annual report-2008.pdf - The City of Titusville, Florida

Battalion 3—Station #13L-R: Firefighter Adam Vaknin, Firefighter ShawnHolbrook, Firefighter/Paramedic Brian Strong, Driver-Operator/Paramedic Doug Chamberlain, Lieutenant/Paramedic Brian MarfittA Firefighter’sday isn’t agame ofcheckersIn the middle of the twentieth century, we allwatched Beaver visit his friend, Gus theFireman, and watched as they played arousing round of checkers. But, the jobresponsibilities of a Firefighter in the twentyfirstcentury is no longer a game.Number of bicycle accidents: 8• Bicycle versus motor vehicle: 2• Falls from bicycles: 5• Bicycle versus pedestrian: 1• Average age of bicyclist: 31 yearsPedestrian accidents: 9We often refer to our fire department as an“all hazards” department. That means ourfirefighters don’t sit around the fire housewaiting for the fire bell to go off. Titusville’sfirefighter job responsibilities consist ofmultiple disciplines: structural firefighting,vehicle accidents, medical services, confinedspace rescues, water rescues, hazardousmaterials responses, aircraft responseand rescue, wildland fires, public educationand community services. When a firefighteris not dealing with an emergency call, thereare equipment, station maintenance, andtraining, training, training, training .When community and firefighter lives are atstake, it’s no game.12