Fire Fighting Equipment & Tools

Firefighters use a variety of equipment and tools to perform their job. From the heavy-duty trucks and pumpers to small hand tools, there are a number of necessary things that assist the firefighter. Every fire department has many of these tools in common, and some that are specialty agencies have very specific tools for the types of fires they face.

Trucks and Pumps

• Aerial ladders, trucks with pumps, or rescue engines are all called apparatus in the fire department. These transports firefighters, gear, water, ladders and everything else they need to do their job. Engine companies often have more than one type of truck, some transport mainly gear and firefighters while others concentrate on hoses and large tanks full of water when availability on-site is limited. Aerial ladders are common in large cities where multiple story buildings exist.

Hand Tools

• The axe is the universal symbol that is often seen in fire department logos, and an ever-present tool. Pike poles, Halligan bars, fire extinguishers, ventilation fans, floodlights and flashlights are all commonly used tools.

Specific Equipment

• Airplanes and helicopters are identifiable as very specific firefighting equipment for forest and brush fires. Common in dry western states where fires of this type are common these drop large loads of chemical fire retardant or water and are designed for multiple flights.

Personal Protection Equipment

• Firefighters must be able to operate in the worst conditions to protect the life and property of others, and this means their safety is the first concern. Necessary equipment every firefighter must have is his turnout gear, or the suit that protects him from the fire, and an SCBA, or Self Contained Breathing Apparatus, that is breathing unit that protects him from smoke. Helmets keep the head protected, and the SCBA mask assists breathing and protects the face. A Nomex hood protects the skin of the neck and head from burns, and the turnout gear or bunker suit can take extreme temperatures and protects the firefighter from heat and flame while inside the burning structures. The firefighter also wears a PASS device, or Personal Alert Safety System, that is activated if a firefighter is motionless for a given period of time which could mean they have been injured. Those devices help locate a firefighter if he is in trouble an in need of rescue.

Fire Detection

• A thermal imaging camera is carried by many fire departments and can detect fire not seen by the naked eye. Detecting heat within walls and areas that can't be accessed, this piece of gear is brought in to find any hidden or remaining hot spots or fire within walls that a firefighter is not able to see or find without the help of this technology.

Words Every Resume Should Include By Caroline Levchuck Every word on your resume counts in today's competitive job market. But some words count more than others -- especially those that refer to soft skills.

Soft skills are increasingly important in the workplace. In fact, 86 percent of employers considered soft skills to be among their most important hiring criteria in a recent survey by two University of Massachusetts economists.

'Teamwork'

Teamwork is more important than ever in the workplace. The ability to work well with others to accomplish a common goal is vital for a harmonious workplace. Employees are often organized into teams to manage projects. And many employers believe collaboration increases the quality of work and improves productivity. A team player is an attentive listener, a cooperative colleague and is willing to help others.

'Flexibility'

Employers value workers who are flexible and able to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously. In other words, it's sometimes just as important to be a jack-of-all-trades as a master of one. You can show that you're flexible by demonstrating a willingness to take on new and varied projects and an ability to handle changing priorities and deadlines. Ultimately, being flexible doesn't only increase the odds that you'll get a job -- it also improves your chances of keeping it should layoffs occur.

'Detail-Oriented'

Employers want to know that they can trust workers to handle a project down to the last detail. Being "detail-oriented" means being organized and meticulous about your work. It also implies that you can work without constant supervision and act independently.

'Self-Motivated'

Employers value employees who are self-starters. These workers can generate their own ideas and follow them through to fruition. A self-motivated worker goes the extra mile. She regularly takes on tasks that may not be part of her job description. She's inspired to work hard not just to reap rewards but also for personal satisfaction.

Words to Avoid in Your Resume By Christopher Jones Most resume-writing guides focus on "power words" -- words that promise to grab the attention of recruiters as they scan hundreds of resumes -- but few tell you what words to avoid in your resume.

Below is a list of words and word types that your resume would be better without.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

AFPCA, CHIGFET, FIPL, MRSRM, ZWE: Looks like a fresh game of Scrabble, doesn't it?

Too many abbreviations and acronyms in a resume make it unreadable.

As a rule, avoid using abbreviations and acronyms unless they are commonly recognized. If you work in an acronym-heavy industry, such as technology, use acronyms sparingly.

Personal Pronouns

It seems odd to avoid personal pronouns (I, me, my) in your resume -- a document that is all about you.But, it actually does make sense. Since your resume is all about you, the addition of "I" or "me" is redundant. Since a resume should contain no unnecessary words, there is no place for the personal pronoun. Your resume, after all, is not a memoir but a concise summary of your skills and experience.

Negative Words

These words spell death for a resume. Words like "arrested," "boring," "fired," "hate" and "sexist" catch a recruiter's eye like to a two-ton magnet catches a paper clip. If there are difficult issues you want to raise, save them for the interview.

Keep These Words to a Minimum

There are other words that are sometimes necessary in a resume, but that should nevertheless be kept to a minimum.

Among these:

• Abused words: a, also, an, because, the, very

• Any word you can't define: You may think using these words make you sound smart, but if you use them incorrectly they could kill your chances of landing the job.

• Words that can be embarrassing if spelled wrong: assess, skills

Unit13

Others Who Work for Safety

In order to improve conditions and to cut down on accidents, state and city governments have safety departments. Engineers plan high­ways, intersections, traffic lights, and regula­tions to lessen the possibility of accidents. Traffic patrols operate constantly to cut down speeding, enforce laws, and assist motorists. Education of automobile drivers is carried on constantly, and drivers' licenses are issued only after the motorist shows that he knows the rules of traffic as well as how to operate a vehicle.

City fire departments try to prevent fires as well as put them out. Periodic inspection of all business buildings is a regular part of their duty. Special officers inspect electrical wiring installations and okay them only when they conform to city or state fire laws. This inspec­tion is carried on in connection with home building also, and firemen will inspect any home for fire hazards whenever requested.

Industries which employ men in dangerous occupations are required to abide by state safety laws. They are inspected regularly for possible violations and for new conditions of danger which might arise. Because they are responsible for damage through injury to their workers, it is to the advantage of employers to make their shops and factories as safe as pos­sible. They spend time and money trying to educate workers to be efficient and careful.

The safety of equipment such as electrical de­vices and products such as food and drugs can be tested in laboratories set up for the pur­pose. These products can then carry a seal or label which states that they have been tested and have passed a safety inspection. This serv­ice protects buyers from harmful products.

Colleges and universities serve the people through their laboratories and engineering de­partments. They devise new ways to improve products and methods, and inform people of the safest ways of doing things in everyday life. Persons may enroll in safety courses connected with agriculture, industry, or homemaking and learn how to teach safety more effectively.

In many communities the citizens organize to make their cities and villages more safe. They discuss traffic needs, bicycle and pedestrian safety, and other safety problems. These per­sons usually represent the city government, police, fire department, schools, recreational agencies, and any other groups interested in improving safety. They may include high school students and even younger boys and girls.

There are several national voluntary organi­zations which are noted for their interest in safety. The American Red Cross co-operates with numerous groups. One very important contribution it makes is in offering first-aid classes. Another is in teaching water lifesaving courses. National farm and youth organizations are also active in teaching safety to their mem­bers. The Boy and Girl Scouts and Camp Fire Girls teach safety in connection with all their activities. The largest organization of all is the National Safety Council, a voluntary organiza­tion which has member representatives from practically any group interested in safety. Each year it holds a convention called the annual congress, attended by about 12,000 persons.

So it can be seen that a very large number of persons are working for safety. Each citizen and each boy and girl might well ask what he, himself, is doing for safety