The Round Table
DEPARTMENTS
“Life safety is the most critical issue in fire protection today.” This according to the NFPCA which themed its 4th Annual Conference in October to that issue. Conferences will be challenged then in a summary session to “Improve Life Safety Throughout the Nation.”
This challenge has always existed, of course, but within the last four years, what has your fire department specifically done to improve life safety in the areas of human behavior (fire prevention), pushing for automatic detection and suppression (laws and codes), EMS, and protecting the fire fighter—in any way?
Terry L. Francis, Chief, Reiffton, Exeter Township, Pa.: With respect to improving life safety in the area of human behavior, our company during the last four years, has continued its annual Fire Prevention Week efforts in which we conduct evacuation drills at all school buildings within our service area. In conjunction with these drills, we conduct various demonstrations and training sessions for school staff members, as well as facility tours and equipment presentations for school groups. The results of our activities are reported annually to the board of school directors, accompanied by any comments or suggestions for improvement we feel necessary.
On an on-going basis, our company routinely distributes telephone stickers, and calendar holders bearing the name and emergency telephone number of our organization. We have engaged in the sale of smoke detectors to our members and to the public, and we comment publicly wherever possible on the merits of these devices. We also review birth announcements appearing in local newspapers and immediately issue a “Tot Finder” window decal to the new parents.
Although all of the above activities are carried out under the jurisdiction of the fire chief and assistant chiefs, it should be noted that we have recently established a formal fire prevention committee to coordinate our public life safety efforts. This committee is staffed by three active firemen who will represent our company in these efforts. As their initial project, they have acquired an elementary level slide program which they plan to present to various school and civic groups. Their long-range plans include construction of formal displays in public vantage points for use during Fire Prevention Week.
Relative to our advocation of laws and codes, we have made suggestions to our township’s elected officials that the Building Officials and Code Administrators (BOCA) Basic Fire Prevention Code be formally adopted in our area. This open item is presently being considered by the township’s Board of Supervisors.
During the past four years, we have continued our program of periodically reviewing and upgrading the protective gear in use in our apparatus department. Examples of specific upgrades include the following purchases: specially designed heat resistant gloves with forearm protection, Nomex face and neck shields for under-helmet protection, additional safety straps (tailboard belts) for the rear running boards of our trucks, and additional complete sets of improved turnout gear. The acquisition of many of these new items has enabled us to retire much of our older, less effective protective gear from active service.
Roland E. Nortman, Deputy Chief, Syracuse, N.Y.: The Syracuse Fire Department is attempting to be very aggressive in our attempts to “Improve Life Safety.” Our chief, several years ago, started a long range program to reach this goal.
In the field of Fire Prevention (Human Behavior), we have started school programs; “Smush”, covering K-3, “Tuit,” covering 4th grade. We felt that the way to approach the fire education of school age children was to find one good program for K-3 and add a program or two for each school year. This approach appears to be working.
We have three separate programs doing “Fire Awareness Surveys.” One program is manned by line personnel and the other two use civilians. In one group, are students from the ages of 14-17, the other are older women doing high-rise apartments. We are going to provide video-tape to get our message across.
We are in the process of updating codes and started a vigorous program of inspections keyed to microfilm and computer, for quicker retrieval of information. Syracuse is soon to have a cable T.V. system which will have smoke detection tied into it. The homes on the system will have smoke detectors tied into a computerized central office.
We protect the fire fighters by providing two Nomex work uniforms, Nomex turnout coats, the latest in helmets, Kynol and pigskin work gloves. We are automating our pumpers with a radio control for the nozzleman that includes a panic button to sound an alarm if he needs help.
Syracuse programs are extensive and many, so we could just give a brief overview of our attempts to “Improve Life Safety” t hroughout our part of the nation.
Euel S. Laughlin, Batt. Chief, Birmingham, Ala.: The Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service Department has assigned a public assembly specialist to inspect all public assembly. Emergency lights, capacity limits and unannounced night inspections have been implemented. We have instituted smoke detector regulations, which have been enacted on all new dwelling units since 1976. Our high rise ordinances have been in effect since 1976.
All of our fire fighters are furnished with protective clothing at city expense. In addition, self-contained air masks have been furnished to each fire fighter and all of our fire fighters ride in seats with seat belts.
Dallas W. Greene, Jr., Chief, Shreveport, La.: The Shreveport Fire Department has recognized for many years the need to involve not only fire prevention personnel, but each member of the fire department in fire prevention activities on a much broader scale. During the last four years, we have, for example, concentrated more and more on home inspections, using fire line personnel. This gives each fire fighter the opportunity to discuss with the occupant the value of installing early warning devices in their homes. We feel that through this program many lives can be saved. In addition, we are using the news media by having our firemen tape fire prevention slogans for TV and radio.
We have increased the number of fire prevention personnel from ten to twelve men in the last four years and set into motion a night inspection program that we feel has greatly increased the life safety of our citizens patronizing our places of public assembly. As an example, when this program was started, we found that many of our places of business were locking exit doors for security and theft reasons, after five in the evening. When doors were found locked, the inspectors have them unlocked on the scene. If they are found locked the second time, charges are filed. Because of the strict enforcment of the fire prevention code, we feel we have greatly lessened the chances of a major loss of life in this type occupancy.
Shreveport’s new Fire and Police Training Academy has only been open for about one and one half years. The $2 million, 20,000 square-foot training facility is equipped with offices, classrooms, kitchen, library and gym area, complete with whirlpool, sauna and steam bath. The gym facilities have played an important role in keeping fire fighters physically fit to minimize the possibility of heart disease and other physical problems.
The academy is also equipped with a seven story drill tower which can be charged with heat and smoke. This structure has been a valuable aid in training fire fighters how to better protect themselves in case of a mechanical failure while wearing self-contained breathing apparatus.
The personnel at the academy carries on a regular scheduled training program which consist of training basic fire fighters, a station school program and company drills. The main purpose of these programs is to make the fire fighter more efficient in his duties and to make his performance more safe while carrying out these duties.
The Shreveport Fire Department has experienced a considerable increase in the number of first aid and heart attack runs over the past few years. This increase has necessitated a great need for better equipment, more qualified personnel, and better training. Currently, there are two rescue units employed on the Shreveport Fire Department equipped with a wide assortment of first aid and rescue tools. The men on these trucks are not only EMTs, but are highly trained in extrication and rescue procedures. In conjunction with the rescue units, every pump is equipped with basic life support equipment. There are currently 100 trained EMTs with the number rapidly growing. The training of these men does not stop with the 81 hour basic life support class, but continues with 72 hours in-service training, workshops, seminars, and refresher training courses every two years.
Another item which has added to the safety of our personnel is the new electronic warning devices which has been installed on some of our vehicles. We feel that these devices have greatly reduced the accident rate while responding to alarms.