Turnout Challenge

Hackenburg with family in tow as he finishes last years CP Rev3 Ironman.

A long swim during training last year. Lake Erie will be warm enough soon.

We’ve been adding miles in the pool, on the bike and in our shoes as we gear up for some triathlon events throughout the summer. The first triathlon several of us will be racing in this year is the HFP Racing Maumee Bay State Park event on June 16. It won’t be long and we’ll be swimming in Lake Erie instead of the pool.

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There are several new items to announce:

Firefighter Brian Hackenburg, the muscle behind the Turnout Challenge is trying to win a trip to the Kona Ironman. He is leading the first round of voting, but please be sure to keep voting and especially vote often when he gets into the finals.

Watch the Video and Vote Here

Speaking of the Turnout Challenge, this is a fundraiser for the National Firefighters Endowment. FF Hackenburg is going to wear turnout gear for the marathon portion of the Cedar Point Rev3 Ironman on September 8, 2013 if he reaches his fundraising goal. Help him HERE. You can also get involved at the same link.

Tecgen Xtreme Leading The Sponsorship Path

A few weeks ago we were looking to put together jerseys for our little team. We wanted to unite behind Brian’s cause and really build upon the concept of improving firefighter fitness. Todd from Tecgen Xtreme, a non-structural turnout gear company, didn’t bat an eye at sponsoring the jerseys we will be wearing throughout the summer. Be sure to check out the TECGEN XTREME GEAR.

Interested In Sponsoring

Contact shane@thethinredline.org

We will be adding more to the TRIATHLON TRAINING page on the blog regularly this summer and throwing out a post after races. If anyone wants to get involved or swim, bike, or run with us be sure to send us a message. We will also be looking for a big crowd at the CP Rev3. It is at an amusement park in north central Ohio, so even the kids will have fun.

TURNOUT CHALLENGE

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 22, 2013 • Filed under: All, EMS Health & Safety, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighter Training, Leadership, News, Training • Tagged: brian hackenburg, FDT, Firefighter Training, national firefighters endowment, paul hasenmeier, physical fitness, tecgen xtreme, www.firstduetackle.com

Vehicle Extrication In The Water

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Have you ever responded to a vehicle crash in the water? Have you trained for this scenario? Some may say it is a far-fetched incident, but our suggestion is that you prepare for it. The pictures and videos below are from the 2013 BGSU State Fire School heavy rescue class. Again, in this pit we had numerous tools to use including: Holmatro, and Kodiac struts and air chisels from Howell Rescue. Be sure to give the pages a “Like” by clicking the links.

If you missed the other wrap-up posts from this years BGSU State Fire School Heavy Rescue class, check them out at the links below.

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In the videos below you will see some work to enter the vehicle from the sides and another technique to tunnel in from the rear, which simulates no access to the sides. Keys to this training include:

Wearing and working in cold water suits
Securing the vehicle to shore (come-along, chains, ropes, etc.)
Understand safety precautions for the moving water environment (throw ropes downstream)
Stabilization with struts (wood cribbing doesn’t work so well in water)
Knowing vehicle construction (when a vehicle is upside down and partially under water, you must work by feel to place your tools in the correct locations to perform what is considered basic extrication on dry land)

FireVideo.net

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 21, 2013 • Filed under: All, Company Drills, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Training, Rescue, Training, Training & Development, Vehicle Rescue • Tagged: bgsu state fire school, Extrication, FDT, Firefighter Training, firefighters, heavy rescue, holmatro, howell rescue, kodiac struts, paul hasenmeier, phil burden, Rescue, roll-over in the water, stabilization, training, vehicle rescue, water rescue, www.firstduetackle.com

HexArmor 4011 Gloves – Product Review

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New – out of the bag

After numerous hours of extrication training

We met the HexArmor crew at FDIC and they asked if we would review the new 4011 glove. We’ve put several different gloves through the extrication paces. Check out all of our reviews HERE.

Overall, these gloves provide great dexterity and impact protection at a firefighter friendly price.

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Description of the 4011 Gloves from the HexArmor website:

Above all else, an extrication glove must be tough. Built to last through countless difficult missions, the EXT Rescue™ 4011 is the strongest, most dependable rescue safety glove available. We armed this glove with our improved IR-X™ Impact Exoskeleton™ and an ISEA Level 5 cut-resistant palm, reinforced with our proprietary TP-X™ technology for added durability and grip. We also double-stitched all exterior and interior seams and added a 2.5” Airprene™ Velcro® cuff, so this glove fits as well as it lasts. The EXT Rescue™ 4011 is the HexArmor® commitment to the rugged vigilance of our first responders. HexArmor® knows that you will never give up, and neither should your glove.

HexArmor on Facebook

Pros:

Great dexterity.
Good grip.
The “Impact Exoskeleton” provides excellent protection.
These gloves were beat up pretty good during a week-long heavy rescue class and several tool demos. No holes or cuts resulted. Some notable wear on the palm side. Overall durability solid.

Cons:

Not good protection when using torches.
I removed a sawzal blade from the saw after use and could feel the heat on my hand quickly.
Hands will be cold during winter months in northern Ohio.
Sizing was different. I tried several sizes on and settled on a Large. Normally, I wear XL.

Cost:

$49.99

www.hexarmor.com

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 17, 2013 • Filed under: All, Firefighter Safety & Health, Product Review, Vehicle Rescue • Tagged: cut protection, Extrication, extrication gloves, FDT, firefighter ppe, gloves, hexarmor 4011, paul hasenmeier, product review, www.firstduetackle.com

Cutting With Torches

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Here’s another wrap-up from the 2013 BGSU State Fire School heavy rescue class. In this pit the students had the opportunity to use a Petrogen torch and a slice pack. The Fire Cam videos were taken by Austrian FF Bernd Altinger as he used both torches. The audio is not great because he had the underwater seal on the camera for the in-water pit later that day. The water pit wrap-up coming within the next few days.

What torch do you have on your rig? If you had to pick one, which would it be? Why?

These videos are not necessarily great for initial teaching because of the sound, so be sure to get some seasoned guidance before burning your first time.

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Petrogen Torch

FireVideo.net

Slice Pack

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 17, 2013 • Filed under: All, Company Drills, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Rescue, Training, Training & Development, Vehicle Rescue • Tagged: bgsu state fire school, cutting torches, Extrication, FDT, Firefighter Training, heavy rescue, paul hasenmeier, petrogen torch, Rescue, training, www.firstduetackle.com

School Bus Extrication – Multiple Techniques

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Conventional forcible entry on a school bus…

Roll-over pinning scenario lifting.

If you have never cut on a school bus, you get to ride along with Austrian FF Bernd Altinger in the videos below. FF Altinger was wearing the Fire Cam from FireVideo.net during the heavy rescue class at the 2013 BGSU State Fire School. We had lots of help with tools in this pit from: TNT Rescue Systems, Milwaukee Tools, Dewalt, Hi-Lift Jack, Paratech, Packexe Smash. Give them a “Like”. We couldn’t do the class without all the support.

Read the wrap-up from the under-ride pit HERE.

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Through The Side Windows and Wall (teaching point on the angle of your tool early in the video)

You will see in the video below how easily the blade pops out of the sawzal when it is forced while trying to cut multiple layers of a school bus wall. We also learned that our Austrian Brother Bernd Altinger was a new user of the sawzal. Sounds like he was more familiar with a circular type saw.

One option for steering column displacement on a Type D school bus with hydraulics. More coming soon in a FireRescue article comparing the challenges of Type C and Type D school bus driver entrapment.

BGSU STATE FIRE SCHOOL ON FACEBOOK

Through The Floor. A challenging and time consuming option.

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 15, 2013 • Filed under: All, Company Drills, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Rescue, School Bus Extrication, Training, Training & Development, Uncategorized, Vehicle Rescue • Tagged: bgsu state fire school, dewalt, Extrication, FDT, Firefighter Training, first responder jack, heavy rescue, hi-lift jacks, milwaukee tools, paul hasenmeier, reciprocating saw, sawzal, school bus extrication, tnt tools, vehicle extrication, www.firstduetackle.com

Tunneling In On the Under-Ride

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Here is a recap of the under-ride pit from the 2013 BGSU State Fire School heavy rescue class. Austrian FF Bernd Altinger wore a Fire Cam from Firevideo.net throughout the week. Special thanks to Howell Rescue Systems for providing tools. Give the links mentioned a “Like”; they are huge supporters of training. More great supporters will be mentioned in coming posts. We couldn’t do the class without them all.

We all have the potential to face an under-ride scenario. Columbus FF JD Vasbinder talks the crew through the steps of gaining access to a pinned driver in the video below. The teaching points are in the video, so be sure to watch with your crew to learn new or review already known techniques.

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Side door removal – Rip-N-Blitz

Taking the roof

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Posted by firstduetackle on May 14, 2013 • Filed under: All, Company Drills, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Training, Instructorship, Rescue, Rescues, Training, Training & Development, Vehicle Rescue • Tagged: @bgfireschool, bgsu state fire school, Extrication, FDT, Fire Cam, Firefighter Training, firevideo.net, genesis, howell rescue, jd vasbinder, milwaukee tools, paul hasenmeier, tunneling, under-ride, vehicle extrication, www.firstduetackle.com

Tecgen Xtreme Non-Structural Turnout Gear – Product Review

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For the last few months during multiple non-structural training events I have been wearing Tecgen Xtreme’s jacket and pants. The gear is lightweight, single layer, non-structural turnout gear. If your big on firefighter health & safety, keep reading. Tradition may say otherwise, but education and technology may be on to something here.

I was initially concerned about durability because of the single layer, however, after multiple heavy rescue trainings; the gear has held up well. No holes yet, just some grease, red mud (from South Carolina), and other stains.

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From the Tecgen Xtreme website:

For most departments… up to 80% of responses are non-structural in nature. Now you have a choice for these types of calls.

70 and sunny during this heavy rescue class. Guess what we allowed the attendees to do? Yup, take the thermal liners out of the structural gear.

Smitty from Boron Extrication and I spent some time with the Tecgen Xtreme crew at FDIC.

TECGEN XTREME® garments are UL certified to exceed NFPA 1951 (Technical Rescue) and NFPA 1977 (Wildland Firefighting), making them the perfect choice for the following types of responses:

Extrication
Search and Rescue
MVA
Junior Firefighting / Explorer Programs
Wildland, Grass and Brush Fires
Confined Space
Trench Rescue
High / Low Angle Rescue
Good Will Calls
Support Personnel