Junior Varsity vs. Varsity Fire Skills
The Internet is a great platform for discussion and sharing of techniques and technology. Some users can see tools and techniques that their department is considering purchasing. Product reviews can provide feedback on what was liked or disliked. Videos can show step by step how a technique is executed. The Internet allows users to shop around for the best price or possibly alternatives to the original item that they were looking for. There are many advantages of research, training, and purchasing through the Internet.
The same Internet promotes open forum discussion and comments. Many social media posts will receive positive and negative comments. I have read some comments about training videos that using a fog nozzle is a technique from the dinosaur era. Smooth bore is the varsity choice because it adds penetration. Opponents will say that the fog nozzle allows for greater cooling of an involved fire room. The fog nozzle may be the better choice for hydraulic ventilation, which can improve interior conditions.
I read a lively discussion on placement of a ladder during trench rescue operations. Does the ladder go next to the panel, where one side of the argument says that you are physically out of the safe zone? Does the ladder go onto the trench panel, where the other side claims that you are placing uneven, unneeded forces on the panel, which can contribute to panel movement and system failure?
Rope rescue is notorious for keyboard warriors choosing sides. A hard rope grab vs. a soft rope grab is the most common argument. One side may claim wrapping cordage in a prusik wrap technique is the best way to go. The opposition claims that the prusik is junk because it can slip and fail at lower kilonewton tension. The camp supporting the prusik claims the aggressive hard-shell cam can desheave or shear the rope. Even at the foundation of rope rescue, people cannot agree on how to spell prusik, prussik, or prusic.
A recent discussion that I read on rope rescue agreed that a main and belay rope are needed for any elevated operation. The controversary was focused on where you attach the belay rope. A photo had the belay rope attached to the dorsal ring, just behind the rescuer’s neck. This was called out as an outdated, junior varsity technique. The next comment was that this will lead to a severe injury. After that comment, the next post was, “They are certainly going to die.” There were many other comments that went downhill, and they were far more colorful. None of the multiple comments that followed were constructive.
Constructive criticism helps gain knowledge. Constructive criticism asks questions about the technique. Why did you choose that rigging location? Why are you holding the nozzle there? What is the advantage of making a bridge to enter a trench? Comments of a negative nature, unsupported, without research or personal experience, or just plain attacks are the junior varsity firefighter technique that does not promote learning.
The varsity level skill is not a physical firefighter technique at all but rather the ability to inspire discussion and share knowledge. When firefighters share what they did and others question why that technique was used, conversation and learning occur. This is not a career where everybody gets a trophy. Constructive comments do not need to be supportive of the demonstrated technique as long as counterexperience can be justified. A reader may comment on a photo of a firefighter holding the nozzle tightly next to his body as less effective than moving it two feet in front of him. Then, it should be followed up with why. We keep the nozzle forward for greater maneuverability and we use our large body muscles to counter nozzle reaction.
The Internet has many positive uses. The leaders of the fire service should use it to help expose those new in their careers to industry best practices. It should not be in a presentation of, “Look at me; this is the only way to do it.” Show what you are doing. Explain why you use a technique, and ask respondents to constructively share their counterpoint. This is the varsity move. Let’s take advantage of worldwide exposure to techniques in a way that will expand our knowledge.
Jeremy Rifflard
Lead Instructor
Scaffold Rescue Program
Structural Collapse Program
Coral Springs (FL) Regional Institute of Public Safety
