Members of the Des Plaines Fire Department will be featured in a textbook entitled Fundamentals of Fire Fighter Skills, expected to be published in December, 2012 and used nationwide as a basic training manual for individuals studying fire science. 

Des Plaines fire fighters were photographed to visually accompany some of the written information presenting learning concepts in the manual. The Department’s training officer, Battalion Chief Forest Reeder, a nationally-known fire service instructor, was originally contacted by publishers Jones and Bartlett regarding the inclusion of the Des Plaines Fire Department in the manual.

Some of the photographs that feature Des Plaines fire fighters involve patient movement techniques, in-vehicle patient care and stabilization, vehicle door removal, using the “Jaws of Life” rescue tool to extricate individuals from wrecked vehicles, and fire prevention practices.

Des Plaines Fire Chief Alan Wax, who was present for some of the photography sessions, which were held in September at the Public Works Garage on Joseph J. Schwab (Campground) Road, as well as other locations in the City, commented:  “This was a fun project for our personnel – a little something out of the ordinary.  The citizens of Des Plaines can be proud that they have a fire department that is so well respected for its capabilities and performance.  We were certainly happy to have an opportunity to share our skills and knowledge with others in the industry on a large scale, and to advance the excellent name of the Des Plaines Fire Department even further on the national fire service scene.”