Continued from page 94.
Here is where you must decide if you are a team player. Who handles the victim? Again, many will say, “The first firefighter arriving at the window assists the victim out and down the ladder. The ‘driver’ backs down, assuring the footing of the firefighter partner, who ensures the footing of the victim.” Bunk!
The person you just assisted from the scenario described believed that he or she was going to die and was just in as much pain as can be described in text or felt in life. You don’t remember family or faculties in that moment before safety. You like to say you do, and it is socially unacceptable not to think of them first —always. But believe me, the victims won’t.
When, therefore, do they remember that they left two children on the floor of the room? That the husband or wife is still “in there”? I’ll tell you when! About halfway down the upper sliding section of the aerial. Now what do you do? You first must say, “Oh, #(§*&!S#%,” and get around the panicking victim and up again to the now even more exposed room. How do you avoid that?
Start at the turntable. The partner of the “chauffeur” ascends as quickly as possible, eyes on the victim, shouting calming phrases. Speed and agility are musts. The “chauffeur” rapidly follows. (The “driver” stops thinking at the turntable.)
On arrival, the partner gently but firmly pushes the victim out of the path and steps into the room with him. The partner begins to usher the victim to the tip of the aerial; the “chauffeur” arrives and takes over the charge of bringing the victim down The partner then turns to get as much horizontal ventilation as possible out of the window with his “searching” tool. (Remember, if you come up any ladder for anything without a tool in your hand—you work for someone else!) Drop to your knees and begin the primary search for the remaining possible victims.
In this way, you have a professional one-two punch. You’re accountable, you’re professional, you’re successful, and you’re the best life-saving machine on the road!
I’LL JUST THROW UP A LADDER AND GET THEM, CONTINUED
RANDOM THOUGHTS
Last time we got to, and removed, a fire victim by using the right portable ladder —at the right position in the real world! Another question (scenario) 1 pose at sessions involves using an aerial to accomplish the same objective with the same scenario.
After reviewing arrival and the position that is “always” the best for routine operations, we review the “fudge” factors. What about wind? Where is the fire within the building? Where are the victims in most trouble? Where are the real rescues? Where are the secondary removals?
Again, the window. The one with the victim hanging out so far that gravity threatens to take over momentarily. The upper panes of glass are again blackened (like last month). Cracks have appeared, small pieces in the upper corners have fallen away, and thin wisps of flame—first so dark, then so light—dart out and are covered by black spurts of smoke. Both rapidly disappear as they curl upward tow ard the brickwork above the window frame.
You have practiced. Your partner drops or swings the inboard tormentors out to protect the aerial frame. springs, and stability. You flip into power take-off and perform the “numbered” things in the cab of the truck before swinging in one fluid motion to the asphalt and up again to the turntable-hands on the controls that you know better than the shift of your own car.
In no more than three motions you raise, rotate, and extend the ladder so fast and so expertly that the tip looks as if it flew to its destination in one motion —the window’ sill of the victim. “A great hit!” you think. “In no time!”
Now, you and your partner are at the base of the ladder at the turntable. What happens now? What really happens now?
You should stop reading here and discuss exactly what you each will do. Here is w here the books and the fire station’s back room romance can screw you up. You each must know. There is no time for discussion and play design. You must function. Each must know w hat the other’s responsibilities are and the actions that will accomplish them. There is no time for “who gets the victim—who will be the hero?” What does the chauffeur do? What does the partner do?
To understand the best, the most efficient answer, you have to know the impact factors of training bulletins and the over-safe rules that come into play. You also have to know human behavior and how it will change in these situations. What will the human victim most likely do when threatened by fire that he thinks is killing him? Success depends on speed, practice, training, experience, and absolute calm thinking.
Many say that the partner will ascend the ladder to the victim and make the removal. The driver (and not chauffeur, in this case) will remain at the turntable for safety purposes. What safety? We have death at the window, and you two are the only things in its path to success!
The partner must begin his ascent as the fly sections leave the bed ladder rungs open for the feet. He must ascend as rapidly as possible and get to the victim to provide guidance and presence to prevent the victim from giving up or leaping for a ladder that he thinks is too slow’.
What happens next? This is the key to our success and professionalism. The ladder is positioned at the sill; the rung lock lever is throw n —I know the rungs will never line up. Don’t attempt to align them, there is no time. Throw the lever anyway.
The “driver” now becomes a thinking “chauffeur.” Therein lies the difference between the two. He leaps to the bed ladder and follows the partner to the point of entry.
Continued on page 91.
