Tool Tips: How to maximize your locking pliers
Tool Tips: How to maximize your locking pliers
By Jimm Walsh
From http://www.firerescue1.com
Posted by Bob Blogger at 22.2.12 0 comments
Labels: Fire Tool, locking pliers, Tool, Vise-Grips
Rescuers watch suicidal man kill self in SF Bay
"Handcuffed by policy" as firefighters forbidden from trying to save 50-year-old in 54-degree water
SAN FRANCISCO - Fire crews and police could only watch after a man waded into San Francisco Bay, stood up to his neck and waited. They wanted to do something, but a policy brought about by budget cuts strictly forbade them from trying to save the 50-year-old, officials said.
The apparently suicidal man, identified in the San Jose Mercury News as Raymond Zack, was in the 54-degree water for around an hour.
One witness, Sharon Brunetti, told the Mercury News that Zack's stepmother asked her to call 911 and said he was threatening to kill himself.
He "gradually inched our farther and farther" from the shore, Brunetti told the paper.
"The next thing he was floating face down," she said.
A witness finally pulled his lifeless body from the water.
Interim Alameda Fire Chief Mike D'Orazi said Monday's incident is troubling. He has directed staff to write a new policy that would allow water rescues in the city of about 75,000 people across the bay from San Francisco.
The previous policy was implemented after budget cuts forced the department to discontinue water rescue training and stop maintaining wetsuits and other rescue gear, D'Orazi said Tuesday.
"The incident yesterday was deeply regrettable," he said. "But I can also see it from our firefighters' perspective. They're standing there wanting to do, SAR, Cold Water Rescue something, but they are handcuffed by policy at that point."
A witness, Perry Smith, told a television station the man was visible from the shore of Crown Memorial State Beach and was looking at people.
"We expected to see at some point that there would be a concern for him," another witness, Gary Barlow, told KGO-TV.
The Coast Guard was called to the scene, but the water was too shallow for a boat, Alameda police Lt. Sean Lynch said. Police officers didn't have the gear for the cold water and couldn't risk being pulled under.
"Certainly this was tragic, but police officers are tasked with ensuring public safety, including the safety of personnel who are sent to try to resolve these kinds of situations," Lynch said.
D'Orazi said crews may have decided it was too risky to attempt the rescue, even if they had not been shackled by the restrictions on water rescues.
In addition to the new policy, Alameda fire personnel will receive training in water rescues, and rescue equipment will be inspected to make sure it is not damaged, D'Orazi said.
There are no lifeguards at the beach, said Isa Polt-Jones, a spokeswoman with the East Bay Regional Park District. Signs at the park advise swimmers to enter the water at their own risk.
Source: http://www.cbsnews.com Link
Posted by Bob Blogger at 1.6.11 0 comments
Labels: Alameda, Alameda County Fire Department, PPE, Rescue Gear, San Francisco, Wetsuit
Posted by Bob Blogger at 1.6.11 0 comments
Labels: 9/11, Santa Clara
Watch the Gradall Strategic Emergency Response Vehicle "SERV" in Action.
Posted by Bob Blogger at 30.5.11 0 comments
Labels: Fire fighting Equipment, firefighter, Firefighter safety, Firefighting, Gradall, Public Safety Vests, SERV, Video, YouTube
CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS: NY-NYFD- WTC TOWER IC - NEVER FORGET ... FDNY 343 THE LIST: "9/11, FDNY, Ground Zero, WTC
- Sent using Google Toolbar"
Posted by Bob Blogger at 11.9.10 0 comments
Posted by Bob Blogger at 24.6.10 0 comments
CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS: Cisco's Network Emergency Response Vehicle (NERV)
Cisco's Network Emergency Response Vehicle (NERV) emergency response vehicles can bring communications to first responders in disaster areas when traditional telephony and radio systems are unavailable or destroyed.
Technorati Links • Email this • Digg This! • Share on Facebook • Subscribe to this feed • Save to del.icio.us • Email the author • Sphere: Related Content • Add to del.icio.us • outside.in: geotag this story • Discuss on Newsvine • Stumble It! • Add to Mixx! • View CC license
Posted by California Fire news at 7/12/2009 09:33:00 AM 0 Comments Links to this postPosted by Bob Blogger at 12.7.09 0 comments
NIOSH Safety and Health Topic:Eye Safety | |
Common Eye HazardsThe most common eye hazards faced by emergency workers at
Common InjuriesInjuries commonly suffered by emergency response and recovery
Recommended Types of Eye ProtectionBefore selecting appropriate eye protection for emergency workers at a site, assess the conditions and hazards and follow these recommendations:
Consider each of the following types of eyewear when selecting one for emergency workers at a structural collapse site: 1. Safety glasses, including hybrid safety glasses or goggles—minimum protection required Wear safety glasses for general working conditions when there is some risk of exposure to dust, chips, and flying particles. Use safety glasses that have the following:
For added protection, use one of these types of glasses:
Take these precautions if you use safety glasses with prescription lenses:
2. Goggles—better protection Goggles are needed to protect workers from high impacts, dusty environments, chemical splashes, and torch cutting or welding light (see item 5 below for welding protection). Consider the following characteristics when selecting goggles:
3. Face shields—additional protection Use face shields to protect workers from high-impact hazards that may be present during chipping and grinding operations. Use full-face protection to prevent contact with chemical or blood-borne hazards that may be sprayed or splashed onto the face. Also do the following when selecting and using face shields:
4. Full-facepiece respirators—best eye protection from
5. Welding helmet, goggles, faceshields, and welding respirators Exposure to cutting or welding light can cause severe burns to the eyes and surrounding tissue (welder’s flash). The lenses for protection from cutting or welding light must be marked with the shade number—1.5 through 14 (the darkest). Protect cutter’s or welders’ eyes with a helmet, goggles, faceshield, or welding respirator equipped with lenses of the correct shade number.
First Aid for Eye InjuriesSpecks in the Eye
Cuts, Punctures, and Foreign Objects in the Eye
Chemical Burns
Blows to the Eye
Information ResourcesObtain additional information about the selection and use of eye protection from these sources: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health AcknowledgmentsFirst Aid advice provided courtesy of Prevent Blindness America.® Safety eye protection photos provided courtesy of Paul Vinger, Tufts Medical School. Note: The examples shown are for illustration purposes only and do not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Page last updated: April 7, 2009 Page last reviewed: May 27, 2009 Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Division of Safety Research |
Posted by Bob Blogger at 11.7.09 0 comments
Cal Fire-Butte County: California Office of Traffic Safety grant
The grant announced Friday will leave more than a dozen Cal Fire-Butte County fire stations better prepared to deal with rescues at vehicle crashes.
Rescue tools: slated for purchase are air bags used to safely lift and stabilize crashed vehicles, and the latest models of extrication tools, including the "jaws of life."
In addition to Richvale, stations in south Chico, Kelly Ridge, Butte Meadows, Stirling City, Cohasset, Forest Ranch, Paradise, Jarbo Gap, Feather Falls, Robinson Mills, Oroville and Nord, as well as the Paradise Fire Department, will share funding for new equipment.
Cal Fire Training Bureau Chief Darren Read said the money for Richvale's rescue truck is also coming from a cost-sharing fund benefiting county fire departments, as well as donations from the Richvale community.
The following engines/communities will be receiving the new equipment purchased with the grant funds:
Town of Paradise Fire Department
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 44 - South Chico
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 64 - Kelly Ridge
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 71 - Richvale
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 11 - Butte Meadows
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 12 - Sterling City
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 22 - Cohasset
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 23 - Forest Ranch
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 35 - Paradise
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 36 - Jarbo Gap
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 51 - Feather Falls
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 54 - Robinson Mill
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 63 - Oroville
CAL FIRE/BCFD Station 41 - Nord
The media and the public are invited to attend a demonstration of the new equipment during a Bus Extrication class on Sunday May 10, 2009 between the hours of 10AM and 2 PM. The training will be held at the Butte College Fire Training Grounds.
Source: CALIFORNIA FIRE NEWS: "Cal Fire-Butte County: California Office of Traffic Safety grant
Posted by Bob Blogger at 21.3.09 0 comments
We are a family run Central valley California business that has been around for over 15 years. We are introducing our new line of waterworks tools which include the 3 in 1 pro waterworks tool, the 3 in 1 mini pro waterworks tool and the 3 in 1 pro pent head (San Jose style) waterworks tool.
Opens Curb box, controls water meter valve,
These tools are constructed for durability and ease of use. They are designed to do many jobs with just one tool. Both the pro pent head and the pro are suitable for professional use by waterworks, utility companies, landscapers etc.
Buy Now special pricing for California Fire News: Ace Fabrication presents the Three in One Mini Pro - Gas, water valve control tool, manhole and Curb box cover hook, Convenient storage, telescoping tubular construction, all steel, American made
Click here to buy the 3 in 1 Mini -Pro valve control tool, Special Internet sale price.
The mini pro is a smaller version designed for the professional but priced for home use.
Please check out our website and feel free to contact us with any questions you might have.
Posted by Bob Blogger at 20.1.09 0 comments
Labels: 3 in 1 Mini Pro, control, emergency, Gas, telescoping, Tool, valve, water
121.5 and 243 MHz emergency beacons will no longer be monitored by satellite after February 1, 2009
121.5 MHz Phase Out: The International Cospas-Sarsat Program will terminate satellite processing of distress signals from 121.5 and 243 MHz emergency beacons on February 1, 2009. After this date, mariners, aviators and other persons will have to switch to emergency beacons operating at 406 MHz in order to be detected by satellites.
Coast Guard Message
Code of Federal Regulations
Press Release
Articles on Phase Out
Satellites will stop processing signals from 121.5 MHz
emergency beacons (EPIRBs and ELTs) on 01 Feb 2009.
Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking:
SARSAT
SARSAT overview graphic
Is your emergency beacon registered?
To enhance protection of life and property, it is mandatory that emergency beacons be registered with NOAA before installation and that information be kept up to date.
Click here for easy online beacon registration information.
Beacon Registration Website
SARSAT Information:
Training Presentations:
Properly Dispose of Old Beacons To Prevent False Alerts
Discarded radio beacon triggers false alarm... [read more]
A Survivor's Story
A testimonial from Rudy Snel on surviving the sinking of Sean Seamour II, thanks to an EPIRB [play audio]
Beacon Types
There are three types of beacons used to transmit distress signals:
ELT: Emergency Locator Transmitter for aviation use
Posted by Bob Blogger at 20.1.09 0 comments
Labels: ELTs, emergency beacons, EPIRBs, PLB, SAR, Satellite, Search and Rescue, USCG
Firefighters Now Exempt From Wearing High-Visibility Apparel
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) today issued an Interim Final Rule to address safety concerns raised by the firefighting community regarding high-visibility safety apparel.
The Interim Final Rule:
• Revises the definition of "worker" to exclude firefighters when they are exposed to flame, fire, high heat or hazardous materials
• Exempts firefighters from the requirement to use high-visibility safety apparel, when the use of such apparel may increase the risk of injury to firefighter personnel
The rule is effective as of November 24, 2008. This amends the Worker Visibility rule (23CFR 634), which was designed to improve the safety of workers by providing increased visibility to approaching motorists and construction traffic.
"Firefighters across the country spoke out and were heard," said Lou Paulson, President of California Professional Firefighters. "The firefighter's job is dangerous enough without adding the risks that these high-visibility garments pose. Common sense has prevailed."
Click here to read this Interim Final Rule.
Source: http://www.cpf.org - Link
Firefighters-now-exempt-from-wearing-high-visibility-apparel
More:
1 - Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
is recognized as the national standard for all traffic control devices
installed on any street, highway, or bicycle trail open to public travel. It is available at - Link
2 - ANSI 107-1999 is the nationally recognized standard for
high-visibility garments developed in conjunction with the
International Safety Equipment Association. Copies may be obtained at: - Link
Safety News: CPF wins firefighter high-visibility safety apparel exemption
Posted by Bob Blogger at 16.1.09 1 comments
Labels: firefighter, high-visibility, safety apparel, Safety News
This site will focus on first responder safety equipment and gear including Fire fighting tools, personnel protective equipment, high angle gear, safety equipment anything and everything for first responders including Federal Government, Municipality, Volunteer, Private contractors, Hazardous materials teams, structual Firefighters, wildland Firefighters and Rescue crews. Also articles on training and educational opportunities for the Fire Service, EMT, Rescue, disaster response.
Bureau of Land Management
(208)-387-5446
Fish and Wildlife Service
(208)-387-5400
National Park Service
(208)-387-5200
Bureau of Indian Affairs
(208)-387-5575