Code 3 - The Firefighters Podcast

When is it appropriate to call for a helicopter to a scene? Even when you have a flowchart to make the determination, there’s still a lot of subjectivity involved. In this episode, Joseph Uridil of medical helicopter operator Air Methods and Prescott Fire Operations Division Chief Cory Moser join Scott to discuss when to call for aerial transport.

If you feel as if the culture of safety in the fire service has been replaced with a culture of fear, then you’ll want to listen to Chris Tobin. An old-school firefighter at heart, he explains why fear holds today’s firefighters back, why supposedly-vacant buildings need to be treated as occupied, and the merits of being aggressive.

Just about everyone agrees that community paramedicine is a great idea. But, trouble is, no one wants to pay for it. Mesa, Arizona, had a very good program but had to shut it down for lack of funding. Gary Ludwig joins Scott on this episode to discuss what can be done.

There is a shortage of 911 dispatchers nationwide, and it can lead to unfortunate outcomes. PSAP and 911 consultant Barry Furey explains why there’s a problem and offers some suggestions for how it can be fixed. *** NOTE: This interview had some technical glitches in the sound quality. We hope you’ll bear with us. Barry’s comments are worth it. ***

Firefighters love to pass on information, and that’s what accounts for the numbers of speakers lining up for events like FDIC. But how do you know you’re qualified to teach others? Is there a certain rank you need to attain first? Guest Randy Hanifen explains in this edition of Code 3.

Safety at motor vehicle crash scenes can be difficult, and sometimes, there are non-vehicle related problems, too. Expert Jack Sullivan of the Emergency Responder Safety Institute drops by to discuss ways to keep from getting into trouble at crash scenes.

With community paramedicine, a/k/a mobile integrated health care, gaining popularity in the U.S., there are some challenges to be met when you’re building a new program. Chief Porter Welch of the Scioto, Ohio Township Fire Department helped write the Ohio laws that allow these programs, and he explains what you need to know.

If you thought Millennials were a confusing group, wait til you meet the iGen. Guest Linda Willing says they may be more comfortable with virtual communication than face-to-face, but they could ultimately prove to be the best group of firefighters yet.

Brad Davison’s study of combination departments and the challenges they face found that budgets are the #1 problem, according to chiefs. We talk about what impact they have and how much difference more money would make on this episode.

Drew Hughes died after an ET tube was improperly inserted while he rode in an ambulance. He had been injured in a skateboarding accident, but anoxia caused by the intubation error killed him. On this episode, we hear from his father about the Do It For Drew foundation he and his wife started to keep medical treatment errors from happening, and Bradley Dean, a battalion chief over a training divisi...

In celebration of our official 100th episode of Code 3, Scott pulls back the curtain to give you a quick look at how we got here. Join us!

Bullying and harassment within the fire service isn’t talked about very much, but it happens. Find out what it will take to stop this destructive (and expensive) behavior as guest co-host Rhonda Orr joins Scott to discuss the problem with I. David Daniels.

Kevin Grange is a firefighter/paramedic in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. But he used to work as a paramedic in Los Angeles. In this episode of code 3, he explains the differences—and why he loves where he works now.

Rehab is often given a lower priority than it should be, says our guest this time, Tim Nowack. He’s got some ideas about how to change that attitude., as well as a new acronym for more effective rehab operations.

It has now been five years since 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots were killed fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona. Jose Zambrano, a firefighter from El Seguno California began a run to the Hotshots’ memorial in Yarnell. Fireman Joe is running the way he has run many other such treks: in full-turnout gear.

SPECIAL EDITION: The NFPA released its annual firefighter LODD report, and, while deaths are down, Chief Marc Bashoor says this is no time to get complacent.

The NFPA has issued a new standard – NFPA 3000 (PS), Standard for an Active Shooter/ Hostile Event Response (ASHER) Program. The NFPA’s John Montes joins Scott to explain why it was needed and what it includes on this edition of Code 3.

Sure, firefighters work out a lot, but that still doesn’t make a poor diet all right. Dr. Susie day has been working on a study of what firefighters eat, and its’ not encouraging. Find out what you should be eating on this episode.

In October, 2007, a crew of four Washington, DC firefighters nearly lost their lives in a preventable accident while fighting a house fire. Dennis Rubin was the Chef of DCFD at the time, and he joins us to explain what went wrong and why.

There’s an art to being a great incident commander, and Jason Hoevelmann stops by Code 3 to talk with Scott about what it takes, and what not to do.

If you’re like a lot of firefighters, you stay busy. That’s productive, right? But what if you’re staying busy to keep from dealing with emotional problems? That’s not so good. On this episode, therapist Jada Hudson explains why firefighters need to have some time to do … nothing.

In a world with SLICE-RS. RECEO, and REVAS, comes a new and potentially better acronym: SLAB SAVERS, Jesse Quinalty’s solution to firefighting mnemonics. Find out what it means on this episode.

Burn buildings are part of every firefighter’s training, but how worthwhile are they? What do we learn in them, and are those things valuable? David Rhodes explains why burn buildings aren’t always the best way to learn real-world tactics and how to fix that.

One of the unfortunate changes the fire service has seen in the last few years is a move toward equipping firefighters with ballistic vests and body armor. It’s a reality, though, and Kane Nixon tells us why his department issues them.

What if there was a better standard for prehospital care than “First, Do No Harm?” Mike Rubin offers some alternative phrases that might make you think twice when you’re treating a patient.