09:00 We do our "Daily Routine" which includes clean bathrooms (we have 3); Check duty trucks (Engine 1831 & rescue 1881) and run all equipment on duty trucks; Empty Trash; Scrub bay floors (M,W,F), Check emergency equipment and engine/pump operations on other apparatus (Quint 1857 & Tanker 1869); On Saturday we buff the waxed floors; Review apparatus maintenance requests (my platoon is responsable for apparatus maintenance and we have to either repair the truck or shuttle the apparatus to the appropriate maintenance facility) Weekly apparatus checks (every day we have an apparatus that we check all the fluids, inventory the apparatus, clean the tools, check tire pressure, and we perform monthly checks on ladders and SCBA)
09:00 - 11:30 Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday we have weekly training. Friday Saturday and Sunday we have monthly Special teams training (confined space resuce, rope rescue, hazmat, water rescue). If we do not have any training we continue the weekly apparatus check (takes three personnel approximatly two hours to complete these checks). Begin our Fire inspections, Hydrant testing, hose testing, truck visits (where we go to a location that has requested a fire apparatus to visit; birthday parties, community events, schools, events the Community Risk department have set up), Station visits (where a group has arranged to come to the fire station for a tour), Target Hazards (AKA pre-plans). We do not have all these each day but we usually have one or two of these events every day. Work on Cost Recovery forms (we bill non-residents for MVa's).
11:30 - 12:30 Lunch (usually moving more apparatus around to repair facilities)
12:30 - 15:00 Finish any weekly or monthly checks of apparatus; after lunch is kind of project time. Some people have tasks that they are assigned by the chief or the battalion chief. I am kind of the database management person, where I spend time writting reports in our DBMS (and I have three reports I am working on at the moment). We also use this time to prepare for classes we are teaching to either our recruit class or the department (each fire service instructor has to teach a certain amount of huors every year). We will also repair apparatus when we get parts in from supply stores. Continue the hydrant testing, fire inspections et al. Oh yeah and we have to respond to Fire & EMS runs during the entire 24 hour period.
15:00 - 16:00 Crew goes to workout (either at the gym or other outdoor activity)
16:00 - 17:00 Try to catch up on paper work. Although we try to enter runs after we get them. We also have to enter the truck check sheets, training activities, community risk activities, inspections (lots of compute work during this time). One person cooks dinner during this time also.
17:00 - 18:00 Dinner
18:00 - 19:00 evening cleaning. we empty the kitchen trash, mop the floors, empty the trash in the administrative offices.
Usually after the evening duties we can have our own time however we still have to finish all paperwork before our shift ends at 07:00 so the the officers are finishing their paper work. We average 3-5 runs per shift. Some days these are easy runs and other days they require a mountain of paperwork. Recently my shift has had most runs between 19:00 - 23:00.
I don't normally get to sleep until 00:00 (thats midnight). Sometimes we get more runs during the night. On average I am awake for twenty (20) hours when I am at work before I get the chance to sleep. Occasionally we have easy days (Sundays are good days). I have left out the quarterly training for special teams that a few of us attend. I am on the Hazmat Team, Trench Team and Water Rescue team. Once a quarter each of these teams have training that I am required to attend.
No wonder I am so tired when I get home.
13 May 2008
Time
We seem to have more time around the firehouse these days. We recently changed the types of EMS runs we respond to, making only emergent runs. We had One run yesterday and it was to force entry to a house to help a woman get up. She refused treatment and we destroyed her door.
18 July 2006
Weather or Not
Yes it is hot. Not unusually hot. This is the summer I expect. I guess I lived in Florida for too many years.
A few calls today. One full arrest. The Doctor called the PT at the hospital not more then 5 minutes after our arrival. First full arrest in some time. After downloading the SAED the PT was Asystole the whole time. Non-shockable rhythm. The family last spoke to her at 1am this morning. The call came in around 10:30am.
Fire alarms and food on the stove, thats about all. One Gas leak in a house. We shut off the gas main and ventilated the house.
Tuesday night is training night for our volunteers. We were supposed to do live burn exercises but that was canceled due to the heat. We stayed indoors and did a little First aid / CPR. Kind of Ironic. I just performed CPR for 20 + minutes this morning and now we are training on proper technique.
A few calls today. One full arrest. The Doctor called the PT at the hospital not more then 5 minutes after our arrival. First full arrest in some time. After downloading the SAED the PT was Asystole the whole time. Non-shockable rhythm. The family last spoke to her at 1am this morning. The call came in around 10:30am.
Fire alarms and food on the stove, thats about all. One Gas leak in a house. We shut off the gas main and ventilated the house.
Tuesday night is training night for our volunteers. We were supposed to do live burn exercises but that was canceled due to the heat. We stayed indoors and did a little First aid / CPR. Kind of Ironic. I just performed CPR for 20 + minutes this morning and now we are training on proper technique.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)