Wayne

DO YOU KNOW

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT CISTERNS

THIS ISN'T SPECIFICALLY ABOUT DETROIT CISTERNS AS TO SIZE AND STYLE BUT RATHER A GENERAL IDEA.

THEY WERE ABOUT 8' DEEP BY 5' IN DIA.

THEY HAD BOTH A FILL AND DRAIN VALVE.

THEY DRAFTED FROM A CISTERN MORE THEN PUMPING FROM A HYDRANT.

WHILE WE HAD TO PUMP OUR HYDRANTS IN THE WINTERTIME, THEY HAD TO ADD SALT TO THE CISTERN

SO THEY WOULDN'T FREEZE UP..

AGAIN THIS IS JUST A GENERAL IDEA AS I READ OF VARIOUS SIZES AND NO FILL OR DRAIN VALVES.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME ARTICLES STATED THAT THE SAND, DIRT, AND GRIT IN THE WATER USED FROM PONDS, RIVERS,

HYDRANTS ,AND CISTERNS HAS MORE DAMAGING EFFECT ON A PISTON PUMP VERSES A CENTRIFUGAL PUMP.

THE PUMP PISTONS AND CYLINDERS WERE DAMAGED

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES , WHEN THEY FIRST INSTALLED THE GAMEWELL SYSTEM, RATHER THEN GOING TO THE EXPENSE

OF INSTALLING POLES TO HANG THE WIRING, THEY JUST STRUNG THE WIRE ON HOUSES AND BUILDINGS.

DO YOU KNOW

WE HAD BOX ALARMS, STILL ALARMS, SPECIAL ALARMS, WATER FLOW ALARMS BUT WHAT IS

A " TOWER ALARM"?

IT WAS AN ALARM, TURNED IN BY THE WATCHMAN IN THE

FIREHOUSE WATCH TOWER, UPON SPOTTING A FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

ANOTHER NAME FOR A

STOKER
IS
ASSISTANT ENGINEER .

DO YOU KNOW

IN THE EARLY DAYS, VOLUNTEER FIREMEN
HAD TO KEEP HOLES CHOPPED IN THE RIVER,
AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME COMMUNITIES, BEFORE RUNNING CARDS, LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE AREA WAS KEPT IN A JOURNAL

AND THE VARIOUS FIRE COMPANIES RESPONDING.

DO YOU KNOW

ACCORDING TO ONE ARTICLE, THE NOZZLES ON A STEAMER COULDN'T COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AS IF YOU DID IT

WOULD DAMAGE THE PUMPS.

IT HAD TO DO WITH THE HAVING A POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT PUMP RATHER THEN A CENTRIFUGAL ONE.

THERE WAS JUST ONE REFERENCE TO THIS THAT I FOUND.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME FIRE DEPARTMENTS CALL A "SUPER KELLY" A

DOUBLE KELLY , OR DOUBLE APPLES OR DOUBLE BUBBLES

DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS, THAT PRIOR TO THE SWING HITCH, THE

HORSES HAD TO SLEEP IN THEIR HARNESSES.

DO YOU KNOW

WHEN THE HORSES WERE BEING HITCHES UP TO A 3 HORSE HITCH THE CENTER HORSE

WAS LET OUT OF HIS STALL JUST A BIT BEFORE THE OTHER TWO.

THIS WAS TO ALLOW HIM TO GET TO HIS CENTER POSITION BEFORE THE OTHER TWO GOT IN HIS WAY.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT YOU DIDN'T LIGHT THE STEAMERS FIRE UNTIL YOU WERE JUST ABOUT OUT OF THE ENGINE HOUSE DOORS.

  OTHERWISE THE SMOKE WOULD PERMEATE THE APPARATUS ROOM AND UPSTAIRS DORMITORY.

DO YOU REMEMBER

GETTING A RUN AT NIGHT TO A NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THE HOUSES WERE REAL CLOSE TOGETHER,

NO ADDRESS, JUST A REPORT OF SMOKE IN THE AREA. SMOKE FILLED THE BLOCK AND YOU HAD

TO RUN HOUSE TO HOUSE TO FIND THE ONE THAT WAS ON FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT INITIALLY SPRINKLERS WERE HOOKED UP TO THE NEAREST FIRE BOX. THE WATER FLOW ACTED AS A

BOX PULLED. LATER THE WATER FLOW WAS HOOKED TO PRIVATE COMPANIES AND THEY THEN SENT OUT

THE ALARM.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU KNOW

THERE WAS A PRACTICE , IN LONDON, OF "BOUNCING CARS THAT BLOCKED THEIR NARROW STREETS"

HERE'S HOW IT WORKED.

A BUNCH OF FIREMEN WOULD START BOUNCING THE CAR AND AT A

CERTAIN ARRANGED BOUNCE WOULD PUSH SIDEWAYS AT THE UPSTROKE .

THEY KEPT DOING THIS UNTIL THE CAR CLEARED ENOUGH OF THE STREET SO THEY COULD PASS WITH THEIR RIG.

DO YOU KNOW

IN LONDON, HAVING THE LINE

IS

WORKING WITH A JET.

DO YOU KNOW

WASHING DOWN AND PICKING UP IN LONDON

IS

DAMPING DOWN AND MAKING UP.

DO YOU KNOW

WHEN STEAMERS FIRST CAME IN TO BEING THERE WAS THE NEED FOR SOMEONE TO OPERATE IT (ENGINEER)

AND A DRIVER OF THE TEAM OF HORSES. SINCE MANY TOWNS HAD RULES AGAINST A PAID DEPARTMENT

THEY GOT AROUND THIS BY HIRING THEM UNDER THE TITLE OF "POLICEMEN"

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHENEVER A BOX NUMBER CAME OVER THE REGISTER IT WAS AN ACTUAL BOX LOCATION

EXCEPT FOR ONE SERIES OF NUMBERS BEGINNING WITH THE NUMBER 7

WHAT WHERE THESE NUMBERS AND IF NOT A BOX LOCATION WHAT WERE THEY?

THINK, OLD TIMER, THINK

HINT, THE FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH ONE OF THE "BOXES" CAME OVER THE REGISTER.

777 WAR SIGNAL___ PRELIMINARY ATTACK___ALERT SIGNAL
2-777 WAR SIGNAL ___(DISPERSAL SIGNAL) ATTACK___ALERT SIGNAL
3-777 FIRE DEPT. SIGNAL___RECALL MEN ON LEAVE
4-777 FIRE DEPT. SIGNAL___CALL AUXILIARY FIRE FIGHTERS
7777 WAR SIGNAL___ATTACK___ALERT (EVACUATION SIGNAL)
2-7777 FIRE DEPT.___RELEASE MEN ON LEAVE
3-7777 FIRE DEPT.___RELEASE AUXILIARY FIRE FIGHTERS
4-7777    FIRE DEPT.___AIR RAID SIREN TEST
7-7777 WAR SIGNAL___"TAKE COVER" WARNING (PUBLIC)

NOTE: BOX 4-7777    FIRE DEPT.___AIR RAID SIREN TEST CAME IN ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF
EVERY MONTH
BOX 3-777 FIRE DEPT. SIGNAL___RECALL MEN ON LEAVE
&
BOX 2-7777 FIRE DEPT.___RELEASE MEN ON LEAVE
CAME IN ON THE YEARS 1967 & 1968
.

"REMEMBER"
WAYNE

DO YOU REALIZE

THE DIFFERENCE IN MOVING OUR RIG, DUE TO IT GETTING TOO HOT, AND A STEAMER TO A NEW POSITION.

ON OUR RIG YOU WOULD JUST JUMP IN THE SEAT AND DRIVE AWAY

ON THE STEAMER YOU WOULD TRY TO GET THE HORSES BACK FROM A SAFE AREA INTO THE HOT FIRE SCENE,

HOOK THEM BACK UP AND THEN PULL TO A NEW LOCATION.

AT TIMES IT WAS TOO HOT FOR THE HORSES TO GET RE-HITCHED AND

THE STEAMER WAS TOO HEAVY TO MANUALLY PUSH SO IN SOME CASES IT BURNED UP.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT WHEN THEY BLEW UP A HOUSE / BUILDING FOR A FIRE BREAK THERE WERE, AT TIMES, PROBLEMS.

MANY TIMES THE COMMUNITY DIDN'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT WERE WELL VERSED IN THE USE OF

GUNPOWDER FOR THIS TASK.

WHEN THE BUILDING DIDN'T COMPLETELY BLOW UP, AT TIMES JUST THE WINDOWS BLEW OUT, NOW

VENTILATING IT . ALSO THE PLASTER WOULD BLOW OFF THE WALLS EXPOSING THE WOODEN LATH FOR

MORE FIRE FUEL.

THEN THERE WAS THE FACT IF THE BUILDING DID COLLAPSE, IT WOULD FALL IN THE STREETS .IT BLOCKED

THE FIRE APPARATUS FROM EXTINGUISHING IT, IF AND WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE.

THERE WASN'T A CONTROLLED BLOWING UP OF BUILDINGS AS WE HAVE TODAY.

DO YOU KNOW

THE FIRST AERIAL TRUCK WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1870, HAYES AERIAL

THE FIRST AERIALS TRUCKS WERE RAISED BY TWO MEN, HAND CRANKING IT UP.

THEN THE RAISING WAS DONE WITH A SET OF SPRINGS INSIDE CYLINDERS. WHEN RELEASED

THE SPRING RAISED THE LADDER.

THE FLY HAD TO BE HAND RAISED.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT WATER TOWERS NOT ONLY HAD NOZZLES ON THE END OF THEIR TOWER FOR THE UPPER FLOORS

BUT THERE ARE PICTURES OF THEM WITH DECK GUNS FOR THE LOWER FLOORS.

DO YOU KNOW

WHEN THE HOSE WAGON STRETCHED FROM THE ENGINE TO THE FIRE , THE FIREMEN WRAPPED THE LINE

AROUND ONE OF THE ENGINES WHEELS SO IT WOULDN'T BE DRAGGED WITH THE WAGON.

DO YOU KNOW

PRIOR TO THE "QUICK HITCH" THE HORSES ALWAYS WORE THEIR HARNESS. WHEN BEING CLEANED,

ONLY ONE HORSE WAS UNHARNESSED AT A TIME

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE SPRINKLER HEAD SHUTOFF TOOL...

1 TOOL CLOSED SO YOU CAN INSERT IT IN THE SPRINKLER HEAD AFTER THE WATER STOPPING DEVICE HAS MELTED AWAY DUE TO THE HEAT OF A FIRE.

2 TOOL OPEN TO THE WATER STOPPING POSITION

3 SPRINKLER HEAD WITH THE WATER STOPPING DEVICE INTACT.

4 SPRINKLER HEAD WITH THE WATER STOPPING DEVICE MELTED AND THE SHUTOFF TOOL INSERTED STOPPING THE FLOW OF WATER.. NOTICE, YOU SLID THAT RING BACK TO LOCK THE TOOL IN THE OPEN POSITION

THE BLACK PIECE ON THE TOOL IS A HALF RUBBER BALL TO STOP THE WATER

THERE WERE A LARGE VARIETY OF WATER STOPPING DEVICES, GLASS BULBS, AND MANY DIFFERENT MELTING LINKS.

THEY ALL HAD A TEMPERATURE RATING STAMPED ON THEM AND YOU HAD TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE WITH THE SAME TEMPERATURE NEW SPRINKLER HEAD.

GUESS WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO CLIMB ON A LADDER GETTING SOAKING WET AND INSERT THE TOOL?

NO, NOT THE DRIVER

NO, NOT THE BOSS

AND ESPECIALLY NOT THE SENIOR MAN

IT WAS THE YOUNG" WHIPPER SNAPPERS" JOB

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY......................EXCEPT THE YOUNG" WHIPPER SNAPPER"

WAYNE

DO YOU REMEMBER

THE CIRCUIT TESTER BLOCKS

ABOVE ARE A BANK OF 10 THAT WERE ABOVE THE BIG BELL. I JUST ENLARGED ONE TO GIVE YOU A BETTER

PICTURE.

REMEMBER ON SUNDAY MORNINGS FROM 8:30 AM TO 9:00 AM CENTRAL OFFICE WOULD CALL THE COMPANIES AND TELL YOU TO PUT PIN NUMBER _ IN HOLE NUMBER _ AND GIVE A COUNT OF EIGHT BY TAPING THE KEY EIGHT TIMES.

OFFICIALLY, THE BOSS WAS SUPPOSED TO TEST THE CIRCUIT ACCORDING TO THE REAL OLD RULE BOOK, BUT AS

TIME PASSED IT WAS THE MAN ON WATCH THAT DID IT.

ALSO IF THEY HAD PROBLEMS ON THE LINE, CENTRAL WOULD HAVE YOU CHANGE PIN POSITIONS.

NOTE I WROTE 8:00 AM & 9:00 AM RATHER THEN 0830 HRS & 0900 HRS AS THAT'S THE TERMINOLOGY WE USED BACK THEN.

NOTE 2. THIS ONE IS CLEANED AND POLISHED UP BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE REAL ONES LOOKED .

THEY WERE ALWAYS COVERED IN COBWEBS, LOTS OF COBWEBS..

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE
DO YOU KNOW

WHILE OUR POLE HOLE TRAP DOORS OPERATED BY KICKING THAT FOOT LEVER TO FLIP OPEN THE TWO DOORS

THERE WERE OTHER TYPES.

THERE WAS ONE THAT OPENED AUTOMATICALLY BY ELECTRICITY WHEN THE ALARM RANG.

ANOTHER HAD A FLAT CIRCULAR COVER THAT SPRANG UP TO THE CEILING WHEN RELEASED.

DO YOU KNOW

AT TIMES SOME HORSES BECAME SO EXCITED UPON AN ALARM THAT IF THE ENGINE HOUSE DOORS WERE OPEN

THEY TOOK OFF BEFORE BEING HITCHED.

THAT'S WHY ON SOME OLD ENGINE HOUSE PICTURES YOU SEE A CHAIN ACROSS THE DOOR OPENING.

DO YOU KNOW

THE MAJORITY OF HOSE TOWERS WERE IN THE REAR OF THE FIREHOUSES FOR EASIER LOADING AND UNLOADING OF

THE LINE TO HANG UP.

SOME HOSE TOWERS WERE BUILT IN THE FRONT OF THE FIREHOUSES EVEN THOUGH IT MADE IT INCONVENIENT TO

DRAG THE LINE FROM THE BACK OF THE ENGINE AND UP FRONT TO THE HOSE TOWER.

THE REASON FOR THIS IS THE ARCHITECT LIKED THE DESIGN AND CONVINCED THE COMMUNITIES TO BUILD IT THIS WAY.

THE POLITICIANS DIDN'T HAVE TO HANG THE LINE, THE FIREMEN DID.

THERE IS ANOTHER HOSE TOWER THAT IS HALF THE HEIGHT OF OURS.

OURS STARTED AT THE FIRST FLOOR AND WENT TO THE ROOF.

WELL THEY HAVE ONE THAT HALF THE TOWER GOES TO THE BASEMENT , UP THROUGH THE FIRST FLOOR

AND UP TO THE ROOF,

YOU LOADED THE LINE FROM THE FIRST FLOOR TO THE ROOF AND THEN JUST FLIPPED THE REST OF THE LINE IN THE

"TOWER SHAFT"

DO YOU REMEMBER

GETTING "STOVE BLACK" TO POLISH THE STOVE GRATES FOR INSPECTION.

IT WAS LIKE A SMALL BOTTLE OF BLACK SHOE DYE.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHY IT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO SHOVEL THE SNOW ON THE FRONT APRON OF THE ENGINE HOUSE BACK IN THE 60s

THEN IT IS IN TODAY'S FIREHOUSE?????????????

COME ON OLD TIMER THINK....................DOUBLE THINK....................TRIPLE THINK

THE OLD DOORS WERE ALL SWING OUT MANUAL DOORS. WHEN SNOW PILED UP (EVEN A COUPLE OF INCHES )

THERE WAS A CHANCE THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS.

LATER ALL THE DOORS WERE ELECTRIC ROLLUPS AND THE SNOW WOULDN'T IMPEDE THE OPERATION.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

IN DETROIT IN THE EARLY 1800s

THERE WERE AXEMEN, LADDER MEN AND BATTERING RAM MEN THAT FOUGHT FIRES

ANOTHER ARTICLE STATED ON SEPT. 23 1818 DETROIT HAD :

AXMEN

FIRE ENGINE MEN

BAGMEN

DO YOU REMEMBER

AFTER THE REGISTER SYSTEM WAS TAKEN OUT AND WE WENT TO THE PRINTERS, THE VARIOUS WAYS THE GUYS

THOUGHT UP TO HAVE THE PRINTER ALERT US WHEN A RUN CAME IN.

SOME HOUSES TOOK A SMALL PIPE THAT THEY PLACED ON THE PRINTER PAPER.

WHEN A RUN CAME IN AND THE PAPER ROLLED, THE PIPE FELL TO THE FLOOR, ALERTING US..

SOME STATIONS HAD A PA SYSTEM OR USED BABY MONITORS.

ONE MONITOR WAS BY THE PRINTER AND THE OTHER IN THE KITCHEN.

THERE WERE ALSO HOMEMADE ALARM DEVICES WITH A SET OF CONTACTS CLIPPED ON THE COMPUTER PAPER.

WHEN THE PRINTER PAPER MOVED IT CAME OUT FROM THE CONTACTS AND TRIGGERED AN ALARM..

SOME ENGINE HOUSES HAD MOTION DETECTORS SET TO MONITOR THE PRINTER PAPER

DO YOU KNOW

IN THE EARLY DAYS IN SEATTLE ONE FIRE STATION HAD A SPIRAL SLIDE CHUTE INSTEAD OF A POLE.

DO YOU KNOW

PRIOR TO 1936 ALL NOZZLES WERE STRAIGHT STREAM. A LOS ANGELES FIREMAN INVENTED A FOG NOZZLE..

DO YOU REMEMBER

AS A TRIALMAN, YOU COULDN'T WATCH TELEVISION, READ THE PAPER OR ANY BOOKS UNLESS IT WAS

PERTAINING TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND HAD TO EAT BY YOURSELF AT THE WATCH DESK
.
THEN THERE WERE SOME OF THE REAL CROTCHETY

OLD-TIMERS THAT SAID " I DON'T TALK TO TRIALMEN."
AND THEY DIDN'T .

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY...........EXCEPT SOME OF OF YOU REAL CROTCHETY OLD-TIMERS AS
"I DON'T TALK TO REAL CROTCHETY OLD-TIMERS.

WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

PRIOR TO TRAINING ACADEMY'S, EACH FIRE COMPANY WAS, IN A SENSE, AN INDEPENDENT FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THEY ALL HAD THEIR OWN METHODS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BURNING COAL IN A STEAMER PRODUCED A HOTTER FIRE THEN BURNING WOOD.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN SOME COMMUNITIES

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

WAS CALLED

THE FIRE BUREAU

DO YOU KNOW

THE OLD TILLER STEERING WHEEL WAS SET HORIZONTAL ON THE STEERING SHAFT.

THEN THROUGH OUT THE YEARS IT WENT TO THE SAME ANGLE AS THE FRONT STEERING WHEEL.

DO YOU KNOW

MOST EARLY FIREHOUSES WERE PAINTED "WHITE"

DO YOU REMEMBER

"RETCHING"

I KNOW YOU REMEMBER THOSE DAYS.

AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER" YOU TRIED TO "EAT AS MUCH SMOKE" AS THE OLD

"LEATHER LUNG GUYS".

WHEN THEY DIDN'T HAVE THEIR MASK ON YOU WERE INTIMIDATED TO NOT PUT YOURS ON. SO YOU JUST SUCKED IN ALL

THE SMOKE TO BE ONE OF THE GUYS. SOME OF THOSE OLD TIMERS COULD REALLY EAT AN AWFUL LOT OF SMOKE.

THEY ATE SMOKE LIKE YOU ATE FOOD.

YOU KNEW IF YOU PUKED, AS A TRIALMAN ,THEY WOULD SAY "CAN'T TAKE IT, EH, KID" MAYBE

YOU WEREN'T MEANT TO BE A FIREMAN.

YOU COULD ALWAYS SELL WOMEN'S SHOES AT SEARS FOR A LIVING.

IF YOU HAD THE PIPE YOU JUST PUKED INTO THE WATER WHILE IT WAS ON FOG. THE SOUND OF WATER DROWNED OUT THE

RETCHING AND THE WATER CARRIED AWAY YOUR FOOD. THE PROBLEM AROSE WHEN YOU WEREN'T ON THE PIPE BUT JUST

IN THE SMOKE FILLED ROOM WITH THE "LEATHER LUNG GUYS" WATCHING YOU. THEN YOU

TRIED TO HOLD THE FOOD DOWN, BUT SOMETIMES IT JUST WASN'T GOING TO STAY THERE. ALL YOU KNEW WAS, THE GUYS

WEREN'T GOING TO SEE THAT YOU COULDN'T HACK IT

YOU HELD IT DOWN TILL YOU WERE ABLE TO GET TO A ROOM BY YOURSELF, EVEN IF YOU HAD

TO HIDE IN A CLOSET TO RELEASE THE FOOD. LATER AS YOU GOT SOME TIME ON THE JOB YOU JUST PUKED WHEN YOU

WANTED TO. IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR MANY OF THE GUYS THAT COULDN'T EAT A LOT OF SMOKE TO

"TOSS THEIR COOKIES", AH YES 'REMEMBER THOSE DAYS. IT WAS TRULY AMAZING HOW MUCH SMOKE SOME OF THOSE

REAL OLD "LEATHER LUNG GUYS" COULD EAT. YOU WOULD BE GASPING , COUGHING , CHOKING

AND RETCHING AND THEY JUST SUCKED IT UP. THEN THEY GAVE YOU ONE OF THOSE "SHIT EATING GRINS"

REMEMBER CLINCHING YOUR TEETH AND BREATHING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, HOPING THE AIR WOULD SOMEHOW GET

FILTERED BY JUST PASSING BETWEEN YOUR CLINCHED TEETH.. AH YES INDEED, DO YOU REMEMBER.,

WHO CAN FORGET.

NOTE: I SAID I WASN'T GOING TO WRITE ABOUT THE
BAD STUFF BUT I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE
"GROSS STUFF"

"RETCHING" IS TRULY GROSS.

BUT I WOULD RATHER RETCH AND TOSS MY COOKIES THEN SELL WOMEN'S SHOES AT SEARS FOR A LIVING.

NOTE : TO ANYONE THAT HAS HAD A FIRE AND SAW A PILE OF "USED FOOD" IN THEIR CLOSET, NOW YOU KNOW WHERE IT CAME FROM.

THE DETROIT FIREFIGHTER'S
DETROIT RECEIVING HOSPITAL
AND UNIVERSITY HEALTH CENTER
HYPERBARIC CENTER

FROM :THEIR WEB SITE

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is a non-invasive, painless, high-oxygen-pressure course of treatment offered at Detroit Receiving Hospital's Burn Center. A leader in health care, Detroit Receiving was the first hospital to offer HBOT as an effective treatment for burns, smoke inhalation and a variety of medical conditions and diseases.

While the average daily atmosphere is approximately 20% oxygen, hyperbaric oxygen therapy provides a 100% oxygen atmosphere. Inside the clear acrylic pressure chamber, pure oxygen is administered at an air pressure 2 to 3 times higher than that of the atmosphere. As the patient breathes normally, this higher pressure forces pure oxygen into the bloodstream, as well as any exposed wounds.

This increased oxygen delivery to all tissues improves the ability of white blood cells to kill bacteria, fosters the growth of new blood vessels for better circulation, and helps boost the body's own natural healing process.

Detroit Receiving's hyperbaric oxygen therapy program is staffed by highly skilled physicians, nurses and technicians who are experienced in HBOT. Throughout the treatment session, staff members are in ongoing contact with patients, via the HBOT chamber intercom. Patients are also able to watch television or nap during treatment.

Fewer than 5% of patients experience side effects, including minor ear or sinus discomfort (similar to ascending or descending in a plane), oxygen toxicity or mild visual changes, which usually resolve within a few weeks after treatment has ended.

Children can be treated in the Detroit Receiving HBOT chambers on an outpatient basis, with overnight accommodations available within walking distance of the hospital, at the International Center (we should link to a map here).

HBOT is successful as an adjunctive treatment for many medical conditions, and is recognized as such by the American Medical Association, Medicare, and many commercial insurers. HBOT is used in the management plan for disorders associated with various medical conditions.

HBOT is an effective treatment for:

Actinomycosis
Acute carbon monoxide poisoning
Acute peripheral arterial insufficiency
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Crush injuries
Cyanide poisoning
Diabetic ulcers
Gas embolisms
Gas gangrene
Necrosis of soft tissue and bone due to cancer radiation treatments
Non-healing amputation stumps
Non-healing sores and wounds
Post surgical procedures
Preservation of compromised skin grafts
Rapid ascent disease ("the bends")
Suturing of severed limbs

MAKE SOMEONE BE THANKFUL TODAY
WAYNE

DO YOU KNOW

THERE WAS ANOTHER OLD BREATHING DEVICE USED IN DETROIT, BESIDES THE CHEMOX AND MSA SMOKE

MASKS.

I COULDN'T FIND ANY PICTURES OF ONE BUT SOME OF THE OLDER RETIREES DESCRIBED IT.

IT CONSISTED OF
A SET OF GOGGLES
NOSE CLIPS
MOUTH PIECE THAT WAS ATTACHED TO A SMALL AIR TANK

THERE WAS ONLY ONE AND THE LADDER TRUCK CARRIED THEM .

ALSO, THE GUYS THAT I TALKED TO WENT THEIR WHOLE CAREERS AND NEVER WORE IT.

REMEMBER BACK THEN THEY WERE TRULY "LEATHER LUNG GUYS" AND YOU IRON MANNED IT AND

ATE SMOKE, A WHOLE LOT OF SMOKE.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU DID WHEN YOU GOT BACK FROM A FIRE WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW ZERO .

POUR HOT WATER ON THE SNAPS OF YOUR FIRE COAT SO YOU COULD GET IT OFF.

IF YOU HAD TO "TAKE A LEAK" YOU POURED THAT HOT WATER REALLY FAST.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE REAL OLD FIREHOUSES RATHER THEN BEING DRAB DORMITORIES HAD CARPETING ,

CARVED AND UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE AND SOME EVEN HAD EXTENSIVE LIBRARIES

DO YOU KNOW

SOME OLD CALLS THROUGH THE TRUMPET

"HUMP IT TO ER"

"FIRST STREAM ON"

"SNAKE ER UP ON THE SIDEWALK, BOYS

DO YOU KNOW

LOCAL WOMEN WOULD BRING HOT COFFEE TO THE FIRE AND THE FIREHOUSE AFTER A FIRE.

DO YOU KNOW

SOME LARGE BUCKETS HAD "EARS" ON THEM THAT THE MEN USED TO PASS POLES THROUGH TO CARRY

TO THE FIRE

DO YOU REMEMBER

BEING PUSHED OFF YOUR PIPE AS A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"

REMEMBER BEING ON THE PIPE, IT WAS YOUR FIRE AND THE PIPE WAS ALL YOURS.

BUT WHEN ANOTHER COMPANY'S MEN WERE SECOND AND THIRD ON THE LINE IS WHEN YOU FELT THE EVER SO

SLOWLY LEANING INTO YOUR BACK . AT FIRST YOU HAD THE PIPE AND 2 TO 3 FEET OF LINE LOCKED IN YOUR HANDS AND

ARMS. THEN WITH THE LEANING INTO YOUR BACK YOU LOST INCHES AT A TIME OF THE LINE UNTIL YOU JUST HAD THE

PIPE.. THEN ONE FAST JERK AND YOU LOST YOUR LINE.

ANOTHER COMPANY HAD YOUR COMPANY'S LINE.

YOU HAD NO PIPE , NO LINE AND NO TOOL. ( AS THE SAYING GOES "HE STOOD THERE WITH HIS

"D--K "IN HIS HANDS.

IF YOU WENT BACK TO YOUR RIG FOR A TOOL YOU HAD TO EXPLAIN WHY YOU LOST YOUR COMPANY'S LINE

REMEMBER "OLD TIMER" WHEN THE FIRE WAS OUT AND THE OTHER COMPANY FOUND YOU . THEY DUMPED THE LINE AT

YOUR FEET AND SAID. "HERE'S YOUR LINE KID, WE PUT YOUR FIRE OUT FOR YOU"

THEN THEY GAVE YOU THE "SHIT EATING GRINS"

WHERE WAS THAT HOLE TO CRAWL INTO.

AH YES, OLD TIMER IT ONLY HAPPENED ONCE WHEN YOU WERE A YOUNG "WHIPPER SNAPPER"

BUT ONCE WAS MORE THEN ENOUGH.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY.................................UNLESS SOMEONE STEALS YOUR LINE, THEN LOOK FOR
WAYNE A HOLE TO CRAWL INTO.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IN 1868 THERE WAS A UNION GENERAL THAT ORGANIZED THE NEW YORK FIRE DEPARTMENT ALONG THE LINE

OF A MILITARY UNIT, WITH BATTALIONS AND DIVISIONS.

FROM THIS IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE STATES TO WHERE NOW ALL ARE MILITARY FASHION ORGANIZATIONS.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT IT APPEARS THAT WHEN TWO COMPANIES REACHED A CORNER FROM OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS AND NOW WERE RACING

DOWN THAT SAME STREET IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT THERE WAS NO "STATE OF BEING PASSED"

BEING PASSED AND THE HUMILIATION ONLY CAME WHEN ONE COMPANY WAS AHEAD OF ANOTHER AND WAS

TRULY PASSED BY ANOTHER.

A "TRICK" USED TO PASS ANOTHER COMPANY WENT LIKE THIS.

ENGINE # 2 WANTED TO HUMILIATE ENGINE # 1

ENGINE # 2 HAD A GROUP OF THEIR MEN HIDING AT ABOUT THE HALFWAY POINT OF A SMALL FIRE THAT THEY STARTED.

THEY LET ENGINE # 1 GAIN THE LEAD.

AT THAT HALFWAY POINT THE FRESH NEW CREW FROM ENGINE # 2 JUMPED OUT FROM HIDING AND NOW

"PASSED" ENGINE # 1s EXHAUSTED CREW.

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BACK THEN THEY HAD WASHING CONTESTS.

EACH ENGINE HAD 15 MINUTES TO TRY TO WASH THE OTHER ENGINE ( HAND PUMP MORE WATER THEN THE OTHER ENGINE COULD PUMP OUT

TRICKS THEY USED

ENGINE # 1 WOULD HAVE THE LINE STRETCHED TO ENGINE # 2 AND BE READY TO HAND HOLD IT INTO THEIR TUB

REMEMBER THERE WAS NO INLET TO THE ENGINE, THE RELAYING ENGINE JUST HELD IT IN THE TUB.

ENGINE # 1 WOULD FOLD THE END OF THEIR LINE AND THEN PUMP A NUMBER OF STROKES TO FILL THE LINE. WHEN

THE LINE WAS FILLED IS WHEN THEY WOULD STICK IT IN ENGINES # 2s TUB.

THE RIGHT WAY WAS TO START WITH A COMPLETELY EMPTY LINE STUCK IN THE TUB.

ANOTHER TRICK WAS

ENGINE # 2 WOULD HAVE HOLES DRILLED IN THE BOTTOM OF THEIR TUB AND THESE HAD PLUGS IN THEM.

IF IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE GOING TO WASHED ( WATER SPILLING OVER THE TOP) THEY WOULD PULL A COUPLE OF

PLUGS AND HAVE SOME WATER SPILL FROM THE BOTTOM, THEREBY NOT BEING WASHED

SEE, OLD TIMERS, EVEN WAY BACK THE THEY HAD A CONNIVING "OFU"

DO YOU KNOW

THAT BACK THEN THEY HAD A CODE OF HONOR THAT NO LARGER CLASS HANDPUMPER WOULD TRY TO

"WASH" A LOWER CLASS HANDPUMPER. THEY CHALLENGED WITHIN THE SAME CLASS.

DO YOU KNOW

THESE 4 NAMES OF OLD BREATHING APPARATUS

PRONTO RESPIRATOR

DRAEGER RESPIRATOR

LUNGMOTOR

GIBB'S PACTYPE BREATHING APPARATUS

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT IS A "SACK COMPANY" ?

A SALVAGE PATROL OR INSURANCE PATROL

WHAT IS A "CANVASMAN" ?

A SALVAGE PATROL MAN ON THE BACK

DO YOU KNOW

IT APPEARS THE SALVAGE PATROL DID BUILDING INSPECTIONS BACK THEN,

LIKE OUR FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU.

SOME EARLY FIRE DEPARTMENTS HAD THE ENGINE HOUSE CAPTAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING

INSPECTIONS IN THEIR OFF DUTY HOURS.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY..................UNLESS YOU WERE A OLDTIME CAPTAIN ON BUILDING INSPECTION
WAYNE DURING YOUR OFF TIME.

DO YOU KNOW

WAY BACK THEN ,IN HIGH BUSINESS DISTRICTS, TWO INSURANCE PATROL WAGONS RESPONDED

DO YOU KNOW

SALVAGE COVERS, SIZE AND WEIGHT

EARLY COVERS 20' X 20' 40 LBS

LATER COVERS 20' X 20' 27 LBS

DO YOU REMEMBER

BEING TAUGHT TO FUNNEL WATER OUT OF A WINDOW USING ONE SALVAGE COVER AND ONE LADDER?

YOU ROLLED UP TWO SIDES OF THE COVER AND LAID IT ON THE LADDER.

YOU FORMED A CHUTE TO FUNNEL POURING WATER FROM AN ABOVE FLOOR OUT OF A WINDOW.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHAT WAS THE NAME OF THE PORTABLE CISTERN WE LEARNED HOW TO MAKE AT THE TRAINING ACADEMY.

YOU REMEMBER WE USED ONE SALVAGE COVER , DRAPED IT OVER A SPLIT 20' EXTENSION LADDER AND

ONE STRAIGHT BEAM LADDER ON THEIR EDGE . THEY WERE CONNECTED WITH SPANNER BELTS TO FORM A

TRIANGLE

COME ON OLD TIMER , THINK

NO, NOT "TARP COVERED LADDERS"

CATCH ALL, OLD TIMER, CATCH ALL

DO YOU KNOW

WHY THE SALVAGE COMPANIES CARRIED SAWDUST ?

THEY USED IT TO:

PREVENT THE SPREAD OF WATER AND SOAK IT UP.

TO DIVERT THE WATER FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

DO YOU REMEMBER

WHEN ONE OF OUR FIREMEN GOT INJURED AND WAS HOSPITALIZED AT OLD RECEIVING HOSPITAL.

SOME OF THE DOWNTOWN ENGINE HOUSES WOULD TAKE AN ENGINE HOUSE MEAL TO THEM AT CHOW TIME

TO SHOW THEM OUR SUPPORT.

DO YOU KNOW

BEFORE THE "QUICK HITCH" THE HORSES HAD TO WEAR THEIR HARNESSES ALL DAY FOR A FAST GET OUT.

DO YOU KNOW

THE CENTER HORSE, IN A THREE HORSE HITCH, WAS RELEASED FROM HIS STALL,

A FEW SECONDS PRIOR TO THE RELEASING OF THE OTHER TWO HORSES..

THIS WAS TO ALLOW HIM TO GET INTO POSITION AND NOT INTERFERE WITH THE TWO OUTSIDE HORSES.

DO YOU KNOW

WHAT WAS THE "OFFICIAL NAME OF OUR "LIME GREEN COLOR "

"NATIONAL SAFETY YELLOW"

DO YOU KNOW

THERE ARE PICTURES OF FIRE ENGINES WITH:

SNOW PLOWS MOUNTED ON THEIR FRONT

DUEL TIRES ON THEIR FRONT AS WELL AS THEIR BACK

DO YOU KNOW

IN SOME SMALL COMMUNITIES YOU COULD BE FINED IF YOU USED WATER FOR HOUSEHOLD PURPOSES

DURING A FIRE. THIS WAS DUE TO LOW WATER PRESSURE. AND PUTTING OUT A FIRE WAS DEEMED MORE

IMPORTANT THEN HOUSEHOLD CHORES.

MAKE SOMEONE SMILE TODAY
WAYNE