Back From Daytona….Finally

Well I am very glad to finally be back from Daytona International Speedway and the historic 54th running of The Great American Race! For those that may not know this was a birthday present from my wife and it allowed me to go to Daytona to see an iconic race track, and a ton of great racing.

It was more historic than normal because for the first time in 54 years the race was no run on the planned day due to weather. It was also the 1st ever Daytona 500 to be run under the lights.

If that were not exciting enough, little did I know I was going to get to see one of the most bizarre things of my life! Take a look at the video below and see what happens when a race car hits a jet dryer! I videoed most of it but I was far from it at the entrance to turn 1 and this incident happened over in turn 3. I was very impressed with the track safety crews at DIS. I can definitely sympathize with them at the difficult task it takes to perform our jobs in this environment. The department I work for provides track safety (pit road, extrication/fire trucks) and out side Fire and EMS for the Richmond International Raceway. Now I have never done anything on this gran of a scale but I have been in the pits for races, and I know what the department goes through trying to provide services to basically a small city for the time the race is in town. The fact that they go the fire out with minimal damage to the race track, no one dying and, we were able to go racing again is impressive, oh yea and about 32 degrees of banking (essentially a 4 story building). Kudos to them!

I did get one other thing accomplished while I was there:

 

When we got there we knew that the speedway had multiple fire engines and stations so my mission was to get a picture of one and this one came right down the road we were camping on, it was a quick shot but it was very cool, I did not get a chance to talk to the brothers manning the rig, but would have loved to. If I ever get to go back I wanna get some better shots of the rigs, and maybe even see one of their fire stations! If any of the guys that worked out at Daytona are reading this I would love to do a patch,shirt,or hat trade with you. Just contact me through the contact tab, or on twitter!

Overall it was a great trip, but I am ready to get back to my fitness routine, and most importantly back to 3 Engine. So far my shift didn’t run anything to crazy while I was gone so we will hopefully get into something good when I get back. We also have some very exciting training coming up for the department, and FDIC is very close! I will be presenting my “Engine Company Emergencies” class on Wednesday and of course be staying for the remainder of the conference. If you want to know where I will be all you gotta do is follow me on twitter @averagejakeff or on 4square and you can come meet up with me and we can have a few adult beverages and solve all the problems of the fire service! Or at least have some good talk.

Also if you haven’t done so yet you need to enter to win your very own copy of ICS for EMS written by my talented and lovely wife. Head over to her site www.stickysidedown.wordpress.com or hit her up on twitter @stickysidedwn

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

 

 

Back From Daytona….Finally, posted with vodpod

Taking a Break and BOOK GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well in a few days I will be headed down to Daytona for the Daytona 500. I turned 30 in January and as a present my wife is sending me to the Gatorade Duels, Truck, Nationwide, and DAYTONA 500!!!

Isn’t my wife a great lady? Well it gets even better! If you read the blog you know I have mentioned several times that my wife recently wrote a book that was published by Fireengineering and the Penwell Corporation.

Well she is GIVING ONE AWAY!!!! Thats right you can win your very own copy of Incident Command for EMS! Here is how

How To Enter

In order to enter you will either need to tweet (@stickysidedwn) or email (sticky-side-down@comcast.net) a picture of what you use for incident command.  It could be a picture of your assignment board, a picture of an Incident Command Vehicle, a picture of a command vest.  Really, anything that shows how you use ICS at your station.

Remember in your e-mail to include your name and station location. We will share pictures that are entered into the contest, as they might give others ideas on what they can do with their station.

Deadline

Pictures will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. March 9th, 2012.

Choosing a Winner

A winner will be chosen at random and their name will be posted Saturday March 10th, 2012

It is just that SIMPLE!!!! So make sure you head over to twitter and follow @stickysidedwn also make sure you tell your friends. Obviously there can only be one winner but if you do not win you can still get your own copy at the Fireengineering Book Store or Amazon.com

Also be sure to head over to www.stickysidedown.wordpress.com for some great content. In addition if you’re heading out to FDIC make sure you look us up and you may even get an autograph in your copy of Incident Command for EMS.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

2012 Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service

Mark your calendars now. The 2012 Virginia Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service will be on June 2, 2012 at the Old Dominion Building on the grounds of the Richmond International Raceway.

This years services will begin at noon, and will honor 6 Firefighters recognized as LODD’s by the Virginia Line Of Duty Act.

Bring your apparatus, Honor Guard, or just show up yourself. Try not to miss your chance to remember those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Do not forget to keep following along on twitter @averagejakeff

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

2012 Virginia Fallen Firefighters, posted with vodpod

Thoughts on LODD

In the wake of the two recent VA LODD’s I have been thinking a lot about dying in the line of duty. Not dwelling on it or being fearful, but seriously trying to perform some self-reflection and think about the impact these events have on us all.

Every firefighter death is tragic, not all are necessary, but all are tragic. Not to diminish any firefighters death but it seems the ones that are close to home affect me more. I learn attempt to learn something from every LODD but for whatever reason these 2 LODD’s have really got me thinking.

First and foremost I do not have a death wish, I do not fear it, and realize that one day my number will be called either on the job, or off. I also realize that I signed up to put my life in harm’s way if there is a chance to save another. It is something that anyone on the job has done 100 times over. Like most I have had some close calls, but always seem to try to take the lesson from it and not to dwell on it in fear of losing the edge it takes to do the job.

There are two big problems in my eyes with firefighters and LODD’s. The first is denile. A lot of us are in denile that anything like this could ever happen to us. It is either ego driven (I have been doing this long enough there is nothing I can’t do), or complacency driven (We do not go to fires anymore kid). It is not a coincidence that these two attitudes also typically influence the persons desire to participate in training (fire or physical training). The second problem is failure to realize that our actions affect others. Maybe it is ego, selfishness, or ignorance but what ever the case far to often we only think about our actions affecting us, seldom do we examine the impact our death or serious injury will have on our department, shift, family, friends, or children. If we sat down and thought about his more often we may be more inclined to take steps to prevent LODD’s of all types.

I have been thinking about this ever since the death of Joshua Wiessman, and it has been magnified since the death of Zach Withacre. I can especially relate to Zach’s death as my brother, father and I are all in the fires service and at one time volunteered together, and worked in the same career department together. I have lost count the amount of times one, both, or all three of us were on the same rig together, or at the same fire together. As per usual neither of us really though about the impact one or all of our deaths would have had on our family, and that is not right, or respectful to the ones who sacrifice a lot so that we can do this job.

The bottom line is our actions affect others. I have to be on top of my game at all times not just for me or the citizens, but for my shift, and my family. If I am not at the top of my game then I run the risk of hurting them in a far worse way than physical pain. If you do not belive me, then take a look at the video below. I’m sure most of you have seen it, but it will put in your face how much your actions impact others more than words ever can.

As for me the final conclusion of my thoughts, and feelings has led me to this. I am more motivated than ever to train every day, learn as much as I can about this job, workout so that I can perform to my highest ability at all times, and do my best no matter the haters to ensure that everyone goes home, and spread the message of good firefighting tactics, operations, and training. Not for me, not for the personal satisfaction (not that I ever did any of this for that anyway) but for you, them, and they. I want to be the best I can be for my family, your family, the citizens, my shift mates, and anyone else that is effected by my actions. The only way to do this is to train your mind, and body like you are getting ready for a fight, because you are fighting for the life of those around you and yourself. Do not go in to your fight unready. I will be ready, and if I do not survive my fight, hopefully everyone will know that I was as prepared as I could be, for it.

I do not think I am going to be able to make it to the funeral for Alexandria Fire Department Paramedic Joshua Wiseman, but that does not mean you should not go! If you can not go at least make a donation to his memorial fund

Joshua A. Weissman Memorial Fund c/o Alexandria Firefighters, Inc – IAFF Local 2141 4600 Duke Street, Suite 429 Alexandria, VA 22304

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

 

Thoughts on LODD, posted with vodpod

Another VA LODD: Update

Reports this morning are that a Firefighter with the Gore Volunteer Fire Department in Frederick County Virginia has passed away after an apparatus crash. Another firefighter was injured as well and transported to the hospital. http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/news/fullstory/newsid/155997

Let’s make double sure that we are staying safe, and doing the right things so that we can go home to our families at the end of the tour.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

Here is all of the updated information for the Frederick County LODD: http://statter911.com/2012/02/13/19-year-old-firefighter-from-gore-virginia-killed-in-crash-of-tanker-at-west-virginia-house-fire/comment-page-1/#comment-54910

While some of the details may be hard to hear, it is important that we reserve judgement for a later date. The bottom line on this is that the fire service as a whole has lost a brother, the VA fire service has lost a second brother in a short period of time, a department has a lost a brother, and a family has lost a son,brother,uncle, etc. There will be plenty of time for finger pointing but for now allow everyone to mourn and to honor him as he should be a firefighter who died in the line of duty.

The Towering Inferno

Everyone has seen “Backdraft” and “Ladder 49″ and they are top notch movies but when I think about my favorite fire service motion picture I look no further than “THE TOWERING INFERNO”

This movie has it all! First and foremost it has a ton of great fire scenes, and rescues that really give you a look into the past of how fire departments operated back then. On top of that it has got two of the greatest movie stars of all time, No not OJ Simpson, STEVE MCQUEEN, and PAUL NEWMAN!

Thos two guys are iconic when it comes to the movies they have made and the characters they have played.

It really is a great flick, and well worth checking out, and you just might learn something from it. Here is a link for purchasing the movie http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/6305280762/ref=sr_1_3_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1329072530&sr=8-3&condition=used

You can get a used copy for anywhere between 1 and 5 dollars, and trust me it is well worth it.

Do not forget to keep follwing along on twitter @averagejakeff

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE

The Towering Inferno, posted with vodpod

VA LODD

It has been reported by Adam Thiel Chief of Alexandria Fire Department, That Fire Department Paramedic Joshua Weissman has passed away as a result of the injuries he received while operating at a car fire on I-395.

Please keep his family, and the Alexandria Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and Stay Safe

Nostalgia

The video below is a little bit old, but I had never seen it before. it comes to us from the Stafford County Department of Fire Rescue in Stafford County Va.

While I am sure you can pick apart little things in the video to discuss the main reason this video is important to me is two-fold.

1. Stafford County is where I started as a career firefighter. I was hired in Stafford as a Fire Rescue Technician in 2002 at the ripe old age of 20 years old. I served there for 2 years prior to getting hired by my current department. During that time I spent a significant amount of time at Station 1 (Falmouth), Station 10 (Potomac Hills), and Rescue Station 1 which has now been merged with Fire Station 2.

2. My Dad works there. My Dad or as I call him “The Mole” came to work for Stafford a short time after I did. He worked in a telecommunications plant as a Layout operator and Asst. Chief of the Fire Brigade, as well as serving the Mechanicsville Vol. Fire Dept. as a company officer (which he still does today). When the plant closed he was looking for a job and though he was to old to get hired anywhere. I convinced him to apply and low and behold he got hired! Now he serves Stafford as a Sergeant filling in as a company officer when Lieutenants are off.

So as you can see this video has got a lot of nostalgia for me as I know a lot of the people in it. In fact you can even get a close up of “The Mole” at about the 1:15 sec mark. Check out that mustache!! If that doesn’t say salty dog I do not know what DOES!

Anyway it is important to remember where you came from and the lessons you learned along the way. I learned a lot of good things working for SCFR, and it forced me to become more well-rounded, as prior to getting hired I was a EMT in title only. I also saw and heard a completely different language, and way fo doing things. I was baffled at how different it was up there from how it was at home even though home was only an hour away.

Like I said do not forget were you came from we were all rookies once, and working our first job, I am just lucky in Stafford I had guys/Girls like Matt Warren, Julie Belien, Tracy Reed, Geoff Langford, and Dean Thompson (sorry if I am leaving someone out) to show me the ropes.

So where did you get your start? Who were some of your first fire service mentors? Let us know in the comments section.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

 

Nostalgia, posted with vodpod

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!!

Well it is finally here, SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!! While my team did not even make the playoffs, I still love football, and I love the Super Bowl. I am lucky enough to not be working, and will be able to enjoy all of the wonderful things that the Super Bowl and annual Super Bowl party I attend have to offer.

However there are several people working today, and are not that lucky. For those of you that are working I hope that you have an uneventful tour, and get to at least watch the Super Bowl with out interruption. I also hope you cooked up some GREAT food for yourselves.

I also want to take a moment to remind everyone that even if you are not serving in one of the teams cities that are playing, or the Super Bowl city itself fans can still get out of hand. So keep on your toes, make sure you are ready for anything. It would not be the first time a mass shooting broke out because a team lost. So while I know a majority of people are always prepared, maybe take it up just a little bit and be ready for anything that may come your way and hopefully the only gun you hear is the one that signifies the ends of quarters.

So an extra be safe for all those working. Do not forget to keep following along on twitter @averagejakeff

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!!, posted with vodpod

So good it could not wait!

I saw this and it was so good I could not wait until tomorrow to post it. The origin comes from some guys in the Hanover County Fire and EMS department. The message in it definitely sums up how I feel about the Fire Service! We have far to many paycheck collectors, and part-time fireman. Sure times are tough, and lots of guys need part-time jobs to make ends meet, I am no different. The difference is when those “part-time” jobs or other interests get in the way of your FULL TIME job.

Not only do we owe it to our families to do the job, and know the job. We also owe it to the families of the people we work with, and the citizens to perform at our highest level. My wife often grills me about the skill level of the people I am working with, because it makes her feel safe and that I am in good hands if those guys know the job.

Bottom line is we all have a lot going on, but this job is to important, to dangerous, and to dynamic for it to take a back seat.

Do not forget to follow along on twitter @averagejakeff

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!