5-Alarm Task Force!

If you're a firefighter...anywhere, your susceptible for developing cancer due to your "job." I say "job," however cancer does not care if you're a career firefighter, a volunteer or paid-on-call. If you have your butt where active combustion is taking place, you just might draw the short straw.

We are pleased to present an excellent panel to address this danger. From the University of Florida-Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centers, we are joined by Alberto Caban-Martinez, DO, PhD and Natasha Schaefer-Solle, PhD, RN. Representing the Broward Sheriff's Office Fire-Rescue Services is returning guest, Assistant Chief Todd LeDuc and Frank Correggio.

We discuss the hottest topics regarding this insidious danger that pervades this job we love or loved, to do. And we didn't hold back with any of the "touchy" questions, either. We wanted answers that every firefighter who listens to this podcast, can learn from, incorporate into his or her life and then pay it forward, by sharing the podcast or its info with your colleagues.

This not a fun podcast, but it is a necessary one.

We sincerely appreciate our guests taking time from their bust scheduled to join us on this special edition of "5-Alarm Task Force!

This week, someone asked me to answer this question, "What 1 piece of advice would you give to a rookie on her/his first day?" As a lifelong educator, my answer was simple, "Never give up your hunger to learn!"

Our guest today, Chris Tobin, returns to discuss two topics that have been at the front of some of the fire-related tweets over the last few weeks, Mentoring and Mutual Aid.

Chris explains that even with about 15 years in firefighting, eight with his current employer, he's still the "rookie" in his firehouse. Nevertheless, he stresses that not only is he anxious to learn from the more experienced firefighters, but he then turns around and shares that with the newer members at the volunteer department that he helps. Chris also points out that whenever someone knows he's a firefighters and asks him about the job, he "pays it forward" by providing them with as much pertinent information as he can.

In the second half of our podcast, we discuss the manpower crisis facing many volunteer and even some career departments. That said, we talk about the pros (many) and cons (hardly) of setting levels for automatic mutual aid that will best benefit the citizen and the departments. Egos have no place when lives and property are threatened.

Firefighters around the world risk their lives almost every day, running in when everyone else is running out. While it is well known that our job is inherently dangerous, over the last 10-12 years, we have learned about a different danger, one that hides as a microscopic "time-bomb," where no one knows if or when it may go off!

Our guest on this Episode is Keith Tyson, a 34-year veteran of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue. Just a few months after retiring 10 years ago, he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer and several skin cancers. These diagnoses started Keith on a journey and mission that continues today.

He immediately began looking into the cancer rates of colleagues in his department. Each number, each fact, led to the discovery that his was not a sole incident. Both men and women in MDFR were experiencing rates far above the national average. Dealing with his own treatments, he engaged the Univ. of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, who joined the search for the cases and apparent causes of these rates.

From his own case, he learned of another, this time in the Palm Beach County Fire Dept. and started to engage their participation in the studies. With that, Keith founded the Florida Chapter of the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

Listen as Keith relates his personal journey which has led him around the country, to both inform and support firefighters about this very dangerous enemy that we face and what we can do to reduce our exposure.

For more information, visit the website FirefighterCancerSupport.org

Nick Baskerville is a firefighter from Northern Virginia, who is devoted to his family, the fire service, mentoring others in the fire service and in life, in general.

Mentoring others is what continues the traditions that have become important to us and assures that others will grasp them, too, Nick explains.

Nick is also very much dedicated to the Firefighter Cancer Initiative. In this podcast, he shares that devotion and his reasons for it.

Nick, who is a member of Toastmasters International, also explains how a story is a vital instrument in both teaching and learning and NOT just for kids in Kindergarten!

Nick is also a frequent contributor to The Firehouse Tribune and he explains the purpose he sees in writing his many articles.

Join us for informative and entertaining episode of "5-Alarm Task Force!"

Did you know that 80% of Americans suffer from a new back pain every year?

Did you know that 80% of those issues are muscular in nature, meaning something like a muscle strain or sprain?

Did you know that most of these can be treated relatively simply with 1-2 days of rest, appropriate heat therapy and proper, therapeutic exercises?

Damn it! My back injury was NOT uncomplicated. I have suffered with intractable back pain since 1992! I've had four separate surgeries, received over 100 injections and took multiple oral medications, including opioids!

This mini-podcast is to answer several Twitter questions about my LODI. So, tune in, listen and learn!

Stay Safe!

We're happy to a welcome a long-time friend and promotional partner of "5-Alarm Task Force," Nic Higgins, co-founder of The Firehouse Tribune website.

In our first segment, Nic tells us about his background in the fire service and what led him to the idea of sharing information with members other than those in his own department. From his first articles to the growth via social media, Nic explains the birth if the site and where it is today.

In the second segment, Nic addresses "Critical Thinking on the Fireground," the topic he presented at the 2017 FIREHOUSE Expo in Nashville. He tells us what it is, why it is an absolute necessity and ways of doing it, successfully.

In our third segment, Nic talks about, perhaps his second favorite topic, physical fitness and fitness-for-duty. A former collegiate athlete is baseball, Nic is always improving his personal fitness and preparing himself for many tasks on the fireground. Additionally, he is involved with several forms of the martial arts and finds them very useful for staying in shape.

So sit back, start your download, or hit the "PLAY" button and join us along with Nic Higgins on this episode of "5-Alarm Task Force!"

It's January of a new year - 2018 and what do most folks do at a new year? They make resolutions, with goals to fulfill to make them better. And the most common resolution? "Get in shape!

Our guest, Aaron Zamzow, is not only a firefighter, he is a certified fitness trainer and dedicates himself to helping other first responders or anyone else interested in becoming fit. However, if you indeed are a first responder, Aaron emphasizes, "Fitness-for-Duty!"

And again, this year, Aaron and his company, "Fire-Rescue-Fitness," are conducting their "Fit-for-Duty Contest." You choose the fitness program that's right for you and send in the results to Aaron. You could win a cash prize or other gifts...just for doing what you know, you really need to do.

Thus, the best prize of all will be knowing that you are fit to do this job you love to do; that you are "Fit-for-Duty!?

Many of us, whether career or volunteer, have run into a "rough patch, while serving as a firefighter, in EMS or law enforcement. Whether it's lack of sleep, the job itself, little time for yourself and/or your family; all add up to that possible "rough patch."

Our guest, David Wiklanski, a firefighter in NJ, also has a Masters Degree in Behavioral Sciences, Human Behavior & Organizational Psychology. He provides us with an explanation of the many facets of "the job" that can take a toll on anyone; sometimes, a very heavy toll. And he adds to that information thoughts and ideas to help us "gird our loins," (an ancient biblical term), that is, to strengthen not just our body, but our overall well-being and psyche, as well.

David presents his course nationally and has shared his words of wisdom with many. The advantage of listening to him via this podcast is that you can close your eyes and hear him speaking directly to you!

Chief Tim Sendelbach, Editor-in-Chief of FIREHOUSE, joins us to shares some of this thoughts as he travels the country frequently, with over 200,000 miles each year.

As firefighters & officers we often view the problems we face day-to-day as "local" or "unique." However, the reality is that of the problems are shared by firefighters across the nation, whether career, volunteer, urban, suburban or rural.

In this podcast, Chief Sendelbach examines many of these situations, sifting through them to see some based in our weaknesses and others as successes that come from our abilities and dedication to the tasks at hand.

Interesting to note, Chief Sendelbach said that as he peruses through article submissions for FIREHOUSE Magazine, where the vast majority used to be based on tactics and strategy, today those articles on behavioral health lead the submissions at a 4:1 ratio!

We also discuss what Chief Sendelbach sees in store for the not too distant future and how we may have to make hard decisions about staffing, response, apparatus and equipment.

Join us for very interesting and even surprising discussion with one of the top leaders in the American Fire Service.

And...Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for a happy, healthy, safe and peaceful New Year!

Some people believe that they are born leaders. Perhaps, that may be so. However, true leadership is cultivated through education, experience, perseverance and more.

In the fire service, there are many who believe they should be leaders, some for no other reason than they simply want it or believe they deserve it because are the loudest in the firehouse or tell the best jokes! Yet, for the most part the fire service looks to create its leaders. The question is, "How well does it do so?"

Chief (ret.) Daniel Jones, former Chief of Chapel Hill Fire Dept. in NC, answers this very question. And he doesn't pull any punches! With over 43 years in fire and EMS services, Chief Jones has seen our fire service evolve in many ways over the years. Some have been groundbreaking improvements. Others - not so much!

If you listen to no more than Chief Jones' bio, you will understand that this chief knows what leadership is about; what it takes to attain that level and what the fire service is NOT doing to cultivate real leaders for tomorrow's fire service.

Join us for this very educational and telling episode of "5-Alarm Task Force."