Professional Standards

Synergy in Action: How the Principles of Mechanical Advantage Illuminate Teamwork in Business and Rescue Operations

In the high-stakes arena of rescue operations, the role of a technician or director parallels that of an astute business leader, where efficiency and team synergy are paramount. Just as a well-designed pulley system in rope rescue allows for maximum efficiency with minimal force, applying these principles of mechanical advantage can revolutionize the way rescue …

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How Probiotics Can Benefit Firefighters and Search and Rescue Personnel

Being a firefighter or search and rescue worker requires a great deal of physical endurance and strength. However, the intense physical demands of their jobs – particularly the consumption of unhealthy foods and exposure to environmental toxins – can cause stomach problems and have a negative impact on their overall health and well-being. But there …

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Fitness vs. Strength: A Dual Approach to Achieving Comprehensive Physical Well-being

Everyone wants to be strong, and this is not surprising given the immense benefits that muscle strength offers. From improving physical performance to enhancing overall health, being strong could be the key to unlocking your potential. However, being strong is not just about having bulging muscles or lifting heavy weights; it goes beyond that. In …

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For Either Fire Departments or Search and Rescue Teams… What is an Update vs a Revision?

I had a really nice chat with a SAR member who was tasked with making some changes with the team’s gear and “tactics”.  The team had been and was continuing to go through a lot of “ups and downs” with rosters and leadership.  He understood the task wasn’t so much as “making changes” as much …

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Striking the Balance: Navigating the Triangle of Education, Equipment Buying, and Training for Effective Operations

There is a “sweet spot” – a  triangle –  that could represent the optimal balance between education, purchasing, and training in a specific context, such as acquiring and using equipment for a fire department or another specialized field. Here’s how this triangle might look: Education: This corner of the triangle emphasizes the importance of knowledge …

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How Recessions Impact Fire Departments and Search & Rescue in the US – Part 4: Alternative Source of Revenue

When public safety is at stake, the government must provide adequate funding for emergency services such as fire departments. Unfortunately, when money is scarce and other projects are given priority over necessary emergency services, the consequences can be dire. In this blog post, we will explore how the public would respond to a situation where …

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How Recessions Impact Fire Departments and Search & Rescue in the US – Part 1

When economic downturns hit the United States, it can have far-reaching consequences on how public safety services, such as fire departments and search and rescue, are able to continue operating. While many state and local budgets attempt to protect these essential services from budget cuts during times of recession, there can often be reduced funding …

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Rope Rescue Gear and Everything Between! Part 5 – Equipment Strength, Safety Factors & Load Ratios

Aside from being compatible with other components of the system, all equipment should be of sufficient strength to offer appropriate performance under whatever load might be applied, plus offer a sufficient factor of safety above and beyond that. While single body weight loads (one person) are often practices and aspect of litter work (as an …

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What exactly is a Journey?

Excerpt from The Cornerstone: Knowledge & Perception What exactly is a Journey?   The Latin adjective “diurnus” means “pertaining to a day or daily”; English diurnal stems ultimately from this word. When Latin developed into French, “diurnus” became a noun, jour, meaning “day,” the medieval French derivative Journee meant either “day” or “something done during …

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What’s the #1  leadership and team building mistake rope rescue technician’s make?

The year was 2003… almost 5 years post my bellwether event in Sedona. These “leaders” had shown me not just an existence of something new, but of a direction of a trend of things to come. During these years, I had taken other courses and had become much more familiar with “the vertical terrain”. Mind …

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