Tuesday, February 23, 2010 As a volunteer FF at age 16 I permanently injured my thumb putting a 6" hard suction hose back on the engine. The hose was mounted high up on the truck requiring three people to put it back. I was on one end, somebody in the middle and the opposite end. I got my end up, the middle did also. The person on the far end wasn't quite tall enough and his end came back down causing the whole hose to fall down. I just happened to have it catch my thumb and bend it backwards. I am now permanently partially disabled and have a fused thumb.

LESSONS LEARNED: Most departments probably don't use their suction hoses as much as we do out in the country so the risk is less. In my opinion, all engines should be equipped with the racks that hydraulically lower ladders and suction hoses to a more comfortable height. Not just thumb injuries can occur. Lifting objects above your head can cause injury to backs, necks, etc. I hope nobody else goes through what I have gone through for a piece of suction hose.