Reading Assignment – July 5 2013

Here’s the list:

1. A Hero W.O.D. in honor of the Granite Mountain 19 from Fire Service Warrior:
   19 mountain climbers
   3 mile run
   19 mountain climbers
   45 lb. vest/pack
2. Study of the Effectiveness of Fire Service Vertical Ventilation and Suppression Tactics in Single Family Homes – Steve Kerber, UL FSRI
   Don’t let the long title scare you. Take some time to read it in pieces, or print out the summary report to look over with your crew. Discuss the findings, how they could potentially affect your department’s operations, and how they might affect your personal considerations. Depending on your department, this may be old news common-sense that has been taught at the academy for decades or it could be some revolutionary information. Either way, it shouldn’t be dismissed or overlooked. Take the data for what it is and work it out for yourself.
3. The Missing Pieces of Firefighter Survival – Brian Bush, Fire Service Warrior
   “Firefighters must be presented with the true context of situations where lives are being threatened.  The belief that situational awareness can be maintained during chaotic events; that firefighters will be able to function at full capacity, recall and execute training, and communicate in a highly dynamic environment is false (Gasaway, 2012).”
4. Firefighter PASS Device Study Yields Surprising Results – NFPA Fire Service Today
   “During one experiment a small trash can fire was lit to see what effect a small fire had on the sound of the PASS alarm signal. The sound became muffled and quieter and the fire seemed to merge the multiple tones into one sound.”

*I try to catch as many articles as possible, but I inevitably miss some. If you see anything worth learning from, send me an email at ELAFFHQ@gmail.com.

-Pete