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A Question for Paramedics, Nurses, and Doctors Even

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Hey all,

A comment was posted on this thread that I thought was worth a better venue than just remaining in the comments section. I have posted the comment/question below. Please feel free to add your introspect. Please leave a comment on this post rather than the last one.

Posted by Jason…

My daughter went into ventricular fibrillation last June on the last day of school. The EMTs were over in 3 minutes (the fire station / paramedic unit is next door to the school). The paramedics were not able to get her heart rhythm going while at school or during the 10 minute ride to the hospital. What complicated things was her pacemaker. Actually it took the ER a half hour to get her back and only after my wife suggested they find the electrophysiologist and turn the device off. She was without a pulse for over 45 minutes and died 4 days later.
My question is related to the procedure necessary to restore the heartbeat for patients with implanted pacemakers. I understand that EMTs are not equipped with devices that would turn a pacemaker off. Do you think that is essential? Also, should the defibrillators be placed directly above the pacemaker? Is that recommended? Why not

What do you all think?

Posted by firecritic on September 30, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , ,

Some Wednesday Reading for You

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Chief Reason Art disects LODD’s in the States here

Backstep Firefighter Blog discusses the Shot heard around the Firehouse

The Happy Medic wrote a book (ok just a long post) titled “EMS Fail or Client Fail” – worth the read

Legeros has a caption contest at Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog

Joe Schmoe has written a very compelling and emotional account of a rescue and subsequent “The Longest Ride” – A must read

FireGroundVideo.com has numerous new videos from across the States and elsewhere….stop in and don’t forget to rate them while you watch!

FireDaily.com is gaining momentum…He is enjoying the blogging and has a comical video for you to view about the Private Fireman!

Last but certainly not least… The FireGeezer has a story about a man who spent 5+ hours in a septic tank before being rescued.

Enjoy the Wednesday reading tips from the Fire Critic

Posted by firecritic on September 30, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , , ,

Ambulance Driver's Definition

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Fire Critic Note: I am posting this for @Bella_Medic. She wrote this blog post and was looking for a home for it. I offered the space and here you have it. Maybe in the future you will see a blog by Bella Medic. This might also be the longest post on FireCritic.com if you are counting word count.

Ambulance Driver’s Definition
For those of you who work in EMS or have anything to do with EMS, you are going to appreciate this. For those of you who call “EMT’s and Paramedics” “AMBULANCE DRIVERS” please read this carefully and completely. Now I was hoping this was going to be short and sweet, then as I was driving, I kept thinking more and more what to put. So if you have to read this in parts, but I want you to, if you have made it this far, to completely read this post. Please do not notice my grammar errors, as I can assure you, there will be many.

The whole idea of this post was to make people think of what “AMBULANCE DRIVERS” really are and do.

  1. AMBULANCE DRIVER = usually an EMT or EMT-I and Paramedic. Right… What the F is that? EMT is EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN. EMT-I is that same, but an INTERMEDIATE Level, and Paramedic is the highest level of Emergency Medical Service provider certifiable.
  2. EMS. EMS is not one word, it is E.M.S. Meaning Emergency Medical Services. (Contrary to the common believe that it stands for Earn Money Sleeping or Extra Marital Sex).
  3. EMT’s can perform BASIC LEVEL CARE, EMT-I’s can perform a level above that…start ivs, intubate people, give a few medications…and PARAMEDICS are the ones that can do it all, ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. Terminology lesson: Para=Before Medic-doctor. Paramedic=BEFORE DOCTOR.

With that out of the way, the following is what the person you call AMBULANCE DRIVER does on a daily basis.

Due to the length of the post, please click more below to read the entire article.

(more…)

Posted by firecritic on September 29, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , ,

Fire truck slams into building, no one injured

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Careful at the tiller brother…

Guys, this shit happens. No one was hurt from I understand. We learn, we move on. I hate to see a tiller truck get wrecked though. It seems like they are a dying apparatus type. Except for San Fran maybe. I know there are plenty out there, but so many departments are replacing them and an engine with a POS quint. Stay true San Fran… Wooden Ladders and Tiller Trucks forever!!!

SAN FRANCISCO — A fire truck that was swinging around a corner with its lights and siren on slammed into a 24-story building Monday, scraping off the building’s marble paneling and destroying several windows but injuring no one.

At around 5:30 p.m., the fire crew, responding to a building alarm, turned right from Montgomery Street onto narrow Commercial Street, said Deputy Fire Chief Pat Gardner.

continue reading: Fire truck slams into building, no one injured | San Francisco Examiner.

Posted by firecritic on September 29, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , ,

So You Think You Can Dance…Paramedics

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Since we are on a paramedic kick…

This just in…On the heels of a successful premier for the new Paramedic Show Trauma, there has been another blockbuster Paramedic show announced. “So You Think You Can Dance” the Paramedic version has been released on Youtube.

Watch the video to see your favorite medics dancing around at their stations! I personally love the guy at 1:54 into the video. He has the moves!!! Not to be outdone, there is some couples dancing, tango, and other variations of no rhythm dancing….Watch and be amazed!

Posted by firecritic on September 29, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: ,

Trauma – The Fire Critic's Take

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Michael Muller photo of "Marisa Benez" played by Aimee Garcia

Michael Muller photo of "Marisa Benez" aka MRSA and played by Aimee Garcia

Now that things have wound down after the premier of NBC’s new show Trauma I would like to offer my take.

I read a complete review here prior to the show premiering (A.J. Heightman is Editor-in-Chief of JEMS you can read it here.). I was involved in live chat during the show. I listened to the talk. I was amazed that the guys [Jamie Davis (Mediccast.com), Greg Friese (EMS EduCast), and Chris Montera (EMS Garage)] doing the chat/podcast were able to get Aimee Garcia (her blog on the show here) on the show to talk to us. That was wild!

If you would like to listen to the podcast you can click here.

Here are my thoughts.First and foremost, The Happy Medic said it best “TRAUMA is a TV show about Paramedics, not FOR Paramedics“.

We are talking about a primetime tv show that is centered around getting people to watch it. It is not a documentary, it is a tv show.

It was a premier…Therefore there HAS to be excitement = helicopters crashing…total carnage.

It is about paramedics…Therefore there has to be some technical skills = the cricotomy of the child in the car.

It is about people…Therefore they have to build characters = the ending of the show where everyone goes home.

It is in prime time…Therefore there has to be sex. Face it sex sells. The opening is one medic humping another medic like a rabbit.

It is a show…Therefore there has to be characters you love and others you love to hate (Rabbit aka Captain VERSED).

Face it. No one wants to watch two overweight, disgruntled, middle-aged, and ugly paramedics running bleeding rectums at the local old folks home all the while complaining about having to ride the box.

They want to see daring rescues, blood and guts, carnage, wrecks, broken bones, helicopters, and gore.

Much like you don’t see the guys on Rescue Me running alarm activations in downtown NYC.

As for paramedics and firefighters being critical of the show, that comes with the territory. I don’t blame them. They see their profession being twisted in Hollywood and feel slighted. That is acceptable. But like I said before, if the producers were to create a show based on the average everyday calls we run…they would not be producers much longer.

As for any effects that Trauma has on the Fire/EMS Service…I am not really sure there will be any. Last night during the after show podcast session, one medic posed the question if we thought that everyone will expect a helicopter on scene when they call 911. I don’t think so. If so, they will be sadly mistaken.

I think the show was interesting. I plan to tune in next week to see what is going on. I don’t watch a lot of shows in prime time network television. My wife watches Grey’s Anatomy…so I watch along. I am more of a Deadliest Catch, Andrew Zimmern, Man vs. Food, Anthony Bourdain kinda guy. I do enjoy watching Rescue Me when it is on though. I will see if I can fit in Trauma for a weekly viewRS.

I think the medics will watch it too. The ones who liked it will tune in naturally. The ones who hated it will watch to see what happens next and to scoff when something is not done quite like in the field.

What do you think?

Posted by firecritic on September 29, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tuesday Morning Job Security Check – Inattentive Drivers

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Posted by firecritic on September 29, 2009 • Filed under: News, Tuesday Morning Job Security Check • Tagged: ,

Trauma Show on NBC…Thumbs up or Thumbs down

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I just finished watching Trauma on NBC. I enjoyed the interactive chat session/podcast with Jamie Davis, Greg Friese, and others. During the evening we were joined by Aimee Garcia who plays Marisa the helicopter pilot.

I have to admit I missed some of the show. Between typing in the chatroom, twittering, updating the blog, firefox crashing 7 times, IE crashing twice, moving from pc to desktop it was a full assault on my brain.

The chat was fun though. We discussed all kinds of things related to what was going on during the show. We also hit on @paramedicdan a little.

The chatting did come up with some new nicknames…Rabbit is now Captain VERSED and Marisa is now MRSA.

I am sure there will be more.

Great job guys. I enjoyed chatting.

Now here is the question…anyone want to entertain a podcast or something else for the new show First In? I blogged about First In previously (read here). The show will premier September 30th at 10pm.

Let me know if anyone is interested. We might just do some other social network interaction. I am game for anything, although I am working that night.

Posted by firecritic on September 28, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , , , ,

Live in the Chatroom for Trauma Premier

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I am currently in a chatroom discussing the new show Trauma on NBC right now EST.
The link and instructions are here

Posted by firecritic on September 28, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged:

East Providence Firefighters Getting Screwed

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I don’t report on these all the time. Everyone is facing budget cuts, manpower reductions, etc.

What is unique about East Providence is how many new changes might come to reality in a perfect storm.

Basically, the firefighters work two 10 hr. shifts and two 14 hr. shifts. They pay $14 a week in health insurance, and they have 4 platoons.

The proposed changes come from their City Manager Richard Brown. Brown wants to eliminate 2 vacant positions, lay off 26 least senior firefighters, change to 24 hour shifts, and delete one platoon. The estimated savings equal $1.34 million a year.

Yeah, that would suck. Over the past couple of years I have heard of layoffs, brownouts, shift changes, health care premiums increase, among other budget reducing measures. I HAVE NOT heard of one proposal that includes so many of these cost cutting desperate measures.

He said the union presented another proposal Sept. 22 that would have saved the city $1.4 million, the same amount Brown’s proposal is projected to save. Cotter said the union proposal includes doubling their health-care co-shares to $28 week. The union also agreed to 24-hour shifts in a 42-hour work week. The three-year proposal didn’t have a salary increase until the third year, which was 4-percent in fiscal year 2012. Read the entire article

The Fire Critic says: This is a little bit Russian Roulette and a little more shitting all over your employees. I wonder what the City Manager Richard Brown would say if Council decided to lay off  his department heads, increase his workweek by 33% and increase his insurance contributions by 20%. Do you think he would take that kick in the pants with a smile on his face? I don’t think so either. Look here and scroll down for “MUTT“.

Posted by firecritic on September 28, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos

Chevron on Apparatus – Making the Grade

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This apparatus has the correct coverage, size, and chevron design. However it is the wrong color. Photo by Mike Sanders from VAFireNews.com

This apparatus has the correct coverage, size, and chevron design. However it is the WRONG color scheme. Photo by Mike Sanders from VAFireNews.com

Over the past several years, more and more apparatus are being delivered with the chevron on the back of apparatus. The chevron is the inverted V pattern. This is a good thing. Along with the hi-visibility vests and the move over laws, we are able to operate safer on roadways. This is not just a highway thing though. My department lost 2 firefighters on a street with a posted speed limit of 35 mph in 1985.

NFPA 1901:

As of January 1, 2009 the NFPA 1901 document requires all new fire apparatus to have at least 50% of the rear of the truck covered with 6” red/yellow alternating stripes in a chevron (inverted V) pattern. This initiative is to increase visibility, providing additional on-scene safety.

There are two key ingredients to following this regulation…

  1. 50% of coverage on the rear of the apparatus
  2. RED/YELLOW 6″ stripes in a chevron pattern

Departments that do not spec new apparatus with hi-vis dressing on the rear of the apparatus are failing. They are failing firefighters and they are failing the motorists. We have to be visible when operating on scene.

No Chevron on the back of this brand new truck. Photo courtesy of FireNews.net (submitted: Captain Aaron Vance)

No Chevron on the back of this brand new truck. Captain Aaron Vance photo on FireNews.net

Unfortunately, existing apparatus is exempt from NFPA 1901. However, it should be a priority to design and implement a retrofit of existing apparatus.

Jeff Harkey of FireNews.net recently wrote on the subject on his editors blog. View the post here. Sadly, we can see right on FireNews.net that not all apparatus are being designed with the new 1901 regulations.

ResponderSafety.com has a website full of great information for apparatus safety. They have some great examples of how departments are making their apparatus more visible here.

The image to the right shows us that new apparatus is still being delivered minus the chevron. This apparatus might have been spec’d prior to NFPA 1901 being updated. NO excuse for not incorporating the new regulations though.

You can thumb through new deliveries on FireNews.net and VAFireNews.com to see who is and who is not following the rules.

This should be one of those regulations that everyone wants to get on board with. Spec out your new apparatus with it and retrofit your existing apparatus.

ResponderSafety.com offers a video on retrofitting apparatus you can view here.

Below is the mission statement of ResponderSafety.com:

Created as a Committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, the Institute serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America’s Emergency Responders. Members of the Institute, all highly influential and expert in their fields, are personally dedicated to the safety of the men and women who respond to emergencies on or along our nation’s streets, roads and highways. Members of the Institute include trainers, writers, managers, government officials, technical experts and leaders who through their individual efforts and collective influence in the public safety world can bring meaningful change.

Posted by firecritic on September 28, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , ,

Monday Morning Shoutout – Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog

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This week’s Monday Morning Shoutout goes to the Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog. The blog is from Mike Legeros and based on the Raleigh/Wake, North Carolina area. However, Legeros has no boundaries on what he posts. He runs the gamut on fire, EMS, history, apparatus, news, and everything else.

Mike Legeros bills himself as an Author, historian, photographer, buff. More info on Mike can be found here.

The Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog is one of my daily reads.

legeros

Posted by firecritic on September 28, 2009 • Filed under: Monday Morning Shoutout, News • Tagged: , , ,

NBC's Trauma Premiers Monday Night

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Tomorrow night, NBC’s Trauma premiers. There is a chance I will be involved on a podcast of sorts about the new show. I have not worked out all the logistical stuff and realize I am way out of my league with guys like Jamie Davis (Mediccast.com), Greg Friese (EMS EduCast), and Chris Montera (EMS Garage). There will be live tweeting during the show. Look for #traumashow.

Yeah, I know. What the hell am I doing with these guys. Better yet, what the hell are they doing with me. Well apparently, these guys put it together and somewhere along the line my name was brought up. Probably because I like to talk. Either way, we all know those paramedical types need a little grounding every once in while right. I’m kidding!

If you want a kill joy, you can read the less then appealing review of “Trauma” by A.J. Heightman is Editor-in-Chief of JEMS you can read it here. It is a very detailed…ok it is the entire show in text pretty much. I must say that I am looking forward to the opening scene. Not that we don’t see enough sex on Rescue Me.

The premiere of Trauma doesn’t begin with a well-dressed crew checking their drugs and equipment before their first run. It starts with the sights and sounds of the boyfriend/girlfriend crew having sex in the patient compartment of their rig.

Then, before you can get the words “I can’t believe it” out of your lips, you hear the dispatcher (who obviously knows the way the crew starts their shift), tell “Naughty Nancy” Carnahan to button her blouse and respond to an emergency call.

The Fire Critic says: What the hell? I thought all medics started out the shifted by getting screwed…right when the Captain says…your on the box!

As for sex in the firehouse…this is more realistic of what it looks like. With all the glory at the end. Get the F@!# out of my F#@#$ing Gear! WARNING: Male Buttocks nude…maybe NSFW.

Posted by firecritic on September 27, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: , , , , , ,

5+ hour call…ever had one of those?

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Paramedics are still on a call to rescue two tourist/hikers down in Australia. The medics have been at it for over 5 hours now. They have reached the tourists by helicopter but couldn’t rescue them due to the wind. They will now begin the 5 hour walk out of the region. That sounds like fun!

The NSW Ambulance Service said two special casualty access team (SCAT) paramedics have begun the trek in the Kanangra Boyd Forest after the men set off a beacon.

Once the SCAT crew reach the men they will then decide to either walk back with the tourists or stay in the area overnight. Read the entire article or here

Posted by firecritic on September 27, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged:

Is being Chief Really Worth it?

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Dave Statter reported on the latest saga in the DCFD. It centers around council blaming the hydrnat problems on their Chief, Dennis Rubin. The Chief thinks that he isn’t getting enough credit for making headway in the laundry list of issues plaguing the department.

The whole hydrant issue came to the forefront after a mansion burned because there wasn’t enough water on the hydrants. You can read the entire report here. Be sure to read the comments at the link.

My question is this: Is being the Chief really worth it?

Posted by firecritic on September 27, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , ,

The Fire Critic – The Fastest Growing Fire Blog on the Web

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The Fire Critic is probably the fastest growing fire blog on the web. We have a lot of catching up to do. But we relish in the fact that we are the fastest growing on the web to date.

The Fire Critic has a lot of new stuff coming at you.

We have planned to offer merchandise to purchase around the 8th of October. That means you can have your very own Fire Critic merchandise to wear proudly.

More on the merchandise soon!!!

Thanks for making the Fire Critic one of the most sought after fire blogs on the Internet.

If all goes well, I will  be joining several EMS bloggers for an interactive night during the premier of Trauma. I will have more information online in the next couple of days.

Either way, keep the comments, suggestions, emails, and tweets coming. I love to hear from my readers!!!

Posted by firecritic on September 26, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: ,

Firefighter Arsonists

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We hear about it all the time, firefighters who start fires. For whatever reason, some firefighters feel the need to start what we are supposed to put out. Some do it for glory, some to be the hero, some are sick, and some do it for other reasons.

Just to think, if we catch so many of them…how many are there who don’t get caught?

Last month, Monica Hall was arrested for arson. Monica was the first female firefighter in Champaign, Illinois. She made history when she was the only female out of 15 in a total class of 300 to pass everything and get hired. Needless to say, the news was all around her when she did it. Read about it here

The news is all around her once again…this time for setting fire to her vehicle and that of a coworker.

From what I read in the news, most firefighters who are charged with setting fires don’t do it in the fire department parking lot. What an idiot. It is unfortunate that Monica wasted the title of being the first female firefighter in Champaign. And yes, she is innocent until proven guilty.

The Fire Critic is not one to disappoint and was able to find a video of the story…ok…actually a video of a video. Enjoy!

Posted by firecritic on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Funniest EMS Calls Ever

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Over at Life Under the Lights, they are having a carnival. Unfortunately it isn’t the kind with hot cousins, toothless women, and midgets throwing knives at a large three breasted woman with a beard. That would be cool though wouldn’t it.

Actually, the carnival is called the Handover Blog Carnival. I have tried to understand it but I haven’t really grasped it. As best as I can tell, it is a traveling post theme where one blogger posts the stories from other bloggers about a similar topic. Please correct me if I am wrong. It does seem to be heavily leaning to the PAIR OF MEDICS side of things. The banner actually says EMS, ER, and A&E Staff. I get the EMS and ER, but why in the hell did they include Arts and Entertainment staff?

Anyways, this months (I think that is the frequency) Handover Blog Carnival is being hosted by Life Under the Lights and has some pretty funny “Funniest EMS Calls Ever”.

If you want more on the Handover Blog Carnival click here.

Posted by firecritic on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , ,

Who are the BEST Firefighters?

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Exactly who are the best firefighters? How can we tell exactly. I think that many of us have firefighters of all ranks we look up to in the Fire Service either locally or Nationally.

Who do you think are the best? The names below are just examples.

Best Chief…someone like Billy Goldfeder of Loveland Symmes Ohio, or John Mittendorf LA City, maybe Charles Warner in Charlottesville Virginia, or Dennis Rubin in DC, how about Tom Shannon (seems to be well liked), maybe Alan Brunacini, Brannigan, or John Salka.

Certainly some of the names above might fit the Best Fire Service Speaker with the names of say Bobby Halton, or Ray McCormack, maybe Dugan, or Gordon Graham.

Then there are the best Fire Service Instructors like Eddie Buchanan, Frank Ricci, Tim Sendelbach, Andy Fredericks, the guys from VentEnterSearch.com, or Ron Moore. Of course there are so many disciplines of training so I am sure there are so many great instructors.

Some of the names above might be the best authors with names like Brannigan, John Norman, or Ray Downey Sr., Mittendorf, or Salka.

Or just firefighters who have very recognizable names for one reason or another like Kevin Shea, Ray Downey, or these guys most recently.

What about the Best Tech Savy Firefighters like Iannone and Hebert, or Charles Warner.

Or the best News type firefighters like Schumm and Ward, or Statter (firefighter back in the day).

Or the best philanthropic firefighters like the ones behind the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

What other areas can you think of? What names come to mind for you? I am sure I left great names out. These were just ones that came to mind at the time of posting this.

Leave a comment who you think the best is and in what category. Feel free to give as many as you want!

Posted by firecritic on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: News • Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Are any of You Guys Overwhelmed?

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First of all, I apologize for using the term “guys”. That is what I learned growing up in Ohio. “Guys”, or “You Guys” is the same with “Y’ALL” where I live currently. I think I was called out on a post actually. Read the post here, then check the comments. I explained myself in the comments and didn’t feel as though I did what I was accused of doing. Either way, the Fire Critic isn’t all that PC anyways….

Ok, back to the post….

Are any of you bloggers out there overwhelmed by the possibilities for social media, blog add-ons, widgets, plug-ins, twitter, RSS, Facebook, MySpace if you haven’t grown up yet, digg, flurl, flickr, fluffer, and phlem? Ok, I made the last two up…you get my point.

Juggling the various social mediums is a difficult task. Especially when you have to level up on Mafia Wars daily!

I don’t really have a point, nor do I have a solution…but my readers might.

What I have found is that it is key to utilize these social media tools to increase traffic, readership, and branding. However, do not dig yourself in a hole over trying to get them all going at once. Nor should you feel you need to update all of them constantly.

My new pal David Konig (@davidkonig) put me on a decent tool on Facebook called Networked Blogs. I have only been using it a couple of days, but I have found it gets the job done as far as updating your profile and/or facebook page with the RSS feed from your blog. What I don’t like about it is that it has an interface that I think eats some of your traffic by creating another step in the action. In the end, I didn’t have much to choose from and I am happy with it.

This is the same for twitter. All you have to do is “set it and forget it”. Set up an rss interface with twitter using something like twitterfeed and sit back and enjoy the results.

THEN, if you have the time you can get on FB or Twitter and go to town with discussions, retweeting, networking, and replying (which is a really effective way of networking in general).

There are other mediums. I talk about Twitter a lot and Facebook too. That is because I view them as the top social mediums currently for bloggers.

With all that being said, I am probably the one who is on the computer the most…and making the least amount of money with it (for those who are monetizing). That last comment is not so related to the Fire Critic, but more so the other websites I run for profit.

Keep staying tuned for the monetization post. I am working on it diligently. I am also working on the top ten lists for the following categories….fire blog, ems blog, fire site, ems site, etc. Wait for it…

Thanks for letting me ramble.

Posted by firecritic on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: Blog Tips, News

This Prank is Epic…Rookie Fail

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I know why I missed this video when doing the Top Ten Firehouse Pranks….because it is on myspace. Anyways, I found it today through a video search engine and I am glad I did. This is an epic fail by a rookie that I found to be a very simple but amusing prank!

Fireman Prank 1

But it gets better…How you might ask? They get him again. You gotta love wet behind the ears soaked rookie firefighter!

Fireman Prank Part 2

Posted by firecritic on September 25, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

Eyes on the Blog World

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cropThink of this as a view of the blog world according to the Fire Critic. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, it is my version of the FireGeezer’s Around The Fire Web…only different. Deal with it! This will probably be a normal column with an intermittent schedule. Don’t plan on seeing it the same time every week.

Here is today’s rundown:

The online education blog has a list of 26 iphone/itouch apps for EMS personnel. Sorry guys, there are no Fire related applications here. However, if you need to quickly come up with the proper dopamine drip rate for infusion you are in the right place. Eat your heart out Happy Medic

Speaking of the Happy Medic, he is still gabbing like a school girl about the meetup with UK Medic blogger Medic 999. I would be too if it meant traveling across the pond though. How’s about another shrimp on the barbie? Oh yeah, and he finally got a hold of thehappymedic.com and happymedic.com.

Fire Daily has a story about “Da Chief”, something that is becoming fewer and farther between these days. Especially some of the top Chiefs who move from department to department saving the world one resume notch at a time.

FireGeezer is still dishing up with great news stories from around the World that you would probably never come across if it weren’t for them. How do they see it all? My guess is glasses….love ya mean it!

Every day you get an EMS tip and maybe even some other tips at EverydayEMSTips.com….Every Day.

I think that FireFighterHourly.com is explaining patients to sue departments in order to change policy and remove those in charge of said policies….or something like that.

Legeros is…well….he is Legeros. Need I say more. He has some great posts going on his very popular Raleigh/Wake Firefighting Blog.

If you want a great example of a single fire station’s blog you have got to check out Roanoke City’s Fire Station 9 blog! This shit is funny as hell, with some serious moments occasionally!

TheHouseWatch.com is always good for some great strategic and tactical articles by Ray McCormack. The latest talks about having too much hose.

Speaking of having too much hose…STATter911 has a GREAT story of a guy who dreamt of having more hose. The hell with those pills, he decided to hang a dumbbell weight fastener on his hose. It took firefighters two hours to free willy. Trust me, Statter can’t make this shit up.

You still have time to earn free Fire Critic merchandise. Click here for more information and how to submit your ideas!

Posted by firecritic on September 24, 2009 • Filed under: Eyes on the Blog World, News • Tagged:

"A lot of Guys Think This Won't Happen To Them"

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The quote “A lot of Guys Think This Won’t Happen To Them” was made by Houston Captain Abbt. Captain Abbt was trapped in a high rise fire for over 18 minutes after calling MAYDAY while attempting rescue of trapped victims.

I know that many of my readers have probably seen this video. If you haven’t, you have to watch it. All of it. If you have seen it, watch it again. Listen. Firefighters, Company Officers, Incident Commanders, Chiefs, all of you listen and watch and realize that Captain Abbt is right…”A lot of Guys Think This Won’t Happen To Them”.

This is as close a call as ever when rescuing viable victims. Most of us have signed up with the understanding that we MIGHT be put in a situation where our lives COULD be lost while trying to save another. That is who we are, that is what we are about. Don’t let the Safety Talk fool you, our jobs are dangerous. We have to be safe, but we also have to do what we have to do to get the job done. Captain Abbt’s life was spared, although the ones he was rescuing weren’t.

I don’t know about you, but my hair stands on end when I watch the end of this video.

Part one can be seen here. It includes the call for MAYDAY by Captain Abbt, Rescue and Suppresion efforts on the Exterior of the building and pertaining radio traffic. Part two is embedded below.

Posted by firecritic on September 24, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: , , ,

2009 IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial

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IAFF Local 341′s slideshow of Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial ceremony on Sept. 19, 2009.
With the Pipes playing of course!

Posted by firecritic on September 24, 2009 • Filed under: News, Videos • Tagged: , ,

RSS Feed is Live at our Facebook Page

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If you are reading this on facebook. You can click on the link on the left sidebar to go to FireCritic.com. Or you can click on the story and on the bottom you will see “view original post” and it will take it to the original post on FireCritic.com.

This took some finessing, but I think that I have figured it out.

The Fire Critic rss feed is live at our facebook page. However, it should be noted that the feed only posts a small amount of text on the facebook page. That is concurrent with our rss feed details, although it may be changed to the full post in the future.

Also, you should note that our facebook page will only be posting the feed of posts under the “must-read” category. The reason I created this new category is because facebook does not import videos. I will be monitoring the success of the pages rss feed to determine any necessary changes.

If you need help setting up the rss feed on your facebook business page look here. Be sure to read the comments. If you still can’t get it I will be happy to help.

The Fire Critic Facebook page is doing pretty well. We are already up to 186 friends and growing. I am very happy with the success of the Fire Critic and it only means one thing…you guys like what you are reading!

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Posted by firecritic on September 23, 2009 • Filed under: Must Read, News • Tagged: , ,