Fighting fire requires a superior level of fitness. The dangerous situations firefighters experience daily are physically demanding. Being properly prepared for these physical challenges can save a firefighter's life. Outlined below are a series of exercises designed to help firefighters reach the level of fitness required to safely do the job.
1. Sled drags
Firefighters need to be able to drag equipment and carry victims to safety, and they need to do it without exhausting themselves. Sled drags are an excellent exercise for strengthening the muscles required to do these tasks.
2. Farmer walks
Fire hoses can be difficult to hold onto. The strength of a firefighter's grip can be a key factor in a successful fire rescue. Farmer walks can drastically strengthen grip and upper body muscles, making it less likely that a firefighter will tire while working the hose.
3. Squats
This exercise is crucial for firefighters. Leg strength increases speed and stability. These two skills are crucial for completing the job safely and effectively, and squats are guaranteed to improve leg strength and balance.
4. Deadlifts
On the scene of an emergency, firefighters will likely be required to lift heavy objects frequently. This can mean moving weighty obstructions or hoisting an unconscious victim and carrying them to safety. Deadlifts ensure that a firefighter's muscles are strong enough to lift heavy objects at a moment's notice.
5. Medicine ball slams
Having a strong core is crucial for firefighters. While crunches can be an effective way to achieve strong abdominal muscles, medicine ball slams engage all areas of the core. This creates rotational strength and can help firefighters become more agile.
6. Weighted stairs
Firefighters are required to go up and down stairs quickly and often weighed down by heavy equipment. Weighted stairs exercises can train the legs to withstand these physical demands. These exercises can also help prevent fatigue and improve a firefighter's speed.
7. Vertical jumps
In a burning building, there may be obstructions that result in a firefighter having to jump and hoist himself or herself over the obstacle. Structural damage could also leave firefighters with no option but to jump and hoist themselves to another, safer level of a burning house. Vertical jumps help improve the heights to which firefighters are able to leap. This exercise also strengthens leg muscles which can help prevent exhaustion from carrying the heavy equipment.
Good physical fitness can be a lifesaving factor for firefighters. The demands of the job require plenty of strength and conditioning, and the exercises above can help firefighters improve those two things.
First responders are some of the bravest people in the workforce. Every day they risk their lives for the safety of others. In true Hollywood fashion, filmmakers recognized the potential for telling an amazing story through the eyes of first responders. Who made the top five list for Hollywood's most heroic police officers, firefighters and paramedics?
1. John McLoughlin from "World Trade Center"
The tragedy at the World Trade Towers on 9/11 is something not many can forget, especially when told from a first-hand perspective. In the movie "World Trade Center", Nicholas Cage plays a veteran Port Authority police officer named John McLoughlin. He and his fellow officers are going about their normal patrol for the day when they see on the news that the North Tower was struck by a plane. McLoughlin rallies his unit to help with the evacuation, but during the rescue, he and two of his men become trapped under the collapsed tower. McLoughlin shoulders the weight of the knowledge that they may never get out alive but does his best to keep the surviving member of his unit positive. He remains strong throughout the whole harrowing ordeal, reminding movie-goers of the courage it takes to put on the badge every day.
2. Stephen 'Bull' McCaffrey from "Backdraft"
Firefighting is a profession that comes with a lot of pride and bravery. In "Backdraft", Kurt Russell plays a Chicago firefighter with a head-on attitude. Despite cautionary warnings from a more experienced firefighter who worked under his father, McCaffrey continues to attack fires aggressively without regard for his personal safety. McCaffrey and his unit are eventually called to a multiple alarm fire in a chemical plant. Here the "Bull" struggles with the betrayal of a beloved partner, but he still tries to save the traitor's life. This noble act ultimately costs him his own. This movie speaks to the pride and brotherhood shared between firefighters, and it is an excellent display of their bravery.
3. Miguel Zavala from "End of Watch"
Police officers, especially inner city patrol officers, experience some of the toughest day-to-day challenges on the job. Michael Pena portrays one of these brave officers in "End of Watch." Pena's character, Miguel Zavala, and his partner patrol the streets of South Central Los Angeles. The duo takes down several major criminals in the area which puts them on the watch with a dangerous cartel. Despite the threats and potential danger, Zavala and his partner continue to patrol their area. When the pair are lured into a showdown with the enraged cartel, Zavala loses his life in an attempt to save his partner's. The movie is an inspiring testament to the honor and sacrifice of police officers.
4. Kit Latura from "Daylight"
Emergency Medical Professionals have to keep a cool head while dealing with a lot of stressful situations. In "Daylight", Sylvester Stallone plays former Emergency Medical Services chief Kit Latura who does just that. When a tunnel under the Hudson River collapses, Latura witnesses the accident from the Manhattan side. He quickly rushes to offer his assistance. Latura realizes there are survivors trapped in the tunnel, so he risks his life to go in and bring them to safety. After a series of harrowing escapes and through indomitable perseverance, Latura manages to get the majority of the survivors to safety. "Daylight" does an excellent job of portraying Emergency Medical Professionals' leadership and selfless urge to save lives.
5. Jack Morrison from "Ladder 49"
The courage it takes to run into a burning building to save lives is something few people possess. Firefighters do this on a regular basis, and the movie "Ladder 49" gives people a good sense of the courage it takes to do that job. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Jack Morrison in this emotional film. The movie opens with Morrison saving the life of a man trapped in a burning grain elevator before the floor collapses, leaving him trapped and with a broken leg. The audience is then taken on a journey through Morrison's career as a firefighter and the bonds he forged with his unit along the way. When rescue efforts grow increasingly dangerous, Morrison orders his captain to pull the other men out of harm's way. His ultimate sacrifice is a prime example of firefighter courage.
Hollywood has documented the heroism of first responders many different times, but only the bravest and strongest made the top five list.
On July 28, the Green Bay Packers joined forces with the firefighters in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for a fundraising event called Fill the Helmet. The goal of the campaign, which is being lead by the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin, is to raise money for the purchase of child identification kits for every kindergarten through eighth grade child in the state. These kits, which include a DNA swab, an inkless fingerprint card and a wallet-sized ID card, are meant to assist law enforcement professionals in the event of an emergency.
The Sheboygan Fire Department, the Packers and 4,000 other firefighters from across the state hope to raise $2.4 million by the end of the fundraiser. The plan is to donate this money to Safety Blitz, an organization dedicated to national child identification, for purchase and distribution of the kits.
Former Green Pay Packer Jerry Kramer shared his enthusiasm for the event with the Sheboygan Press, "[Child identification] is something that I think has been necessary. I'm pleased to be a part of it and think it is a wonderful program."
Wisconsin firefighters will take to the streets to collect money, but individuals interested in making a donation can stop by any firehouse.
On Tuesday, a 10-year-old Maryland boy got the birthday surprise of a lifetime. As an infant, Jordin Bishop was diagnosed with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes an excess of uric access in his body, as reported by the Lesch-Nyhan Organization. The disorder causes Bishop to have difficulties with speech and to rely on a wheelchair for mobility. Bishop's family put out a request on Facebook for birthday cards for the boy, and the response astounded them.
More than 700 cards came flooding in from all around the world. Bishop received birthday wishes from people in France, Israel and Canada. However, what touched the family the most was the outpouring of support. Local fire fighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians collectively sent Bishop over 150 birthday cards. To make the day even more special for the boy, the fire department brought a truck to his Hagerstown home and let Bishop explore it.
"When we can do something special like this for Jordin, that makes what we do just that much better," Officer Gerard Kendle of the Hagerstown Police Department told Your4State News.
Bishop received even more cards from friends and others in his community.
First responders in Council Bluffs, Iowa, are some of the first to employ the use of new hovercraft technology in emergency situations. The new machine is lightweight and has strong horsepower. It can handle almost any temperature and fly in nearly any condition. However, the best feature of this new technology is its potential to save both civilian and first responder lives. Chief Justin James told KETV News that the hovercraft can fly about 25 miles per hour and can maneuver through spaces that a rescuer may not be able to.
The hovercraft is especially advantageous during poor weather conditions when first responders may be slowed down. Because it flies about 9 inches off the ground, the vehicle is ideal for ice and water rescues where cracking or debris may a safety hazard or slow down the rescue.
"It takes a long time to deploy a boat in the winter because of the ice flow, but the ice floe wouldn't affect [the hovercraft]," James said. "You can drive right over the ice."
In the future, it is possible that hovercrafts will become normal tools for first responders. Their effectiveness in making rescues safer and more effective are just a few things that make them a worthy investment for rescue workers.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Rookie Club has been working hard to contribute to the team's initiative to become more involved in outreach programs. The Buccaneers are especially determined to get their younger players interested in giving back to the community. This year's rookie members, including Jameis Winston, Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet, have already visited a veterans' hospital and greeted local service members at an air base.
Their next event will take place on Tuesday, July 28, when the Buccaneers Rookie Club will meet 24 firefighters, many of whom are also rookies, from Tampa Fire Rescue. The group will spend the afternoon talking and knocking down pins at a downtown Tampa bowling alley called Pin Chasers. Over the last several years, the NFL team has been committed to developing a philanthropic relationship with the city of Tampa and the fans who support them. One of the team's lineman, Kevin Pamphile, started his own charitable program in which he raised money for school supplies for disadvantaged students in the Haitian town where his parents grew up.
"Me, personally, I'm blessed to be able to play football in this league," Pamphile said on the team's website. "I feel that it's my responsibility to give back to somebody in need."
Life can be stressful for military families. Long separations make it difficult on parents and kids alike. However, when the family is together again, a vacation can be the perfect way to reconnect and relax. The examples below are just a few of the many places that offer great vacation packages for military service members.
San Diego, California
This city is an amazing blend of landscapes. San Diego has beaches, mountains and deserts. Its mild climate and friendly reputation make it a great vacation destination for anyone. San Diego's reputation for supporting the armed forces make it an even better place for military families to visit. Military members receive free admission to certain attractions such as the San Diego Zoo, Balboa Park and the San Diego History Center. Families of active duty military get discounts to these locations as well.
Active Heroes Military Family Retreat Center
The camp is located in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. The Active Heroes Military Family Retreat Center was designed by military families to help promote bonding and healing. It is free for military families to come for the weekend and participate in archery, cookouts, camping and more.
Universal Studios
This theme park is known for taking visitors on an adventure through film-making history. There are plenty of rides and activities to keep the whole family entertained, and the best part of the Universal Studios is that it offers military discounts at both its Los Angeles and Orlando locations.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
As home to an air force base, Myrtle Beach has no shortage of patriotism. Military members and their families can relax on the city's 60 miles of beaches or engage in a little friendly competition at one of the 100 golf courses. Many hotels, attractions and restaurants in the area offer military discounts.
Camp Noble Cause
Tucked away in the wilderness of Rockaway, New Jersey, this camp gives military families the chance to boat, fish, swim, camp, hike and engage in many more outdoor activities. The Boy Scouts of America and the Patriots' Path Council offer their camp to military members and their families at no cost. Camp Noble Cause takes place one weekend every year and provides the ideal setting for military family bonding.
Disneyland or Disney World
What better place to take the family on vacation than the Happiest Place on Earth? Disney theme parks are an excellent way to make memories with your kids. Both of the parks offer military family discount packages. They even allow military spouses to use the discount without the military member being present.
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment
Has your family been begging you to visit Shamu or pet a sea turtle? It may be the right time to take them to SeaWorld or Busch Gardens. Both parks grant military members and up to three dependents free admission. Just like the Disney parks, SeaWorld allows military spouses free admission without the presence of the military member.
Camp Gratitude
This week-long getaway is free for military members and their families. The camp was started as a way of expressing appreciation for the service of military members. Camp Gratitude offers activities throughout the week that promote bonding, relaxation and healing. Many of the activities are designed to help veterans or members who have experienced deployment cope with any issues they may have.
Vacations are an important part of family bonding and memory-making. They are a perfect time to get to know each other again after a deployment and can even help alleviate some of the emotional trauma military members may have experienced in combat. Before booking a trip, remember to scout around for place that support military families. There are plenty of destinations around the country that offer deals and discounts to service members and their families.
Firefighting is an extremely dangerous profession. Engineers and fire specialists are constantly searching for ways to make things safer for firefighters in an emergency situation. Below are six of the latest technologies that could soon be making their way into everyday firefighting.
1. GLANSER
Firefighters communicate mainly throught the use of analog radio. This is problematic because most of a firefighters work is done in burning buildings or in areas of wildfire where there is dense smoke. These factors can interfere with GPS-locating devices and radio communications. When these things are lost, a firefighter is basically on his or her own. According to Fox News, 90 percent of firefighter injuries occur during this time. GLANSER, which is short for Geospatial Location Accountability and Navigation System for Emergency Responders, is a portable device capable of tracking over 500 firefighters simultaneously.
2. WISPER
This technology, formally known as Wireless Intelligent Sensor Platform for Emergency Responder, takes its origins from a fairy tale. Just like Hansel and Gretel left behind bread crumbs to find their path home, WISPER acts as a digital bread crumb to lead firefighters to safety. WISPER also sends the firefighter's vital information and location back to base. The conveniently sized container is no bigger than a Thermos and holds five disposable signal routers.
3. MODIS
Firefighters have used manned aircraft and satellite imagery to monitor areas prone to wildfires, but the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer uses two satellites equipped with sensors that can detect electromagnetic radiation. NASA uses these satellites to scan the earth's surface every few days to report back with smoke and fire radiation data. NASA then passes this data along to crews who will put out the wildfires. MODIS has an advantage because it sees things on a grand scale where planes cannot go. While the program still struggles identifying smaller wildfires, improvements are constantly being made.
4. PHASER
The U.S. Fire Administration reported that firefighters have the highest rate of occupational injury and death. The Physiological Health Assessment System for Emergency Responders hopes to eliminate some of these accidents. PHASER monitors the firefighter's health during the emergency situation, and should something go wrong, it will alert the base and other firefighters. This allows for faster response times in assisting injured firefighters and could potentially save thousands of lives.
5. CIRT
Time is everything when it comes to fighting fire. Currently, firefighters use power tools to break down walls to complete a rescue in a burning building. The average time for firefighters to successfully break through is about 32 minutes. In the meantime, they must watch their footing with the cords. Raytheon developed a Controlled Impact Rescue Tool that can cut down the time it takes to break through a wall in a rescue situation by 19 minutes. The 100-pound cordless system fires blank ammunition into the wall. The shock waves from these impacts cause the wall to crumble, and it can be operated by only two firefighters.
6. The AFA Exoskeleton
Firefighting depends a lot on mobility, but firefighters' gear and equipment can weigh anywhere from 75 to 100 pounds. The Advanced Firefighting Apparatus exoskeleton is entirely in a concept stage, but the current design predicts that the technology would weigh only 50 pounds. It could also assist firefighters in carrying an additional 200 pounds. The AFA exoskeleton fits over traditional fire gear and includes a miniature water hose, jaws of life and are designed to come off quickly and easily with the tug of a lever.
Engineers, fire specialists and scientists are all looking for ways to make firefighting safer and more effective. The six examples above are just a few of the many technologies being developed to help keep firefighters safer and to help them better protect the communities they serve.
In the last few years, first responders have been examining the potential use for drones in disaster scenarios. A March Galllup poll found that 66 percent of first responders believed drones would be useful in emergency response. Still, many are worried about the reliability of unmanned technologies and the effect it would have on first responder jobs. A report by Homeland Security Today stated that the inclusion of unmanned aircraft system technologies into the public market is expected to create 100,000 jobs by 2025 and generate about $82 billion in revenue.
Local emergency response crews in Leonardtown, Maryland, hope to encourage the hesitant 34 percent to embrace the UAS trend on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at their first drone symposium. St. Mary's County Government and St. Mary's County Public Schools will play host to the First Responders Drone Symposium. During the event, local police and fire departments will enact various emergency situations to demonstrate the effectiveness of drone assistance.
The hosts of the program will stage a controlled fire in an abandoned building and a simulated police raid so that attendees of the symposium will get to see first-hand how drones would be used in each scenario. The main goal of the symposium is to help first responders understand the importance of UAS technologies and get comfortable with the idea of using them.
Every day, firefighters are forced to think quickly and make good decisions in a rush. It is part of their jobs. A recent study by Kathleen Sutcliffe, a Johns Hopkins University professor, outlined how management teams in big organizations could learn crisis management from firefighters. Sutcliffe broke firefighter processes into two sections, which she called "anomalizing" and "proactive leader sensemaking." When fighting fires, crews must keep a vigilant watch on the situation at hand. Sutcliffe described the second half of the process as when the designated leaders in the unit assess the knowledge gathered in part one in order to act quickly when something changes or goes wrong.
The business world can be as unpredictable, though far less dangerous, as a fire. Sutcliffe suggested that if business leaders studied the decision-making techniques of firefighters during a highly stressful event, they could prepare to handle unpredictable situations that arise in their offices. Some of the firefighters Sutcliffe interviewed stated that no matter how much experience you have, every fire is different and presents different challenges.
In her report, Sutcliffe wrote, "In a complex, uncertain environment, as in a wildfire or any organizational crisis, the challenge is that a lot of information is coming at you, but it's ambiguous."
If business professionals approached their workdays like firefighters approach a fire, their preparedness for crises would improve exponentially.