Thu, 12 Nov 2009, 08:59:59 EST
Edited by Liisa Sullivan

DALLAS, Texas, Nov. 12 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Annually, the United States Fire Administration reports that 3,000 to 5,000 people die in fires. This figure includes 800 children, nine and younger, and 1,200 seniors. One fire captain, owner of Hand2Live, has set out to alter those statistics.

Career firefighter, Captain Greg Lawler, knows that many children and the elderly often experience difficulty opening windows. And, with only three minutes to escape a flaming house fire, everyone must be prepared to quickly make the correct escape decision through viable exits.

“Know your options before fire strikes,” Lawler says.

Several years ago, Captain Lawler discovered this problem first hand. During a home fire drill, he learned that his 6-year old daughter, Olivia, could not open her bedroom window – one of two ways out.

The drill took place in the middle of the night – the most vulnerable time. They reviewed the drill once and began. The first drill was successful. Olivia rolled to the floor and was advised that conditions were acceptable for using the front door.

But, the next drill did not go as well. When told that conditions were not acceptable at the front door, Olivia was directed to use the window, but struggled. In a real-life situation, the clock ticks and the fire consumes the home with each passing second.

Lawler called to Hannah, Olivia’s older sister, to help her open the window. However, what if Hannah was not there in a real-life situation?

Most fire fatalities occur at night and victims are usually found near the front door, in a bathroom or a bedroom. And, while the window is taught as a second way out, in many situations, it may quickly become the first.

So, what was the problem? Olivia found difficulty with the locks and was unable to grasp the ledge with her small fingers. After teaching fire safety courses, Lawler soon realized that Olivia was not alone in her challenge.

After examining the problem, Lawler discovered that window manufacturers have varied maximum allowable opening forces; all windows he tried were different. In addition, other factors such as excessive moisture, dirt and grime and shifting foundations also contribute to difficult opening.

“The bottom line is that everyone should be able to open all the windows,” Lawler adds.

And so, Hand2Live was born. Named after Lawler’s daughters, Hand2Live has patented a device that attaches to the sash lift or ledge of any window. It’s a durable, non-permanent and fully-graspable aluminum handle that helps people lift the window. Handles for wood windows without a sash lift or ledge are also available.

So, with two ways out, why does America have the fifth highest reported fire death rate? Perhaps, like doors, windows should have handles too.

Captain Lawler recalls an early morning fire where a child was unable to get out and his father, in desperation, broke the window with his fist and was able to rescue his son. As a result, the child suffered burns and lacerations from being pulled through the broken window, but recovered.

“Breaking a window is dangerous, difficult and not the best option,” Lawler says.

This is on Indigogo and it needs increased awareness... https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-hand2live-challenge

For more information about Hand2Live and to view a product demo video, visit: www.Hand2Live.com.

1. What is your current title & your previous experience?
Currently I am Full–time Professor at a Community College, my previous experience in the Emergency Services, I was a volunteer firefighter, 911 dispatcher, moved into full time, became a First Class F, Firefighter (duties during my career were Rescue Truck, Pumper, Tanker, Ariel Truck,) after I retired that is when I conceptualized and brought the first Fire fighting training to our community college, creating partnerships with numerous with Local and Large Municipalities Fire departments, along with the Provincial Government as well as Federal Military and International Airport Firefighting and since trained hundreds of which I am very pleased are now full time firefighters, in addition supporting local departments with their volunteer fire training.

2. What is your favorite part of working for your department?
One of the areas that I reflect back upon is the feeling of pride in wearing the uniform, team environment and being able to be in a position to help others.

 3. How do you define success?
I believe success can be defined in a variety of different ways, a lot of people define success as monetary, but for me success is to have a
dream or a vision and the determination to follow it through, continue to pursue this, gaining little steps as you progress, engage all the diversity and criticism as a learning tool whether good or bad, but continue on, until you have reached the plateau level you were striving
for.

4. What have you learned over your lifetime that you'd like to share with the younger generation?
As a college professor I actually do this on a regular basis, because my students for the most are of the younger generation, one of the most important factors I try to relate to them is how important they are, and how proud I am of them because they have made it this far in their educational success.  Learn to embrace the past, learn from it, expand on it, and continue to move forward and to enjoy
life, respect themselves as well as others and finally using the cliché “when one door shuts another one opens”, so do not despair when someone says no because they will, look at it as an opportunity for improvement.

5. What is your favorite hobby? 
I love to fish, but I really love to play my guitar, sing  and create music.

6. Who has had the greatest influence on you?
There have been so many over the years from family members, friends to the great Johnny Cash, Elvis, and Merle Haggard in the music side of things to outstanding Heads of State in my mind such as President Kennedy. I like people that are not afraid to stand up for what they believe in, these are the people that I have learned from the most.

7. What will be your legacy? Is the world better because of you/your work/your influence?
I would very much like to believe like so many other Emergency Services Workers, Military Personnel, that due to being on the job at the right time in their lives that I had made a difference, and to all the students over the years saying something like “if it wasn’t for Don I would not of had the opportunity”.

8. What's the funniest work story/ event you remember?
There were so many, but one that stands out, we had this Rookie first time on the floor, we were on night shift, as you know up here in Canada our winters get a little nasty, so before we went to bed “yes sometimes we did” I opened all the windows, it was freezing in the room but nobody could get any rest but we pretended to, because I told the rookie the Captain liked lots of fresh air when he is sleeping, so under our blankets we laughed our heads off especially when snow was coming in the windows, the poor guy was shivering all night.  He stayed with it, he is a Platoon Chief today.

 9. Is there anything I haven't asked about that you would care to comment on?
Just a little on the song we wrote “don’t call me a hero” PSTD was not a common phrase when this happened to me, I am so glad the Industry for the most part has agreed upon the importance of dealing with this, verses our old days when our treatment was going our favorite bar and drowning the memoires for another night.

10. What is your favorite dinner & what do you drink with it?
My favorite dinner is a good old BBQ Steak, although my wife is for chicken or fish, and lots of green stuff she says is good for me, back in
the day a few beers would go good and the wife would enjoy her wine, now since we are as pure as the white driven snow lols, pop, and
coffee.

Mr. Donald Thomas Murdock, M.B.,  Medal of Bravery
Date of Instrument: September 29, 1986
Date of Presentation: December 5, 1986
Firefighter Donald Roy Ferguson, M.B.
Firefighter Donald Thomas Murdoch, M.B.
 
Shortly after midnight on 29 March 1985, the Whitby, Ontario, Fire Department was informed that two
children were trapped in a house fire. Within minutes, Firefighters Ferguson and Murdoch entered the burning building and, in zero visibility and intense heat, went in search of its occupants. When Firefighter Ferguson heard a child's cries
for help, he guided his steps through the long smoke-filled corridor by placing his hands on the wall. Concentrating on the young victim's voice, he located the ten-year-old girl in her bed. As he left the bedroom with the child, he met Firefighter Murdoch an proceeded towards the exit. The trio was crossing the kitchen area when a ball of flames suddenly knocked Firefighter Ferguson and the little girl to the floor. Firefighter Murdoch seized the child and carried her outside while Firefighter Ferguson exited on his own. Despite severely burned
hands, Firefighter Ferguson re-entered the house, found the other child in her crib and carried her out of the inferno.

1.  What is your current title & your previous experience?
 I retired from Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue, Florida in 2007 at the rank   of District Chief. I came into the service in 1976, joining Del-Trail Fire Control District  Nine in Palm Beach County, Florida. Del-Trail and other Fire Control departments  merged in 1984 to form Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue. I worked my way through the ranks, first as a rookie firefighter, then as a driver operator, then
station officer as a lieutenant and captain, and finally district chief. I was also an EMT and
rode on a rescue truck in my early years.

 2.  What is your favorite part of working for your department?
I was fortunate to work with some of the best people in the business. That was the most satisfying aspect of my job. Working for a large department afforded me opportunities that may not have been as accessible if I had worked for a smaller department. For instance, I worked as a subject matter expert for a number of departments that were giving promotional exams including the City of Columbus,
Ohio and the District of Columbia Fire Department in Washington DC as well as many departments within the state of Florida. I was also able to pursue my education, including successfully completing the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy.
 
3.  How do you define success?
 The short answer is being able to successfully achieve personal and professional goals. I’m sure success can be defined differently for each individual, but for me success was being able give 100 percent to a demanding career, but not at the exclusion of family and friends.

 4.  What have you learned over your lifetime that you'd like to share with the younger generation?
Pursue your passion and be creative. Don’t relegate yourself to a life of punching a clock to pay the bills. To folks who are interested in a fire service profession, don’t ever forget that you are joining a brotherhood/sisterhood that demands professionalism and expertise at all levels. Never stop learning.

 5.  What is your favorite hobby? 
I have a number of interests, including beekeeping, cooking, gardening, reading, writing, long walks in the woods, and traveling. My wife and I love to cruise to different parts of the world and learn about cultures different from our own.

 6.  Who has had the greatest influence on you? At an early age, my parents, and as I grew older, a succession of great teachers, not only in an academic setting but within the fire service. 
 
7.  What will be your legacy? Is the world better because of you, your work, and your influence? 
I’m sure the fire department benefited in some way from my tenure. I spent a good deal of time teaching firefighters and mentoring young officers, and I hope that has a lasting effect on the future leaders of the department. Now, I work part-time at a local high school as a substitute teacher and this gives me an opportunity to interact with teenagers who sometimes need an adult who is non-judgmental. I know my day has been a success if I can challenge students to think, and act, beyond their normal frame of reference.

8.  What's the funniest work story/event you remember? 
There are many, some I can’t repeat, but one that comes to mind occurred at The Ott House Pub in Emmitsburg, MD. I was taking a class at the National Fire Academy and some of my classmates and I walked down to the pub one evening to get off campus and socialize. The pub was hosting a local high school reunion and there was a place to sign in and grab a name tag if you were part of that reunion. I dared one of my classmates to sign in and grab a name tag—she happened to be about the same age as the reunion folks. I suggested that she
approach a guy who looked like he was there alone and let him know that he was the long lost father of her teenage daughter. She did, and the guy almost fainted on the spot. Firefighters know how to have fun.

9.  Is there anything I haven't asked about that you would care to comment on?
 I came from a department where money was never an issue. We always had adequate staffing and equipment. I now volunteer as a firefighter in rural Tennessee which has given me the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the constant struggle for funding volunteer companies deal with year in and year out. It’s my hope this forum will reach and better educate decision makers about
the need for adequate funding in communities that rely on volunteer firefighters. 

10.  What is your favorite dinner & what do you drink with it?
 I love all kinds of food, but I’m always happiest to sit down with my wife and a few close friends and eat pasta aglio e olio or some other rustic Italian dish with a salad, garlic bread, and red wine. Sharing food and good conversation with friends is one of life’s simple pleasures.

Short Blurb from Hot Zone
 ...required reading for anyone who ever wondered what it is like to leave a warm bed at three in the morning and, in the words of the author, "bring order out of chaos." From the foreword by Cortez Lawrence, JD, Ph.D

Christopher Teale Howes, Kit to his friends, grew up in Kennebunkport, Maine and moved to Delray Beach, Florida in the early 1970s. He entered the fire service in 1976, joining Del-Trail Fire Department. In 1984 Del-Trail and other district departments merged to form Palm Beach County  Fire-Rescue, a metro-size department that provides fire and emergency medical  service for the unincorporated areas of Palm Beach County, Florida as well as some of the cities, a service area of over 500 square miles with a population of over 1 million residents. Mr. Howes worked his way through the ranks from rookie firefighter, to driver engineer, lieutenant, captain, and retired in 2007 at the rank of district chief. During his tenure, he earned an Associate degree in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resource Management and successfully completed the Executive Fire Officer program at the National Fire Academy. Upon retirement, Mr. Howes wrote a book about his experiences in the fire service. Hot Zone: Memoir of a Professional Firefighter was published in September, 2012 by McFarland Publishing, Inc. Mr. Howes and his wife, Candy, now live in Tennessee where he remains involved in the fire service, teaching and  volunteering with a local fire company.

www.kithowes.com <--- Check out the book here!

If I was ever to attempt another mission, it would  be to go to the moon & back. About eight months ago I started on a journey,  now this is not your normal drive to a vacation spot or going fishing at a  designated spot in the ocean. It started long  before I had ever realized  that one day I would find a "cause" that would hold the integrity that is so  very over due for those lost on September 11, 2001. While being a Fire Fighter  in the City of Absecon, New Jersey ( three miles from Atlantic City ) I attended  a small gathering of scout troops, and members of the community, located in  Absecon, on Rte 30. 

While I listened to speeches, and the band playing music it  hit me that something was missing to honor those people who died that horrible  day. So here I stand, looking at 343 little American Flags, honoring those  firefighters lost in NY City, at the World Trade Center. Being an American, it  hit me that I needed to push the envelope, I had the idea to see if I could  first get he
information to write, call, email, text, what ever was needed to be  gifted a piece of the WTC Artifact. After going on line and looking at  memorials,and letters with regards to those lost, my emotions came flowing at me  , and I wanted to make this happen. So, I digress to this extent, after hundreds  of emails, calls, text messages, and the letter writing it was still not  working, Then it came to me to try a different approach, and low and behold  it started to gel. "Not Quickly" rather slow as slow can be, then one day I  received a email, that stated in very small words that I was "APPROVED". What an  emotion of wonder, what would it be, how long, was it rusted, was it bent, was  it still in tact to some degree ?

The lady that helped me with this is the Vice  President for the World Trade Center Artifacts, and she gave me three choices, 
The piece of steel is 16' long, and 38" high & 38" wide....It's an I-beam.  Now I was overwhelmed with this new Artifact. But the rest of the story is a  work in progress, I'm presently awaiting the final information packet to be able to go to Hanger # 17, at JFK Airport and pickup this 12 ton piece of Steel-Artifact. My heart & mind are focused on the task at hand, there was  no one helping me just my gut instinct to push the dream, and now we are in the  final stages.I sure most people would think that I'm crazy, a looney person, or  maybe they may say he has hit this one out of the Park. I hope I have done  justice to those lost, we can never understand the pain & hurt, and fear  that has damaged those families with lost loved ones, but I made a promise that  I would some day, show the world that we Are The American Spirit, so I will let  you know the story as it develops, and will send you pictures for this memorial 
site. 
Always,
Jim Smith   ( just an American)

Wood Spokes and Ladders,  maybe some called them spokes, but spokes were fitted on wagon wheels, spindels on stairways, but on ladders they were called Rounds.

Are you aware that the San Francisco Fire Department still use the wood ladders in the fire service. I could not agree witht them more. The Rails (sides) of the ladders were made of Ashwood, a very flexiable but strong closed fiber wood. The rounds were made of Oak a very tough close grain wood that withstood whare. The most important factor was that they were not subject to becoming a conductor of electricity. In the old cities powerlines used to drap from eave to eave all the way down the block. Many pole lines are very close to the front of buildings and again the exposre is great for any firefighter using metal ladders. 

A wood ladder is easier to inspect for safety problems and repairs or replacements can be made. True they are very heavy to handle. It takes eight men to carry, step, raise, and place a 55 foot Bangor Ladder in place and it can be used in a Steeple Raise (straight up) or leaned against a four story building. Eight men you say Chief? Yes, two at the foot to ground it, two at the head to lift it, and two each on the Tormentor Poles to help raise the head and at the same time stabilize the ladder. Tormentor poles are attached to the head of the rails of the ground section of the ladder with gimbels that alow the firefighters to stabilize the ladder at 90 degree angles. Once the ladder is raised straight up the crew at the bottom becomes four and they will in turn raise the fly section of the ladder to the required height on the building. It does take a lot of training and drilling and this today is at a loss. The man power shortage hurts the use of ground ladders and certainly it is to easy to use arial ladders and platforms and as such I have witnessed where areas of a buildings that should have been covered by ladders that were not and the fire continued unabated, the fire being driven from the front of the building chased all the way to the back. Another note, metal ladders get iced up much quicker than wood ladders in the northern latitudes, that in itself is pretty tricky.

God's speed, Frank

More about Frank Harrisson
My grammar school (Highland Avenue) was right across the street from the firehouse in Lansdowne Pennsylvania and every time the fire whistle sounded got my attention then when I was in 9th grade the Korean War tapped into our volunteer fire company so badly that the town fathers looked toward high school kids to take up the slack. Mr. Albert Baccini who was Manager of Fire and Safety at Atlantic Refinery took on us Freshman through Seniors and we spent Fridays learning Civil Defense and CD Auxiliary Firefighter. Come June, six of us were introduced to the Fire Chief. I never quit but I retired 60 years later.