What "Firehouse Jargon" do you use?

[BC 307]

I need to start on my research paper and a section of it has to deal with jargon only used by the fire service. The following is what I have come up with, what have I missed? Please include the meanings of the jargon if it may not be obvious to those with more that one bugle.

Probie, DRT, crispy critter, nozelhead, paragod, paramaniac, airhead (Truckie), Canary, TOA, DOA, TC, TA, humping hose, toned out, "a working fire," tapped, MCI, wannabe, vollie, nubie, etc.

Political correctness is not a consideration and it is implied that even though you made the post, you do not necessarily agree with the terminology. Thanks everyone.

[W Evad]

Hey BC 307
How about leading by example, for the benefit of the gringo’s that read these forums, giving us an interpretation of your list of jargon. Although most of them can be guessed at.

[bfpd36]

a few from our dept.

hard dick = hard suction hose
bac = big @ss crowbar
ctd = circling the drain (almost doa)
cot jockey = medic /emt
meat wagon / band aid box = ambulance
tool box = heavy rescue truck
master key = bolt cutters
pixie = clueless citizens

Hope this helps you. There are a bunch more, I just can't think of them right now.

[BC 307]

Thanks for the jargon, bfpd36, good stuff there. As for Dave, I gave the folowing examples: Probie, DRT, crispy critter, nozelhead, paragod, paramaniac, airhead (Truckie), Canary, TOA, DOA, TC, TA, humping hose, toned out, "a working fire," tapped, MCI, wannabe, vollie, nubie, etc. Look at bfpd36's, that's the stuff I need.

[BC 307]

My heads too involved in the thesis Dave, not in understanding your question, sorry. Here's my definitions:

Probie: probationary FF
DRT: Dead Right There
crispy critter: Dead person who has been burned
nozelhead: Line firefighter
paragod & paramaniac: Paramedics
airhead (Truckie): Member of a truck company
Canary: Expendable First Responder
TOA: Toast on Arrival (usually a burned, deceased casualty
DOA: Dead on arrival
TC & TA: Traffic Collision or Accident
humping hose: Packing a hoseline
toned out & tapped: What happens when 911 sends you an alarm
"a working fire,": Usually a fully involved fire
MCI: Multicasualty Incident
wannabe: What I was 18 years ago (insert sarcasm here)
vollie: volunteer
nubie: New person

null

[fyrmnbrian]

I hope some of these will be helpful. I learned some of them here at Fishers Fire adn some working in downtown Indianapolis on the box. Here they let me know what you what you think

R.A.R.T = Rapidly Approaching Room Temperature(for the recently deceased)

CCFCCP = Coo Coo For Co Co Puffs (for an extreme mental pt.)

knuckle Dragger = Truckie

Band Aid Boy/Girl = Ambulance jockey

Frequent Flyer = Regular pt. with numerous calls

All State PI Accident = Going to the hospital for check out from MVA because it looks better in court

Hope none of these are offensive but they do get used. Can't think of anymore right now I will send more when I think of them.

[squirrel721]

You missed the best one of them all. A "JOB" (working fire).

[hazmat112]

"Pin Job".........auto Accident with Entrapment

"raisin"..........Old Person

"S.B.T.C.P."......... to describe a dying Pt.
Send Back The Christmas Presents

"God's Waiting Room"...... Nursing Home

"Troll".............. to describe the dregs of humanity

"Dr. Death"........... Medical Examiner

[trumpeter75]

Uhhh let's see...

paramagic....self-explanatory
band-aid buggy....ambulance
taxi run....hospital transfer
nob....nozzle
FNG....f**king new guy
donut-eater...police officer

[FFWALT]

FLB = Funny Little Beats
CHAOS = Chief Has Arrived On Scene
LOL NAD = Little Old Lady, No Acute Distress
BFH = Big Freakin' Hammer
Blue Canary's = Police Dept.
Rule of Thumb = Applies to Hazmat size up
Vapor Lock = Momentary Mental Failure
SOB = Shortness of Breath

[BC 307]

Thought of a couple more:

BRT: Big Red Truck
Slumper: Possible patient slumped over the steering wheel
Lookie Lou: Clueless observing citizen
Touron: A tourist that does someting moronically stupid
Tire Checker: A baseball bat used for adjusting confrontational citizens' attitudes

[Michelle Latham]

I hear some of these at my station:

"Catch the plug" - get hooked up to the fire hydrant
"Jack hose" - help the attack team drag the hose around.
"Pack up" - get the SCBA air tank on your back.
"Go on air" - put the regulator on your SCBA mask and breathe from the tank.
"Tender" - what we call tankers in the summer so we don't call in a wildland air-tanker.(Big airplane full of water)
"Black Helmet" - entery firefighter
"White Shirt" - Chief officer

[Adze39]

master key = bolt cutters

Actually...when we talk about a "master key", we refer to the haligan bar.

One of our chiefs from decades back was at a call once. Someone asked him about if he would be able to unlock a door. He told them that we have a master key. The person replied 'you do?'. The Chief said 'yeah, it's 36" of solid steel'

[Adze39]

Can't believe no one has mentioned "the irons" yet.

"The Irons" = axe & haligan bar paired together

"The Tool" = usually the hydraulic spreaders

[WISWIZARD]

TRY THESE FROM THE SOUTHWEST.
AMF- ADIOS MY FRIENDS--WHEN A FF LEAVES THE JOB FOR WHATEVER REASON.
YELLOW HELMET-- PROBATIONARY FF.
STICK WAGON--LADDER TRUCK
AOB--ALCOHOL ON BREATH
GRANNIE--OLD FF WHO NEEDS TO RETIRE
BOOT-- NEW FF

[FireDocCJC]

Here are some of my favorites

FUBAR F&^%ed Up Beyond All Recognition
When yu see a pt or car that just does not look right

SNAFU Situation Normal, All F@$#ed UP
When things just are not going right Just like normal

BOHICA Bend Over Here It Comes Again
When you know that something that you are about to do is just not gonna go right

[firemangeorge]

These are some terms used here that I've not
heard anywhere else:
Joker room - Alarm room. Dates to the old Gamewell joker system (Fire boxes).
Lay off! - get off the pumper and catch the hydrant.
Plug catcher - fitting used to connect 2 1/2 hose to a three inch hydrant discharge.
Get jacked off - verbal reprimand from an officer or senior firefighter.
Joker stand - desk in the alarm office.
Hooks - truck company.
Still button - switch in the joker room that rings the bells in the firehouse.
Firefighter zero - probie.
Zero - worthless firefighter.
Second Man - firefighter who is turned in to drive in place of a promoted driver.
Sixth Man - Probie assigned to a fire company above the normal five members of a unit, or fifteen of a company.
Unit - platoon (we have three).
Riding in Charge - firefighter riding in place of a Captain or Lieutenant.
Walk-in - When a patient walks in to the firehouse for assistance.
The Box - BLS or ALS transport unit.
God Squad - Heavy Rescue Company.
Hose Chute - Hose tower for drying hose.
Knock the box - dispatch the first alarm compliment.
Start the water - charge the hose line.
Start the Hydrant - charge the hydrant.
The above two have been confused by many a probie, leading to some amusing consequences.
Riding in the buggy - When a Captain is riding in place of a District Chief
Riding Above Grade - whan any member is riding in a position which would normally be filled by a member who is promoted higher. Above grade recieves that level of pay while riding above grade.
Buggy - Chief's car (Any chief, DC AC or Chief of department)
Stores - nickname of the supply division, formally known as Central Stores
Fire Shop - Division of Fleet Services that services the fire apparatus

[ 11-20-2001: Message edited by: fireman george ]

[Medic162]

Here are a couple I didn't see in other postings:
DRT Dead Right There
ZeroBar See "FNG" in a previous post!
Gorked Critically injured patient
ParaMenace Self Explanatory

Hope this helps. Be Safe... Brian

[fftex]

Here are some I use,
TSGD--This suckers gunna die
RescueRanger--EMT assist
GutBucket--BLS or ALS transport unit


There's more, but I am having a brain fart.
FFTex.

[Truckman22122]

FNG = F***ing New Guy
Probie = The FNG you can tolerate
Wagon = First out Engine
Pumper = Second out Engine that picks up the line
White Hat = Officer
White Coat = Chief
Truckie = Truck Company Fireman
Nozzlehead = Engine Company Fireman
Flip Em Over = Switch the Units over to the appropriate Fireground Channel
DRT = Dead Right There
Taxicab/Gutbucket/Bandaid Box = Ambulance

There are more but I don't want to offend any particular group of people

[J Hicks]

Strecher Fetcher - EMT

[jizumper-5]

JAFO-Just Another F'n Obsever

Oustanding Fire Fighter-guys out standing on the lawn, sucking air

Yacadayfp(tough one to pronounce: Yak-a-daph)- you all come and do as you f'n please
(ie. when an IC calls in everyone on the 'big one'and he has no clue on how to handle things :eek: )

The Awh Squad- all those rubber necks who are standing there watching the call, sometimes it is not just the citizens :D

SODA- Save Our Dumb Asses (to keep RIT training lite, original acronym for the training RIT crews)

Paramedic- Probably a Radical A$$hole Making Everyday Decisions Inredialbe Chaotic

WTF-What the F?

MFP- Mother F'r Please

DGW- Dear GOD Why?

ABC's- ambulate before carry (aka. can you walk? OK sign here!)

I am sure I can come up with more later...

[ 11-21-2001: Message edited by: jizumper-5 ]

[gunnyv]

SHEPHERD or DOORMAN-FF scared of interior attack,always outside holding a HOOK
HOOK-pike pole
WRINKLE CITY-senior citizen apts
WHITE SHIRT LOBOTOMY-promotion to Batt Chief or higher
MAGICIAN- the SHEPHERD who disappears during OVERHAUL
OVERHAUL-making sure the fire is out
FILL THE BOX-dispatch full alarm assignment
BATMOBILE or BATCAR-Batt chief vehicle
STRETCH-drop hose from or to hydrant, or to the fire
BUNDLE-hose pack for hi-rise use or off a gated wye
DROP THE BUNDLE-reverse lay to hydrant after removing attack line and wye
JUMPSEAT-where the FF sits in the back of the Engine

[BC 307]

Update - After researching each of your bio's, I've updated my paper to address the fact that west, central & east coast jargon's differ significantly.

Now I may take it one step further. It is obvious that we have a "language" that is different to the general public, but do you think that each of the groups in our stations also has its own unique form of verbal and nonverbal communications? Example: If there are 3 Truckies in the room and a Paramagic walked in, would it be a common occurence at most stations for the Truckies to "talk around" or "above the head" of the Paramagic in a cliquish sort of way with either body or verbal language? If yes, do you think this is a bad or necessary thing?

If I may have the option of using your opinion in my paper, please give me as much of a rank, name, town and state as you dare. Thanks for all the help.

[bfpd36]

I am from a small combo, suburban dept in eastern Missouri. I am now a District officer, not attatched to a station.
We do not have assigned truck companies, we do have station assignments though. When I was assigned to a station, we had a motto, "What happens in the station, stays in the staion." Therefore, when someone from another station happened to be there, we would either step outside to talk about a "station issue" or used code words to get our message out. It was not done with malicious intent, or to keep anyone out of the loop, only to protect the motto. I would also like to mention that nothing of a serious nature was kept from the District Chiefs. Only the petty things that should be handled within the station and it's inhabitants.
I hope this helps you BC, if you need more, feel free to email me.

[ 11-22-2001: Message edited by: bfpd36 ]

[mongofire_99]

Example: If there are 3 Truckies in the room and a Paramagic walked in, would it be a common occurence at most stations for the Truckies to "talk around" or "above the head" of the Paramagic in a cliquish sort of way with either body or verbal language?

Most definately!!!

If yes, do you think this is a bad or necessary thing?

Very necessary.

Firefighters work their whole lives to get the experience for their stories. The last thing we need is some bonehead that just rides in a box with somebody else do the dirty work for them stealing our stories and passing them off as their own. So we make outrageous stuff up, say something completely off the wall and act like it's an everyday thing and so forth.

Just for grins we also do what Steve Martin talked about on one of his albums - talk wrong. We'll call common everyday things different names and see how long it takes for the reds (Texas paramedics have red patches, EMTs are blue) to start calling them the wrong thing.

Sometimes we get a really smart college educated and licensed red and we have to call something wrong twice before they think that's what we really call it!

[ 11-22-2001: Message edited by: mongofire_99 ]

[firemangeorge]

Doesn't happen in our house, not on my unit day. We are all firemen first. Medics went that way for some reason they had, or because the dept said so. The senior medic on the box, once again on my unit day, was grabbing kids from fires way before I was a FF, and yet his partner just passed his first anniversary. These guys are just as much a part of our unit as any one else, and they take their turn in the pan and in the sink like everyone else. All ten of us worked together to save lives, and that bond is stronger than any BS about who's job is more important. I can't say every house on every unit day is as close as we are, but I trust all of these guys with my life, and I'd die trying to save theirs.
Around here, there is no seperation of fire and EMS.

[shammrock54]

here's a few:

darwin candidate- a person who should have been killed @ birth by god, but some who survived, but god caught up w/ them and ruined ur day by killing them on ur shift, usually thru some extreme act of stupidity.

wacker- a guy on the job or civilian that chases fire and hangs around firehouses, but will almost never be seen working or atleast not there for the dirty jobs.

3 to 5, 7 to 9- what is said over an obviously dead or soon to be person. this being the probable hrs for the pt's wake.

ambu sneak- when going to a call, usually an unsafe scene or one ur dreading u shut off the lights and sirens and creep onto scene, praying not to be seen.

TARFU- Things Are Really F*cked Up

[mtnfyre21]

i am from a combo unit in ther mountains of north carolina

st-subject trapped
pi-personal injuriy
white shirt=officer
redlightwacko-guy with way to many reds
probie- new firefighter(me)
FM-firemarshal
batmobile-battion cheifs car
bus- rescue truck
2197 10-8
stay healthy stay safe, have fun :D ;) :)

[091101]

Knob = nozzle
Newbie/F.N.G. = new medic/FF
J.A.F.O. = Just Another F***ing Observer
Job = working fire, EMS run
BS Job = a crap EMS run
Crap = majority of EMS/Fire runs
Pinjob = MVA w/entrappment
N.D.S. = Near Death Syndrome
Oh No Crew = the little old ladies that gather at senior citizen residences when they see you arrive
Grabber = bad cardiac patient
Gorked = bad unconscious patient (CVA, head trauma)
E.C.U. = Eternal Care Unit
Hooligan = Halligan bar
H.P.R.S. = Hysterical Puerto Rican Syndrome (infrequently used of course)
Code 7 = the "P", "R", and "S" are on the #7 button on a phone. See HPRS above.

Lizard = senior citizen
Lizard Slinger = private BLS transport EMT

Bus = ambulance
BLS bus = BLS ambulance
Slinger Bus = private transport ambulance

Scab = used by career guys while picking on vollies and part-timers for inhibiting the progress of the career guys(not to mention the union definitions)

Blow the door(s) = simple extrication/door removals

Air = oxygen
Water of life = Normal Saline .9%
Sugar check = Blood glucose check
Jugs/Demons = Jugular vein exam, peripheral edema exam
Pez = Subligual nitroglycerin
Flintstones = chewable aspirin

White Plate Pr!ck = NY drivers who cross the bridges into NJ driving like jerks (although good for job security)

A.B.C. = Ambulate Before Carry
A.B.C. = Always Be Cool (sunglasses on before exiting truck/car/engine)

Wacker/Smacker/Hoople/Hoopie = volunteer overachiever type, like mentioned above, who shows up everywhere and pretends to do everything but accomplishes nothing

B.L.S. = Basic Lifting Service
B.L.S. = Bogus Life Support

A.L.S. = Ain't Lifting Sh!t

M.I.C.U. = Me In Charge of You


PRAY FOR OUR FALLEN. ;)

[AC1503]

SPAM = worthless hunk of meat

[shammrock54]

one that i can't believe i overlooked. the basic rule of trauma:

Scoop & Screw- to do the bare bones on scene care and to load pt into ambu and get moving ASAP. usually done for critical pts or when u run out of ideas.

[truckie_ladderco_147]

Department A$$hole=our chief(swear to God it is in a reflective sign above his office :D )
Bus=ambulance
2 bagger=a "sick"raisin that meets you at the curb with 2 bags
curb defib=hitting a curb with the ambulance as your pt goes into arrest and the resulting shock of the bouncing gets him into a normal rythm
still alarm=to us it means the damn alarm is STILL ringing :D
super probie= a probie of such amazing ability to foul up anything
BTDT probie=no matter how young or inexperienced he has Been There Done That more than your retired guys
Love some of the others you guys have posted.Keep em coming.

[cake&bowls]

'school bus'= yellow fire trucks(please
dont hate me, bus drivers)

'mooshy' also called a 'load'= lazy ass

'drag ass ball hair cake'= what you give
someone when they
transfer stations

"If it was up your ass you'd know"= if it
was up your ass you'd know

[EFDems841]

ParaGod-self explanitory

GDFT-G&d D@mn F&^$!ing Tourists (mostly NY&NJ here)

Tree Hugger-skier/snowboarder who has hit a tree

"That"-as in "go grab That"-could be anything off of a rig or on a scene..you need mental telepathy to distingush what "that" is.

scanner freaks-people with scanners who are usually on scene before you are and just cause a mess.

Tone Hoppers-people who if they're driving in their vehicles, switch on their emergency lights even before the tones are finished going off-even for a message page.

Jackass-our neighboring dept (only has about 8 members) has a Kawasaki Mule ATV...we've nicknamed it the jackass

Rig/Bus-Ambulance

lung pumper-bag valve mask

lung sucker-french suction catheter

air bandit-person who suckes down a 45 min SCBA tank in 5

there's more..just gotta remember them ;)

[lang]

NAFI - [pronounced: naa-fi (as in ski)] No Ambition F*ck all Interest

[WFDLT2]

I've found it interesting that a majority of different FDs have similar jargon. Here are I few I haven't seen yet...
FTD - Fixin to Die
MILF/GILF - Mother/Guy I'd Like to F%^&!
Etoh on board - drunk
Piss boy/girl - middle seat in rescue...
"What's my Job-piss on it!!
Usually reserved for the probie!
Hazmat Alpha - anthrax alert
PPV - Positive Pressure Ventilation
OVM - Outside Vent Man
:D

[091101]

"Vitamin A" = Ammonia inhalants ( a city EMT's best assessment tool)

ETOH is the scientific symbol for Ethyl alcohol. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">