__ Do you think this type of tire would be an asset to the public safety community? Police cars, ambulances, fire engines, towing companies, etc?


Airless Tire Promises Grace Under Pressure for Soldiers [Slide Show]

The Pentagon investigates the use of a new type of airless tire designed to get troop-carrying Humvees through hot spots without stopping

By Larry Greenemeier  | August 11, 2008 | 6


NON-PNEUMATIC TIRE: The Wausau, Wisc., National Guard is testing a set of Resilient Technologies's 37-inch (94-centimeter) NPTs on one of its Humvees. Image: Courtesy of Resilient Technologies, LLC

In Iraq and elsewhere, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) pack a double-deadly whammy: They can kill when they explode, and then they turn surviving soldiers into sitting ducks when Humvee tires blow out. Conventional Humvee tires need a certain amount of air pressure, but also may include so-called "run-flat" inserts that wrap around the tire's rim to keep it from going completely flat when the tire's surface is ruptured. The U.S. Army, however, is looking for an alternative that can keep its vehicles running faster and farther than a run-flat donut after an attack.

To keep troops from being stranded and easily ambushed on the battlefield, the Army is working with researchers to develop tires for their Humvees that can better withstand roadside attacks. One such  design comes from Resilient Technologies, LLC, based in Wausau, Wisc., and the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Polymer Engineering Center. With a four-year, $18-million grant from the Pentagon, Resilient is working to create a "non-pneumatic tire" (NPT) technology, called that because it doesn't require air.

The NPT looks like a circle of honeycombs bordered by a thick black tread. "There's a lot of space for shrapnel to pass through," says Ed Hall, Resilient Technologies's director of business affairs. "Even if you remove 30 percent of the webs, the tire will still work."

Resilient is now working to deliver to the Army Research Lab a prototype wheel that the Army would be able to manufacture on its own. "The Army Research Lab approached us, saying that flats on Humvees made them susceptible to attack," Hall says. "We looked at a lot of non-pneumatic designs before coming up with a polymeric web."

Resilient says it's too early to say how much the tires will cost or even which polymers they're using, because they're still in the prototype phase. (The company installed a set of 37-inch (94-centimeter) NPTs on a Wausau-based National Guard Humvee to test them in April.) Although the military is hoping to put these tires in use as soon as possible, Resilient has no plans for a consumer version right now. It may be a decade or more before an NPT makes spare tires a relic of the past: that's how long Michelin says it will be before its airless "Tweel" comes to market. In the meantime, the Tweel is more likely to show up on small construction vehicles.

And for those of you wondering why all tires aren't simply made out of solid rubber, some construction vehicles use them on sites with debris that can easily shred a pneumatic tire, but solid tires give an incredibly rough ride, generate a lot of heat, and might be even worse if a piece came off during an explosion, because it could not easily be repaired. The NPT's  honeycomb structure is designed to support the load placed on the tire, dissipate heat and offset some of these issues.

View a slide show of Resilient's technology

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It seems like urban legends spread more rapidly than wildfire in this age of internet & texting. Should departments address the rumors and post them on their websites, while stating 'Although this is myth, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction so be aware at all times'.

Here is an approach one department takes... Quebec provincial police, increasingly bogged down with tips and complaints about such urban legends, are trying an innovative approach to nipping the tales in the bud.The police have added a link on their website devoted to educating Quebecers about urban legends and hoaxes in hope the public will do a bit of research before forwarding dubious messages.

Or should they ignore them and hope the public doesn't freak out?

Here is an example: http://www.crime-safety-security.com/Myths-and-Urban-Legends.html and Urban Legends vs Myth Busters

This is a great site for debunking rumors... http://www.snopes.com/

Please post your comments, we would like to hear your opinion.

Also, do you think the hub911.com should add a page on our site addressing these rumors?

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I do not have time to exercise; I am too tired from my shift; my back is too sore to work out; the list is endless.  How many times have you seen an officer join the force fit and eager and within a few years they are out of shape and stressed out.

While teaching a tactical fitness class a few weeks ago I was amazed at the lack of conviction the training officers had.  Not in their dedication to fitness and injury prevention but in the follow through and dedication of their peers to stay the course.  While teaching these officers and operators how to improve physical performance through corrective exercises we stumbled into a discussion about good versus dangerous exercises.  I specifically recall one participant getting frustrated as I essentially told him that almost every exercise he did was not in his best interest.  This discussion rapidly led into a do this - not that training session which we all enjoyed, so let’s take a look at some of the exercises we dissected.

As I have discussed at length in this column MANY times the first exercise we suggest doing less or never is the abdominal crunch.  Instead of the crunch we prefer exercises that stiffen the spine and brace the abdominal wall as these vastly improve performance, power and stability in the torso, spine and core.  The abdominal exercises here are fantastic as they force you to use every muscle in your body and this will help boost anaerobic capacity or short burst ability.  The key to these exercises is simple.

1) Feet must be straight at all times with the legs hip width apart.

2) You must squeeze your glutes with each rep, imagine holding a gold coin between your cheeks.

3) Your hips must remain flat at all times, no rocking side to side.  Imagine a carton of eggs on your lower back.

4) Your spine needs to be neutral at all times, so a broom stick on the back in contact with your head-mid-back and lower back will do the trick.

5) Control is the key here so the repetitions are not important, the technique is.  If your glutes are tight, spine neutral, feet straight and still and your speed is constant trust me your abs will quickly let you know that they are working hard.

As a side note all these moves can be combined with a push up movement to increase the intensity and the difficulty.  Perform this type of training one to two days per week at the end of your workout.  Training abs first is a fitness myth, we do not want the abs fatigued early and then ask them to help give torso/spine stiffness through a workout.  Training abs last or toward the end of a workout makes a lot more sense and means that you have to do a lot less abdominal work as they are already fatigued from the workout.  Next month we will look at back extensions.

About The Author:

Bryan Fass is the author of “Fit Responder”, a comprehensive wellness plan for the first responder, and the Fit Responder Blog. Bryan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Medicine and is certified as a licensed athletic trainer and a strength and conditioning specialist. He was a paramedic for over 8 years. Bryan has authored four books regarding fitness, wellness and human performance. Bryan is available for Consulting and Speaking on Public Safety Fitness Testing along with Fitness, Wellness and Injury Prevention Programs. Contact him via email to bryan@firepoliceemsfitness.net.

Remember to please like our Facebook page! https://www.facebook.com/hub911com  - send us your emergency services org. or dept. web site - we will post it for FREE on the hub911.com!

_  Hydrogen Cyanide Awareness

There are many types of hazards emergency service personnel deal with everyday. During any fire ground operation we have trained our personnel on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning resulting from fires. There is another danger to firefighters and victims which is less recognized, and that is acute cyanide poisoning. In 2005 there were 87 firefighter deaths in the United States. 4000 firefighters were injured by smoke inhalation, and it was estimated to be up to 80% of all fire fatalities are attributed to smoke inhalation. There has been mounting evidence that hydrogen cyanide is directly responsible for many deaths than previously assumed.

Where does cyanide poisoning come from? Ordinary materials we use everyday in our lives. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) is produced by high temperatures and low oxygen concentrations. The incomplete combustion of natural fibers such as wood, silk, cotton, and paperfavors the formula of cyanide gas. Synthetic polymers (Common man-made materials), include, insulations, carpeting, bedding, and building materials, which is found exclusively in most modern homesand our vehicles being produced today. Other small-scale users are photographic labs, blueprinting, engrave computer chips, clandestine drug labs and manufacturing phencyclidine (PCP) locations.

Small amounts of cyanide are present in the environment and in humans. So how much hydrogen cyanide gas can kill you? The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) website [see http://www.osha.gov] under “Summary of toxicology” Hydrogen cyanide can cause rapid death due to metabolic asphyxiation. Death can occur within seconds or minutes of the inhalation of high concentrations of hydrogen cyanide gas. A recent study reports an estimated lethal concentration in humans of 3,404 parts per million (ppm) for a 1- minute exposure; other sources report that 270 ppm is fatal after 6 to 8 minutes, 181 ppm after 10 minutes and 135 ppm after 30 minutes.

(OSHA) also lists the threshold odor concentration for detection of hydrogen cyanide as 0.10 ppmas an 8 hour time weighted average (TWA) concentration, but exposed to smoke from burning materials will prevent the ability to smell HCN gas. The OSHA PEL also bears a "Skin" notation, which indicates that, the coetaneous route of exposure which including mucous membranes and eyes contributes to overall exposure. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) lists a lower limit of 4.7 ppm for short term exposure limit. American Conference of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has also assigned 4.7 ppm as a worker ceiling limits. Both (NIOSH) and (ACGIH) are more conservative than OSHA. The word “SKIN” by NIOSH and OSHA listing shows that hydrogen cyanide can be absorbed by the skin and eyes in addition to inhalation.

Although there is no quick test to confirm any HCN exposure in the field, there are signs and symptoms that can lead to assumption of possible exposure. The signs and symptoms sound and look familiar, disorientation or weakness/drowsiness, shortness of breath and chest tightness, headaches, bright red discoloration in skin, soot around mouth and nose. HCN exposures are quite similar to those of carbon monoxide (CO) exposure, but 24 times more deadly than CO. Specific indicator that is present in HCN exposures is rapid respirations. In most cases patient will maintain a pulse of 100 beats per minute or greater, and will not begin to feel better once placed in fresh air. Chronic effects HCN include respiratory arrest, eye irritation, palpitations, weakness, and paralysis. Treatment starts with removing the patient from the fire ground or hot zone. If the patient is wearing an air pack it should not be removed until after they are brought to clean air. Implement appropriate emergency treatment per your medical protocols.

Prevention starts with respiratory protection requirements (SCBA’s) and personal protection equipment (PPE’s), while operating on any fire ground or in hot zones. During overhaul operations (SCBA) & (PPE) should still be worn until the atmosphere can be declared safe by HCN detectors, along with the CO detectors. Company officers must enforce protection of their personnel and ensure (SCBA) & (PPE) are in place while on the fire ground. Train as you play, to ensure the comfort levels of our personnel while engaged in difficult operation such as climbing ladders, operating on roofs, and operating confined spaces. Post fire decontamination is a must. Take showers and change your clothes after each fire, along with washing your turnout gear per manufacturer’s recommendations.

All emergency service personnel must understand hydrogen cyanide is a silent killer. Departments need to educate and train there personnel accordingly. Develop standing operating procedures for detecting of hydrogen cyanide. Ensure that SCBA’s and PPE’s are in place while on the fire ground. Ensure your medical protocols address the treatment of hydrogen cyanide exposures. Additional information and other resources can be found at these websites: http://www.firesmoke.org/, http://www.osha.gov, http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/, http://www.acgih.org

Stay safe!

Edmund Gratz
Assistant Fire Chief
Kimball Township Fire Department
1970 Allen Rd. Kimball, MI 48074

 

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Should a disaster strike their community, neighborhood or school, a group of Goffstown Area High School students will be more prepared to help, once they complete the Teen Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. TEEN CERT is a pilot program that mirrors the CERT program developed for adult citizens who want to be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Similar to CERT, TEEN CERT educates and trains participants in preparing for disasters that impact their area learning a range of disaster response skills, including fire suppression, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations and animal response. This CERT training requires that the students participate in a 20-hour training program to become certified by the NH Department of Safety. This training will benefit all students but especially those who are considering a career path in emergency services as well at the military. Colleges throughout the country also have Campus CERT Teams. This training can be carried over to these programs as well. This is a nationally known program and also looks great on college applications, especially when applying for college grants.

Guest speakers/trainers include Lt. Mark Lemay from the Goffstown Fire Department, Officer Ryan Buker from the Goffstown Police Department school resource officer, Dr. Matt Lewis a Goffstown Veterinarian as well as a Goffstown CERT member and Cheryl Paquette an EMT and also a Goffstown CERT member.

“I am very honored to be part of the first high school group to be trained in the state  to go through the course knowing that these students could step up to this challenge. They will be ready to help themselves and others in case of an emergency,” said Susan Jutras director of the adult Goffstown CERT and a specialty trainer with the NH Department of Safety who coordinated this program.

Once fully trained the student will receive a CERT backpack complete with hard hat, safety vest, latex gloves, first aid kit, dust mask, flashlight, safety goggles, emergency blanket, and light stick which will be supplied by FEMA and Volunteer NH.

The four week training sessions will be offered on the following four Sundays from 11am to 4pm. Complementary lunches will be provided: March 11, 18, 25 and April 1, 2012. Registration will be open until February 19th. This is on a first come first serve training for the first 20 to register for teens between the ages of 14 and 17. For questions or to register for the FREE TEEN CERT training contact Susan Jutras through the Goffstown Police Department at (603) 497-4858 or e-mail goffstowncert@hotmail.com.