5-Alarm Task Force!

Some of us have seen this on the news and some of us haven't. The only one I could recall was the recent incident in NYC several months ago, where a thug stole an FDNY ambulance, running over and killing the EMT assigned to that rig.

My eyes were opened when I attended a recent fire training school and I met this gentleman who is a paramedic in SW Florida and watched the beginning of his presentation on this very topic.

The videos and still photos that he showed in his intro, absolutely floored me. Violence against ambulance staff, firefighters, hospital staff and other emergency care givers, is far more rampant than we realize and that message needs to get out.

Kip Teitsor is a former police officer, paramedic and long-time student of the martial arts. A number of years ago, Kip's ambulance was stolen from him. And that was the proverbial straw that broke this camel's back.

Kip created DT4EMS, (at DT4EMS.com)a company dedicated to teaching first responders how to avoid and escape if necessary, a violent attack.

Kip has presented his classes around the country and in foreign lands. He has taught over 300 trainers around the country to help cover the demand for this program. One of those trainers is Kevin Onorevole. A paramedic who has had and seen this type of incident, brought it to my attention several months ago and we were finally able to bring these two gentlemen together to bring YOU this very important information. If you are a first responder, you MUST listen to this podcast and then, you must SHARE this podcast.

Fasten your seat belt and prepare for a ride you never expected!

Thermal imaging cameras are not new. They've been around for over a decade. However, in that time, the technology has changed and evolved, drastically! As has their uses!

Capt. Andy Starnes is known both nationally and internationally, as one of the best instructors on TIC's. In this podcast, Andy will take you from your due diligence as you either prepare to purchase these important tools, through the many uses for the TIC's today.

Remember, today's TIC is no longer just for search and overhaul. The TIC is a vital tool for the firefighter!

It's happened to almost everyone of us. Pulling a hose, "throwing" a ladder...suddenly, you feel that twinge! It's your back! Most of the time, it's a simple "twist." But it could be much more than that.

Our guest, Aaron Zamzow is not only a firefighter, but a personal trainer. He specializes in helping firefighters and EMS personnel get their backs in "fit-for-duty" condition.

While there are no guarantees that we still will not suffer some sort of a back injury on the fireground, Aaron stresses some of the differences that can occur if you have kept your back in good shape or not.

You won't need to spend big bucks on a gym membership or try to convince the Chief to install a 12-station gym in the firehouse. Aaron explains basic exercises each of us can perform to keep our back in good shape, as well as what to do initially upon a back injury and if it's minor, how you can care and treat it so that you will hopefully return to full duty, ASAP.

Take it from me - I've lived with a severe back injury that was most likely caused by an incident in the fire service, for the past 25 years! Listen to Aaron and hopefully, you won't!

As first responders, we're used to tending to our patients, bring them to an ER/Trauma Center and head back to await the next call. We rarely, if at all, think about the finances of our actions or those that the patient will face from the facility care.Today's politics have recently been dominated by attempts to repeal one insurance program and find an adequate replacement for it; without much success as of yet.

Our guest, Chief Gary Ludwig, who has 40 years experience in both EMS and Fire Services, poses the question above.

In our discussion, Chief Ludwig points out the fact that nearly 100% of those making these decisions have no experience in any manner of healthcare or emergency services. And those of us who do, are not asked to provide any guidance to the decision makers.

The Chief explains the very tangled web that is woven around this complicated issue. And even for those who who speak on our behalf are up against the behemoths of the Insurance lobby, the Healthcare Lobby and the law firms seeking to protect their interests.

This podcast will give you pause to think about the financial costs of what we do.

If you're a firefighter and you are a regular user of major social media sites, then you are probably familiar with our guest, Capt. John Dixon, aka "Instructor John Dixon." (@InstructorJohnDixon on Twitter)

Capt. Dixon started as a volunteer as a teen. Subsequently, he joined the Marines and proudly served our country. While there, he learned numerous core values, such as honor, discipline, pride, etc. that are also key elements of every successful fire department, be it career, volunteer or paid-on-call. Taking those experiences, he returned to the fire service and has been there ever since.

Early on in this career, Capt. Dixon saw the value of both learning as much as possible and then sharing that knowledge with as many firefighters as he could find who shared that "hunger."

In this interview, Capt. Dixon shares that background with us and then, we discuss several of the "hot topics" that the fire service faces today.

Well-learned and well-respected, Capt. Dixon travels around the country teaching at all levels, from single department interests to national conclaves, such as FDIC, Firehouse Expo and many more.

As the saying goes, "Listen and Learn!"

Listen, everybody has bad days. But few experience a "bad day" as we in emergency services can. Career or volunteer, there's trauma, loss, disrupted sleep patterns and much more. How are we supposed to handle this?

Our guest for this episode is Jeff Dill, a former firefighter, who saw a void for those members of the fire/EMS services, who were having difficulties dealing with the sadness and tragedy we see so often. To fill that void, Jeff established the FBHA, the Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance in 2011.

Besides traveling around the country and Canada with his programs, Jeff has also quantified the numbers of firefighters and EMS members who have taken their own lives.

This is a strong, yet poignant podcast. What you hear may help you help a colleague or even help yourself. Please listen with an open mind and more importantly, with an open heart.

This special episode of "5-Alarm Task Force," is truly for all First Responders! This episode was originally supposed to air on Monday, September 11th. My guest However, due to Hurricane Irma, we had to postpone the recording of the show. It was rescheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 3rd. Sadly, the brought us less than 36 hours after the Las Vegas tragedy.

My guest is Broward Sheriff's Office-Division of Fire Asst. Chief for Technical Services, Todd LeDuc. One of Chief LeDuc's main focus is on firefighter heath, wellness and fitness for duty and he services on many local, regional and national committees and panels.

On this episode, we discuss the amazing response by the wide array of first responders in the Las Vegas/Clark County area, as well as the brave and unwavering civilians who, at their own peril, immediately threw themselves on the task of assisting the both the wounded and those suffering other injuries.

We also do look back on the events of 9|11 and talk about where we were and what we were doing when the news started to come in. And from the darkness of that terrible day, we talk about how, not only the fire service, but all branches of first responders have evolved since 9|11 and the development of new and better equipment for these brave men and women who always answer the call.

We would like to hear from you, our listeners, as to how YOU remember this dark day in America's history and what you were doing and perhaps, what you did. Please drop us a line to [email protected].

Capt. Robby Owens (@AverageJakeFF on Twitter))talks with us regarding being prepared to recognize and deal with a firefighter's cardiac incident. While we practice for and respond to numerous civilian cardiac calls, when was the last time we drilled on a firefighter's incident, when he/she is fully encased in their PPE?

What comes off first? What if they just exited from a hot, room & contents atmosphere? What order do we follow?

Capt. Owens lays it on the line as he describes the various and, very important and necessary steps for treating a firefighter's cardiac emergency. And you know that a topic such as this must also include the concepts for fitness for duty and rehab!

This podcast just might save the life of someone you work or respond with everyday. Or it might help someone save you!

Lt. Ryan Pennington, widely known on Twitter as @JumpSeatViews, shares with us his extensive knowledge as both a firefighter and instructor, on these dangerous responses. Hoarding is a rapidly growing problem both in cities and the country. Often times, those involved suffer from some type of behavioral health issue.

Nevertheless, these type of fires often result in serious challenges for first responders to find and reach a victim, find and quench the seat of the fire and/or find their way out of the involved structure.

Ryan has taught his class on Heavy Content Response all over the country and internationally. He presents us with clues to look for long in advance of an alarm at the location. That fact alone might save your life.

Hoarding is here to stay, almost no matter where you live. And eventually, you are going to face a heavy content fire. Learn observations, tactics and results in this episode of "5-Alarm Task Force!"

It's at almost every single fire we fight. In homes, businesses and vehicles. It kills in a similar fashion to another poisonous gas that we are all TOO familiar with - CO. And it's damned hard to tell the difference...at first!

Capt.(ret) Dennis Tucker of the Providence RI Fire Dept. tells us a frightening tale of how two fires in the City of Providence, almost killed two different firefighter's within hours of each other. And...how Hydrogen Cyanide gas (also known as Prussic Acid) almost killed a dear friend and even, Capt. Tucker, himself! Yet, far too many of us either do not know the particulars or do, but only in passing.

Capt. Tucker, relying on both his own experience and knowledge, as well as an important article from the June 2006 Fire Engineering Magazine by Chief Curt Varone, shares many of the most important facts about this killer; where it's found, the symptoms of HCN poisoning and treatments.

Did you know about the dangers of HCN before this episode? Did you know the facts or had you just heard about it peripherally? We are asking you, our listeners, to answer those questions with a quick email to us at [email protected] and let us what you knew about HCN before this episode with Capt. Tucker. It will only take you a minute or two, but you might save a life!