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Snake Got Your Hand In A Pipe

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Prop Master Brassard has been at it again.

The scenario is a husband and wife are snaking the basement floor drain and the husband sticks his arm down the drain hole to clear some debris when the wife turns the snake on.  The husband becomes entrapped in the snake and the drain. So we have to cut the concrete to get the pipe out… then dissect the pipe… then cut his finger out of the auger. This scenario has happened for 2 different members of a rescue email group at 2 different calls.

The snake is a spring epoxied to the end of a radiator hose.  The next couple pictures are the prop build followed by the pictures from a company drill Brass’s crew did.

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Through The Guardrail And Down A Ravine

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Here are a couple pictures (BC Curt Isacson) from a wreck the Escambia County (FL) Fire Department had the other day.  You can see the vehicle ended up down a ravine on its side.  It looks like they used struts for stabilization.

They made a low-angle rescue corridor with ladders and used haligans as pickets to prevent the ladders from sliding.  Do you have pickets?  If you don’t what is your plan for this type of scenario?  Haligans, prybars, tie the ladders off to the guardrail/tree/ rig.  How do we prevent the rig from moving if we use that option?

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Paper Shredder Extrication Training

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Andrew Brassard sent this simple machinery extrication drill over.  Brass said if you google “hand stuck in shredder” you will see it happens quite frequently… along with all sorts of other things. He also said that it is amazing how many dogs get there tongues and ear stuck in these.

The drill was simple, he bought a $2 paper shredder from a thrift store and then ran a foam hand into it. The guys only used disassembly techniques on it.   He said any other method would have been tough without movement of the blades, so make sure you have a small set of screw drivers available.

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The whole operation took about 10 minutes but it involved some good disassembly procedures.  We just got ahold of another shredder and will share more pics when we drill on it.

The photos below are a sequence of the drill.  The last photo is of a real incident and is graphic so make sure the kids are out of the room!

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2013 Triathlon Opener – Couch / Fridge / Bed…Not This Time

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It has been a busy couple weeks that wrapped up today with our 2013 triathlon opening race.  The day started out driving through a storm to get to the Maumee Bay State Park, but the sky cleared for a mostly dry bike course.  Read about the monsoon last weekend during the Western NY Hero Rush HERE.  We endured another monsoon this past Thursday helping teach the HOT extrication class at the NY State Fire Chiefs conference.  Read about it HERE.  While in NY at the Chiefs show, Tiger Schmittendorf joked about his idea of a triathlon, couch – fridge – bed.  Not a bad thought for some days, but not this time…

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We are just getting started with multiple races slatted for this year.  Ultimately, we are supporting the National Firefighters Endowment and the mission to help firefighters and fire departments in need.  You can get involved by started your own Turnout Challenge fundraiser or donate to our cause.  If you can swim, bike, and/or run let us know and we will help you get a team.  Or, pick a local 5k or event and make it happen.

TURNOUT CHALLENGE

Kerry Gonzalez, Assistant Direction of BGSU State Fire School also participated in todays race.  “LIKE” FIRE SCHOOL ON FACEBOOK and FOLLOW ON TWITTER

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HOT Extrication At The NY State Chiefs Conference

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Day 1

Day 2

We had a great two days of hands-on extrication at the NY State Chiefs conference.  The students worked hard even during the constant monsoon on Thursday.  This is definitely a conference to attend for some awesome training.  Click the link above to follow all the training they do throughout the year on Facebook.

It was fun teaching with some rescue guys from Syracuse and Auburn.  Below are a few pictures and some teaching points.  Several links to previous posts are included to give you more teaching points.

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Talking cribbing. Read more HERE. How much do you have? How can you get more?

Roll-over pinning. Many options to make this lift. Determine what is fastest and safest.

Some of the different options that where discussed and or performed included:  airbags, driving wedges, high-lift jacks, simple levers, hydraulic spreaders, and lifting struts.  Remember to always be thinking what other options you have in case Plan A doesn’t work.

School Bus Roll-Over Pinning Post

Doors and roofs

Roll-over rear tunneling pit.

Each crew had a scenario to work through to wrap up the day.

Looking forward to next year already.

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Big/Muddy Crowd For the Western NY Hero Rush

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By: Paul Hasenmeier

Fogged up and hoarding conditions during the race.

I ran in memory of Michael T. Carroll

I arrived a day before the Western NY Hero Rush and got a tour of the training tower that ended up being part of Saturdays course from Erie County (NY) Deputy Fire Coordinator Tiger Schmittendorf.  They didn’t leave to many options out of this great training facility and it’s not the only one in the county to train a huge firefighting force.

Race Day

Not only did the 11 am 343 wave benefit the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, but the whole day was the biggest volunteer firefighter recruitment campaign I’ve seen.  Be sure to check out the campaign HERE.

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With Tiger Schmittendorf after the Rush

Last bath before the finish

Up and down the hill twice with 3″ hose.

It was certainly a muddy day as the weather folks were completely off on the sunny and 70 degree forecast.  As the 343 wave started, a monsoon ensued.

The course was great as it led us through the woods, through a fire training tower, along a reservoir, and up and down numerous ravines.

As far as the flow of the 4.74 mile course, I was only slowed at one obstacle that had a few people waiting in front of me.  There were several different obstacles that I didn’t see at the Michigan event last year.  It is awesome that the Hero Rush crew is making each event different.  Read about last years Michigan event HERE.

Join the First Due Tackle Team At The Eastern Ohio Hero Rush On July 27

Team: First Due Tackle PW: FDT

The videos of the race below are from Bobby Mchenry’s Youtube channel.  Parts of the race are included.

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More First Responder Jack Uses

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Jeff Pugh from Rescue Innovations, LLC sent these pictures over from a recent Seattle Fire SCT training.  Check out the Puyallup Extrication Team.  There are several previous posts on the use of high lift jacks linked below.  Make it a basic lifting and moving day during training.  See what you can come up with and share your pics.

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Distressed SCUBA Diver Training Scenario – Regional Cooperation

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Last night in Gibsonburg, Ohio a simulated distressed diver training scenario was conducted.  It took place at Whitestar Quarry, which is an excellent place to dive and learn to dive.  Many of us have been there numerous times.  Each year it seems that there is some sort of diver related emergency and local first responders need to be ready.

The simulation was surfaced based for the rescuers who utilized all aspects of the ICS, boats, and EMS.  Park rangers handled the investigation aspects and secured the diver equipment and witnesses.

Our role as divers was to surface a diver who then submerged for a minute prior to resurfacing.  Once rescuers arrived at the first diver a second simulated distressed diver surfaced.  Two safety divers remained on the bottom to watch the simulated victims and communicate with them via hand-signals and buddy phones as to any unanticipated boat traffic or problems.  The simulated diver victims used hand signals to relay to onshore safety spotters that they were “OK” during the scenario.

Below is a link to the Toledo News crew story and below that is a video as we deployed the simulated divers using the Fire Cam HD Mini.  For those wondering the Fire Cam worked well at 35′ under.

Toledo News Now Coverage Of The Training

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Huge Poultry Farm Fire In China

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Many reports this morning of a huge poultry farm fire in China that killed over one hundred workers.  Definitely a difficult situation for first arriving crews.  Watch the news for more on this one throughout the day as information develops.

Code enforcement and fire prevention are already being questioned.

Photo: Wang Haofel / AP

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Story from Reuters

Story from CBS News

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Bumper’s On A Fire Boat? Need Some Knot Help

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After several years, the weather and bouncing a boat takes has worn out the ropes that hold on our bumpers.  I’ve searched the internet for specific knots to retie the bumpers without much luck.  So…I just started tying to see what might work.  The plan is to get the bumpers tied back on with paracord and coat the knots with rope goop.

If anyone has a better way to tie the bumpers on please send a message or share a pic on the First Due Tackle Facebook or Twitter pages.

Option 1. Single wrap.

Option 2. Double wrap.

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Not a bad view of tonights boat call.

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