Replies: 19
| visibility 2,130
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Packed out fighting fire in the lowcountry during the summer is
Jun 23, 2017, 12:17 PM
|
|
One of the greatest challenges I've faced in life. Of course, donning 55 pounds of thermal insulated gear, when the heat index is well over 100° takes a toll, as well as, heavy lifting and pulling loaded hose lines, with a sense of urgency. And then there's the adrenaline, which can be your best friend and worse enemy, and the stress of executing your tasks properly to avoid putting yourself and others in danger. A firefighter down due to heat exhaustion or dehydration, sets off a chain of events that can cost someone else their life in an attempt to save you. Yes, the incident Commander should exercise good judgement, but just try and stop my brothers and sisters from putting it all on the line. Pacing yourself, staying calm, and knowing your own body are essential to preforming in this line of work.
Obviously, being able to cool your body is necessary in order to work safely and stay productive; keeping in mind that overhaul, clean up, and loading the rigs can take hours. If you can believe it, some of my most taxing emergency scenes have been during extrication and air lifting patients, as the blacktop radiates heat. As we strip down and guzzle water, drenched in sweat, the unyielding humidity is suffocating. When sweat can not evaporate, it's smothering. So thick that you can see it, breathing is also effected. You can't get away from it. The only remedy? Push through and get back into an air conditioned environment. Don't tell me about the heat in the South..
|
|
|
|
All-In [39948]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 18246
Joined: 10/28/15
|
You whiffed on the important things. How was your cell phone service?
Jun 23, 2017, 12:24 PM
|
|
Did you have to hustle and bustle? How was the humidity inside your suit? Tia
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [39948]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 18246
Joined: 10/28/15
|
I meant to tu you but I think I fat fingered td!
Jun 23, 2017, 12:25 PM
|
|
I suck and I will thumb up anything you write again until my conscience is cleared.
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: I meant to tu you but I think I fat fingered td!
Jun 23, 2017, 12:27 PM
|
|
I took it that you side with the dry heat crowd..
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [39948]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 18246
Joined: 10/28/15
|
I think I missed most of those posts. I will never choose to live somewhere
Jun 23, 2017, 12:28 PM
|
|
Without humidity again.
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [10427]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 4667
Joined: 11/23/03
|
I have no idea what this has to do with Clemson Football but
Jun 23, 2017, 12:29 PM
|
|
TU anyway. Not a job I want.
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: I have no idea what this has to do with Clemson Football but
Jun 23, 2017, 12:30 PM
|
|
I was unable to participate in yesterday humidity debate. Always late to the party..
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [30498]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 34285
Joined: 6/22/03
|
Motivator please ....you call that a fire ?
Jun 23, 2017, 12:33 PM
|
|
I put out volcanoes in utah
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [22965]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 25005
Joined: 6/24/99
|
Amusing story--
Jun 23, 2017, 12:34 PM
|
|
Several years ago, at the wifely's company Christmas party, met a lady with Boeing who was with their team that came down early to help get the new manufacturing facility in Charleston up and running. She'd been with Boeing all her employed life and was probably in her late 40's/early 50's
At some point during the evening's conversation, I inquired if she was looking forward to her first Lowcountry summer. She replied that they had plenty of humidity in Seattle and that she and the other company newcomers weren't terribly concerned. I simply smiled and said, "Well, good luck in August!"
We haven't heard or seen anything from her since....:~)
and ya know.....a summer in Charleston will make one wonder how those earliest settlers in the area survived before air conditioning when their clothing was made primarily of wool (before cotton became such a huge commodity---and heck, even after that!)
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: Amusing story--
Jun 23, 2017, 12:41 PM
|
|
Haha, I bet. I've been to Hood River Oregon and there's no comparison. Temps reached the nineties, but all one needs is to find shade for a reprieve.
|
|
|
|
|
Oculus Spirit [81689]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 17243
Joined: 1/14/17
|
Are you trying to say that mountains are flammable?
Jun 23, 2017, 12:41 PM
|
|
TIA
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: Are you trying to say that mountains are flammable?
Jun 23, 2017, 12:42 PM
|
|
^^^needs no introduction
|
|
|
|
|
110%er [9298]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 6391
Joined: 11/17/03
|
Careful handling those loaded hoses***
Jun 23, 2017, 12:44 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: Careful handling those loaded hoses***
Jun 23, 2017, 12:48 PM
|
|
Allot of built up pressure can be difficult to control. The large diameter are hard to bend..
|
|
|
|
|
Orange Blooded [3862]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 1553
Joined: 8/28/16
|
Re: Careful handling those loaded hoses***
Jun 23, 2017, 1:22 PM
|
|
After 4 hrs of not deflating, seek medical attention...according to the commercials.
|
|
|
|
|
Oculus Spirit [93007]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 95108
Joined: 12/25/09
|
How dare you say that to a firefighter.
Jun 23, 2017, 8:16 PM
[ in reply to Careful handling those loaded hoses*** ] |
|
They are professional and have been trained to deal with anybody's big hose.
|
|
|
|
|
Hall of Famer [24165]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 31944
Joined: 2/15/09
|
there's been a raging fire here for a few days
Jun 23, 2017, 1:18 PM
|
|
It's very close to Brian Head resort. It hasn't rained here in like 2 months. You can see the smoke billowing over the mountains from the fire. It's apparently a near disaster. People's cabins are being burned down etc
|
|
|
|
|
All-TigerNet [11179]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 5529
Joined: 11/22/15
|
Re: there's been a raging fire here for a few days
Jun 23, 2017, 1:59 PM
|
|
Wildland firefighting is an entirely different creature than structural. I have the utmost respect for the job they do. Always sad to hear about folks that watch the eminent fire spread take their homes.
|
|
|
|
|
All-In [27223]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 31730
Joined: 8/19/03
|
Re: Packed out fighting fire in the lowcountry during the summer is
Jun 23, 2017, 1:40 PM
|
|
While a CLEMSON student I spent a summer doing an internship in Hell Hole Swamp at McClellensville with the US Forest Service. Don't tell me anything about heat, humidity, rattlesnakes or mosquitos because I can top it! I spent many,many hours in that swamp alone for $117.76 every two weeks. What a life. If you ain't tough you better find another job!
|
|
|
|
|
Heisman Winner [130722]
TigerPulse: 100%
Posts: 26133
Joined: 9/18/12
|
why would someone TD this post?***
Jun 23, 2017, 7:46 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Replies: 19
| visibility 2,130
|
|
|