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Could It Happen At Your Firehouse?

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Posted 11/08/09

When my nephew isn’t deployed, he is based at Fort Hood, TX. He and his family live in Killeen.

I guess you could say that he is career Army. He is currently on his 3rd tour in Iraq. Thank God.

I was sending messages back and forth with family on Thursday, November 5th and all were grateful that he was “safe”. That is to say; he wasn’t at Fort Hood. It was strange to say it then, but on November 5th, it was safer for Jeff to be in Iraq rather than at his home base.

Why are we witnessing these awful events? Why is it that, every time something terrible happens; people familiar with the perpetrator fall into two camps: the “he was a really nice guy” to “there was something really strange about the guy”. Perhaps that is why we can’t always stop these tragic events; we are looking at the same person, but we don’t SEE the same person.

With the Fort Hood shootings, irony never loomed larger. A psychiatrist went crazy. Even more ironic is the fact that other psychiatrists didn’t notice that their colleague was acting and talking crazy.

As I watched it on TV, I kept thinking about the old cowboy movies where the cavalry would have an Indian scout and you didn’t know if he would lead the soldiers into an ambush. I mean; a Muslim in the U.S. Army going to Afghanistan to fight against Muslims; would he be conflicted?

The news was fermenting anti-Muslim sentiments and that is unfortunate for the law-abiding, devoutly Muslim/devoutly American sectors in our country. But the news kept playing it; “Nadil Malik Hasan-devout Muslim…Nadil Malik Hasan-opposed to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan…Nadil Malik Hasan-shoots 52 unarmed Americans on our nation’s largest Army base and 13 are dead”.

Hasan was described in an interview by his cousin as a “good American”. If so, then I guess you should nominate Timothy McVeigh for a posthumous Congressional Medal of Freedom!

What would cause this man to shoot people who had done him no harm and who had no say in his deployment orders, but get shot-some multiple times-because they were unfortunate to be where he was on this day? It appears, based on the fact that he was giving away personal items before this heinous crime, to be a hate crime and anti-American in nature.

If Hasan had wanted out of the military bad enough, he could have gotten out and without shooting anyone. It’s interesting that he was willing to take training, bumps in grade and a paycheck that was said to be six figures without missing a beat. Then, when his marker came due and he was to be deployed to Afghanistan, he didn’t want to go. No; I think that it is deeper than that. Regardless, the ball was dropped at Walter Reed and Fort Hood.

Nadil Malik Hasan committed an act of terrorism. There are pieces of information coming together since the incident that indicates that this person “snapped”, but put a lot of thought and planning into his crime. And it bears some scrutiny.

There should be some takeaways from this incident that the fire service can learn from.

For example: If a CISD team is debriefing us, then who are debriefing THEM? If we are sharing in graphic detail to a team and others are doing the same with the same team, then wouldn’t you think that there would be a saturation point for these teams?

Just like we “rehab” our people at an incident, should we not do the same for CISD teams?

Then, there is the problem of recognizing issues with our firefighters. Everything from drug and alcohol abuse to arson can find the most inopportune time to present itself and then, it’s too late.

Does anyone have a problem with holding regular roundtables with their people to find out what’s on their minds?

I would think it would be prudent of leadership to take an active interest in the people who are relied upon to carry out our missions. They need every available tool and every advantage to be successful and that includes good, mental health.

If the dinosaurs in the fire service continue to believe that talking about “feelings” is a sign of weakness, then we’d better be prepared to clean up the mess that will surely follow.

Do you ever wonder if any of the close calls and near misses are the results of our people not being in a good, mental state at the time of the call?

Or will you continue to believe that “you will get use to it” and develop that “mental toughness” that we hear so much about”

Yeah; put it right there next to the applications for disability and your turnover rates.

Let’s face it; they aren’t like you or me…

And they SHOULDN’T be!

Related reading posted on Monday, November 9,2009: http://firefighterclosecalls.com/fullstory.php?95922

TCSS.

The article as submitted is published under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author. You may read other works by the author at www.chiefreasonart.com.

Posted by chiefreason on November 8, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , ,

Preparing For An LODD

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First Published 3/16/03

 

We have all experienced the loss of a loved one. In some cases, we can remember where we were and what we were doing when we got word. We have been there during the final moments. With others, we have had time to prepare for an impending death. Unpleasant thought that it is, we have found ourselves thinking about what we would do at the time of the passing of a loved one.

 

As family and friends gather before, during and after the funeral, we cope because we draw on each other’s strength. Someone, possibly an elder member of the family, becomes the “gentle hand on the shoulder”; that voice that speaks with the soft re-assurance that we’ll get through this crisis together. We will be better people for having known our lost loved one.

 

But then, while working the scene of a two-story, wood frame family dwelling, the silence of the night is shattered by “Mayday. Mayday. Firefighter down”!

 

You are there and it’s real. No phone call; no time to “prepare”! It’s happening right in front of you and a thousand thoughts are racing through your mind.

 

It is at this point that the incident has turned into a disaster that has become personal.

 

As a company officer, be it chief, assistant chief, captain or lieutenant, we are taught not to dwell on the thought of a firefighter dying while in the line of duty. Whether they die while pulling hose or are caught in a flashover or structural collapse, your emotional state at that moment could cause you to lose control of the scene and therefore, compromise it’s safety.

Just as an officer would prepare his crew for a ventilation exercise, an officer must prepare himself for the emotional upheaval that an LODD will cause at the scene. A systematic approach will get you and your crew backs safely to the station, where additional support in the form of critical incident stress de-briefing (CISD) can be initiated. Until then, incident management should continue, emergency personnel should be closely supervised and control of the scene should be maintained, including crowd control and scene security as the second phase begins: recovery of personnel.

Even with emotions running high, the recovery process must utilize the same considerations of any other rescue operation. Again, closer monitoring of personnel is essential to continued safe operation.

Key considerations are:

1)     It is a crime scene until proven otherwise.

2)     Removing the body(s) or leaving in place.

3)     Accounting for all personnel.

4)     Gaining positive identification of the deceased.

5)     Notifying the family and assigning a department representative to them.

During the investigation of the LODD, it is best to use a third party. This will eliminate any claim of impropriety by community members and even firefighters. So, though you may have the department resource to conduct such an investigation under normal circumstances, consider using outside investigators in conjunction with your state fire marshal, NIOSH, OSHA, ATF, NFPA, NIST, other firefighter organizations and your department’s safety and health officer.

 

All safety equipment that was used and worn at the time of the LODD, such as turnout gear, SCBA, PASS device, etc. should be documented, photographed and placed into a secure container. Further testing and viewing by investigators necessitates limiting its handling by only those personnel involved in the incident.

The autopsy is a very vital phase of the investigation of an LODD, due to the application for death benefits. Information needed from the autopsy is the cause of death, carbon monoxide levels, toxicology and blood alcohol results. In many states, the presence of drugs or alcohol in the system at the time of death may void some death benefits. The Department of the Treasury will require a number of documents when application is made for Public Safety Officer Death Benefits.

 

Because of multiple requests for documents, you may need to secure several original copies or certified copies, depending on the benefits being applied for. Those documents may include death certificate, birth certificate, marriage license, children’s birth certificates (for survivor benefits), notarized letter on official department letterhead from the chief of department stating the facts of the events that caused the firefighter’s death and original medical examiner, toxicology, blood alcohol and investigator’s reports; all requiring original signatures and raised notary seals. You will also want a verification of surviving children who are full time students.

Staffing of the department should be accomplished using mutual aid as the funeral services draw nearer.

 

Fire service funerals are set in deep tradition, but it is important to remember that the wishes of the fallen’s family come first, followed by the fire department and then by the community. Do not force any firefighter traditions onto the family. A detailed explanation of the service protocols may be necessary. The family needs to know and understand that a firefighter funeral is non-traditional when compared to civilian funeral services. Keep everyone informed. Plan in advance for facilities that will accommodate a large crowd. Consider using a civic center, gymnasium, stadium or large church. Contact honor guards as soon as a firefighter funeral has been decided.

 

Returning to normal operations should be done as soon as possible. Most firefighters want to reclaim their territory-i.e. firehouse-as soon as they can. Let them get back to their routine.

 

Memorial funds will need to be established soon after the incident. Contact your local bank and a tax specialist to determine what is best when establishing the fund.

 

It is my sincerest hope that you never experience the loss of a fellow firefighter, but if you do, then the steps that I have outlined here will hopefully lessen the impact of the unknowns.

 

Post Script

By now, many of you are probably wondering where I would get such a detailed plan. It came from a discussion group that was lead by Chief Mark Wessels of Keokuk, Iowa and held last year in East Peoria.

 

On the morning of December 22, 1999 and just two weeks after Worcester, MA lost six firefighters in a warehouse fire, Chief Wessels lost three of his own, including his assistant chief who was also his best friend, to a structural fire that also claimed the lives of three children. The structure flashed over, causing the deaths of the three firefighters. The firefighters had removed two children and were going back for the third child when the flashover occurred.

 

At the memorial service held at the high school gymnasium, I was struck by the composure of Chief Wessels as he eulogized his three men. He did so with the widows and children of the fallen heroes sitting directly in front of him. I was so moved by his strength under such extraordinary circumstances that I came home and wrote him a letter.

 

When I saw him last year, he spoke very openly of the whole experience; from the time the call came in until the final reports were issued. He described the five steps of grieving that he and his entire department went through. He talked about his clash with his city’s mayor. He discussed the relentless investigation by the Iowa Occupational Safety and Health Administration. During the entire time, he also had a fire department to run; a department that was very short of manpower. He described the anger of some citizens who were upset because “firefighters took over their town and their memorial service”. He had to appease some national organizations that felt “slighted” at the funeral. He relived the day and the anger over manpower constraints. On the day of the incident, the department had to split their resources for a MVA and minutes later, the house fire.

 

His fire department, though grateful for all of the help, was now growing angry from what they felt were “intrusions”. It was then that Chief Wessels knew that it was time to thank everyone for their help and to send them on their way.

 

At the end of our discussion, I had a question that was weighing very heavily upon me. So I asked him.

 

“How many did you lose off of your department after this horrific chain of events?”

 

He looked at me with a grin and said “Not one!”

 

And that is a testament to the strength and the spirit of the Brotherhood!

 

Take care and stay safe.

 

The article as submitted is published under The Adventures of Jake and Vinnie© umbrella and is the intellectual property of Art Goodrich a.k.a. xchief22 and ChiefReason. It is protected by federal copyright laws and cannot be re-printed in any form without expressed permission from the author.

Posted by chiefreason on January 18, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , ,

Stressing? Bad Call? Not Sure You Can Do It? Read On!

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First Published 12/12/07

 

I have seen a lot of discussion lately about what do you do about stress; what do you do to cope; how do you handle a bad call; does it get any easier; etc.

I am going to relate TWO calls; just two of the many and keep in mind that I saw WORSE.

 

After reading this, I want your thoughts. Really. If you haven’t been in for very long, are just getting started or are still thinking about it, then I want you to take note and give me your feedback.

This first call was a triple fatality on Saw Mill Hill. We got the mutual aid call, because the responding FD didn’t “do” extrication. The ones that were dead at the scene had to be extricated.

 

In the Ford Festiva were three teenagers who had just graduated high school and were enjoying the summer. They were on their way back to the campgrounds when the driver crossed the center line and struck a Chrysler New Yorker head on.

Two in the Festiva died instantly. The elderly driver of the New Yorker was the third fatal victim.

 

The driver of the Festiva had massive head injuries. There were skull fragments and brain matter on the dash. The car’s engine was literally sitting in his lap. Both knees were bent back so far that it TORE the skin open to expose ligaments and bone. He had an “oh, shit” look on his face. Eyes were open. The female in the back seat wasn’t belted, so I’m not sure what she hit with her head, but the top came off and she lay on the left side, bleeding down into the back floorboard of the car. Blood was about an inch deep by estimates. It was 93 degrees and the smell and flies were terrible. Obviously, she bled out. The survivor in that car was the female in the passenger front seat.

 

The driver of the New Yorker was elderly and was compressed against his steering wheel by his drivers’ seat. We had to remove the seat to get him out. The force of the impact was so hard that, his left foot that was on the brake was broken so badly that the tibia and fibula of the leg was sticking out through where his ankle bone use to be. His foot was entangled in the pedal and we had to cut the pedal to get the foot out intact. The impression in his chest from the steering wheel was in a perfect shape of the steering wheel and was about a half inch deep. His bowels had let go and the aorta ruptured from the impact.

It was hot, smelly and to this day, the neighboring department that THOUGHT it wanted to get into vehicle extrication has not bought a tool. They call us. Guess it was too stressful for them. I remember the names of both drivers and this accident was in 1995. I waited until I got home, went to the patio and reflected on the ages of the victims. It bothered me for awhile, because I had a son the same age. But then I realized stuff happens for a reason, good or bad, and when you sign on to a department, you aren’t ever called for a “good” reason. You might get a good outcome from a bad situation, but you’re there because usually, something “bad” has happened.

 

The other call that I wanted to describe for you is a semi-tractor/trailer accident.

It was in late summer. We got the call on a Saturday that we had a truck rollover with fire. When I got there, the cab was roaring. Then we were told the driver was still inside. Needless to say, it was too late for rescue. The fire was being fed by diesel fuel. The trailer was full of bales of cardboard and it was on fire also.

Once we got the fire out and I had shaken the hand of the two teams involved, I went to the cab of the truck. Inside was the “remains” of a truck driver. He died from the fire. How do I know? Because his head was tilted back and his mouth was open. He screamed until he couldn’t scream no more. His eye sockets were filled with aluminum. The top of his head had an aluminum skull cap on it. The metal from the aluminum fuel tanks rained down upon him. His fingers were completely gone; burnt off. His torso exploded to reveal his stomach and intestines. Both feet were tangled around the clutch and brake pedals and were separated from the lower legs. But what caught my eye was how well the shoes had withstood the fire and I thought to myself “I wonder if those are Red Wings? I got to get me a pair of them”.

 

When it came time to take him out of the cab and place him into a body bag, I had a hard time finding volunteers. I asked my trusted officers and they obliged.

 

Now; I thought that he would break apart as soon as we attempted to pull him out, but he was burnt so badly that he was like “fossilized”. Craziest thing I’d ever seen.

I forgot to mention that I took several photos because the coroner requested it. The coroner was on another call at the time and we didn’t want to wait, so he agreed to photos instead.

 

To this day, I remember everything that happened on that call. I remember the name of the truck driver and I remember the smell that was STRONGER than the smell of diesel fuel. Yes; the smell of the burnt body was stronger than the smell of diesel fuel on that day.

 

As I said; these are two of many. And they aren’t the worst ones that I went on.

If you think these two were bad; well, they were, but I knew that there would at least be others like them and if they weren’t as bad, then they’d be a piece of cake.

Picture these in your minds and then ask yourselves if you could handle it.

 

And if you can? Well, it doesn’t make you tough. It makes you effective when you need to be and that you can bring your heart rate back down when it’s over.

 

Talk to your brothers/sisters. Use CISDs if need be. Cry. Laugh. Have a beer. Do whatever you need to do to get your mind right this time and that will lengthen your service.

 

Your family needs you. Your community needs you. And you need them!

 

Stay safe.

Posted by chiefreason on January 11, 2009 • Filed under: My Size Up • Tagged: , , , ,