An Accountability Lesson From Hansel and Gretel

Everyone knows the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Two kids who get lost in the woods and leave a trail of bread crumbs to lead themselves back home. Well while the method was not perfect Hansel and Gretel had a great idea and it is something we can use on the fireground.

Here are the two styles of door chocks I carry in my gear. While this may seem simple think about this scenario. Your chocking the doors that you going through, but then despite your best efforts you get turned around, you think you know where you’re at, but then that anxiety sets in. YOUR LOST! You issue the MAYDAY and you give your LUNAR report and whether you include your name in the report or not at some point you will be identified by name. Either through your MAYDAY report or when you give your unit number and position the accountability officer should have some form of accountability tag with your name, or it may be as simple as your company officer going “I lost Johnny”. At some point the RIT is going to be activated and they will know who the person is they are looking for. As the crawl into the building their flashlight sweeps over a door and they see a chock with writing on it, “Isn’t that Johnny’s initials/name? ” “He must have gone this way”.

Any hint we can give the RIT as to our location will do nothing but improve our chances of surviving a MAYDAY event.

Here are 2 other types of chock I carry. One is called a “hing hook” the other is a “cherry bomber”. In order to make these more visible I have added some reflective striping. This way they will be more eye-catching to a RIT, because door hinges usually don’t glow or shine back at you, so they may be more inclined to investigate it.

 

If they do happen to crawl over to it, or past it they will then just like the door wedges they will see an identifying mark as to who it is and who could have been through here. You can even add this reflective striping to your wedges to enhance there visibility. You can even add your company number, or any identifying mark that will help lead a rescuer to you.

The point is that this simple thing could pay huge dividends when involved in a MAYDAY situation. This is our “bread crumb trail” and can be just one more tool in your tool box to help you in your time of need. We should be chocking doors anyway why not take advantage of this and make it work for us.

At minimum putting your name and company will enhance the chances of your chock getting returned to you after a fire.

So take some time for “chock enhancement” it could pay off for you in the end.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

Masking Up In the Enroute Yields Positive Results

I have written about his subject several times. It has been debated, argued, revisited and gone through the whole hay bailer again. Much like everything we do, there are several different ways to accomplish the same mission. A majority of them fall in the realm of not wrong but different. To me the “when to mask up question” is one of those topics. As I have stated before there is a few wrong places to mask up (In the hot zone, or near potential exhaust points) but for the most part it is up to personal preference.

You can argue one way or the other, but if you take this video for wha it is worth, and at face value then the only way this rescue could have been made is by coming off the rig masked up. Taking the time to mask up in the yard would have taken too much time and the room would have flashed over before an entry could have been made.

This technique does work, and when practiced can decrease our Zero Impact Period.

Like I have said a million times however this needs to be trained on here is an example

People who participate in the Firefighter Combat Challenge do so in full PPE,SCBA, with mask on air. These events are supposed to mirror the fireground, all it takes is training. You think it will affect your size up, then practice your size up with your mask on. You think it will affect your fireground movement, then put your mask on and do the movements.

It is possible, and with training you can make it happen.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

October Drill Of The Month: The Handcuff Knot

Short sweet and to the point, the handcuff knot is vital to RIT/RIC operations. It can be used to attach to down firefighters either using the loops created by tying the knot, or using those loops and attaching a carabiner. The biggest advantage is that the knot creates to pulling points for firefighter to use in the rescue attempt. This provides a great mechanical advantage in lifting the firefighter from below grade.

Bottom line this knot saves lives! You need to be able to tie it in the dark, in the smoke, with gloves on, under the most stressful conditions imaginable. Take some time this month (whats left of it) to practice this knot like someone elses life depends on it, CAUSE IT DOES!

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

Texas Close Call

Well it is good to be back from FDIC it was a very succesful conference and I am working on my full review post. However someone forwarded me this video and I could not wait to share it.

Since VODPOD decided to sell to Lockerez and stop the WordPress plug-in I am still looking for a new video sharing site so until then links will have to do.

The link tot he video is here http://www.kens5.com/video/featured-videos/WATCH-Fire-collapses-roof-at-San-Antonio-hotel–148333845.html

I think it speaks for itself, but is a good reminder to wear all of your gear, SCBA, and use appropriate fire tactics.

The FDIC 2012 review will be up later in the week so stay tuned for that.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE

February Drill Of The Month: Self RIT Bottle

I am putting this out a day early since I have to work in the AM, plus February is a short month so you can take that extra day and use it to train.

A lot of times we find ourselves sitting around the firehouse not doing anything. I am not talking about taking a break, or eating, or even down time sometimes we are just sitting there. This is a GREAT time to get that hour of hands on training in. However sometimes you find yourself all alone while trying to get that training done. The guys on your crew may be in the middle of something else, they may be talking to their families on the phone, or they may simply not want to train. DO NOT LET THIS STOP YOU!!!! There is a ton of things you can do on your own to get that training in and make yourself better. Here is an example:

Self RIT Bottle Drill

All you need is the following:

1 RIT Bag

1 Spare Bottle

1 Air Pack

1 Pair Firefighting gloves

First start with going over the pieces and parts of the RIT bag. Work all of the buckles, zippers, connections, etc. with your firefighting gloves on. Also pull out the mask, and transfill connection and make go over how they connect and make sure they are all in working order.

Next put all of the stuff back in the bag. Start a few feet away and crawl to the airpack. Once you reach the airpack go over your down firefighter assessment procedure. Once you do this make the transfill connection to the URC (Universal RIT Connection) or Transfill valve (whatever you call it). Of course we are doing this with firefighting gloves on.

Repeat this as many times as it takes for you to not fumble around with getting the trans fill hose out of the bag and onto the connection. Once you have got it down you can move on to the next phase in the drill.

For this phase we bring in the spare bottle. Start again with you bag fully zipped up, ans squared away. Begin a few feet away and crawl to the spare bottle. The spare bottle is going to simulate a firefighters face and head. Approach the bottle and perform a down firefighter assessment. SImulate that the mask has been damaged, or dislodged and you have to replace it. Then (of course with firefighting gloves on) pull out the RIT mask and place it on the spare bottle, just as you would a down firefighter.

 

The spar bottle can actually be very challenging as in you gloves it can slip and slide, it is a great simulator for a unconcious fireman as they will usually have no muscle control and be difficult to maneuver.

If you want to increase the difficulty, you can add your full PPE compliment with SCBA, black our your face piece, increase the distance, or of course add a live victim.

This drill may seem simple but being able to replace a mask, or make that connection is truly life and death stuff as when you are asked to do it, you will be performing it under fire conditions, with your brother’s life in the balance. Do not let the fact that it has never happened before in your department make this any less important.

Bottom line is there is NO excuse for not training a minimum of 1 hour every shift, even if you are by yourself. No excuses get to work. So this month get out there and work with that RIT bottle hopefully your crew will join you but if not it is ok because you can do it alone.

Do not forget to keep following me on twitter @averagejakeff and let me know what you’re doing for training in your departments by using the hastag #1hourHOT if you send some pictures I will post them on the site.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

Do You Have a Play for This?

Fast forward the video to about 1:56 in it you will see an exterior fire attack being performed. During this fire attack the firefighter on the nozzle goes down (unknown reason) and is experiencing some sort of medical emergency.

After a few minutes a sort of Mayday is called stating that a firefighter is down and they need the Paramedics for medical assistance. Now I’m sure we could focus all day on the improper Mayday call, and even the tactics themselves for this fire but the real question here is Do you have a play for this?

I use the word play interchangeable with plan. At my old company we had an Engine Company play book that laid out all the various type of scenarios that we responded to and our actions according to riding position. This gave us an avenue to focus our training and to have maximum efficiency on the fireground/emergency scene. I can tell you with honesty we had NO PLAY for the on scene firefighter medical emergency.

Taking one look at the USFA LODD Annual report will show you that our fireman are dying on scene from medical emergencies, usually not on the interior of fire buildings. Yet we have ZERO training, drills, or even plans for how to deal with the Firefighter on scene medical emergency in the middle of an emergency. Sure we train on RIT/RIC but that focuses more on removing firefighters, bailing out, wall breaching, buddy breathing, etc. It NEVER focuses on how to treat, or handle the exterior or even interior medical emergency.

Sure we have great training, and plans if the medical emergency happens interior to get the firefighter out, but then what? Just hand them off to the medic unit, What if it’s not there. In my department we do not send a medic until it is a confirmed working fire, so that is a lot of lag time between the arrival of the first in companies and the arrival of the medic, a lot can happen in that amount of time, so whats your plan for treating that sudden cardiac arrest?

Like everything in this job we have to adapt our plans, and evolve to meet the current needs and emergencies we are facing, for years we have been experiencing medical emergencies on the fireground, and still there is nothing out there to deal with these instances. If we are our best chance of survival then perhaps we should begin to adapt our Firefighter survival training to more realistic events that have actually happened.

If you are doing anything like this in your department, then please drop me a line in the comments section, twitter @averagejakeff, or on email.

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

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OUTSTANDING! Out side standing that is

 

In this video we get to see arrival from initial fire department units at the scene of the house fire. Due to the video it is hard to tell what exactly is on fire. At first I thought it was the entire D side (or 4 side for those of you who do not do the ABCD thing) but then as I looked at the position of the fire and wear the stream was directed It almost appeared to be either an attached, or detached garage, or possibly even just an addition.

Either way the D/4 side of the house is on fire. We see 2 engine companies arrive (one was a telesquirt) and begin to stretch lines. They have their masks on and all there PPE and they appear ready to work, which is a good thing. However do you notice something missing? Do you notice some tactics missing?

First and foremost the guys off the telesquirt bring ZERO tools with them. Sure it appears that man power may be light but even if they are assisting with the first line at some point some tools are going to be needed, best to bring them along and stage them instead of leaving them on the rig.

Second I have no problem with giving an advanced fire a shot from the outside prior to making entry, it’s a good tactic to slow down fire spread, and give possible victims a greater chance of survival. However when we do it we want to make sure that we bleed the line first, get our pattern straight, and do not use a fog stream. When you introduce a fog stream into this situation you WILL push fire back into the occupancy, thus making the entire point of why you attacked from the exterior in the first place mute. Also unless the structure, or fire is keeping us out of the building we need to transition this attack to the interior once we have made our initial hit.

Third and this goes along with some of the second comment, why did they not go inside? Even if it was an attached or detached garage its obvious that this fire has spread into the occupant space. This appears to be an occupied home, and given no occupant accountability we have an obligation to search, and to make an interior attack to cut the fire off from spreading to the rest of the structure. There is no reason that a 3 person crew can not force the front door (well if the brought tools with them), stretch the line interior and hold the fire in check while a search is done. Once you perform the search then you can transition back to the outside if the fire is to great, or you can continue to fight fire, and have incoming companies stretch additional lines. Bottom line is this fire is now in the occupant space so that’s were we eventually need to get to.

Like in the last post it all comes down to FRONT END TRAINING! Instead of winging it on every run, sit down and assign duties to the riding positions on your rig. Get together with your department chiefs, mutual aid chiefs, or who ever makes your decisions and create operations based on order of arrival, for example:

 

1st Engine: Initial Command and Fire Attack

2nd Engine: IRIT

 

1st Truck: Search and Rescue

 

Doing this allows for less talk on the radio, as the incoming units should know ok we go here 2nd we are the IRIT, let’s go to work. You can tailor this to your run assignment and your staffing, but just saying it, or even typing it is not enough. YOU HAVE TO TRAIN ON IT! You have to get on the drill ground with your companies and the companies you run with and work the kinks out prior to the alarm.

 

Critical functions on the fireground should not go undone, even with limited staffing we have to perform the basics it may just take longer or be prioritized different but Command, Fire Attack, Search and Rescue, Ventilation, Salvage, and Overhaul and there associated tasks (Forcible Entry, Utility Control, etc.) must be done at every fire no matter the amount of people who show up.

Ensure when you arrive your ready to work (PPE,SCBA, and tools), and know your job/assignment. If at any point you do not know what you supposed to be doing, or who you’re working for then I dub the Sir Freelancealot! But seriously not only are you freelancing but your placing your self in danger from an accountability standpoint.

So how would you attack this fire? With your staffing level detail how this fire would go down in you department? Leave your remarks, feedback, general inquiries, etc. in the comments section, email, or on twitter (@averagejakeff)

As usual thanks for reading, spread the word, and STAY SAFE!

 

 

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