
®
Short and
To the Point
By Mark Wesseldine
The following
is a series of short, to-the-point operations messages. Some are
reprints from our departments daily safety messages and
some are my own. All come from experience. I am not, by far, an
expert. I am just relaying information that I have learned from
some of the "best" firemen in the world, firemen whom I
have either worked with or taught with in other parts of the
country.
- Safety
begins at roll call. Check your own mask and personal
equipment.
- Check,
clean, and be familiar with your tools for that tour.
- Officers,
the roll call is more than a head count. Assign
positions, tools, inspect equipment, listen to the
members, exchange important information, discuss plans
for the tour...make it worthwhile.
- Don't
waste time at an emergency. Know the location of all
tools on your apparatus. Keep your tool list updated.
Make sure all members are aware when a tool is put out of
service.
- Remember
to maintain body fluids at a high level.
- Officers
and senior members, take the time to share your knowledge
with less experienced members. You are a wealth of
information!!!
- Firefighting
is dangerous!! The more you think, the more you know, the
safer you operate.
- Remember
your size-up. Thirteen points in a couple of seconds. The
more you know about the building before entering, the
safer you will be after entering. Keep upgrading your
size-up.
- Size-up
the fire building before entering. Count the floors,
count the windows. If fire escapes are present, note
locations and relay information.
- Always
know where you are going, and where you are. How do you
transmit a "Mayday" if you don't know your
location??
- Effective
communications benefits all. Relay important information!!
- Remember,
bunker gear delays the warning signs of high heat. Once
you feel it, it may be too late.
- Don't
cheat yourself out of your retirement years. Don and wear
your facepiece properly.
- Wear
your mask now, or wear a mask later!!!! Oxygen mask.
- Position
the apparatus to provide an area of safety when operating
on highways, streets, transportation, or rubbish fires.
Watch the "excited" new guy; don't let him jump
off in traffic.
- Officers
and drivers, don't assume that other drivers will
automatically yield the right of way to your apparatus.
Drive defensively!!
- All
engines must take and test the hydrant at fire operations.
Don't wait for problems to do this.
- Check your hydrants, (caps off, flow) at the non- fire
calls.(EMS, false alarms, inspections, etc.)
- When
forcing doors, do not allow the door to spring open.
Always maintain control of the door. Remember those that
may be on floor above!!!
- When
operating on the floor above, always have an area of
refuge or another way out!!!
- If
a member is going above the fire, the officers and
members on the fire floor MUST be made aware of this.
This will remind them to maintain control of the door,
and they will warn the member above of any problems where
he/she may have to withdraw.
- All
doors through which a hoseline is stretched MUST be
chocked and the hoseline should be prevented from running
under the door.
- Before
the door to the fire area is opened, the nozzle fireman,
and backup, must all be in position on the same side of
the line and stay low.
- Engine
companies should NEVER enter the fire area without water.
- Prevent
knee burns. Sweep the floor with the line as often as
necessary before advancing.
- Get
one line in operation, and make sure it gets to the seat
of the fire before the second is stretched. Concentrate
engine members on smooth movement of the lines.
- Before
you start water in an exterior line, verify that all
units are safely out or in an area of safety. Communicate.
- Remember, these are just a few important tips for
our operations. Refer to Chief Vincent Dunn's book Safety
and Survival on the Fireground, mandantory reading
for all my students.
This column
and all articles are in memory of the late Lt. Andy Fredericks,
Miss you Brother!!! Never Forget
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