Carbon Monoxide & Hydrogen Cyanide Make Today’s Fires More Dangerous

http://www.firefighternation.com/article/firefighter-safety-and-health/carbon-monoxide-hydrogen-cyanide-make-today-s-fires-more-dangerous

Region 5 Course Update

This is a brief update on some of the upcoming catalog courses in Region 5:

·        2119-12-505, STICO, scheduled to start 3/17 at Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue will go

·        1220-12-507, Pump Ops, scheduled to start 3/20 at C&B Fire Dept will go---please note: this class location was originally scheduled for Goose Creek Rural Fire Dept, but has been changed to C&B Fire Dept.

·        2114-12-502, FSS: Team, scheduled to start 3/21 at Beaufort Fire Dept will go

·        2119-12-506, STICO, scheduled to start 3/24 at City of Charleston Fire Dept will go—this class is free through grant funding

·        3330-12-507, Auto Extrication, scheduled to start 3/24 at Berkeley Co ESTC will go

·        8335-12-503, Wildland/Urban FF, scheduled to start 3/24 at Hampton Co Fire Dept will go

·        1220-12-508, Pump Ops, scheduled to start 3/26 at Burton Fire Dept will go

·        1250-12-506, Aerial Ops, scheduled to start 4/4 at Hilton Head Island Fire/Rescue will go

·        1152-12-507, Fund of FF, scheduled to start 4/9 at Colleton Co Fire/Rescue will go

The following classes are in danger of cancelling (low enrollment):

·        2728-12-505, Haz Mat Ops, scheduled to start 3/26 at Colleton Co Fire/Rescue (need 9 more students)

·        1153-12-508, FFI, scheduled to start 4/2 at Hardeeville Fire Dept (need 6 more students)

·        2155-12-503, Command Sim, scheduled to start 4/4 at Jasper Co Fire Dept (need 7 more students)

·        2147-12-507, NIMS ICS, scheduled to start 4/7 at Hampton Co Fire Dept (need 10 more students)

A New Method of Making Meth and a New Hazard for Us

NFPA 1410 Drills

Great job to everyone last week on Evolution 7 of the NFPA 1410 drills. Our improvement in profficiency and teamwork is definitely becoming apparent in these drills. All shifts had impressive runs but Shift 3 set the bar this time with 3:11 on the 2 1/2" master stream device and 2:54 on the 5" master stream device. The average times are as follows:

Shift 1- 4:46
Shift 2- 5:28
Shift 3- 4:03

Thanks again for everyone's hard work and motivation.

NFPA Releases Report of Firefighter Fireground Injuries from 2005 – 2009

http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files//PDF/OS.patterns.pdf

South Carolina Fire-Rescue Conference

The schedule of events and registration is up for the annual conference in Myrtle Beach June 3-9. Check out the following link for more information:

http://scfirefighters.org/fire-rescue-2012/attendee-info/#

Monthly Challenge

Recently I have posted several articles and posts about the need for repetition to develop the muscle memory needed to be able to perform basic fireground skills without thinking. When we are in a high-stress situation such as the fireground our sympathetic nervous system runs wild with the fight or flight response. When this happens our cognitive abilities diminish significantly and any skill that has not been practiced to the point it becomes second nature will suffer. This has been well documented in combat veterans and is why the military drills relentlessly on basic combat skills. The problem is that when we conduct multi-company shift training we review basic skills or learn new skills but we do not have enough time to perform the repetition needed to develop the required muscle memory. This means that in order to perfect each skill you must practice it on your own at your station. This is where the monthly challenge comes in. Each month I will post a short drill that can be performed by a single engine company at their station in thirty minutes or less. The challenge is for you to practice this drill every shift for that month. By the end of the month you should be very proficient at that skill and be able to perform it without thinking. If you accept this challenge I guarantee that the results will be evident at the next fire or training where you have to use this skill. So for all of you ready to accept this challenge read on for this month's skill: