Final Blog

Just wanted to write about a few quick things that happened after I had blogged last night. Shortly after writing, D shift and I went out and had a little fun. We took out the rescue and played with some of the light configurations that they have. I'm not kidding when I tell you they could light up someone's entire yard for a back yard football game. Also, the crew asked if I wanted to go up in the ladder. After admitting to a small fear of heights, I had no choice. It was an awesome experience. I even got a picture of myself over looking the city of Franklin at night. Unfortunately, there were no calls last night, and I ended up falling asleep in the recliner. The departure was bitter sweet. I will sincerely miss the guys at the FFD. I hope that I worked my way into the family that they have established, and that it was as positive of an experience for them as it was for. All in all, I'm real happy with my decision for my senior project. I came out of it with a much greater understanding of the life of a firefighter, and a pretty cool T-Shirt! Thanks to all of my readers who kept up with my project! My project will be presented on tomorrow, Thursday the 27th, from 10-12 in the Wise. See you there!

Final Day

Today is my last day at the station. I got here at 6:45 A.M. and most of the day was VERY slow. We literally spent most of the day looking for things to do. We didn't receive our first call until about 5:30 P.M. It was a call for a car accident with injuries, which was my first car accident. It was an interesting experience, and the methods for treating the victims was new to me. There was much more involved in the process of transporting the victims as well. There was a lot of focus on finding out EXACTLY what happened as well as where the pain was. This was in order to ensure that the firefighters took the proper protocol when moving them onto the backboards, and eventually on to the stretchers. The transport then continued to the hospital where the victims were dropped off and we headed back to the station. Aside from that, it has been a very quiet day. Almost 9 P.M. and the station is quiet. This being my last journal entry, it's a little bitter sweet. I'm certainly going to miss the experiences I had over the past two and a half weeks. The spring term at Proctor has been a lot of fun for me after what was a very bleak fall and winter. I'm thankful to all who were involved in these last two weeks, both at Proctor, and here at the Franklin Fire Department. I've never met a better group of guys than the ones on D shift. I'd trust them with my life, literally.

Structure Fire

Just a quick blurb about something that happened Saturday. Perhaps my greatest fear about my Senior Project came true... I MISSED A STRUCTURE FIRE! Unfortunately, this Saturday there was a major structure fire on route 11 just over the City line in Franklin. At first, I didn't know what it was as I approached the scene in my car. All I saw were the police lights, and a police officer directing traffic. As I continued down the road I saw approximately 10-15 cars parked alongside the road, and wondered why all the people were parked there. Perhaps they were at some event at one of the houses, or maybe they were all on the water. It wasn't until I saw Franklin's Rescue Truck and Fire Engines that I realized there had been a structure fire, and that those cars were not there coincidentally. They were all off duty fire fighters that had come to help. They took time out of their own weekend to come help out their brothers in what quintessentially describes their job. They go to work not as co-workers, but as brothers. They're there for one another 24 hours a day, on duty or off duty. Wouldn't it be nice to see this play out in more real life situations...? Just some food for thought. Until next time...

Weekly Reflection

Week 2

This week started off with one of the hardest parts of the job. The signal 22 that we received on Monday was something completely new to me. I think it would have hit home for anyone. That type of event is never easy. Even the members of D shift talk about the fact that it takes a conscious effort to not let that sort of call get to you. Part of this comes from the bond that is shared between the crew, which was part of my third goal. They rely on each other to keep going. Whether it be making jestful cracks on one another throughout the day, or just lending a helping hand, each member is there to keep the mood light, and the job enjoyable. I also focused on some of the parts of my first goal this week. I made a point to try and learn as much about each of the trucks this week as well as the equipment they carry. After exploring each one, I’d have to say my favorite is the Rescue Truck. The function is more or less self-explanatory, but the purpose it serves along with the equipment it carries really peaked my curiosity. From the Jaws of Life, to the Swift Water Rescue equipment, this truck has everything you need for every type of rescue. Finally, I also took leaps and bound when it came to my second goal. This week we went over Mega Codes. On Thursday, we went to the dam and practiced hypothetical situations that might arise when responding to an EMS call. Here, the EMTs must work with both real people as well as a dummy. However, this is no ordinary dummy. It is linked to a machine that allows it to give the EMTs the ability to feel for a pulse, insert IVs, and practice intubation. This was helpful beyond measure when it came to my goal of trying to learn how to assess and react to varying types of EMS calls. Lastly, I’ve been getting better at recognizing the special tone for Franklin. Before, each time there was any sort of alarm over the intercom, or radio, I could be seen jumping out of my seat, and heading for my gear. It was the running joke for my first few shifts. Although, I don’t have it down completely, I’m definitely getting better. With one shift left, I’m appreciative for all the Franklin Fire Department has done for me. Taking the time to work me in to their schedule has made the difference in the last few weeks for me here at Proctor. I look forward to my final 24 hours with D shift. Until next time...

Hose Testing

Today was an abbreviated day. I only worked from 7 A.M. until 5 P.M. During that time, we only had a few calls, but nothing serious. However, several other Explorers (High school seniors) showed up, and we went to test out some of the functions of the new engine, Engine 4. Here, I got my first taste of what it was like to shoot a hose. I shot the smallest of the hoses, 1 3/4" hoses. Even these proved to be difficult to handle when the pressure was increased. Despite the difficulty, it was still a ton of fun. To end the day, we filled up the bottom of one of the large charcoal grills for the Fire Station Cookout in two weeks. I now have one more day left at the station and my experience has been awesome so far. It's been everything I hoped for, plus a little bit more. From examining the dynamics of the firehouse, to my Signal 22 experience, it's been interesting. Until next time...

The rest of my shift this morning was pretty lax. Only one call that came in at about 4:45 A.M. It was for a nice elderly woman with arm pain. She was transported and admitted to the hospital. Shortly thereafter we headed back to the station. Compared to the events that occurred earlier in the day, all of the other calls seemed to pale in comparison. I'm enjoying the fact that the job is unpredicatable and that no two days on the job are ever the same. I'm still waiting on my first fire, which everyone says will be an awesome experience. I look forward to my next shift on Thursday.

Signal 22

Signal 22 is one of the four codes that the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid uses. This particular code is used to signal a death. Early this morning, approximately 15 minutes into my shift, I arrived with the rest of D shift to an unknown medical call. In the 3 to 4 minutes it took us to get there, the patient that had made the EMS phone call, had died. When we arrived on scene, the house was cluttered, much like something you might see on the TV show Hoarders. It was clear upon arrival that the patient was deceased, and that resuscitation would be of no use. At first, I shook it off as we began to inspect the rest of the house for medications in order to help the Police Department who arrived on scene shortly after us. The mood was lightened with a few jokes. These jokes become essential in order to handle the stress of the job. The jokes are never offensive, or critical of those who are involved, but rather about issues that are separate from the current situation. It is a brief escape from the severity of what just occurred. After this, our job was done, and we were back to the station.

As we pulled into the station, I couldn't help but think, "That's it?" The people in that patients life will have their lives irreparably changed because of that death, but even though we were the ones to assess the situation, and determine that the patient was deceased, that hour we spent at the house was all there was to it. It was time to move on. Before I knew it, we were going on with our day, testing hoses, and inspecting the trucks. It was an eye open experience that I'll never forget. Most EMS workers never forget their first fatality, and I certainly won't either. I think that I handled one of the most difficult parts of the job today pretty well. Perhaps I might have a future in the medical line of work after all...

Reflection

This week was a success. I was able to work towards my goals and get a better sense of what a career in firefighting includes. I feel that I took a solid step towards achieving my first goal, which was to gain an understanding of what it takes to run a fires department. I was exposed to some of the maintenance work that goes in to keeping the equipment running, as well as the normal everyday chores that firefighters must do to keep their living spaces tidy and functional. I also discovered how calls come in, and are processed. Tones, as they are called, come in and the alarm sounds. The crew will then listen to a description of the tone and asses both the severity of the call, (ranging from Alpha to Echo) and will then take the necessary gear to the scene. For example, my first call was an EMS call. Therefore it made sense for us to grab our gear and take the Ambulance over any other vehicle, such as an Engine. Perhaps the most important step I took was towards my third goal. This goal focused on discovering the intricacies of the environment that exists in a fire house. As unsure as I was at first, it turned out to be the way that I hoped. All of the guys on D shift are easy going, and have a sarcastic sense of humor. Luckily, I enjoy their humor which centers around taking shots at one another in a light hearted manner. The guys are so close that it turns into a brotherhood in which this jesting is more than welcome. This also translates to the teamwork I saw on each and every one of the calls. Each member of the crew does their own part to ensure the success of each call. The members are constantly communicating with one another on how they believe the patient should be assessed, treated, and transported.

On a side note, but one that I felt was of equal importance was the conversation that I had with Jason on our way back from our 2 A.M. call. I mentioned to Jason that on the EMS call we had had first thing in the morning, it didn’t seem like the patient had done anything to help his condition. The situation he had put himself only made his risk higher for further complications. Jason concurred and talked to me about how he saw things much the way I did when he first started, but then saw it so often that he could no longer let it bother him. I had always thought that working this type of job may cause that reaction, but wasn’t sure until I heard him say it. He stressed the importance of remaining objective, and focusing on the task at hand. Saving the patients life, not necessarily evaluating what put them in the current situation.

Once again, the week was a success. I made strides towards all my goals, and was even able to visit the Andover Department in order to get a comparison to Franklin. I hope that my next few shifts go as well as the first one, and if I’m lucky, I’ll be able to get a few more calls this time around.

Andover Fire Station

Today, I headed over to the Andover Fire Station with Sam Brown. Sam is one of Proctor's First Responders, and carries an undeniable enthusiasm along with his duties. Whether it be calls in the middle of class, or the middle of the night, Sam is ready to go. I wish you could see the disappointment on his face when I told him that I was able to ride on Franklin's new Engine. On our walk over, we spoke about his duties, and the restrictions he has in comparison to licensed fire fighters. Most of Sam's expertise is in EMT services, but he plans on continuing his current path to becoming a firefighter. Once we arrived at the fire station, my first impression was the size difference. Even though I pass it every time I leave Proctor, I never had anything to compare it to. The Franklin Fire Department is much bigger than that over Andover. However, as I entered, I felt as if I was in a familiar place. The red and white trucks no longer seemed foreign to me. Shortly there after, another first responder, Evan Gaskin, joined Sam and me. What I did notice, however, was the difference in the quality of the equipment. While both departments have maintained their equipment in pristine condition, the quality of the products in Franklin is superior to that of the equipment in Andover. This is, undoubtedly, due to the volume of calls that Franklin receives, as well as differences in budget. Despite these differences, all of the essentials were the same. The trucks and basic equipment were similar, and the gear was set up to be easily accessible at a moments notice. In closing, I want to point out perhaps my favorite, and most charismatic part of the Andover Fire Department. Each member of the FD is a volunteer member. Each member of the staff doesn't receive compensation for their services. Most times when a call comes in, they are at some stage of their daily routine, sometimes even work, and they drop what they are doing in order to race to the station to help respond to some sort of emergency. These people truly do this because they love it. They value the experiences that come along with serving their community. It is the purest example of what a community leader should be. I am thankful to Sam and Evan for sharing their experiences along with the Andover Fire Station with me.

Day 1 Evening

The night, for the most part, was pretty quiet. After a relatively long day, all of us were ready to take it easy for the night. We had dinner and relaxed for a while. Before we could call it a night, each of us had chores to do in order to keep the station tidy. I took on the responsibility of vacuuming while the the rest of the crew took on their individual tasks. After that, we all took our spots on the recliners and relaxed as we flipped between the Red Sox game, and Deadliest Catch. It wasn't long before each one of us were ready for bed. I headed into my room to finally get some solid rest.

It only took a few hours before my sleep was interrupted. At around 2 A.M. we received a call about a fire. I awoke to the rest of the crew getting ready, but to be honest, I was a bit lost. I wasn't sure if it was the morning, or we had a call. As I began to recognize the familiar alarm that I had heard earlier that day, I knew we had a call. I quickly tried to wipe the sleep out of my eyes, and got changed. I hopped in the engine with Firefighter Jenkins, and we were off to our call. I was excited for my first fire, and wasn't sure what to expect. Unfortunately, I quickly found out that not all calls are as glorious as one would hope. This early morning call to the fire station was one for smoldering leaves. Needless to say, we were all pretty let down. However, the crew was sure to make light of the situation making jokes about it getting dangerous and out of control, as well as needing back up for the hoses. (We were using the smallest ones available.) We doused the area with water, and headed back to the station. We then refilled the tank inside the truck, and we all headed back to bed. We didn't receive any more calls that night, so I woke up the next morning at 6:45 and had completed my first day. A real sense of accomplishment. I put together my belongings, made my bed, and headed back to Proctor.

Day 1 Afternoon

After things had settled down in response to our first call, we grabbed a small snack before we decided to head out to test the water rescue boat that the crew had just received back. After suffering damage during a water training exercise, the crew was anxious to get the boat back out on the water and push its limits. When we arrived in the proximity of the Franklin Dam, we got the boat close to the water, and then put on our wet suits. These were perfect for such a blustery day. After feeling cold for most of the morning and afternoon, I was finally warm inside this insulated suite. It comprised of a full length body suit, protective gloves, and a helmet. The crew joked about Firefighter Jenkins' maneuvers in the water, and how I should be careful in order to ensure that I don't fall out. I didn't think they were serious until Firefighter Jenkins gave me specific instructions to listen to his commands as he drove the boat in order to make sure that I didn't fall out. The boat sputtered at first, but then took off. I was amazed at the power of the boat and the teamwork between the Firefighter Jenkins, who was driving, and Firefighter Robert, who acted as the spotter. The spotters job is to look for obstacles in the water and instruct the driver in a direction in order to avoid them. We reached the dam after pushing the boat to near top speed, as well as doing a few doughnuts in the water. Just as we arrived back at the truck, and began to reset the boat onto the trailer, we got another call. Firefighter Jenkins and I stayed behind and reset the boat while Firefighter Robert and Captain Goodearl went ahead to respond to the call. Unfortunately, Firefighter Jenkins and I didn't arrive in time to assist with the call. We then headed back to the station, where we got a light lunch and started our next task. The Franklin Fire Department has recently acquired and new engine and because of some of the specifications of the truck, it can not handle some of the streets in the city. Therefore, it was our responsibility to go to specific streets throughout the city and take pictures of the truck progressing up and down the hills of the city of Franklin. After this task was completed, our afternoon was wrapped up and we headed back to the station.

Day 1 Morning

I arrived at the Franklin Fire Station at 6:45 on Sunday morning. I was exhausted. We had our formal the night before, so I knew I had a long day ahead of me. Fortunately, I came into a relatively quiet morning. I arrived and met with Firefighter Jenkins, Firefighter Robert, and Captain Goodearl. These three men comprise of D shift, which is the shift that I will be working on. As the morning progressed, we got ready for the rest of the day starting off with a hearty breakfast. Almost immediately after finishing the dishes, we had our first call. The alarm rang and we grabbed our gear To be honest, I was pretty excited as I sat in the back of the ambulance on my way to my first call. When we got there, the crew treated an elderly man who was having trouble breathing as I took down information from the man's son and daughter-in law. We then transported the man to the hospital where he was treated by a team of nurses. Shortly after, I was instructed on how to properly clean and redress the stretcher as well as how to refill the supplies that we used. We then returned to the station to refuel the ambulance as well as some other tasks.