The First Responder Games were created by Florida first responders in 2014 as a way to promote camaraderie through competition. They compete in activities such as cycling, basketball, softball, archery and many more.
This year's games are being held in Brevard County, Florida. They began on Sept. 16 and will continue through the 27th. However, the basketball portion of the games has concluded and the three teams of the Brevard County Sheriff's Department took home multiple medals.
According to SpaceCoastDaily.com, the women's team, The Lady Enforcers, went undefeated throughout the whole tournament. The women showed their exceptional talent and athleticism by bringing home the gold medal for the Brevard County Sheriff's Department. The men from the sheriff's department were divided into two teams due to the large number of participants. The news source reported that one team played in the more challenging Division I bracket while the other played in the Division II bracket.
The Division I team earned the bronze medal, while the Division II team went home with the silver.
SpaceCoastDaily.com also reported that the community was proud of its first responders for their victories.
Firefighters are known for saving people from burning buildings, but one unit in Grand Rapids, Michigan, took their duty one step further. The firefighters from the Bridge Street Fire Station saved a local family's beloved dog.
When firefighter Craig Lewis and his crew went on scene at a house fire at 7 a.m. on Sept. 15, they did not realize that there was a dog in the family's burning home. Lewis rushed back into the home and found the pet near the door. He told Wood TV-8 News that the dog was not in good condition. Bringing the animal out to safety, he quickly began to perform CPR and apply the snout-shaped oxygen mask to the dog's face.
ABC News-10 reported that after 30 minutes of attention, the family's pet came to with a wagging tail. Witnesses applauded the firefighters' efforts and dedication, but Lewis said it was all part of the job.
"Every firefighter, whether it's a human, a person or an animal, it's just our nature," he told Woodtv.com. "We like to save lives and didn't even think twice about it."
Lewis and his crew are receiving an outpouring of positive responses to their story on social media.
When Trish Buchanan's husband, a police officer in East Hartford, Connecticut, took his own life because of post-traumatic stress disorder, she searched for a way to make sure no other first responder had to go through what her husband experienced. Buchanan partnered with the Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement to found Believe 208.
The number 208 was her husband's badge number, and the organization helps first responders cope with depression and PTSD. They link police officers, firefighters and emergency medical service workers to support groups and provide resources to help them cope with the stresses of their jobs. Believe 208's upcoming event is the annual 5K race, which remembers first responders who have taken their lives because of work-related stress.
For Buchanan and her family, it is a difficult but rewarding time.
"[My husband] helped so many people while he was living and doing the job that he did," Buchanan told Eyewitness News 3. "I'd like to think that through his death we're going to save people also, and I'd like to think that he's smiling down on us."
This year's race will be held on Sept. 20 and will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus on Main Street in East Hartford.
It is important for children to trust first responders and be ready to ask them for help should they ever need it. This is why the first responders of Circleville, Ohio, started Kids and Badges Day. This year's event marked the fifth annual gathering. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m on Sept. 12, families came to Circleville's Mary Virginia Crites Hannan Park to visit with local firefighters, police officers and emergency service workers.
Nicole Allen, one of the event organizers, told The Circleville Herald that the local first responders dedicate a lot of time and effort to Kids and Badges Day. They want the children to respect their jobs and know that they are there to help.
The day started off with a tribute to 9/11 first responders. Afterward, the kids in attendance got to participate in activities that demonstrate what daily life is like for the various first responders. They were also allowed to explore the emergency vehicles and witness canine demonstrations.
Parents had the opportunity to enroll in child identification programs and fire prevention courses while the children enjoyed the bouncy castle and hotdog cookout.
Fire equipment is an integral part of fighting fire. If equipment malfunctions, firefighters run the risk of losing lives. It is important to make equipment checks a station-wide priority to maintain properly functioning tools and gear.
1. Usage check
FirefighterNation.com recommends instating a "You touch it, you test it" rule. Simply put, this holds every firefighter accountable for the equipment he or she touches during daily work. If the firefighter handles a certain section of the hose, he or she is responsible for checking and maintaining that part of the hose. This method divvies up the responsibilities fairly and makes sure every member of the team is doing his or her part.
2. Tool check
Station managers will want to assign several members to make sure every tool kit has the proper pieces and that each tool is in good working order. You would not want to send a fellow firefighter into a building without a sharp hatchet or a sturdy crowbar.
3. Turnout clothing inspection and cleaning
Keeping turnout clothing clean and in good repair not only helps extend the life of the equipment, but it may save the life of the firefighter as well. FireResecue1.com reported that dirty turnout clothing provides less insulation and can become more flammable. Perform regular checks of the clothing to make sure there are no tears or vulnerabilities in the material and properly clean the gear to keep it working at top performance levels.
4. Fire suit inspection and repair
Many times your helmet, boots and other flame-retardant clothing are the only things between you and deadly flames. These items should be carefully examined on a regular basis to ensure they are functioning up to standard. If they are in need of repair, get it done immediately.
5. Hose tests
The hose is a vital part of fighting fires. It is absolutely essential that this piece of equipment works without flaw. FireDepartment.org suggested that stations should perform a hose test at least once annually. These inspections can prevent serious accidents and fatal malfunctions. Click here for the proper procedure for testing your station's hoses.
Society relies on first responders like firefighters to keep it safe, and firefighters rely on their equipment to help them fulfill those duties. This equipment should be kept in top-notch condition to ensure that it will work properly when it is needed. Well-cared-for tools and gear can prevent unnecessary incidents in the field.
Firefighters are first responders without an abundance of spare time on their hands. However, tradition holds that they should maintain a clean and presentable station house. How are these busy individuals supposed to clean their fire station while having time to respond to calls? AFBA has outlined five ways firefighters can clean quicker and more efficiently.
1. Top to bottom, left to right
Most experts recommend starting at the highest point in your house and working your way to the right and downward. This method should also be applied to the rooms you clean. By establishing this pattern in every room, you are less likely to miss areas.
2. Maintain a schedule
Staying on top of cleaning can help cut back on the time you spend keeping things tidy. Set a weekly cleaning schedule and make sure you stick to it. Post this schedule somewhere visible so the assigned individuals know when it is their turn to clean.
3. Use the proper cleaning materials
Avoid using cheap cleaning solutions and poorly made cleaning tools. Invest in a quality broom and dustpan, wet mop, duster and vacuum to save yourself the hassle of creating more work for yourself cleaning up after cheap products. Professional-grade cleaners can also help make your job easier. You will also want to invest in good cleaning gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes that are crucial for performing your job.
4. Make it fun
Cleaning may seem like an arduous process, but who said you cannot have fun doing it? Crank your favorite playlist or a new audiobook to help pass the time while you scrub away. You could also make it a challenge. Divide the station into teams and assign sections for them to clean. Reward the team that produces the cleanest area in the shortest time.
5. Get the team involved
If you tackle cleaning as a group effort, it will go much quicker than if it is left to a few people to finish. Cleaning as a team can also make the tasks more fun and will create universal respect for the cleanliness in the station house.
Though cleaning may seem tedious, it is a big part of maintaining a functional fire house. Firefighters should follow the tips above to help develop a faster, more effective cleaning method in their station house.
When the summer heat gets high, nothing cools you off faster than a nice, tall glass of lemonade. Two elementary school girls from Washington capitalized on this fact, but they used their profit to benefit local first responders.
According to KREM-2 News, Ruby Schneider took the $387 donation to Spokane County Fire District 4 after school on Sept. 14. Schneider and an unnamed classmate, both of whom are natives of Colbert, Washington, spent most of the summer selling lemonade and saving the money they earned from the stand.
Schneider told the news source that she was saddened by the news of the firefighter deaths in the West Coast wildfires, and she wanted to give the money to help her local firefighters.
The Spokane County Fire District 4 plans to use the money to benefit the Volunteer Association of Firefighters, a local nonprofit that conducts community outreach events.
"This has happened before and with a lemonade stand, you have to sell a lot of lemonade to make that much money so we're pretty impressed with them," Spokane County Fire Public Information Officer Megan Hill told KREM-2 News.
Schneider said she has plans to reopen her stand next summer and would be glad to give the money to the firefighters again.
When the World Trade Center Towers were attacked on Sept. 11, 2001, many first responders rushed to help. Stephen Siller, a New York firefighter, was one of those first responders. Siller ran from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Ground Zero to offer his assistance. The residents of Ellensburg, Washington, honored Siller's commitment to service on Sept. 13 at the Tunnel to Tower 5K. KIMA-TV reported that the event was started by a local high school student who has since moved on to college.
The race's legacy endures, however, thanks to the commitment of volunteers. Dozens of locals and first responders participated in the event. The firefighters who took part in the race did so while wearing 45 pounds of fire gear and carrying American flags.
"It's extremely rewarding that the community has embraced [the race] and that the firefighters and first responders have as well," event organizer Elise Herman told KIMA-TV.
The first responders who participated told the news source that it was rewarding to have the opportunity to show gratitude for fellow first responders who laid their lives down in service to others.
The city plans to continue holding the race for as long as people are interested.
First responders have a reputation for being prepared to save lives at a moment's notice. Los Angeles rookie firefighter Cody Campbell proved this at his wedding on Sept. 10. Campbell was listening to his father, a retired fire captain, give a toast at the reception when he heard cries of distress from the back of the room. One of the wedding attendees had begun to choke on the food. Campbell told ABC News that he did not hesitate. He simply reverted to his training and rushed to the aid of the guest who was choking.
Campbell calmly performed the Heimlich maneuver while stunned guests looked on. After several repetitions, the piece of meat that was choking the victim was dislodged and the party resumed. Kelly Campbell, the first responder's new wife, was proud of her husband's quick reaction.
"Saving someone's life right in front of me on my wedding day … it's something we'll have forever," Kelly told KABC-TV.
Some guests believed the incident was an act meant as a joke because of Campbell's profession, but the newlyweds assured ABC News that it was no performance. Campbell's alertness and cool-headed approach really saved someone's life.
While thousands rushed out of the Twin Towers on 9/11, first responders were bravely going in. In honor of the men and women who gave their lives in the attempt to save those in the buildings, the first responders of Charlotte, North Carolina, banded together for the 5th Annual Charlotte Firefighters 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.
Over 500 firefighters, police officers and emergency medical workers climbed 110 flights of stairs. Each flight represented a floor of the World Trade Center Towers. The first responders took donations for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
WBTV.com reported that each event participant was given a picture of a first responder who gave his or her life on 9/11. Before the event began, the participants rang a bell and spoke the name of the person in their picture. They then pinned the pictures of the fallen heroes to their uniforms to wear during the climb.
The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb took place in the Duke Energy Center stairwell and included participants from the surrounding states and some from as far as New York. This year's event even included a participant who was 72 years old.