Month: December 2023
Recruits Train in Hose Stretching at New Haven Fire School
You’re only as good as how hard you work to hone your craft. For our 8 recruits that meant a morning at the Chief Michael Grant Regional Fire Academy to work on hose stretches.
Day 1 For Our Recruits!
Day one is in the books! Our 8 recruits received an extensive education on and introduction to our department thanks to key instruction from several of our members including Training, Safety, and Wellness Division Captain Jacob Urban and Lieutenant Jon Drost. One day down, many more to go!
Welcome To Our 8 New Recruits!
They’ve done it! Connecticut Fire Academy Recruit Class 72 has pushed on through and with that, we at the West Haven Fire Department have gained 8 new members. Welcome additions to a rapidly expanding family!
Flashback Friday: Our Old Truck 2 in 1989
The old Truck 2 in all its glory out in front of quarters. On the left is Paul Rapanault who served our department and city for 25 years as a firefighter and later Lieutenant from 1974 to 1999. Recently we were able to rescue him from the boredom of retirement and bring him aboard as our business manager.
Overturn Rescue Training
Often at scenes of auto accidents, we may encounter overturned vehicles. At our headquarters, we simulated victim removal and factors to keep in mind at these scenes to ensure a safe rescue of any potential trapped victims.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Day Captain Jacob Urban
SPOTLIGHT ON: Day Captain Jacob Urban is responsible for training, safety, and wellness here at the West Haven Fire Department. Captain Urban hails originally from Indiana and began his career in emergency response in Kentucky where he graduated with a degree in paramedicine from Eastern Kentucky University and worked as a firefighter/paramedic for the City of Winchester, KY. Coming to Connecticut in 2007, he first worked as a paramedic for an ambulance corps before being hired by our department on September 8, 2009. For the first 10 years, he worked as a firefighter before his promotion to the rank of Lieutenant on February 12, 2019.
He was later promoted to Day Captain on July 27, 2021, where in his current role, he heads the department’s training division, where he has and continues to work closely with both firefighters and fellow fire officers on various training initiatives.
The Lifesaving Lucas Devices
One of the several grants we were awarded last year allowed for the purchase of three cardiac defibrillators and two Lucas CPR devices.
While WHFD has had a single Lucas in service for many years on Rescue 27, and recently found funds for a second, studies have shown just how effective and important these devices are for maximizing the chance of surviving cardiac arrest. They free up a rescuer, they provide higher quality compressions than a person ever could, and most importantly, they never stop or get tired or distracted.
We are thankful that the funds awarded through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program allow us to put these critical devices on every medical response unit in the Center District.