It’s kind of strange. For all the technology I employ on the fire ground – digital SLR camera, Flip HD video recorder, Blackberry for contacting the media, Tweeting and having the media contact me, the one area I lack in is logging the written word with ease.

Currently I still rely on my old reporter’s notebook (often soggy) a pen (often lost or soggy) or notes scrawled on anything I can find that resembles paper to record what I will need to later address the press or write a release.

I noted a few posts back that I am leery of using advanced technology that can break unexpectedly on the fire ground from heat, water, debris and shock.

One area I have been researching is the possibility of purchasing a rugged convertible notebook to use on the fire ground to both record and send information about the incident I am working.

Getac just announced today that its new V200 rugged convertible notebook computer, the world’s most powerful fully rugged convertible notebook to date, coming in at just 6 pounds, will be released in October. 

The V200 is powered by the advanced Intel Core i7-620LM processor running at 2.0GHz, MAX 2.8GHz with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, which helps the V200 outperform other rugged convertibles by up to 47 percent!

 The V200 convertible also features a 12.1-inch wide screen display and comes standard with Getac’s exclusive 1200 NITs QuadraClear™ technology, enabling users to easily read and operate their computer under direct sunlight.  The display also offers a resistive multi-touch capability enabling you to manipulate the screen by a series of single and multi-finger gestures even while wearing gloves.

Price has not been announced. Visit Getac for more information.

A new possibility to add to my 2011 department budget wish list.

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As a volunteer fire department PIO, and not in house based, I have to be prepared to respond from wherever I am in the community when an alarm is toned out. Since my main PIO “toolbox” is located at the main house, I need a fully redundant system that can duplicate some of the items I keep in the firehouse.

At the firehouse I have a large camera bag that holds the following items –

Digital camera

Camcorder

Kodak Xi8 pocket camcorder

Flip camcorder

PIO Armband

Extra batteries

PIO baseball cap

Reporter’s notebook

Pens

Business Cards

All of my media contacts are on speed dial on my Blackberry which I always carry.

I don’t always carry the camera bag when I go on calls. If I anticipate an alarm is going to be pretty much status quo I don’t bring the bag. As a result I have some backup in my turnout gear. In my pockets I have –

A small digital camera

Flip camcorder

Reporter’s notebook

Pens

Business Cards

My department does not allow turnout gear to be stowed in your vehicle. If I’m tooling around in my truck when an alarm is toned out and I pass the scene on the way to the firehouse, and it appears that sufficient manpower is on the fireground and I do not have to be a PIO/firefighter  I keep the following in my truck –

A digital camera

Flip camcorder

Reporter’s notebook

Pens

PIO vest

PIO baseball cap

Business cards

Extra batteries

In my jacket or pants pocket, all the time I keep a Flip video camera.

With this redundant system I am confident that I always have the tools needed to do my job, wherever I am.

The one reoccurring item I have in all my backups is a Flip cam. They are inexpensive, lightweight, can shoot both video and stills, have rapid edit capability, replay on any computer and quickly download to YouTube and other video sharing Website. In my estimation the quality is as good as or better than many full sized camcorders and is so inexpensive you can carry multiple units such as I do.

If you don’t use a Flip, Kodak Zi8 or other similar camera, you are missing out on a simple way to collect scene video.

Here’s a quick overview on the Flip –

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When we signed on the dotted line to become firefighters we quickly became the guys on the other side of the yellow caution tape. While we go about our business of fire suppression or extrication or EMS emergencies the public is watching us at the scene with critical eyes. In essence we are characters in a drama being played out before them.

The homeowners who are watching their lives literally go up in smoke or the small business owner who is watching his or her dreams being extinguished or the college student who’s MVA will change  life forever is counting on us to help ease their pain to whichever extent we can. We are in a serious business interacting with folks who are having the worst day of their life.

It never ceases to amaze me how on the fire ground many firefighters just don’t get it. During a personal tragedy they laugh, mug for the camera, take motley crew pictures and toast each other with Gatorade. How is this benefiting the image of the fire service? I understand how the adrenaline pumps, but there are limits to the outcome.

To make matters worse many departments semi condone this behavior by posting these pictures on there websites along with more serious photo’s of the scene. If a department created their web site to be an internal tool, then use a password and lock out the public.

But if a website is for the public’s consumption, what are we saying about the attitude of these departments towards a terrible day for one of its citizens?

The public can now record and chronicle everything they see and upload it to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Most cell phones have cameras. Video can be recorded on a number of new mini cams like the Flip. Scrutiny is all around us.

It is the responsibility of every PIO to make sure their department establishes a policy of decorum on the fire ground or at an accident scene. PIO’s should make an appearance at Probationary training within their department to inform Probies of the appropriate way to handle themselves at scenes. In my own department this is drummed into Probies heads from almost day one.

 I would be interested to know how other departments handle this situation.

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