Of all the various types of tools and equipment utilized by the fire service, the common hose coupling is likely the most underrated and least appreciated piece of equipment in use today. Consider that high-tech apparatus, pumps, hose, water additives, nozzles, and personnel would be ineffective in “putting the wet stuff on the red stuff” if hose was unable to be attached to pumps and nozzles, and that fire attack personnel could not effectively follow a hose line out of a building in an emergency if sections of hose were not able to be connected together. With these thoughts in mind, let’s consider how we can increase the effectiveness of most hose couplings when applied to fireground operations: (more…)

Greetings to All and a Happy New Year:

In this month’s credit union BLOG I have written a follow up to the to the Fallen Heroes article I wrote last October. In the article I said you will be hearing from me in the future about the organization. Well, here it is: (more…)

Gordon Graham here – and I hope all is going good for you. So much is going on in the world of “government” and most of these goings-on are linked to “money” issues. As I prepare this piece I am reading more about public safety pay, benefits, retirement plans, and related issues.

It all gets down to this. In order to survive, a business (or government entity) must balance “incoming funds” with “outgoing expenditures.” This is not advanced rocket science. You and I do this on a monthly basis – taking a look at how much is coming in – and making sure that our family expenditures do not exceed this amount. And since you are reading this on the LA Firemen’s Credit Union site – you know this better than 99% of the people you will see on the street today. (more…)