"On The Floor"

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On the 26th of August 2005, I performed my first Canadian night duty on "A" shift at 201 Stn Brampton Headquarters.

The shifts are slightly different to Australian ones, the Canadians like us do the 10 hour days & the 14 hour night shifts but it's in different blocks, instead of the Australian system of 2 days followed by 2 nights followed by 4 off, the Canadian ststem comprises of;

The Canadian system works along the lines of 5 day duties straight, followed by 5 days off.
Then 4 night duties straight followed by 5 days off.
Then you work 2 day duties (Monday + Tuesday), then 3 night duties (Wed night, Thurs night & Fri night), followed by 4 days off.

Confused...You should try working it.

For the first few weeks, at the end of every shift, I'd say to the Capt, "So boss, when do you want me back here next ?"......."Whadya mean..... never"
In the Brampton Fire Dept there are,

1 Hazmat
3 Squads
1 Technical Rescue
5 pumpers
7 Ariel Pumpers
2 District Chief vehicles
1 mobile Canteen.

http://www.city.brampton.on.ca/fire/firefighting.html

There pumper staffing levels are the same, Captain & 3, although the squad can drop down one & run with Capt & 2.
The reason being, if we get turned out to a M.V.C (Motor Vehicle Collision), in our area then we turn out with our pump and arrive together.
If the call is on another Stn's ground (the sqad covers 4 other Stn's grounds), then it stands to reason that the other crew will get there first to stabalise the vehicle, perform patient care & extrication efforts with hand held pneumatic recue tools (Enerpac).

Then one of two things happen;

Option A = Squad 201 gets called off because the situation is in hand and get returned to Stn via the Ice cream shop

Option B = Squad 201 arrives on scene, the squad driver operates the hydrolics on the truck or the portable generator to power the tools, the fellas on the back assist the original crew by introducing Hurst hydrolic rescue shears, rams & spreaders an' the like into the evolution.
Bish Bosh, everyone's a winner, squad 201 goes back to the Stn......... via the Ice cream shop.

If there is a medical call on our ground, pump 201 is the responding appliance, unless the pump is allready commited then the Squad will respond. In the Pump the person sitting behind the Capt, is designated to carry the Oxy-viva and trauma bag, whereas the person sitting behind the driver is designated the suction unit and De-fib side of things.

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Photos

The "Toocan" Australian.
All of the appliances have a compleate intercom set up, so as the entire crew can listen to Comms & converse amoungst themselves.

The Guys
Tony, Warren,Mike & Dave.

My first Canadian car park
That's me, just to the left of the big bloke.

The Squad & Pumper .
Both of 201's appliances, out side the Stn.

Hwy 401 Freeway Job
10'000L Diesel Tanker 'V' car.
On one of Toronto's main commuter arterial freeways.

The final turnout......
4 Police cruisers,
3 pumps,
2 Ariel pumps,
2 Ambulances,
1 Hazmat,
1 Squad &
1 Helicopter.

Comments

[sharon costin]

congratulations , we have seen your pictures today , they are brilliant, I hope you are still still enjoying canada. all my love Sharon. x p.s. nan sends her love

[mum]

David how is the "camping" going ? Nan and Sharon came up yesterday, it was good to see where you are and what you are all doing. The station in Australia is pretty impressive too - what a base. Watch out for the bears! love mum