"Quality Professional Services Delivered with Compassion"

Transcription

1 JULY/AUGUST 2013 A PUBLICATION OF THE MOBILE FIRE-RESCUE DEPARTMENT- ESTABLISHED 1888 INSIDE FEATURES Water Rescue & Survival Kudos Training Photos Firefighter Health "Quality Professional Services Delivered with Compassion"

2 Water Rescue & Survival An official publication of the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Stephen A. Dean, Fire Chief Editor & Publisher Steve Huffman The Trumpet welcomes your questions and/or comments. To submit photos, articles or comments call (251) or The Trumpet is published by the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. Copyright 2013 by Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. All rights reserved. Our Mission The Mission of the Mobile Fire - Rescue Department is to identify and respond to community needs in order to deliver an effective and efficient system of service which minimize risk to life, health, and property from fire, trauma, acute illness, and hazardous conditions. On the Cover A helmet and other turn out gear sits in the grass prior to a training burn at the ABBA Shrine Temple on June 3, Cover Photo By: Steve Huffman Visit Our Website: On June 20 the current recruit class had a lesson in water rescue and survival. Thanks to Mobile Infirmary's Pro Health Club for allowing us the use of the pool. The recruits are currently in the EMT phase of training. 2

3 Jay Nicholas - Captain Ronnie Walker - Captain MAY - Chip Curreri - Captain, Bureau Bryan Smith - Captain, Bureau JUNE - Cara McLarty - Captain, EMS Congratulations to you who have been promoted. The hard work, patience and studying paid off. Make the best of your new roles in the Mobile Fire-Rescue Department. From Left to Right: Bryan Smith, Chasity Roberts and Chip Curreri. Recently Chasity and her family visited Mobile from Tennessee to meet with Bryan and Chip to thank them for what they did for her during Mardi Gras Chasity suffered a heart attack during one of the parades; Bryan and Chip performed CPR on her. AUGUST 19 US Coast Guard Day August 4 3

4 House Burn ABBA Shrine Temple June 3,

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6 Firefighter Safety Firefighter/ Firemedic Fitness By Brad Van Ert Van Ert is a captain with the Downey (Calif.) Fire Department. In his 31-year career, he has also served as a shift training officer and an EMS coordinator. He has a bachelor s of science degree in Occupational Studies and a master s degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach. Van Ert is a trainer with the National Fire Fighter Near- Miss Reporting System. Case Study: Report # While working as the incident commander of an apartment fire, I suffered sudden cardiac death. My heart had gone into ventricular fibrillation, resulting in cardiac arrest. Firefighter/ EMTs and firefighter/paramedics were next to me when I went down. They performed CPR and gave me one shock from an AED. Within four minutes of dropping dead, I was awake and talking with the crews who had just given my life back to me. I underwent a four-way open-heart bypass operation two days later. A couple of months after that, I went through a cardiac stress test and echocardiogram. Those tests revealed that I had no heart damage and was completely healed. Thirty years as a firefighter, many without use of SCBA, poor diet, lack of exercise and tobacco use, were certainly factors that led to this event. Since that day, I have quit smoking, started eating a much more heart-healthy diet and exercise four to six days a week. I firmly believe in fire-based EMS and firefighter physical fitness. Comments Report # underscores the importance of a healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups. As firefighters/emts, we spend many hours cleaning, maintaining and training on our apparatus and equipment to ensure we are proficient in their use. It makes sense then that we also realize the importance of training and maintaining our bodies so we can operate at peak efficiency and minimize any downtime due to injuries and illness. There are numerous resources you can use to implement or improve upon a department wellness-fitness program. The IAFC and IAFF have worked together on the Fire Service Joint Labor Management Wellness/Fitness Initiative. This program stresses the importance of physical fitness programs and annual medical exams. Further information is available on the IAFF and IAFC websites. Other useful references include NFPA 1582: Standard on Comprehensive Occupational Medical Program for Fire Departments and NFPA 1583: Standard on Health-Related Fitness Programs for Fire Department Members. These tools can provide guidance that can help department members maintain a healthy lifestyle and minimize potentially career-ending injuries and diseases. HEART BASICS - Don t smoke, and if you already do, try to quit. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than non-smokers. - Aim for a healthy weight. It is important for a long, vigorous life. Overweight and obesity cause many preventable deaths. - Get moving. Make a commitment to be more physically active. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on most, preferably all days of the week. - Eat for heart health. Choose a diet that is low in saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol. Be sure to include whole grains, vegetables and fruits. - Know your numbers. Ask your doctor to check your blood pressure, cholesterol (total, HL, LDL, triglycerides) and blood glucose. Work with your doctor to im-prove any numbers that are not normal. There are firefighters and then there are those that are employed by the fire department. 6

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8 Dates to Remember July 1 Build a Scarecrow Day July 2 I Forgot Day July 3 Compliment Your Mirror Day July 4 Independence Day July 7 Chocolate Day July 11 Cheer Up the Lonely Day July 15 Appreciate a Cow Day July 20 Moon Day July 22 Hammock Day August 4 U.S. Coast Guard Day August 11 Son and Daughter Day August 12 Middle Child s Day August 13 Left Hander s Day August 14/15 V-J Day August 19 Aviation Day August 21 Senior Citizen s Day August 26 National Dog Day MOBILE FIRE-RESCUE 701 Saint Francis Street Mobile, Alabama