The Daily News of Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — It’s not just about putting out fires and saving stranded kittens from trees. Firefighting is also about rushing to provide emergency medical service, cutting people out of mangled cars and cleaning up chemical spills.
Locals got a peek into the lives of firefighters Saturday as part of Fire Service Day, when fire stations across the Los Angeles region opened their doors for tours, demonstrations and other family-friendly activities to increase awareness of services offered by the departments.
At Burbank Fire Department, firefighters simulating the rescue of people trapped after a car crash tore apart a van using saws and the Jaws of Life, prying apart the doors to amazement of children and adults alike.
The demonstration was a firsthand look at one aspect of a firefighter’s job, and a good learning experience for Glendale resident Michael Zufelt and his 6-year-old son, Zavery.
“I was explaining to them what the Jaws of Life were, and they had no idea what I was saying,” said Zufelt, who watched a firefighter use an ax to dislodge the van’s windshield. “It’s good that I can show them where someone gets stuck in the car, and now they can actually see it.”
It was also a chance for the kids to get used to public safety personnel and not be intimidated when there’s trouble, Zufelt said.
“You want them to feel comfortable around police and firefighters so if there’s a problem, they can go talk to them,” Zufelt said. “They kind of have a rapport established. It’s not as scary. ... They’re people and they hand you balloons, and all that kind of stuff.”
Zavery, while excited by the action, was even more excited about the tour and medal he was awarded for completing a firefighting obstacle course.
Children, with the help of cadets, attached a hose to a hydrant, then shot a stream of water at a wooden house facade, knocking down fake flames on hinges in the windows. Up next was using a hammer to ventilate a roof, then lugging coiled hose, then finishing the job by rolling the hose back up.
“It’s just showing them what we do on a small scale, and getting the kids excited and showing a little interest,” said Firefighter Cameron Cerwin.
But it wasn’t all just about fighting fires, said Cerwin, who guided his 3-year-old son through the course. Hazmat and training Community Emergency Response Teams are part of the deal, too, he said.
“That’s what you’ll see when you walk around — you see the EMS side, which is a large part of our job, about 90 percent,” Cerwin said. “Fighting fire is a small scale.”
Paramedics were also teaching a basic form of CPR called “street CPR” that doesn’t require mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The technique in recent years has shifted away from mouth-to-mouth, instead focusing only on chest compressions because studies have shown that it’s more important to keep the heart pumping and blood circulating rather than stopping and starting up again, according to firefighter Devon Meister, a paramedic.
Street CPR is more sanitary, and easier for people to perform because they don’t have to know the breath-to-compression ratios, Meister said.
“It’s so more people can have a basic understanding so any person on the street can help somebody,” said Meister said. “If someone goes down, call 911 to get that ball rolling, and then go straight to compressions.”
The lesson was a good brush-up to the CPR skills that Phil Restivo Jr. learned as a Marine, especially since the techniques have evolved.
“It’s changed so it’s important to keep up to date on stuff,” said Restivo, of Burbank. “We live in earthquake country. We’re interested in being safe.
“It’s always an important thing.”
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