The year in Extrication!

For me (Smitty) the guy behind Boron Extrication, 2014 turned out to be a great year. In April, I was honored to teach at FDIC for the HOT Extrication classes. This wasn’t my first time at FDIC but it was truly one for the memory books. The HOT Vehicle Extrication instructors were an amazing group. Dave Dalrymple and his crew from Roadway Rescue were great to work with and we even had an instructor from the land of hockey. No, not Detroit but Ken “Bammer” Niceliu from Canada.  The speech that Chief Bobby Halton gave was moving! If you haven’t seen it, watch it!!

I was finally able to get some challenge coins and patches made with the Boron Extrication logo. The demand for outpaced the supply so I will be getting more made up.

I taught at Mike Huffman’s Crunch Time Extrication for the second year. Mike hosts a one of kind training event annually in Harlem-Roscoe, Illinois. Crunch Time is a weekend for of extrication training with a twist. Friday night is a classroom presentation, Saturday is hands on training all day covering every part of extrication, and Sunday is an Extrication Challenge. The best part, it is geared toward younger firefighters where they can learn and refine their skills. The true winners are the communities where these firefighters protect.

I finally made it across the pond to Rescue Days in Germany. The funny part of the trip was the first person I met over there was Eric Rickenbach from Pennsylvania. Rescue Days should be on the bucket list for any firefighter in the world. This first-class event is put on by Weber Rescue every year. I finally was able to meet several friends in person. Jörg Heck and Patrick Allinger from Germany and even two new friends from down under, Jay Hill and Conrad Saw. I never had more fun while learning. If you want to learn something, get outside of your comfort zone. Germany was a little outside my comfort zone but I never felt more at home. A huge thank you to the entire Weber Rescue Family!!

I closed out the year teaching in Lousiville, Kentuckty. I helped the Roadway Rescue team teach for a fire department I drove past for the first 15 years of my life. The departments included Harrods Creek, St Matthews, and Worthington. Three departments that just started training together this year I believe.

I wish everyone an amazing New Year. Remember, Knowledge is only Powerful if you share it!