The Firefighter Academy--Day 8

Tuesday night's academy parallels the normal Tuesday night training, but with a half-hour added at each end. Instead of beginning with turn out drills, we took advantage of some confusion and did knot practice instead.

This worked out well, since many of the team are still trying to get their knots down. As the rest of the firefighter association filtered in for the beginning of their 1830 hours training, they joined us in trying to figure out their knots too. It reminded me of a Boy Scout meeting with those who knew their knots teaching those who were still struggling. I learned yet another method of tying the bowline, which I thought would be easier in many situations.

Once 1830 came around, the captains herded us all upstairs. The chief had prepared a sobering discussion on how we could be charged with certain felonies if our driving resulted in life or property damage. More importantly, he gave very clear guidelines on how to prevent that from happening.

Following the chief's presentation and discussion, we--the whole association present--went downstairs and got into our turn outs and rotated through traffic control methods. We did this a month or so ago and predictably I found this time to be easier. It seems simple enough. Set up the "WRECK AHEAD" diamond signs and place the cones to divert traffic away from and around the accident site. Then, use the "STOP/SLOW" hand-held signs and radio communications to keep traffic flowing and everyone at the scene safe. Yet, there's more to it.

The big take-away I got from last night's training was: Stop all traffic in all directions around the crash site until the crash victims are safely on their way to help and you have developed a plan for diverting traffic around the crash site. Use the engines and trucks to help block the roads if necessary, but leave room for ambulances and other support vehicles through. Be ready for other drivers who will try and break through to get past the crash site.

Once a plan is developed, teams will set up the "WRECK AHEAD" signs and cones. Traffic will already be stopped and a firefighter holding traffic with their "STOP/SLOW" sign. When the scene is clear of victims, the command will be given the IC (Incident Command) to begin allowing traffic through. "Eastbound Traffic, this is Westbound Traffic. Ready to send traffic westbound." "Copy. Okay to send traffic westbound." "Sending traffic westbound...last vehicle is a blue SUV." "Copy. Last vehicle is a blue SUV." Then the reverse happens. "Westbound Traffic, this is Eastbound Traffic. Ready to send traffic eastbound." And, so on. I can only imagine how much fun it gets to be when you add a couple of intersections to the mix.

After the training drill, those of us in the academy took a few minutes to have a class photo taken. Then we got to do turn out drills some more. I am getting faster and even with getting the gloves over my fat mitts taking seeming a quarter of my overall time, I'm at 40-50 seconds for just the turn outs. We have two minutes to get turn outs and air pack on.

While I tried to do a good job as class lead, I am happy to let someone else have a go at it. I'll be over here with the dust mop.