Are You Drinking Empty Calories That Prevent You From Losing Weight? 24. March 2015 Jim Brinkley For many people who want to eat healthy, beverages can sabotage their efforts. Making changes to your beverage choices could be the key to taking your health and well-being to the next level. Instead of reaching for the coffee pot in the morning, try a cup of warm water with fresh lemon j... [More]
Winter Safety and Health Checklist for Fire Fighters 7. January 2014 Jim Brinkley The Ohio Association of Professional Fire Fighters has done a good job of asking residents in their state to help fire fighters in cold and snowy conditions. You can do the same by sharing these tips with your community in this article.Fire Fighters should be careful to not neglect themselves when r... [More]
What to Examine in a Commercial Kitchen Fire 4. October 2013 Jim Brinkley Commercial kitchens aren’t only places to prepare delicious food, but are also a common source for fire emergencies. An estimated 8,000 eating establishment fires occur in the United States each year, with most fires originating in the commercial kitchen area. The U.S. Fire Administration/Nat... [More]
Solar panel rooftops and fire fighters 18. September 2013 Jim Brinkley It is no secret that the solar industry is booming. Photovoltaic (PV) systems are reportedly being installed every four minutes. The number is only expected to increase with experts predicting that a system will be installed every minute and 28 seconds by 2016. In addition, the U.S. is expected to... [More]
Make Your Health a Priority 1. April 2013 Jim Brinkley Fire Fighters and emergency personnel can’t afford to neglect their own health and safety. It’s National Public Health Week and a good time to remember the importance of taking care of yourselves while busy taking care of others. Good health starts at home. Fewer than 15 percent of adu... [More]
Improving Fire Fighter Safety Discussed at FIERO Symposium II 13. March 2013 Jim Brinkley The Fire Industry Equipment Research Organization (FIERO) personal protective equipment symposium in Raleigh North Carolina last week was designed to be a factual series of presentations about the PPE that most fire fighters use on a regular basis. Last week I detailed the presentations from the fir... [More]
Fire Prevention and Safety Grants Under Review 15. February 2013 Jim Brinkley The application period for the FY 2012 Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants closed on January 18, 2013. The FP&S Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and fire fighters from fire and related hazards. The ... [More]
Moving Forward With Workplace Safety 8. February 2013 Jim Brinkley As a labor union, we support causes that will improve the quality of life for all working people. The inhalation of silica particles has long been known to cause lung cancer and silicosis, a disabling and sometimes fatal lung disease. An estimated 1.7 million workers are exposed to silica dust each ... [More]
Nine Ways to Protect Your Home This Winter 16. January 2013 Jim Brinkley Winter has arrived and as the temperature dips below normal levels across the country, many people will strive to ensure they do whatever it takes to stay warm in their home during a frigid season. Despite not being the primary heating source, heating equipment has always been a popular ... [More]
Protect Yourself from the Flu 10. January 2013 Jim Brinkley The 2012-2013 flu season is well underway and surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that flu activity across the U.S. is higher than expected. Twenty-nine states have reported high influenza-like illness activity and there is widespread geographic influenza act... [More]
Avoid carbon monoxide risks 4. December 2012 Jim Brinkley About 50 Atlanta school children were sent to the hospital with carbon monoxide exposure Monday. The scary incident put a spotlight on how lethal carbon monoxide can be. Here are some tips forIAFF members on how to protect themselves on incident scenes. Known as the silent killer because you can&rs... [More]
Prepare Yourself in Case of a Mayday 20. November 2012 Jim Brinkley In Chicago, a mayday was called recently after a fire fighter fell through a floor while fighting a fire in a vacant building on the South Side. The fire fighter suffered a broken right arm, but is expected to be okay. Data compiled by the United States Fire Administration shows fire fighters beco... [More]
Six tips to help you identify a hoarder fire 6. March 2012 Jim Brinkley Compulsive hoarding behavior is a disorder that goes beyond having too many possessions stashed away in your living quarters. It’s also a public safety issue that puts homeowners and fire fighters at risk.Tempe, AZ Local 493 faced a growing public safety concern when fire fighters responded to... [More]
Reducing heart attacks 10. February 2012 Jim Brinkley February is American Heart Month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cardio vascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Approximately 100 fire fighters die in the line of duty each year and heart attacks account for 45 percent of all work-related deaths among fire fi... [More]
Managing your stress level 9. January 2012 Jim Brinkley IAFF members are called to respond to high-pressure situations every day, risking their own health and safety to care for others.As we start the new year, this is a good opportunity to remind members that the IAFF has resources to help handle the day-to-day challenges associated with the job. Fire ... [More]
