An Extraordinary Life Well Lived

Fourth of July, 2014, Debbie Davis and Jeannie Allen

It’s slightly past midnight and I can’t sleep until I write something about how I feel at the loss of Jeanie. 

So, where to start? How do I capture the essence of what was Jeanie Allen? 

The first time that I can recall Jeanie was in Akron 2007. I was impressed that this transplanted Canadian volunteer firefighter had traveled to Ohio on her own dime to compete in “The Toughest Two Minutes in Sports.” Hearing of the hoops that she had jumped through to make this happen, I suggested that she take over the occupancy of my hotel room as I was headed to my next gig, thereby saving her at least one night’s lodging cost. 

Jeanie quickly found a friend in Cheri Ardoin- a racing partner for what would become the infamous Swamp Tatters female tandem team - a regular fixture on the tour. What a delight to be in their presence. They became honorary members of the Firefighter Combat Challenge Road Crew and made significant contributions to packing up at many venues.   The energy level climbed precipitously every time they joined our ranks. 

When I first heard that Jeanie had cancer, I was stunned. But reports of her surgical outcome seemed to be optimistic. She returned in full form and was once again back in the mix. But the cancer, one of the rarest and most aggressive came back. Jeanie was determined to beat the odds. At or about this time, I was working on a medical standards package for the NY Transit Authority. My physician cohorts were well-informed about the bleak prospects of a cure or even a remission. I thought, if anyone can pull this off, it’s Jeanie. 

When Jeanie mentioned that she had been accepted into a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health, the medical Mecca of the world, Debbie, my wife and I were hopeful and delighted that the close proximity of our house to Bethesda would allow us to provide local support. We would have the honor of lodging Jeanie and her effervescent company for dinners as time would permit. A highlight was last year’s Fourth of July. We had arranged for a late dinner and viewing of the fireworks from the roof of the restaurant that overlooked the White House. 

I read and circulated every blog written by this incredibly buoyant personality; Jeanie was like Velcro. She gathered admirers as she traveled through all of the poking, prodding, stabbing and puncturing. Seemingly, by virtue of her radiance, she was going to beat this thing. The more people that we could expose to Jeanie, the greater the force field for helping her overcome clear cell sarcoma. 

We had tried so hard to bring the Scott Firefighter Combat Challenge to the Idaho State Fair. The negotiations had seemed so positive since they had reached out to us very early in the season. The idea that we could hold an event in her home state would be yet another brick in the wall of success. For reasons still unknown, the Fair backed out. But, when Jeanie found out that Bellevue was a possibility, since she would be on one of her several trips to a new clinical trial, she was thrilled, as were we. 

Just a week ago, I confirmed in a text that we would be delighted to see that she got a ride to Sea-Tac airport with us after the event. Debbie and I were so looking forward to see her. The last Blog on Caring Bridge seemed to take the tack of resignation. A whole different tone, but still that determination to have that one last hurrah in the Bahamas. 

Jeanie (in the center) with the Firefighter Combat Challenge
Road Crew on the Snake River

When Cheri’s text hit my iPhone yesterday, I can only say that I was crushed. The last chance to say good bye had been snatched away. All last week, Daniel, Brent and I had been at Keiser’s working in the 106°F heat when we got the link to Jeanie’s last blog. I had started a letter over the weekend that I was going to send in anticipation of seeing her that one last time. 

So, my title to this BlogSpot was going to be something to the effect that Jeanie had lost her final battle; but no. Hell No! She beat cancer by years. She went out with an embolism, in the arms of her BFF, Cheri, at a place of her choosing. If you have to go, setting the time and place is not too bad. The entire Firefighter Combat Challenge community will soon know of her departure. But the grit, determination, the whole ethos of what made Jeanie Jeanie will never be forgotten. Everyone who knew Jeanie was improved by the experience. 

Paladin Joins Sponsorship Ranks

Sara Coon of Austin Fire proudly displays her certificate for a generator,
generously donated by Paladin, our newest sponsor; on the right is
Brocke Addison, the Public Safety Marketing Manager. 

We're pleased to announce that Paladin, the manufactures of LED scene lights and portable generators has joined our ranks. The first random drawing for a 2KW generator was in Tyler (TX) last week. Sara Coon from the Austin Fire Department is our winner.

The rules are simple. All individuals and team members are eligible to win. A random number is matched against the total number of races.

You must be present to win, and can only win once over the 2015 season. The drawing takes place at the conclusion of the awards for individuals and teams.

A dedicated page will be created with photos of all the Paladin winners.

Made in America

The Globe Footwear Factory, Auburn, Maine.

I greatly enjoy visiting the manufacturing facilities of our sponsors. This past week, it was my pleasure to see how Globe creates a pair of boots, or actually, many pairs every hour. Their plant is located in Auburn, Maine.

From it’s inception 9 years ago, Globe now dominates the leather boot sector in the fire service. And, for good reason. We have a trial wear program for our Challenge competitors, and attempt to stock enough sizes to meet the demand. This season, in Lexington, Kentucky, we’ll take delivery of 12 more pairs in the most popular sizes.

I can personally attest to the fit of the boots, having worn them during the torrential downpour at Clayton County, Georgia, several years ago. They do have that “athletic shoe” feel. And, there’s a reason since the boots are built on a last, like a sport shoe.

Mark Mordecai shows a marked up hide, prior to cutting.

In the photo array below, I’ll walk you through some of the many steps and processes whereby 50 individual pieces and parts are assembled into an NFPA compliant structural boot. It all starts with tanned cow leather. The leather is of different thicknesses, depending upon where on the cow you’re measuring. Defects need to be identified and marked prior to making the cuts.

It takes a lot of skill and experience to identify how to maximize the amount of leather from a single hide. Computer scanning identifies the unusable parts and creates a template for the cutting machine.

The Gerber Vacuum Table ensures that the hide stays in
position during cutting.

A cutting table, with an x-y-style plotter/knife is used to cut the boot parts. A vacuum draws the hide flat against the table. A scanner will mark the un-usuable parts and a computer screen will show the parts that will result from the scan, prior to the knife doing its job.

Computer display of yield from a single hide.

Heat sealing labels on liners.

The software program operator can manipulate the area to the best benefit, but choosing from a menu a wide array of parts to maximize the yield.



Other parts of the boot are cut using a dye. Every boot size has its own dye. A hydraulic press is used to make the cuts.

Dies are needed in every size.

The first part of the sewing process.

Some of the sewing is automated, other
operations require highly skilled stitchers.

As the components are completed, they’re sent on to the next stage in the assembly process. Every step of the fabrication is inspected to ensure quality control

The liners are stitched together.

The bootie is composed of a number of products, including W.L. Gore’s Crosstech material, a breathable membrane that is waterproof. 

The sewing of the cuff to the main part of the boot.

A critical part of the process is preparation
of the boot for affixing to the sole.

The boot, on a last is smoothed prior to gluing to the sole.

One of many hydraulic presses designed explicitly for footwear.

This “Stress Tester” measures the
binding force of the glues that
hold the soles to the boots.

Flexion testing looks for wear-points
in the toe assembly.

Not many fire boot manufacturers have
their own Arens-Fox antique engine.

Boot sizes are critical. Every boot manufacturer has their own set of lasts. You can be assured that if you wear a 10, you will never have an issue with a Globe boot fitting. There is no inventory of boots at Globe. Everything is made to order. 

While I did not ask, if I had, the factory could have turned out a pair for me in one hour! Impressive. My visit lasted for five hours.

Oh! My Back!

CrossFit continues to attract amateur athletes, wishing to improve their performance and make changes in their lifestyle. While exercise does come with some risk, the greater risk is in remaining sedentary.

Here’s an interview with Dr. Stuart McGill, professor of spine mechanics, University of Waterloo, Ontario on the subject of safety and techniques in high intensity training such as CrossFit.

https://www.t-nation.com/training/doctors-view-of-crossfit

Hammer Time

NEW HAMMER PREP

Trusty Cook – Model #10, 9.6 pound shot-filled polyethylene

(by Ron Beckman)

The sledgehammers used for the Firefighter Combat Challenge are manufactured with a steel rod inside the handle welded to a hollow steel tube inside the head filled with welding slag, or metal shot.  The polyethylene injection molding process fills in voids and surrounds the metal components held in a mold during the process and produces a very durable dead blow hammer that weights 9.6 pounds.

For placing these hammers into service for competition, several slight modifications are needed in order to allow officials to monitor their correct use under the Rules.

There are five (5) small ⅛” (2mm) holes on each hammer on the handle and the head resulting from the injection process.  Duct tape is used to cover each of these holes so that hand placement can be watched, as well as foregoing any possible debris loss (of the shot inside the head) onto the Keiser Force Machine while conducting the forcible entry evolution during the Challenge.

The polyethylene is very slick and the tape does not stick readily to the hammer surfaces.  A belt sander, sand paper, or other roughing tool must be used to rough up the area circumfrencial on the handle in order to cover the holes, as well as the area on one side of the head.   There are three areas on the handle and two holes along the depression on one side of the head.  Once the light sanding is completed, clean the areas with denatured alcohol.  Black tape is used on the hole closest to the head of the tool to indicate incorrect (too high) hand placement.  All other holes are covered by red tape.  A “patch” of red tape approximately 5” (w) X 2” (h) is placed over the holes on the head area.  A razor knife is used to trim the tape so that the tape fits neatly into the depression cast on the side of the head.

Once the taping of the holes is done, the hammer is subjected to pre-loading.  Fifteen hard strikes are delivered per side of the hammer onto the end of a Keiser beam standing vertically upright.  A concrete curb may be substituted for the Keiser beam.  A date is written on the head area of each hammer with a “Sharpie” marker documenting the date that it was placed into service.

The hammer is now ready to be used officially for competitions.  The hammer is pre-loaded before each run by delivering one (1) solid strike to one side of the head before it is set on the ground.  The pre-loaded side of the hammer (head) is faced towards the outside of the course so that each competitor can choose to use the pre-loaded side for the first strike.  The middle section of tape on the handle is also used as an indicator for proper positioning of the hammer at the ready resting against the Keiser beam.  This allows for a precise and consistent 11° from plumb (vertical) angle so that each competitor can grab the tool for driving the beam during the evolution.

Don't Lower Standards for Female Firefighters

By Betsy McCaughey, Ph.D.

Tuesday, 05 May 2015 10:42 AM

If you’re ever trapped in a burning building, just pray the fire fighter climbing up to rescue you isn’t Rebecca Wax. Or someone like her, who’s been given an EZ pass through firefighting training for the sake of gender equity.

This week Wax, who repeatedly flunked the rigorous physical test required by the New York City Fire Department, will be allowed to graduate anyway, according to the New York Post. All over the nation, fire departments are easing physical standards to increase the number of women firefighters. It’s roiling fire departments, and the turmoil is a preview of what’s to come for the U.S. military, which has committed to opening all combat roles to women by 2016.

Wax tried six times to pass New York’s Functional Skills Test within the 17 minute 50 second deadline. Five times she couldn’t finish at all; on the sixth try she needed 22 minutes.

Women’s groups claim the test is needlessly difficult and unfairly bars women. Trainees wearing fifty pounds of gear and breathing through an air tank must climb six stories, raise ladders, break down doors, and drag a dummy through a dark tunnel, all at breakneck speed. Sounds like fire fighting.

The test is tougher than most cities require, but New York city buildings are higher. Nevertheless, Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro gave Wax a pass because she had good performance on other measures, including academic tests.

Nigro wants to significantly boost the number of women in the FDNY, now only 0.5 percent, and he wants to do it before he’s staring at a court order.

Court orders are compelling Chicago to relax its standards. Two federal class action lawsuits brought by women who flunked Chicago’s firefighting tests claimed that the exams required more than what is actually needed to be an effective fire fighter.

Women account for 3.4 percent of the Chicago force, compared with 5.7 percent of fire fighters nationally. Chicago authorities settled the case last month, admitting into training women who had previously failed and paying millions to others no longer eligible.

In Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti is plainly unhappy with this year’s all male class of firefighting graduates. There were four women among the 44 recruits who started last December, but they all dropped out.

Desperate to diversify, Garcetti paid the RAND Corporation a whopping $270,000 for advice. RAND’s brilliant insight was that L.A. should recruit women athletes who can take the grueling training. Duh!

That’s what San Marcos California learned upon hiring Siene Freeman. Several other female recruits had washed out, but for her — a former marathoner, and weight lifter — the training was a piece of cake.

Municipalities who already have women firefighters are being hit with lawsuits for another reason, sexual harassment. This year alone, Philadelphia, Tampa, and at least a dozen other cities are being sued for allowing a culture of bawdy, suggestive behavior. Tampa’s Fire Department Personnel Chief, known as “Uncle Touchy,” just resigned after admitting he had hugged, massaged, and flirted with female firefighters.

Many departments face the practical problem that firefighters — male and female — work 24 hour shifts, and sleep in an open bunk room, with no privacy curtains or separate changing area. Hardly conducive for a professional working environment.

Nigro says he is going to remedy these problems in New York. Then again, the Tampa female firefighters are fanning the flames. To raise money for burn victims, they put out a calendar. The trouble is, some even posed in bikinis. That's sending a mixed message.

The touchy issue of women in traditional men’s occupations will be center stage this fall, when the Pentagon will announce its “gender-neutral” rules for all military assignments. Some feminists argue that the Marine Corps’ grueling Combat Endurance Test is more of an “initiation rite” than a fair appraisal of physical ability — just like Wax’s supporters are arguing in New York.

Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey ominously announced at a Pentagon briefing that if  “a particular standard is so high that a woman couldn’t make it, the burden is now on the service to come back and explain . . . does it really have to be that high?”

Military brass are too ready to lower standards, never mind the consequences on the battle field. Is that really a victory for women?

Betsy McCaughey is a patient advocate, constitutional scholar, syndicated columnist, regular contributor on Fox News and CNBC, and former lieutenant governor of New York. In 1993 she read the 1,362-page Clinton health bill, warned the nation what it said, and made history. McCaughey earned her Ph.D. in constitutional history from Columbia University. She is author of "Beating Obamacare 2014" and "Government by Choice: Inventing the United States Constitution." 

RULE CHANGE: 1 Second Penalty

The Finish Line

After consideration, the Rules Committee has reduced the penalty for crashing at the finish line to 1 second, down from 2. First, since imposing a penalty for failing to finish on your feet, we’ve noticed a significant decrease in the number of falls.

The rule was designed to reduce the damage to the carpets, the Air-Paks® and to the Competitors. There is no time advantage to be gained by lunging at the finish line. A corollary benefit is eliminating any perceived confusion as to who won a specific race. Since one second would automatically be added, the team that was still standing would (barring any existing penalities) be the winner. We do not need 2 seconds to differentiate the difference.

The 2 second penalty, as was written seemed to provide some judgement as to whether it was deserved or not; i.e., did the individual trip, or was it because of a lunge. Now, the penalty will be awarded every time, for all falls at the finish line.

So, short answer, keep your momentum and balance in check and finish on your feet.