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Messages - whitecloud

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26
SA Firefighter General / Re: Accidents are they real?
« on: July 28, 2009, 02:08:58 PM »
There are only very few circumstances (such as catastrophic mechanical failure) where you could honestly say that the incident was out of the control of all persons involved. But then to get picky, you could identify the cause of the mechanical failure which may then also be inattention or the like.

As they say, the way to make driving as safe as possible is to remove the human element from the equation.

ROBOT VALET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27
Country Fire Service / Re: New BA Course Internal and External
« on: July 27, 2009, 03:30:10 PM »


Hear Hear!

The dumbing down of courses is very much an insult to the ability, and potential the service has as a whole for urban AND rural protection.

Why would you need to differentiate? If you have an issue going anywhere near a fire, perhaps BA is not for you, not some halfarsed attempt at dividing BA. Its the same theory on wearing it, just different firefighting techniques once the PPE is in place (I say this loosely, mind.)

HAZMAT is just as bad. Having been to enough jobs with HAZMAT brigades where the operators understand VERY LITTLE of chemistry, and therefore have donned inappropriate PPE, as well as managed to misread plaques, and waste 24 hours due to not understanding that something was so dilute after a time, dumping TONNES of another substance into it was going to create more issues seems like a problem also.

How about we teach some ADEQUATE materials, and people who don't want the responsibility of acting as a BA operator in full stop putting up hands and wasting positions for those who do.

Requirements need to be seriously reviewed, BA operators should be prepared to wear if the situation requires it, more urban techniques need to be taught THOROUGHLY, as opposed to crammed into CABA and CFB courses, and the operators for HAZMAT need to have at least a basic grasp of chemistry.


I agree with a little of what you said whitestuff, BUT are you now seriously suggesting that all HAZMAT operators need to have their high school diplomas in chemistry....if so I think you should have paid a little bit more attention in sex ed, not chemistry :wink:
You need a red helmet not a purple one.



hi Jaff,

Not by any means am I suggesting that matriculation-standard chemistry needs to be part of the course, but an understanding of what + what = "S**T IN THE AIR OH GOD WHY DID YOU PUT WATER ON THAT, I"M ONLY WEARING A SPLASH SUIT AAGH MY SKIN AND ORGANS!" etc would be helpful.

Perhaps part of the pre course assignment could incorporate some very basic reaction information. Its all well and good to read the plaque, but people walking in with insufficient PPE to incidents which probably require more protective gear and less "Dump disproportionately large amount of quicklime here" would be clever.

Never in my previous post did I suggest it needed to be a high level, that would choke ALL of the fun out of the course...

28
Country Fire Service / Re: New BA Course Internal and External
« on: July 25, 2009, 06:12:42 PM »
Ok, so back to the topic at hand...

CABA is a vital item of PPE for us as firefighters. If I had my way, it would be part of BFF1. Anyhow, this isn't, or ever will be the case.

Seeing as though the CFS doesn't teach anything related to strucutral firefighting very well at all (CFB is hit and miss, and CFS Tactical Ventilation makes me giggle) and they try to jam bits and pieces into the CABA course and the previous level three course, something does need to change.

What can be done? Not much sadly. With people wanting the already basic courses dumbed down, and complaining about their length, perhaps the current method of teaching is the best?

It would be great to have a CABA course, and then a week long or two weekend "Structure Fire" course, but again that will never happen.

All we can hope is that people operate within their ability on the fireground and that brigades take it upon themselves to attempt to enhance the abilities of their members.

Don't forget we are but the COUNTRY Fire Service... What do we need CABA for? ;)

Hear Hear!

The dumbing down of courses is very much an insult to the ability, and potential the service has as a whole for urban AND rural protection.

Why would you need to differentiate? If you have an issue going anywhere near a fire, perhaps BA is not for you, not some halfarsed attempt at dividing BA. Its the same theory on wearing it, just different firefighting techniques once the PPE is in place (I say this loosely, mind.)

HAZMAT is just as bad. Having been to enough jobs with HAZMAT brigades where the operators understand VERY LITTLE of chemistry, and therefore have donned inappropriate PPE, as well as managed to misread plaques, and waste 24 hours due to not understanding that something was so dilute after a time, dumping TONNES of another substance into it was going to create more issues seems like a problem also.

How about we teach some ADEQUATE materials, and people who don't want the responsibility of acting as a BA operator in full stop putting up hands and wasting positions for those who do.

Requirements need to be seriously reviewed, BA operators should be prepared to wear if the situation requires it, more urban techniques need to be taught THOROUGHLY, as opposed to crammed into CABA and CFB courses, and the operators for HAZMAT need to have at least a basic grasp of chemistry.

29
SA Firefighter General / Re: worrying?
« on: June 02, 2009, 08:36:50 PM »
What do the Financial Market and Volunteer Retention Rate's have in common.

Both are taking a hammering :-D

Both are having the life sucked out of them :-P

Both are failing to achieve growth ?

30
SA Firefighter General / Re: Ammusing pager message.
« on: June 02, 2009, 08:35:43 PM »
MFS: ANOTHER STUPID WOMAN CALLER GAVE US THAT ONE... MFS Elizabeth 331 Response

Sorry, bit of a giggle at that one.  :evil:

31
All Equipment discussion / Re: Helmet Torches & Mount
« on: June 02, 2009, 08:31:43 PM »
6739264... oh so true... the only way you get something in the fire/rescue that fits/works/is comfortable is make/alter/ or break and glue together how you want.

although stewart and heaton have a new torch mount... really adaptable,and can be enlarged or reduced to fit different makes. we got one for the week to try... nothing worse than having to hold torch whilst trying to change hydrants in the dark!

Oh 2468, I can think of SO many worse things than having to hold my torch whilst changing hydrants. So many, so ... Horrible!

I've found that the Stewart and Heaton torch mount tends to fit my helmet properly if i mash it around a bit, and make sure its firmly in place every time i put my helmet on.

Best fit I've found so far was a few LEDS on a little clip from NEDS. SO useful for outdoor work, and take it off for anything too warm :)

32
Country Fire Service / Re: Protest at Parliament House
« on: June 02, 2009, 08:07:33 PM »
As posted by Boredmatrix in the "Sunday Mail" thread, it would need to be a united stand, with some of the pride and 'just sticking it out' attitude taken by many brigades dropped in favour of standing together and making some noise about where funding is needed.

We are providing a free service, one which costs them significantly less to fund than the opening and maintenance of MFS stations. The least they can do is provide us with equipment anywhere near as good!

33
Country Fire Service / Re: Sunday Mail
« on: June 02, 2009, 08:03:34 PM »
does anyone think if theres a actually protest outside " the house" the powers to be in CFS mite look not to favourably on this? i just cant help to wonder if we did sumthin like this it may backfire for individuals or brigades?

thats the whole idea of being a united front....

the old adage of "united we stand, divided we fall" wasn't just a war cry to sound good...it actually meant something!!

if anyone is familiar with the AEA - now there is a good union model - you don't have 99.6% membership if you're not doing the job properly.

unfortunately I think that the younger generations don't understand the concept of a united front either.  Gen Y's typically are out for what suits them, and if they don't get it they take their bucket and spade to a different sandpit...completely defeating themselves, and letting down their colleagues in the process!





This exactly. A lot could be learned from the AEA model. Industrial action is very effective, even threats thereof when the membership base comprises that much of an organization so essential to the community.

The problem is the amount of effort that it would take to organise such an action, and to find a willing and appropriate body to govern it.

34
Well then, no need to enforce your crankyness onto others unfairly.





hey fair call....we can't all be on HRT now can we??

as for demographic Vs personal attack?   - my apologies cameron for wanting to belittle people into bettering themselves, even if it is in the form of proper grammar and context.

I do understand that not everyone can have the same level of country SA public school education that I did....those metro eastern suburbs members of this forum pay a lot more for their schooling...and still use çontexts such as "you's guys" or "should of" or "could of". 

still I shouldn't be so harsh - not every professional volunteer could be expected to be able to read or write should they?! :evil: :evil: :evil:

Evidently, from your posts, PAID staff should be able to be equally illiterate.

35
CFS Cadet Corner / Re: what is going on with cadets?
« on: May 25, 2009, 03:10:55 PM »
The whole cadet thing is a sticky issue especially meeting all the legal stuff to make sure you’re covered i.e. following procedures, police checks, and minimum levels of adult to cadet numbers. CFS is not unique as I use to coach a team of kids in soccer and the club went through the whole thing before CFS did, but in saying that I think it is a good thing as the protection of children is paramount.


Exactly this. Part of the reasoning for the age restriction on BA is the structure of the spine of a growing child. While it is all well and good to say they can cope with the physical loading and the psychological issues, the fact remains that we are in an age where the medical community recognises the benefit of looking after the spine in early life.

Bit of fun, all well and good, asking them to wear weight more often and the CFS is aware of the load of litigious BS they are opening themselves up to.

On the age and attendance debate, its entirely subjective. I also was lucky enough to begin attending callouts early, and some of the accidents gave me a darn good shock and certainly reinforced why its stupid to speed or drink drive. In some cases, kids could probably deal with the lesson.

However, in my experience i have also met people at age 18 who were hopeless, and I'm not actually sure WHY they would attend calls, and constantly made a fuss over blood and needed medical treatment / peer support almost every time we went to something. The only reason they were still allowed to attend was some degree of tolerance, as a result of relations with others.

Some people will feel ready earlier, and there's nothing to say they wont benefit from the experience. However, they should be at least a little limited. I can't honestly see much of a role for a brand spanking newbie in the thick of a bad vehicle accident, perhaps standing back on fire cover. (No criticism for any of us that have been put in that position, just stating ideally a slow breakin would be better.)

Same goes for strike teams, all too often there are people with insufficient experience for larger incidents present. I have heard of a couple of examples a few years ago where cadets were taken on strike teams, one probably caused more kick up than the other (and from what it sounds like, with reason! ) Cutting teeth on smaller incidents is most certainly the way to go. That way, the brigade can check what is actually known, rather than be thrown in the deep end with someone they have to compensate for.




36
SASES / Re: SES P1 responses when the SCC opens
« on: May 20, 2009, 01:31:42 AM »
Even as someone who has been involved wiht the SES, Sa'streets are rife with P1 responses to trees down from the SES, what seems to be even FUNNIER is that they head out with lights and sirens around 30 minutes after the time of initial page!


Seems to me that if it was that urgent they would have responded a closer service rather than heading lights and sirens across suburbs when there are closer resources who could have a crew there in less than 5 minutes. Similarly after even 10 minutes, if it wasn't urgent enough for them to respond a bit faster its certainly not urgent enough after that amount of time to drive under priority.

37
SA Firefighter General / Re: Tricks of the trade
« on: October 25, 2008, 01:41:56 PM »

Quote

***Note for noobs... Undeployed airbags and seat belt pre-tensioners are dangerous, the only way to deactivate these systems is by disconnecting the battery and waiting the predefined amount of time set out in the little blue book which you should have in your truck. Always work cautiously around undeployed air bags, and use steering wheel airbag restraints where possible. never place yourself between an undeployed airbag and casualty, or stick your head in the drivers or passenger side windows without the airbags being deactivated. if available, place undeployed air bag sticker on vehicle before it is towed by tow truck operator.
IF IN DOUBT ASK YOUR OIC OR A RESCUE OPERATOR.


THANKS. I have seen an officer in a brigade in a neighbouring group over ride someone in our own brigade regarding "just cutting it anyway". Big mistake. Unfortunately, there's too many gurus and not enough collective brain.

My tip: If you have heard something is a bad idea DURING A COURSE FROM AN INSTRUCTOR, it probably is. Some inbred from another brigade/ service, despite displayed rank, isn't necessarily a smart person, they're just more popular. If it sounds stupid, don't do it, and at least try to inform other people not to make said decision. (ie, cutting seatbelt pre-tensioners, not peeling and looking in cars one isn't familiar with during roadcrash.

-If anything seems suss, it probably is

-If you don't know where something is, ASK SOMEONE instead of running around like a headless chook for a half hour while crews are waiting for equipment

- Be sure you know where things are stowed in your appliance in the first place

- Be fit enough to be out there (I don't mean just cardiovascularly fit, I mean if you have the flu and bring it near me at a job , I WILL hurt you :-P)

38
Country Fire Service / Re: Paid jobs
« on: October 22, 2008, 09:56:13 PM »
MMMMMMM, Kat, I know the girl who got the job and she has worked for CFS before and she does a great job and when she was there before she was well liked by the staff and those with in region five who had contact with her. May be it was because of this that she got the job..... I am sure if you keep a EYE out that you will see some jobs coming up....

That may be so, but there are also numerous other things that you can do to get the jobs that come up...

Sad, but its the way SACFS seems to operate.

I say, was that innuendo good fellow?

Unfortunately, it seems that like with many places, if you wish to advance its not a case of what you know, but WHO you know... biblically or otherwise

39
SAAS / Re: Private transfer ambulances
« on: October 22, 2008, 09:52:52 PM »
Can I ask what is wrong with SAAS's current RMTS staff? They do the same job as the city ATS crews but in the country. Would it be worth perhaps expanding this service instead of necessarily looking at the Eastern states for answers?

40
SA Firefighter General / Re: firefighter fitness
« on: October 22, 2008, 09:34:04 PM »
THe bottom line, if nothing else should be a level of personal accountability for one's own stamina and fitness on the fireground.

There are a lot of people I wouldnt trust working with at a going job under any circumstance, due to distinct inability to keep up even under drill conditions.

In dry firefighting work it is just as important as within structure to have good levels of cardiovascular fitness and endurance. Whilst with structure, there is a clean air source in your BA, when it comes to wild fire, there is definate need for both good aerobic and anaerobic fitness.

41
Fire Fighter Training / Re: BA Course
« on: October 16, 2008, 11:59:30 PM »
I'm pretty sure I also had a pre course assignment, which was less than 10 years ago.

I know some of the people who have either been called in as a last minute filler, or done a dodgy to get in have been spared the assignment.

They're fairly helpful, and help to establish some knowledge in some otherwise fairly numpty members.

42
SA Firefighter General / Re: firefighter fitness
« on: October 16, 2008, 11:47:33 PM »
Heh, can you imagine the reactions if they tried to implement and enforce a minimum fitness level? People whine enough about the BA testing, and there's a good portion of members in several brigades who would fall over and have a seizure at the mere thought of KILOMETERS instead of centimeters of walking or running.

This isn't to say its not a great idea, would be helpful to establish where people need to be improving in terms of fitness. I agree that being unfit or incompetent is doing a great disservice to one's team on the fireground, but there are a surprising number of people who fail to take this signal for self improvement into account. I imagine it would get a whole lot of backs up.

43
Country Fire Service / Re: CABA BMI
« on: October 16, 2008, 11:37:19 PM »
Whilst I agree that the BMI is neither the most accurate nor most fair determinant of physical fitness, it is however making the assumption that a person of x height will be within an expected weight range.

THis is not only for their own safety, but for the safety of those who go in with them. As fit as that person may be, the consideration needs to be made that they may in fact be the person who gets into trouble inside a job, and if they are significantly heavier than expected or required, there is going to be difficulty within the rescue, and attempts at moving the person may result in more than the one casualty.

An avenue for appeal or further investigation should be made available. Its a matter of duty of care for the service, to ensure that specialised areas which may encourage physical exertion are moderated to reduce risks.

I do also agree once again we have a shocking habit of 'they'll do'. There are a lot of people who could probably do with investigation, such as people who do have difficulty handling road crash equipment, or in basic functions before they're allowed to qualify.

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