I am a firefighter and water/ice rescue diver for the fire department in
my community. I am glad you were in contact with the Asst. Chief in regards
to your incident. It's always best to get the scoop from those involved.
My department carries blanket on all it's apparatus...whether it's an
engine a ladder or a brush breaker. You never know when you'll need one.
We also carry what you referred to as an element barrier, which typically is
a foil-like barrier intended to contain heat...great for swaddling newborn
babies pre-hospital.
Toledo is a much bigger department than mine. The "status qou"
situation is commonplace in every department. Once we realize (whether
en-route or on-arrival) that the scene has been stabilized or the incident
no longer exists, we immediately go back into service (to be available for
the next run). It's possible that Toledo was experiencing a busy day in the
city, and getting back into service was the main concern (after rescue,
suppression, etc.). Some days it's busy w/back-to-back-to-back runs, others
not.
Rick Rego
MA.New England NANFA Rep.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Crail, Todd" <todd.crail_at_learnshare.com>
To: <nanfa_at_aquaria.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 11, 2003 9:37 AM
Subject: NANFA-- The whole dam affair... Update
> Greetings NANFAns,
>
> My follow up with the city et al concerning the near drowning at the South
> Ave dam has made it's way through some (most probably all) of the ranks.
An
> Assistant Chief of the Toledo Fire Department contacted me yesterday to
hear
> my side of the story and shed light on what his men's side of the story
was.
> I feel that it was handled very well, I am very greatful they made the
> efforts that they did in such a timely manner, and plan to follow up in
> another letter emphasizing my gratitude.
>
> I think Mr Binkley had it dead on in his response on the list... They got
> there and I'd already done what they were prepared to do, so yeah, they
> _could_ relax. The Assistant Chief said that sure, it would have been
nice
> if they would have offered _something_ of a creature comfort... But that
it
> wasn't on their minds. For the last five minutes they had it in their
minds
> that they were going to be getting in the stream and pulling a child out
of
> it. When they saw this situation has dispersed, it was back to status
> quo... And they're rescuers... Not nurturing care givers :)
>
> He also noted that they didn't have a blanket, as what I was thinking of a
> "blanket". They only carry thin plastic "element barriers" on the
trucks..
> Again, they could have offered a coat or something, but that wasn't what
> they were there to do. They were there to pull a kid and the crazy
fishguy
> out of the water. ;)
>
> I was very satisfied with his explaination, paired with his emphasis that
> the force is very aware of this site, that he is in fact the fast water
> rescue "guru" of the force, and that this may be a good opportunity to go
> over the site again with the surrounding stations.
>
> I hope that I emphasized enough that my outstanding concern in the whole
> matter was that they weren't familiar with the dangers surrounding this
> location, and not that I thought they were rude and not doing their job.
> The primary concern has been reasonably waylaid by our conversation. I
will
> emphasize this in my return letter of thanks.
>
> The Assitant Chief has also offered to bear witness to the danger that is
in
> Highland Park, to give credibility to any action I attempt to seek out for
> securing the site. It's apparently up to the Metroparks to do anything
> about the site... He's offered to serve as a reference. I was very
pleased
> with his offer, and hope to at least get a fence in place around the
> portions of the structure that could put anyone in danger.
>
> So we'll see if we can't get some definate positives to roll out of this
> situation.
>
> I thought I should update you all.
>
> Todd
-- > /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily > / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes > / Association" > / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association > / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word > / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to > / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to > / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. > / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org /----------------------------------------------------------------------------- /"Unless stated otherwise, comments made on this list do not necessarily / reflect the beliefs or goals of the North American Native Fishes / Association" / This is the discussion list of the North American Native Fishes Association / nanfa_at_aquaria.net. To subscribe, unsubscribe, or get help, send the word / subscribe, unsubscribe, or help in the body (not subject) of an email to / nanfa-request_at_aquaria.net. For a digest version, send the command to / nanfa-digest-request_at_aquaria.net instead. / For more information about NANFA, visit our web page, http://www.nanfa.org