/content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman.html2012-05-21T12:37:15.187ZDay Communiqu&eacutenoemail@noemail.orgx15I am the lieutenant for the special ops/rescue company in my town . It is a volunteer dept of around 40 members. I have recently started to push the basics in our dept .I have designed 4 specific trainings that are all important fire ground basics that all members must be able to do. My Chiefs have given me a lot of leeway on this and all of their support. After the first two trainings have gone by I have several members who are now recognizing that they have weaknesses and need to improve. And I also have a few that are finding that their age is starting to show or that they are way out of shape in a dangerous way. I tell all of them that there is no shame in having a weakness,but there is shame in not doing something to fix it. So I would like to say to you Ron K, and Billy G... Thank you for these articles and for the wisdom you share with us. It is men like you who give men like me the drive to do all I can to keep my men safe. /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/08/journal-entry-11-it-s-lodd-halftime-but-we-can-t-rewind-the-tape.html#comments-i-am-the-lieutenant-for-the-special-ops-rescue-com2011-08-17T19:38:39.813Z2011-08-17T19:38:39.813Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousGreat tips and teaching points Chief, all firefighters should consider the potential for criminal activity as part of their basic size-up, especially in tough economic times. State laws require we attempt to identify the cause of all fires, so any observations made on arrival or during suppression help in determination. Thanks. /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/09/journal-entry-12-arson-terrorism-re-born-part-i.html#comments-great_tips_and_teach2011-11-05T13:24:23.863Z2011-11-05T13:24:23.863Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousThanks Chief. There is a lot left to be done, to convince line crews that origin and cause, followed by prosecution is not a job for the police. We take care of our own, and any fire caused by arson is completely preventable and unnecessary. I say that because very few fire setters start with a a big fire, and like you say, they are not clever. With good fire science applied to investigation and proper training, the fire marshals and fire investigators can catch arsonist, and stop or redirect their behavior before the one that injures or kills another brother firefighter. RIP: FF Gary Parks, Everett Fire Department, Washington State /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/09/journal-entry-12-arson-terrorism-re-born-part-i.html#comments-thanks_chief_there2011-11-06T15:16:37.628Z2011-11-06T15:16:37.628Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousRight on as usual Ron can't stop plugging away at this anytime soon. Everytime we think things are going in right directions something happens to detour the progress. Ramon /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/12/journal-entry-14-it-s-2012-what-do-we-do-now.html#comments-right_on_as_usualro2011-12-28T22:21:54.543Z2011-12-28T22:21:54.543Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousAs usual, the same old rhetoric from Chief Kanterman. When is he going to get it through his head that no matter how much we implore our staff to be safe, buckle their seat belts, practice safe operations, etc, they will choose the easy way out. JUST KIDDING CHIEF. The message is clear, buckle your seat belts, slow down, stop at intersections, practice safe methods of training, eat right, exercise and everything else will take care of itself. It takes the people at the top of the command structure to help this along by practicing what they preach. It is the responsibility of each firefighter to make sure they adhere to department policy when it comes to safety. Speaking of safety policies, does your department have them? Talk to any Chief that has had a LODD and they will tell you this is something that will certainly be looked at during the investigation. Firefighting is one of the most dangerous jobs around and we are trying our best to knock that off the top 10. What is your department doing to help? /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/12/journal-entry-14-it-s-2012-what-do-we-do-now.html#comments-as_usual_the_sameo2011-12-29T00:04:46.843Z2011-12-29T00:04:46.843Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousExcellent post Ron! I believe this will be the year in which we can start to internalize what the 16 LSI are about. Too many of our brethren believe the LSI are some new policy being handed down from the administration. We are seeing the LODD numbers decrease; they are decreasing because we are getting better at dealing with the hazard zone. Where we, the fire service, continue to fail is the personal accountability to our own health and fitness. The annual fatality numbers would be less then 30 if our level of fitness and health was where it HAS to be. Health is the foundation for every aspect of our trade. When we are fit to fight, we can train more, for longer durations which in turn we get more out of it. When we are healthy less loss time and we are more productive. Our personal health has everything rising on it. This is call to all members of the fire service. Take charge of your health. Get a physical, even if it’s at your expense. Exercise even doing FREE workouts using your own body weight will get you in better shape. Eat right. Just cutting your portions by a third will reduce calories. Wow is it that simple? Yes it is. We have the greatest job in the world and the greatest people. Most of us chose this profession because we love a challenge. Well this is your challenge. Some say they are sick of the all the rhetoric of the safety police. Well stand up and make change, be the leaders. Sorry to get excited Ron, but you got me fired up! Thanks for a great article and I hope it keeps the ball moving in the right direction. Chris Huston Lead Advocate - Michigan Everyone Goes Home /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2011/12/journal-entry-14-it-s-2012-what-do-we-do-now.html#comments-excellent_post_ron2012-01-10T15:30:45.552Z2012-01-10T15:30:45.552Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousSpecial thanks to Ron Kanterman for letting Rob have his words published. It goes without saying that I am very proud of Rob and his accomplishments. I am especially proud that he has chosen to follow in my "bootsteps" in the fireservice. As many of us, who have been or currently are, in the fire service, we are sometimes the ones who take the blunt of negative comments when things go wrong. It is hard to explain to the people who choose to put us down that those of us who are in the fireservice have similar feelings of upset as those who have just lost their family, homes, possessions, pets or friends in a incident. I am proud that I was a Firefighter and know, like everyone else in the fireservice, that I did the best I could at the given time. Brian Beattie Retired NPFD /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2012/03/building-a-fan-base-for-future-success.html#comments-special_thanks_toro2012-03-03T17:49:33.635Z2012-03-03T17:49:33.635Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousGreat post, Rob. I like your metaphor of "gaining fans" and the tie in to sports! It frustrates me that you and other firefighters feel "put down" and even abused (uhhh, hello Chris Christie). The men and women in uniform who put their lives on the line everyday should not have to endure pain, pressure and cutbacks when our politicians and communities were not forward looking enough to be prepared. The problem lies with our culture and our society. We simply place value on the wrong things. We are happy to pay $150 for a seat to watch the Giants play but scoff at the idea of our taxes going up $10 a month so that we can maintain our fire departments or schools. We don't bash athletes for the absurd amount of money they make or acknowledge that the reason our tickets are $150 is because we are paying for said athletes! Unless someone experiences loss from fire or crime, it will be hard to win fans. Personally, I think that sucks. To me, this states loud and clear that society (at some level) values entertainment and money more than life. If you asked people they would disagree and I would challenge them to see if their actions are congruent with their words. An interesting question to ask is what happens as kids grow up? So, if you ask many young children (probably boys more often which is interesting too) what they want to be when they grow up, you hear "firefighter" or "police officer". Children idolize firefighters and police officers! What happens over time? Why don't those same children - when they become adults - idolize firefighters? If they did, they would see the value and not have people like you feeling like they have to fight for their jobs. Again, I think society taints them. This is a little provocative, but maybe fire departments should operate as businesses. Would people pay more attention then if they had to pay a fee for services rendered (say $25,000 to put out a fire on their $500,000 home or maybe $15,000 to rescue a small child who has fallen through the ice on a pond)? Would people change their mindset about your value then? Firefighters provide a very specialized service and frankly, we don't pay a lot for in terms of taxes but boy do we benefit BIG TIME when they put a fire out in your house (like they did for my aunt and uncle - they saved their house). In short, people (even me sometimes!) take you guys and gals for granted. One last thing while I am on my soap box...why do we mourn the loss of people like Whitney Houston and Davy Jones on social media and news outlets 24/7 but don't mourn the loss of police officers, military personnel and firefighters?? That right there is crazy. Sorry, but Whitney and Davy really never did anything of value in the grand scheme of life (in my humble opinion...sorry to all you Monkees fans out there...). Keep doin' what you're doin' and know that there are people out there who do appreciate and respect you and your profession. My hope is that you all stay safe protecting these people who put you down. And that is what sets you apart from those people: when they are down and going through probably one of the toughest situations in their life, you are there helping them and putting your life on the line for them. Too bad they don't do the same for you. Stay safe... Loreen Fan of police, firefighters and military personnel everywhere!! /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2012/03/building-a-fan-base-for-future-success.html#comments-great_post_rob_i2012-03-03T21:02:55.337Z2012-03-03T21:02:55.337Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousExcellent! You put into words what many do successfully everyday. You also put it in a way that those who don't perform to this level can understand and buy into it. Everyone who reads this will understand and see the importance of what I call "building ralationships". I look forward to more posts from you but please understand the NYY are a better team. LOL!! Keep up the great work brother. P.J.Norwood Deputy Chief / Training Officer East Haven CT /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2012/03/building-a-fan-base-for-future-success.html#comments-excellent_you_puti2012-03-07T00:00:15.495Z2012-03-07T00:00:15.495Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousOK, my soapbox is at hand.... I am Chief of a small combination department. We train annually to NFPA driver/ operator specs. drill regularly on apparatus control, setup and operations. On March 15, 2012, I was driving a 4000 gallon tanker, automatic aid, to a working structure fire. Interior crews were operating, a truck co. had just been ordered to connect tank water to the operating engine. No water supply was on scene, or in the area. I was to be the first water in. Radio traffic was cranking up. While traveling on a four lane, with center turn lane highway, turning left onto a two lane county roadway, The tanker I was driving rolled over. Onto its right side, top of the tank, AND CAB slammed into a tree that has probably been there a hundred years. You can imagine my thoughts and words as I was going over, and immediately after the loudest crash I've ever heard in my life. I was wearing a lapbelt, was able to self extricate, had minor injuries. The truck however, is currently being used as a training aid at a local department, and will likely be on display at a state fire conference later this year... I just keep smiling and preach my newest mission, to advocate "DONT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!" Many factors went into this accident. The truck had a GVWR of 50,000 lbs. I've weighed it loaded in the past at just under 57,000 lbs. It was a 'converted' truck, several years past to be put into its most recent use. However, There is not one piece of apparatus in my bays, that I walk out of the duty office, and it's laying on its side. They don't tip over standing still, I was going too fast! The sequence of events involved in the accident, prove on the state troopers report to be a little different than what I believed was happening at the time. That is, as I down shifted to make the turn, approx. 78 feet of skid marks were layed on the highway before entering the turn. As the turn evolved, skid marks were put down throughout the evolution. Bottom line, it happens real fast. I lived! Many others don't! I'm thankful I was alone, It didn't happen to anyone else, and that, thank goodness, no civilians were injured. Points to remember: Train Get away from using overweight, converted apparatus (Insist on NFPA/ DOT compliance) Wear your seatbelts Do whatever it takes, to take a breathe, think clearly, don't let the adrenaline take over. i.e. Situational awareness. It's simple boys and girls.... this could happen to anyone under a stack of conditions, watch out. In perspective, the following saturday was St. Patricks day... I got to play catch with my grandson. Another foot to the right a few days before...It would have been my funeral day. Be Safe Chief Frank S. Rizzio Jr. Pea Ridge Fire Department Pea Ridge Arkansas /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2012/05/journal-entry-17-seat-belts-speed-and-intersections.html#comments-ok_my_soapbox_isat2012-05-14T14:47:10.610Z2012-05-14T14:47:10.610Znoemail@noemail.orgAnonymousChief Rizzio-Thank you for sharing your story. When I teach the EGH program, I show lots of photos of wrecked rigs just trying to make a point. I stress "yes, it can happen to you." Most guys and gals don't believe it. It doesn't have to happen at all, but it's up to each and every individual. Thanks again. Be safe. Best regards to the brothers in Arkansas! Ronnie K /content/fe/en/blogs/blognetwork/ron-kanterman/2012/05/journal-entry-17-seat-belts-speed-and-intersections.html#comments-chief_rizzio-thanky2012-05-21T00:43:39.512Z2012-05-21T00:43:39.512Z