Attention Fire Service Personnel - Arrive Alive & Survive Symposium C o n f e r e n c e

A must attend, national conference for all public safety personnel. The conference will include best safety practices for the fire service. These best practices will focus on: modern fire-fighting (based on research), roadway safety and traffic incident management, burn injury prevention and support, solar panel fire-fighting operations, Rescue Task Force operations, contamination of protective gear, Line-of-Duty Death and Close Call Reports, cancer in the fire service, and NFFF Programs.

2015 Arrive Alive Survive Brochure

Video And 911 Audio - Baby Boy Born Along I-270

Some video and 911 audio from yesterdays (3-26-15) birth along I-270. Congratulations to the Nelson family!

Article from the Washington Post: Roadway delivery: Breech baby born along Interstate 270 in Montgomery

E701 Responding To Fire Alarm

As part of the virtual ride-a-long today, here is a view from inside E701 responding to a fire alarm sounding in a building. You can follow todays ride-a-long via Twitter @MCFRSchat or hashtag #mcfrs.

See yesterday's post on how you can follow along via text.

 

No Twitter? No Problem! You Can Still Follow Virtual Ride-A-Long Tomorrow!

Do not have a Twitter account but want to follow tomorrow's (Thursday, March 26) Virtual Ride-a-Long tweets? No problem.

A Twitter feature called Fast Follow make it possible for those with a cell phone and a text
messaging plan to receive tweet’s on their phone via text.  Understand that Text messaging rates apply.

Here is how you do it:

Text “follow @MCFRSchat” to 40404.  You will get a text message back indicating you are now following @MCFRSchat.  The text will also provide guidance on how to stop the text messages if you no longer wish to receive them after Thursday.

Join Us -- Virtual Ride-a-Long This Thursday

On Thursday, March 26, at approximately 7:00 AM personnel at Fire Station #1 in Silver Spring will be participating in a “Virtual Ride-a-Long“ that will be broadcast via Montgomery County Fire and Rescue (MCFRS)  @MCFRSchat Twitter Page as well as occasional posts to the MCFRS Facebook Page. The hashtag for this event will be #mcfrs so that all of you can follow along, and engage us, without having to 'follow' or be 'followed' on the particular social platforms. 

Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein indicates the purpose behind this pilot initiative is to engage YOU, the residents we serve, in an innovative way and provide you an almost real time view as to what occurs during a “typical” 24-hour shift, in this case at a busy Paramedic Engine Company. Social media allows us an unique opportunity to bring you, in a “virtual” manner, into “our world.” and allows us to interact with the community.  You will “visit” a fire and rescue station and, where appropriate, be able to observe various 911 responses which highlight the outstanding work Montgomery County firefighters provide on a daily basis. 

Lieutenant Robert Furst, with some support from our Office of Public Information and Outreach, will be the lead “tweeter” on this initiative. He will be sending “tweets from the street.”  

It must be emphasized that Lieutenant Furst’s primary responsibility will be to his operational obligations and he will not be engaging in tweets/social media of any kind that would distract from the response too, and mitigation of, any emergency situations. Lieutenant Furst anticipates providing public updates until approximately 9:00 P.M. and will only provide social interaction after that if he feels appropriate.

We look forward to providing you 'A day in the life.......'

Want To Serve Your Community? Learn How

Montgomery County Firefighters Pipes & Drums 10 Year Anniversary Event

By Captain Rick Blandford

The Montgomery County Firefighters Pipes & Drums will have it's annual fundraiser March 28th from 4-10pm at the Tilted Kilt in Frederick, Md.

Please join us for great times and a great cause. 

For more information please visit us on our Web Site. Feel free to also visit our Facebook page to get a look at some of the items that will be auctioned. 

Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein on Proposed Budget

From our friends at MyMCMedia. Acting Chief Goldstein shares his thoughts on the proposed FY16 County budget:

 

National Poison Prevention Week

March 15 - 21, 2014 is Poison Prevention Week. Did you know children under age six account for over half of all poison exposures?

Take a look at the infographic via the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some of the stats may surprise you!

Master Firefighter Branzell Signs Off

Master Firefighter John Branzell is retiring after 27 years with MCFRS. His current and last assignment was with the Emergency Communications Center (ECC) on B Shift. 

ECC is the primary link between a resident, who reports an emergency via 9-1-1, and the fire and rescue personnel and equipment, who respond to an incident scene. The ECC's mission is to obtain the necessary information to dispatch the proper response quickly, provide appropriate pre-arrival instructions, ensure fire and rescue response personnel have adequate situational awareness of the dispatched event, and to manage all response communications and technologies. Master Firefighter Branzell was considered one of the best in this business.

Master Firefighter Branzell, known to all as JB, provided one last transmission to all MCFRS personnel just prior to leaving (below).

JB will be missed and everyone in MCFRS wishes him a happy and healthy retirement.

JB (r) talking with co-workers at ECC 3/12/15

Congratulations To Recruit Class 40

Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein to welcome 43 members of Recruit Class 40 to MCFRS after 26 weeks of training! Graduation Ceremony TODAY at 2:00 p.m. at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Gaithersburg.

Congratulations and stay safe!

Tied Up In Training

By: Firefighter Dan Rothermel

Fire Station 24-B Shift

Members of the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) constantly train to keep their skills sharp. Here, members of Fire Station 24 (Colesville) are working with their Tower Ladder and ropes to simulate an above/below grade rescue with a stokes basket.

It is important for firefighters to practice all skills they possess for any possible fire or rescue situation. In this scenario, the wrong or improperly tied knot could mean injury or death to both the person being rescued and the firefighter.

Constant training and practice ensures the women and men of MCFRS will be ready and able to perform flawlessly when called into action.

When 10 Years Is Too Old

Many homes in Montgomery County have smoke alarms that are too old.  All smoke alarms are manufactured to last 10 years.  Then they need to be replaced. Working smoke alarms can provide the critical early warning needed to save lives.

When 10 is Too Old

That Time Of Year Again! Change Your Clock And Check Your Smoke Alarm Battery!

It is that time of year again! While testing your smoke alarms should be a monthly occurrence, at the minimum, we here at MCFRS want to make extra sure that you take time today to do so. So as you think about the hour of sleep you will lose tonight please also think that this would be a very good time to make sure critical life safety devices in your home are working properly.

Just before you move that clock hand forward an hour also make sure you push the test button on the smoke and carbon monoxide alarm(s). If not working, please replace the battery -- unless it is a sealed 10 year lithium battery at which point you will have to get a new alarm.

Also remember that if your smoke alarm is 10 years of age, or older, it needs to be replaced.

What Time Is It-2015

Frostbite

Many kids will want to be outside today to play in the snow. It will be a cold day - especially during the morning hours. This will increase the chances of young, and older, experiencing frostbite if folks are not careful.

With that in mind, Acting Fire Chief Scott Goldstein wants every one to enjoy the day in a safe way. Exposure to cold without adequate protection can result in frostbite. Parents can protect their children by following these precautions:

• Dress children warmly. Several thin layers will help keep children dry as well as warm. Clothing should consist of thermal long johns, turtlenecks, one or two shirts, pants, sweater, coat, warm socks, boots, gloves or mittens, and a hat.
• Set reasonable time limits on outdoor play. Call children in periodically to warm up with drinks such as hot chocolate.
• When possible, avoid taking infants outdoors when it is colder than 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Infants lose body heat quickly.

If a child complains of numbness or pain in the fingers, toes, nose, cheeks or ears while playing in the snow, or if his skin is blistered, hard to the touch or glossy, be alerted to the possibility of frostbite and take the following steps:

• Take the child indoors.
• Call a doctor.
• Tell the child to wiggle the affected body part(s) to increase blood supply to that area.
• Warm the frozen part(s) against the body. Hold fingers to the chest, for example.
• Immerse frozen part(s) in warm, not hot, water. Frozen tissue is fragile and can be damaged easily. Avoid warming with high heat from radiators, fireplaces or stoves, and avoid rubbing or breaking blisters.

Sledding Safety

No doubt many kids, and kids at heart, will be out sledding today and tomorrow. MCFRS hopes everyone has a fun and SAFE time doing so!

Parents and caregivers should remember the following tips:

• Make sure terrain is free of obstacles and far from traffic. Children should sled on packed snow (not ice) that is free of debris. Check carefully for snow-covered hazards such as rocks, tree limbs and stumps that could endanger sledders or skiers.
• Use equipment that is sturdy and safely constructed. Avoid equipment with sharp and jagged edges.
• Look for energy-absorbing pads on sled seats.
• Examine handholds on sleds to be sure they are secure.
• Ensure sleds and toboggans have steering devices that work easily and don't jam.

Parents should remind children to:

• Sled only on terrain that is free of obstacles.
• Make sure the bottom of the slope is far from streets, traffic and frozen or partially frozen ponds, lakes or creeks.
• Always use a sled with a steering mechanism. Avoid makeshift sleds.
• Avoid lying flat on the sled while riding down hill. Always sit up with feet forward - lying flat increases the chance of head and abdominal injuries.
• Never ride in a sled pulled by a motorized vehicle.
• Make sure the number of children riding on the sled does not exceed the manufacturer's recommendations.

Do Not Forget To Clear Snow From Around Fire Hydrants!

Looks like we are going to get a little bit of snow today! Help us to potentially help you by taking time to make sure the closest fire hydrant to your home is accessible.

Please remember to clear away snow from fire hydrants near your home or business. Having hydrants already cleared saves vital minutes and can mean the difference between life and death. Take your time and do not over exert yourself.

It Only Takes ONE To Save Your Life

What Time Is It-2015

Radio Communication Drill

By: Battalion Chief Mark Davis

Units in the lower part of the 1st Battalion got in a little radio communications drill yesterday (3/2/15) afternoon at the Forest Glen Metro Station. Fire Stations 1, 2, and 19 along with Truck 716, Battalion Chief (BC) 702, and BC701 ran three exercises at the underground Metro station simulating a failure of the normal radio communications system - thus having to resort to a "radio-relay" system using portable radios. The Forest Glen Station is located in Fire Station 19's (Montgomery Hills) response district and is one of the deepest stations in the United States.

Today's radio relay drill sent companies on a "scavenger hunt" for information in the station that had to be relayed via radio back to the command post located in the Metro Station's parking lot. While some might find this training not as exciting as stretching hose lines or cutting up cars - it is very important training because the radio relay could be the last line of communications in a major incident in the Metro system.

Many thanks to Captain Blinkhorn (Fire Station 1-A Shift) for coordinating the event. Many thanks also to WMATA for providing an emergency management representative on site to help out as well.