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Post by Venter on Sept 1, 2013 11:40:44 GMT -5
... Venter you bring up a point about hose connections, it was not so long ago that was the case until national standards were implemented. They now do a "NST" National Standard Threads and when hose is purchased it is a given that all ends are to be this but in our little town of Gettysburg all the hydrant connections are bastard threads and anyone that assists them has to have an adapter to connect to the hydrants. I actually thought I'd get Slammed as an "Alarmist" for mentioning something like a "Standard Hose Fitting". I really thought that this type of thing died out MANY Years Ago when fire departments competed with each other to put out fires! To think that ANY Hydrant (even if it is only one) is NOT Compliant with National Standards is ludicrous. Don't you think that the County should upgrade those deficient, and at least add a Permanent Adapter to each hydrant? This seems like a better fix than expecting each Fire Company to know which hydrant needs an Adapter! Mr. Eline should know about this, and if he does know about it, then he needs to get it fixed.
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Post by Fire Marshal Bill on Sept 1, 2013 17:39:48 GMT -5
One of the results of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was the institution of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and their very first action at their first meeting was to establish a standard thread for fire hose because departments responding to assist the Chicago FD could not connect to the hydrants or to the other departments apparatus or hose.
When the Baltimore fire of 1904 occurred, they had the same problem. Fire Departments from as far away as Hanover went to assist and their hose connections were not compatible.
Now, with very few exceptions the hose and apparatus threads are the same. The 2-1/2 inch threads on hydrants is standard. It is the “steamer” connection on the hydrants that is not compatible, and that changes from various municipalities, and is not necessarily the thread, but possibly the size of the connection. The “steamer” connection on hydrants will vary from 4 inch to as large as six inch in some communities. Most everything in this area is 4-1/2 inch I believe.
It is not an inexpensive proposition to change the connections on every fire hydrant in the community. The last time I talked with someone several years ago, it was up to $300 for each hydrant. Now consider the number of hydrants in each community. It is much more cost effective for department to purchase adapters for this than to change all the hydrants. All of the hydrants in a community are usually the same size and connection, it is not like each hydrant will be different. So the unit responding should know that if they are responding into a given municipality they will need an adapter or not.
Unfortunately this is a condition that exists in many areas. In Frederick County there are two threads for hydrants, and in Carroll County there are I believe four.
For a reasonably trained fire department this should not cause any major problems.
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Post by Fire Marshal Bill on Sept 1, 2013 17:53:03 GMT -5
The MICU concept is not new. In the 1970s Montgomery County Maryland was operating that way. Originally there were only, I believe three Medic units in the county. But as time went on there were more, but not every ambulance was a medic unit. They got to the point that every ambulance in the county had a “Medic” compartment that was locked. Every Medic in the county had a key.
When an ambulance would respond and there was a Medic on board, they would respond as a Medic unit. Should they respond only with EMTs on board they would use the designation as Ambulance. But if a Medic would show up on an engine company, truck company, squad or maybe a fire department command vehicle or utility vehicle, he or she could open the Medic compartment and the unit designation would change from Ambulance to Medic. The medic, once taking command, was then obligated to stay with the patient till arrival at the hospital.
Back then, we used just a key lock and there was no record, except on paper as to when or who accessed the medic compartment. But, there is an outfit now that makes a box that is unlocked by a touch pad (combination) swipe card, or even a magnetic card or fob, that will record who made entry and when.
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hawg
Going Postal
Posts: 43
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Post by hawg on Sept 18, 2013 22:41:41 GMT -5
I have it on good authority that Gettysburg FD approached Mt. Joy Township asked for their thoughts on if they were to put an ALS provider on an ambulance would they up their donation. Response: They are only responsible for ambulance and fire.
And there are people out there that think this board is the best thing since sliced bread! Really?!?!?!
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Post by Venter on Sept 19, 2013 9:27:29 GMT -5
I have it on good authority that Gettysburg FD approached Mt. Joy Township asked for their thoughts on if they were to put an ALS provider on an ambulance would they up their donation. Response: They are only responsible for ambulance and fire. And there are people out there that think this board is the best thing since sliced bread! Really?!?!?! Mt. Joy Supervisors ran on the "No Tax Increase", and by God they'll keep their word - even if it destroys the Township!
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