Fire/EMS Safety, Health & Survival Week

 Fire fighters/EMTs can increase their self-survival skills by reviewing the following topics: ◦ SCBA Familiarization ◦ Emergency Procedures ◦ Disentanglement ◦ Upper Floor Escape Techniques  By following key points in the proceeding slides, and their associated Near-Miss Reports, Fire fighters/EMTs can be better increase their “Self-Survival Skills”

 Fire fighters & EMS personnel need to be familiar with their SCBA.  Daily checks should be performed to ensure your pack is fully operational.  Checks should include inspection of air volume, straps, belts, hoses, batteries and integrity of the cylinder.  SCBA cylinder valves should be completely turned on when performing “on air” operations.  Emergency use of SCBA should be understood as well, such as rescue breathing, skip breathing and buddy breathing.

“…while in the middle of fire attack and under heavy fire conditions, he took a breath and the system failed. He then removed his mask and took in "hot and smoky air". He proceeded to “bail out” of the area. He was hindered by many other firefighters in the narrow hallway. He felt that his life was in danger and he was very close to going down. The individual also stated that he had not opened the tank valve more than a "turn or two", as this was his "normal practice with no previous problems.”

 An understanding in emergency procedures improves survival and safety on emergency scenes.  All members should have knowledge and train on their department’s emergency procedures, specifically as they relate to Mayday emergencies.  These procedures may include: how to declare a Mayday, what to do in a Mayday situation, and operation specific goals in order to rectify and clear the Mayday call.

“…I was the only one that fell into the basement, right into the heart of the fire…Since I did not know what type of collapse had occurred, I just started clawing away at anything as I was trying to climb. During this time, my legs were burning. Fire was burning up between my boots and my bunker pants. The pain was intense. My deputy chief was trying to put a line on me for protection, but the fire was extremely intense…By a bit of luck, a roof ladder was laying in the front yard that had just been taken off the roof after completing a ventilation operation. My deputy chief directed the crew to get the ladder into the hole for my escape…”

 Entanglement is a risk to fire fighters operating on a fire ground, but may also present hazards to EMS personnel as well.  Carry at least one type of cutting tool capable of cutting wire, rope and other materials in case of entanglement.  If tangled, control your breathing, notify command and if conditions warrant, declare a Mayday.

“…The engine company officer and nozzle man became entangled in HVAC duct wiring. The nozzle man and the company officer worked on cutting themselves out with a cutting tool that all firefighters are required to carry in their gear. The company officer notified command that they were in the basement, were not in distress, and were tangled up in wiring. Command sent half of the RIT team to assist…The engine company has had multiple trainings in self extrication and this training proved to be beneficial. They worked as a team and kept calm and were able to cut themselves out.”

 Certain situations may lead to a fire fighter having to exit a structure from an above grade level.  Various methods could include: ladder bails, rappelling, exiting to a roof area, etc.  When performing an upper floor escape, command should be notified of your present location, fire conditions and the mode of egress you are attempting.  If possible, and conditions warrant, wait for the arrival of a ladder to safely exit a window.

“…again they radioed that they needed a ladder to the rear, and that they were cut off by fire…with the heat intensifying greatly, Chief X told Lt. J, “take this window”. Once the bottom windowpane was broken out, Chief X made one quick glance out the window to determine the height of the drop. It was decided that the crew was going to exit via this window using a second floor window “hang and drop”…Chief X could see a ladder coming towards the window. Immediately Chief X started to hang out the window beating his hand on the outside wall while yelling “Right here! Right here! Right here!”… Luckily the crews raising the ladder had attended, and were familiar with the firefighter survival training program. They were able to quickly reposition the ladder for the trapped crew to bail out...”

In a room, place two SCBA harnesses, one SCBA bottle, and two regulators scattered throughout a room. Have two members enter the room with “blacked out” SCBA masks. Instruct the members that they are to search for missing components to their SCBA ensemble until they are both able to go on air and exit the room. The members should search the room until they have found and secured both harnesses, one SCBA bottle, and both regulators. At this point, the members can buddy breathe off of the one bottle. If the members do not recognize this as the fastest way to both go “on- air”, they will continue to search the room and never find the second SCBA cylinder. If search for a second bottle does continue, continuously emphasize the fact that they should “get on-air as quickly as possible” and exit the room. Photos courtesy of the IAFC Photo Contest”