The Circle of Danger

By Michael N. Ciampo

I sat in the oral surgeon’s chair. Expecting some good news wasn’t on the agenda for this visit. As surgery began, all seemed to be going fine except when the surgeon said, “You might hear some funny noises or feel some weird sensations” as he began scraping my jaw bone. Lying there clenching the arms of the chair tighter than any hook I ever held brought me right back to the fire and how this injury initially occurred years ago. The thought of how I ended up on the receiving end was weighing heavily on my mind as the scraping continued. Then I thought about the circle of danger and how it related to so many instances of tool usage and the injuries I have witnessed over the years.

SAW OPERATIONS

During initial training on saw operations, we are taught about the circle of danger-the safety circle measured from where the saw’s blade comes in contact with the material being cut. All firefighters operating around the saw (except the backup firefighter) should maintain as near as practical a circle of a couple of feet from the “live” saw. Some departments teach a certain distance, but in all practicality the distance has to be ample for the size of the area in which you are operating. However, all members operating in the vicinity should be aware that debris thrown from any saw can travel great distances; thus, personnel should wear full personal protective equipment. It all sounds great on paper, but many times in photos we see the circle full of firefighters with tools, just waiting to pull open the cut.

If you remember anything about the circle, watch in which direction the blade/chain is cutting and the direction in which the operator moves with the saw; the operator might come out of the cut, stand up, and turn with the blade/chain still rotating, so be prepared! (If you’re using a chain saw, hit the chain brake after completion of your cut.) Also, don’t stand in line with the debris being ejected from the saw, especially if orange metal fragments are being released; firefighters have received serious injuries from being hit by these materials. It may be a little difficult to do when two saws are operating, but pay attention to your surroundings. Another quick tidbit: It’s good practice to designate one member to stand away from the roar of the loud engines of the saw and monitor the radio; the incident commander may be calling for you to evacuate the roof!

FORCIBLE ENTRY

When two firefighters are forcing a door and you’re playing the third wheel, the best place to be is out of the way. The tools are about 30 to 36 inches long, and the firefighter operating the ax or maul is twisting his trunk from front to rear to gain momentum as he strikes the prying tool. So give him plenty of room. More than one firefighter trying to watch, encourage, or even instruct has been hit with the impact tool on the back swing and has needed medical attention. Try to maintain an area to the side or behind the operation, kneeling below the smoke and shining the flashlight at the purchase point or where the two tools will come in contact with each other to assist your forcible entry team. Don’t stand over the team and try to sneak a peek; you might get struck or trampled over as members change position to continue forcing open the door.

EXTRICATION TOOLS

More than once we’ve heard of a firefighter moving one of his hands off the handles of an extrication tool, either to lift it or position it better while opening the tool. Suddenly, a gloved hand gets pinned or pinched between the vehicle and tool, and the firefighter is trying to pretend it didn’t hurt. The feeling of fluid in your gloved hand or knowing you have to remove the glove to view the injury is one of the worst feelings. Always try to maintain your hands on the operating handles or support handles; if you need to reposition the tool, do it while you are not opening or closing it. Additionally, you can use a hand tool or hook to help support the tool if you can’t hold it in position. Don’t rely on another firefighter’s hand in a precarious position to do it!

OPENING UP

The hook is a tool used for opening up, especially when pulling open ceilings and walls. You can use it overhead, to the side, and below your waistline to accomplish many tasks. There are a few considerations when you’re operating around another member using a hook. First is the length of the tool. A six-foot hook has a long handle to use when you’re operating around furniture in a bedroom. Also, be aware of the firefighter using the tool to remove moldings around the windows and doors; if the piece he was pulling suddenly releases from its attachment points, the hook and material most likely will rapidly go in a few directions. Remind the operator that if he does more prying than pulling, the pieces will release with more control and be less likely to strike another member. In some instances, if the hook’s head is large, the firefighter may do a baton twirl and punch the smaller butt end through the ceiling first to make a purchase point. Be prepared; he’ll spin it back around to insert the head and begin pulling the ceiling. During the back stroke when a firefighter is opening up the wall or ceiling, don’t get behind him, or you’ll get struck with the butt end of the hook. Of course, you might have to remind him when opening up plaster and lath ceilings to pull in line and next to the joist. This way, the hook’s head doesn’t get caught on a joist and suddenly slip off and the butt end of the tool strikes an unsuspecting firefighter who was pulling properly next to you in the face!

“Sir, your surgery is over now.”

● MICHAEL N. CIAMPO is a 27-year veteran of the fire service and a lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously, he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is the lead instructor for the FDIC Truck Essentials H.O.T. program. He wrote the Ladder chapter and co-authored the Ventilation chapter for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter I and II (Fire Engineering, 2009) and is featured in “Training Minutes” truck company videos on www.FireEngineering.com.