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A Setup For Success
Posted On 18 Oct 2013
Being a volunteer fire chief with a rather large response area (26 square miles); I am not only often first due on an alarm but also might be tasked with operating alone for some time before the “cavalry” shows up. Whether it be an EMS alarm, motor vehicle accident or structure fire I need to make sure I have the equipment on hand to handle the alarm until apparatus begins to arrive. I thought it would be interesting to show how I have my vehicle set up. You might be able to take some ideas for either your vehicle or apparatus to make sure you are “Set Up For Success”.
A) Bunker gear, helmet, SCBA, flashlight and portable radios.
B) Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
C) Reflective vest, chief’s Hat and a small kit that contains through the lock forcible entry tools, elevator keys, glass punch and assorted small hand tools. Also keep spare gloves, nomex hood; and believe it or not…sunscreen. Being fair-skinned it really comes in handy sometimes!
D) Medical bag: A complete BLS kit with oxygen, cervical collars, bleeding control, oral glucose, albuterol, aspirin, BVM, latex gloves and anything else you can think of to manage an immediate life threat for an adult or pediatric patient.
E) Command Board: slide out white board with storage underneath that I keep pre-plans and other pertinent information for certain addresses throughout district.
F) Thermal imaging camera.
G) EMS gear and PCR board.
H) 2 ½ gallon water extinguisher.
I) Dry chemical extinguisher, set of irons, officers tool and bolt cutters.
As you can see, I have a well-rounded compliment of equipment that enables to me to operate at basically any type of alarm if I was arrive ahead of any other apparatus.
If you have any questions or comments on this anything you see here feel free to ask in the comment section below.
Until next time, be safe.
As a volunteer Search and Rescue member that responds to or is first on sence of every type of call you can think of and who has to set up and pays for much of my own equipment I can appreciate the back to basic set up of your unit and will be looking at doing the same with my own truck . Thanks for the ideas. Vince from Rocky Mountain House ,Alberta Canada
Hi Vince, thank you for taking the time to comment on my article. I am glad you found it informative and gave you some ideas for your own set up. If you have any further questions or would like some additional shots of what I have in the back of my truck please feel free to ask.
Just a couple of questions. Did you design, and build it yourself? Could you share by email more detailed and up close pictures? This is a great ideal.
Hi Robert, no I did not design or build the box myself. It was provided to me with my chief’s vehicle. I am actually running a slightly different box at the moment complete with a white board on a pull out draw and now also have a mount for an Ipad that I use as an MDT.The box is constructed of standard plywood, I would be happy to provide you with more detailed pictures if you would like. Would it be just the box you would like to see or the equipment I carry as well?
My department is getting a duty officer vehicle which is a Crown Victoria. I’m not quite sure that all of that equipment will fit. What is the most essential things we should have in the vehicle?
Thanks for the comment Jason. The most essential things in your vehicle would depend on your SOP’s as well as what type of department you are. Do you run EMS? If so, you should have a BLS kit as well as a defibrillator. For the fire side you would need bunker gear, SCBA, and a basic set of tools. Maybe a can and a set of irons. That should at least get you rolling before the cavalry shows up. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss this topic further I would be happy to. Be safe!
We know the importance of IC Structure and Team Accountability. We developed Portable “ICS Port-a-Board” Write-on type ICS and other Team Accountability/Task Assignment boards available in different sizes over the past 10 years, that would be portable, light weight, durable, water resistant boards for Water Rescue, DIVE, Hazmat, Emergency Management, Public Health, ERT and more, that would be perfect to fit in any truck! Please visit our site and let me know what you think. We have supplied many different fire services all over the U.S. http://www.cherrybrotherdesigns.com for more information and list of customers. Thank you.
Very Nice, SUV. “Set Up For Success”.
Congratulations and Stay Safe.
Regards from Chile.
Loved it …
Keep the good work
Greetings from a Portuguese Firechief
If anyone needs command cabinets First Priority Emergency Vehicle Center builds and installs them. The cabinets are manufactured using special MDO plywood (same wood used for billboards) because it’s the only wood capable of withstanding the demands that emergency vehicles are subject to. The cabinets are also transferable from vehicle to vehicle for years to come. See http://WWW.EmergencyVehicleCenter.Com for more information.
I am currently building the spec’s for my new Chief’s truck. Looking at a crew cab pickup with a hard camper shell and slide out bed. Any suggestions?
I would be interested. My department and I are in the process of creating a new Chief’s truck for me.
Hey chief who build the box for your truck in this pic. Im in a 3rd division dept. just looking for ideas for my truck thanxs
We build command boxes like the one shown and can install them or deliver it for you to install. Feel free to visit our web site at http://www.EmergencyVehicleCenter.com for additional photos and information. All of our command boxes are custom made so if you have an idea we can build it for you.
Be Safe