Posted on 07/07/2012 3:14:17 AM PDT by rawhide
...because he gave her his air mask during rescue
A heroic firefighter who rescued a woman from a burning home is reportedly in trouble after giving her his air mask.
As Philadelphia firefighter Fran Cheney carried Mary Jackson out of the home he selflessly gave her his own air mask - worried she wouldn’t survive the dangerous smoke.
However after Wednesday's successful rescue, rather than praising Cheney a top fire department official allegedly told him that removing his air mask was not ‘a smart move.’
And Cheney’s decision to remove his mask during the rescue mission has now led to an investigation.
The firefighter’s risk paid off and both he and Jackson managed to get out of the home unharmed.
Entering the burning home in the Kensington area, Cheney heard screaming and found Jackson in a second floor bedroom struggling for breath.
The mask was on ‘positive pressure’ which means it blows smoke away, Cheney explained.
Despite wearing no mask, Cheney managed to carry the woman through the smoke and down the stairs to safety.
After the family were all safely rescued a top fire department official told Cheney that his actions were not ‘very smart’, the firefighter said.
But Cheney stuck by his decision arguing that he was not ‘worrying about directives’ or paperwork when he was saving Jackson.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
First we have the case of the fired life guard,now this crap?People will do there jobs in the way proscribed by their bureaucratic masters,or pay the consequences.
Yeah, I took some smoke and got treated. I'm no hero, but did what had to be done. Any of my brothers would have done the same thing.
Someone in that department should get get their head on straight.
Don’t forget all the cops that stood around while a guy almost drowned at a beach in CA because the “rescue” team wasn’t around. A civilian went in and saved him.
Does it place the Firefighter at risk? Certainly.
A Firefighter places himself at risk when he climbs onto the apparatus.
Is it a smart move? Ask the lady he shared it with.
I would bet he doesn't consider himself a hero, just a man doing his job.
The POS who told him it isn't a smart move is the Richard head who should be investigated.
This attitude of self survival is happening in all Fire Departments now as people who join the ranks for the pay are replacing those who joined for the tradition.
First thing I was taught as a lifeguard is always preserve your safety first, even if it means pulling away from the drowning victim. Yes, it was selfless of him to give the lady his mask, but if the fire had flared up, and he had been overcome, she would not have been in a position to take over and get them both out, resulting in loss of both. With his mask on, he would have reduced the chances of not being able to get himself and his victim out. She might have suffered more smoke inhalation, but thats what the paramedics are for.
It’s not all that honorable, but the investigation is still warranted because he violated a critical procedure.
That's what heroes are made of.
You have obviously not been in this situation,
Gee, going into a burning warehouse was not ‘a smart move.’ /s
I don't know the answer, but this might be a case where statistically getting out fast is safer for both than sharing the mask and cold logic is better than an attempt at kindness in the heat (pun slightly intended) of the moment.
Which one would you count on most to save your a**?
>>First thing I was taught as a lifeguard is always preserve your safety first<<
He made a spot decision that saved her life.
He was trained and knew what he was doing.
FP, the apple did not fall far from the tree.
You and your father are both heroes.
Yep. That wonderful one-size-fits-all mentality of a government bureaucrat, it’ll kill initiative every time.
That top fire dept official should be removed from his job. People in that area need to protest via tv, radio stations and newspapers. Put the pressure on!!!!!
The obvious solution to this would seem to be to bring two masks. Is this solution a little bit too obvious?
this guy is a selfless hero, and deserves praise for his actions.
He also risked both their lives by giving up his gear.
the investigation SHOULD go like this:
captain: come into my office, close the door.
fireman: ok
captain: you should not have taken off your mask and put it on that woman. It was aginst procedure.
fireman: ok
captain: don’t let it happen again.
fireman: ok
My questions is how in the hell did it get into the papers, and publicised like this?
who is the little weasel that wanted to take a selfless act and turn it into a firing squad?
I find it sad that our society has come to this in such a short amount of time.
hell, the police were not called to a damn elementary school to arrest a little kid. The principal would kick his ass, send him home, and his parents would kick his ass again.
heroes were honored as such, and investigations like this one never saw the light of day.
what happened?
His stupid visors should be promoted to dog poop scoopers at the firehouse where they can demonstrate their ???????
I'm not so sure. I appreciate what the firefighter did, but I also understand the rationale for the rule. It's a hard case and there is an argument to made on both sides. I am glad that they are both OK, and I hope no one, even the top fire official, loses his job or suffers any consequences. The firefighter may have to settle for the gratitude of the community and his own piece of mind as a reward.
“It’s not all that honorable, but the investigation is still warranted because he violated a critical procedure.”
Balderdash!
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