Firefighter Survival and Self Rescue

1. Firefighter Survival and Self Rescue

2. Reasons for Firefighter Injuries & Deaths • No emergency rescue plan • No training • Poor size-up • Improper strategic and • tactical decisions • Bad judgment

3. Other Identified Causes of Injuries and Deaths • Not using your safety equipment • Untrained and non experienced • firefighters • Not recognizing deteriorating conditions • Untrained and non experienced Officers • Loss of water supply • Freelancing

4. Sudden Unexpected Events • Rapid fire increase • Flashover • Backdraft • Lost firefighter • Explosion • Collapse • Firefighter Medical Emergencies • Loss of Water Supply

5. Attitude Effects Decision Making • I’ve thought this through in my mind! • What could possibly go wrong? • I know what I’m doing! • Done this hundreds of times! • I’m a trained professional!

6. Mayday • Internationally recognized • Common radio language • Used by all emergency services

7. Calling a Mayday “MAYDAY “ “MAYDAY “ “MAYDAY” 3 distinct calls to ensure you get the I/C’s attention, or someone else that can notify the IC. Call it early - Cancel if you no longer need help. Better to get help on the way early, than not have it when you need it!

8. Why don’t we call MAYDAY • Poor Communications - too much Radio Traffic • Too much pride (I can get out of this myself) • Too overconfident (I can get out of this myself) • Denial - don’t need help, (I can get out of this myself)

9. When To Call A Mayday • You or your partner fall through • Low or no air • Building or part of the building Collapsing • Your or your partner become trapped • You or your partner become lost

10. Call MAYDAY If • You are lost, disorientated and you can’t find your exit quickly • You become tangled, trapped or locked in, and can not free yourself quickly • You or your partner fall through a floor or roof • The fire will not allow you to exit • You or your partner are out of air or do not have enough air to get out

11. What if the Unthinkable Happens • DO NOT PANIC • CONTROL YOUR BREATHING • DISCUSS PROBLEM WITH PARTNER • CALL A MAYDAY • IDENTIFY PROBLEM TO COMMAND ON RADIO • STAY WITH PARTNER • SET OFF PASS ALARM

12. What to do if the Unthinkable Happens • CONTROL PASS ALARM SO YOU CAN COMMUNICATE ON THE RADIO • TRY TO VERIFY WHERE YOU ARE IN THE BUILDING, LISTEN FOR KNOWN SOUNDS LIKE AN OPERATING PUMPER, THAT WILL GIVE YOU A BUILDING SECTOR alpha, bravo, charlie, or delta • TRY TO GET OUT IF YOU CAN • FOLLOW YOUR HOSE LINE OR ROPE • HELP RIT FIND YOU BY CALLING OUT, USING HAND LIGHT, BANGING ON PIPES, ETC

13. What to do if the Unthinkable Happens • TRY TO FIND A NATURAL OPENING (door, window) • MAKE AN OPENING IF YOU CAN • ASK THE OUTSIDE CREW TO HELP WITH THE OPENING • YOU CAN EASILY BREACH MOST EXTERIOR WALLS IN • RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTIONS

14. Incident Command Responsibilities • Stay calm • Obtain situation information • Activate RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) • Identify hazards to trapped firefighters (removing the hazards will • make the rescue much easier and faster) • Assign a new IC to look after either the firefighter rescue or the • original emergency, you can’t do both • Call a PAR (to ensure there are no other firefighters missing)

15. What To Do Next • Follow your OG’s • Practice, Practice, Practice! • Take a Self Rescue and RIT course • Practice, Practice, Practice! • Look after your Partner he/she may save your life • Train Like it is the real thing your life may depends on it • Did I mention Practice, Practice, Practice!