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Single Firefighter Ladder Deployment

A quick search of "ground ladders" on YouTube will pull up dozens of videos showing how to deploy a ladder using any number of methods. Some videos look like they came right out of the academy textbook, some are a bit more non-conventional, and others still show a single firefighter throwing a ladder with so little effort, the ladder might as well have been a paper airplane. I have come to realize that I may never be able to duplicate the latter. My height and muscle mass make it obvious to everyone that I was not born of Zeus.

Regardless of my stature, I cannot just say, "it's impossible for me to throw that ladder." No citizen in need of rescue is going to accept that answer. No firefighter tasked with saving lives should accept that answer either. It was in this light that I began searching for ways to get the job done. 

So imagine with me for a minute that you have a visible occupant trapped at a third floor window. The ground below the window is concrete. Unfortunately, you don't have the ability to rest the butt of the ladder against the structure to assist in the raise due to overgrown landscaping. Can you get the ladder in place by yourself? 

Hopefully this video will help in answering that question.

Survivor

On the recommendation of a friend, I read Lawrence Gonzales' book Deep Survival: Who lives, who dies, and why*. The book chronicles multiple stories of survival and their intersection with science to help explain why a person may or may not make it through  their own life-threatening challenges. What becomes evident in studying stories of survival is that there are commonalities among those who are able to overcome their dire circumstances. Lawrence states that among the key common attributes of the survivor are: the ability to turn fear into focus, the ability to think, analyze and act, a willingness to do whatever it takes to live, and having "never give up" attitude.

As firefighters, we are often placed in the midst of dangerous settings. There is no assurance that each one of us will being going home at the end of the shift despite efforts to mitigate the hazards. Far too many factors lie outside of our realm of control. Our training, experience, and efforts can influence the factors within our control, however. It is the job of the fire service to help foster attributes of a survivor within each member our departments.

Eddie Would Go

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, thousands of people are gathering to watch what is considered to be the most prestigious surfing event in the world. The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational matches some of the top surfers on the planet with swells towering higher than many of our houses. In fact, the event does not even take place if the waves do not exceed heights of twenty feet. It is for this reason that the event has only been held nine times in last 31 years. Organizers refuse to sacrifice the purity of this competition for the sake of simply making it an annual spectacle. It is in this light that they choose to honor the event's namesake, Eddie Aikau.

Eddie Aikau

Eddie was the first official lifeguard at Waimea Bay on Oahu's north shore, where the event is held. During the late 1960s and into the 1970s, he solidified himself as one of the foremost big wave surfers in world. It was, however, his work as a lifeguard that made him legendary. There was not a single death on the bay while he was on duty during his ten years of service. He and his brother, Clyde, are credited with over 500 saves. This was all done without jet ski or boat. They simply paddled out into the swells on their surf boards. While conditions were by no means ideal for many of these saves, Eddie would paddle out anyway. To this day, the local mantra is still "Eddie Would Go."

Motivation Killers

With 2016 just under way, I join many others in reflecting on the past year and looking forward to what the new year will bring. The recent turn-over in the calendar year has served as an excellent reminder that I have a lot left that I want to do. The drive to excel in my profession  remains steadfast. I have specific goals and dreams that I am earnest in working towards. This isn't to say, however, that I do not struggle with what I need to be doing on a daily basis to accomplish each of these. The small decisions that are made in the day-to-day grind will dictate the ebb and flow of who I will become as a fireman. As that motivation wanes, I have to find ways to combat the rut of remaining stagnant, or even worse, becoming dissatisfied.

It is a daily battle to stay on track. A long term fix to the motivation slump is what is really needed though. What may seem to be random occurrences of demotivation are often rooted in specific motivation killers. Learning to recognize these preventors-of-productivity will aid in permanently removing them from your path. Within myself, I have been able to narrow down the following as major killers to my own motivation. I doubt that I am alone in many of these, and I hope this list starts you down the path of eradicating your own hindrances.

Reliance on others' approval- When your actions are controlled by the praise or perceived acceptance of others, more often than not, you will end up disappointed. This is an unfortunate, but true reality. Why? Other people will not recognize your efforts as regularly as you think you deserve.  Instead, your call to action should come from within. It should be a desire to succeed, rather than a desire to be accepted or recognized. At times, it can be a healthy motivator to use others' opinions as a part of your drive. Caution should be taken, however, when you act due to anger, jealousy, and vindication. 

Comparison- There are three detrimental mentalities that can come with comparison. The first says, "others are making it by with much less effort/knowledge, therefore, I don’t need to work any harder." The second says, "I am on the same level as everyone else, so why work harder." Finally, the third says, "others are too far ahead; I'm never going to get where I want to be regardless of whether or not I work harder." Comparison is nothing more than flawed logic when applied in any of these three ways. Each of us has been gifted with our own set of skills and abilities. In that light, our perception of others should not dictate our drive to become better. Drive should come from within, and be personalized to you.    

Idleness- I have no problem admitting that there is a direct correlation between the time I sit in a comfortable recliner, and the desire I have for a nap. The fact is, I am going to be asleep if I allow myself the time. This should not be a surprise. With all else being equal, rest wins out over work.  Idleness breeds inaction. For this reason, it is important  that I hedge against the things that keep me idle (ie. movies, Facebook, sports on tv, that comfortable recliner). Recognition of your triggers will help you remain productive.

Pessimism- In a career driven by teamwork and mutual effort, negativity will cripple the team. It spreads like wildfire, and it takes little time to create a kitchen table surrounded by dissatisfied firemen. Those who are lucky enough to see the negativity coming tend to flee from a pessimist. Each of us needs teammates, mentors, teachers, and leaders; the last thing you want is to push these people away because of your own attitude.

Lack of goals or vision- Goals are used to provide focus and drive. There are any number of clichés that state their purpose in our lives, but they are ultimately a formal target that you are aiming for. In reference to goal-setting, American author Napoleon Hill said, "goals are dreams with a deadline." Take some time to list out what you hope to achieve in the next couple of months, in the short-term, and finally, over the course of your career. Decide what you can do today to move towards those achievements.

Forgetting to be patient- All too often my discouragement comes from things taking place outside of the timeline that I have established. Whether it is specific call types, educational opportunities, promotions, etc., none of them seem to happen in the frequency that I desire. I can beg for wisdom, skill, and a career's worth of experience, but it does not change the fact that these things come with time. A peace comes with recognizing that patience is sometimes the best course of action.

Having little identity outside of the fire house- I love being a firefighter. Everyone around me knows I am firefighter. It's on my clothing; it's in my typical conversations; it's on my license plates. My time is spent training, reading, and discussing all things firefighting. The preparation is completed in hopes that I will perform better on the incidents that I am called to.  With that being said, relying on call volume or a "good burner" to bring me happiness is futile. There is absolutely a high that comes with that, but as you well know, it's fleeting. My family, my faith, my friends, and my community are all deserving of my time and  energy. I also have to be present and available outside of a tour of duty. The greatest firefighters are often those who are well-rounded in all areas of life.

The One With All the Answers

One of the top reasons I love being a firefighter is the possibility of encountering something I have never seen before. My day can go any one of one hundred different ways each time I am on shift. The potential to encounter the unknown is there every single time the tones go off for a run. I have worked in retail settings. I have worked behind the counter in a bank. I have worked in a cubical day after day. My lack of satisfaction in each of these jobs was not based on the usual suspects of a terrible boss, mistreated employees, or even poor pay (though I would have always been happy to have more in my wallet). What drove my desire to find something greater was the monotony of doing the same things every day with little long-term impact.

Firefighting is a profession unlike any other. During any given shift, you could be called upon to perform CPR, put out a car fire, stop a gas leak, open a stuck elevator, administer medications, stabilize an overturned piece of construction equipment, and then install a car seat.  Realistically speaking, this does not all happen on a daily basis. However, I can almost guarantee that you can throw together any number of random call types, and someone out there has had it happen to them. With that being said, are you prepared, regardless of what is found once the apparatus pulls up to the incident?

Thankfully, we are not expected to be subject matter experts for every response type we encounter. It is expected that we use the collective knowledge of both our crew and other available resources to come up with logical solutions. Most of us can relate to a time (or perhaps many times) when we truly had no idea what that solution was going to be. That helpless feeling should drive us to be better. Let that be the last time that particular scenario leaves us feeling stumped; in this profession, odds are it will come up again at some point in our career.

Hopefully, you have had the opportunity to work under either an officer or senior firefighter who had the uncanny ability to find a resolution. As if by some magic, these guys are the ones who seem to have all the answers.  I can remember one particular incident in which multiple companies were called to a smoke investigation. The first arriving company was unable to locate any incident at the location provided. For several minutes, three engine companies were traveling up and down a residential block with no signs of smoke trying to locate anything that even resembled an emergency. Within a minute of arrival, the District Chief got on the radio and made the bold statement that the companies should be looking for a chiminea, based on what he smelling. Shortly thereafter, the first-in engine reported that a lit chiminea was found in a backyard. It was, in fact, the source of smoke. For those living in the southwest, this probably would not sound like a farfetched scenario. I can assure you though, when it happens in intercity Houston, one can really only laugh and shake their head in amazement.

Many will argue that the only way the aforementioned could be possible is through experience. There is no doubt that hands-on, life experience will do wonders for a firefighter’s ability to find the needed solution. Obviously, it takes time to build a similar repertoire of knowledge. However, for those with experience, there is always room for more. Likewise, we should not use lack of time or experience as a crutch for not striving for better. I would submit that pointed efforts can also net similar results to that of the previously mentioned District Chief. There are steps that we can daily take to become “that guy.”

Enter into each shift with the mindset that you will walk away a better firefighter than when you
came. This will set the tone for your time on-duty, and leave you seeking opportunities to make that possible. Maybe you don’t remember a particular EMS protocol. Perhaps it has been a while since you last looked over a friction loss chart. It could be that you are unaware of the location of high voltage wiring on a particular hybrid vehicle. In many cases, these small bits of information can be committed to memory in a short period of time. Why not take that little bit of time to correct the shortfall the moment you realize a particular area of weakness? Surely, we would not let pride keep us from doing it, right? The trade-off could be an easily avoided cluster on an incident scene.

It is also well known that one of the best ways to learn a complicated task or concept is to teach others about it. In preparing for passing on that knowledge, it will hopefully clarify those areas of difficulty for yourself, also. Remember that teaching can take place both formally and informally. A five minute coffee-table discussion might be all that is required.

The flip side to teaching is listening. Truly, listening. This is a skill that is vital up and down the ladder of authority. In an age when many of us listen only in passing, waiting to get back to whatever distraction is on the cell phone, we have to get back to listening intentionally. It is easy to forget that each person brings something different and usable to the table. Each time something new is presented, add it to your own mental roll-a-dex. Shadow those who have shown themselves to be a valuable resource. Learn from and apply the knowledge that they have passed along.   

As the analogy goes, you cannot walk a mile without first taking a step. It is the small decisions that we make on a daily basis that will get us further over the course of a career. Put forth the effort to step into the role of a firefighter that others can count on when it matters. I have no problem admitting that it feels like I am far from having all the answers; I guess that makes it all the more easy to keep striving for more.

Believing the Lies

For too long now, I have relied on other peoples' opinions to dictate how I operate. Like little devils on my shoulder, there has always been a barrage of voices telling me what is and is not possible. "You have to shut down the nozzle to make any kind of advance with a 2 1/2" line." "You have to have at least two people to carry a 35' ladder." "You don't gear up for an automatic alarm; the dispatcher would have told us if it was on fire."

These voices continually have won out before I even attempted to prove them wrong. Even worse, there have been numerous times that I passed along these false gospels. This only perpetuates the cascade of short-comings. Senior men wonder how the fire service has evolved to what they deem as "weak." It happens when we trade dedicated effort for the comforts of the dayroom.

I am here to admit that I have bought into some of the lies.
With that being said, I am tired of it. Watching how others have managed to put in hard work and push the envelope has proven that, far too often, I have given up too early. That is not acceptable.

The fire service was built by people who were willing to put everything on the line; the same people who saw an opportunity to take an unwanted job for the outcast immigrant, and elevate it to profession of greatness. What right do I have to do things differently?

The digital age of fire service training has seemed to blur a lot of the lines when it comes to finding the truth that I seek. Social media has allowed firefighters to pass along trainings and new techniques unlike any other time before. No longer do we have to wait for annual conferences to hear the latest and greatest. This information is now immediate. Unfortunately, the approach to this mass sharing of knowledge is often taken to one of two extremes.

On one hand, we criticize, deny and negate the feasibility of the things we see. I'll be among the first to admit that not all information is valid just because it goes viral, however, shouldn't we explore the possibility that the information is helpful prior to deciding upon a final verdict? All progress halts when we intentionally disregard what is being shared before any attempts are made to apply, or if needed, tweak and apply.

The other extreme occurs when all things are taken as truth, and then immediate attempts are made to implement them on an incident scene. You will likely hear our profession referred to as a craft. This implies that firefighting requires a calculated, skill-based execution of duties. The majority of the time, we cannot assume that this will be accomplished by watching a video several times. Yes, there are people capable of carrying a set of irons, a hook, and a vent saw while balancing a 28' extension ladder in a high-shoulder carry, but that does not mean that it anyone can replicate it effortlessly.

Where I have failed so often is by not even making an initial attempt. Say, perhaps, that I am one of those people who can carry the entire ladder truck on my shoulders. Yet, instead of doing so, I never try it. What, then, is the outcome when choose to believe the lie that tells me that these people are only an anomaly? No one benefits! My lack of action provides zero opportunity to make a substantial difference. These are the instances where the lies cannot win.

It's on me to test what my capabilities are. It's on me to sort through the garbage, and apply what I find to be true. I'm done believing the lies.

Forcible Entry Basics- The Shove Knife



The shove knife is a simple tool that can be used to gain entry in quick, non-destructive fashion. As lock technologies have progressed, the tool has lost some of its value. It should not be assumed, however, that the shove knife will not work on any door. Proper door size-up will provide the needed insight into the tool's effectiveness on the particular door in question.
 
Two situations must be present in order to gain access through a locked door using only a shove knife:
 
1. The sole locking device engaged in the door must be the slam latch.
 
2. If a tamper pin is present, the pin must be able to be moved into the latch keeper, whether by leaning on the door or otherwise.
 
Should either of these conditions not be met, another means of forcible entry will be required.

The majority of doors that can be defeated by the shove knife will be outward swinging. A gap will need to be created between the rabbet stop and the door jam, allowing access to the latch, in the instances where the door is inward swinging; metal door frames prevent this from occurring as they are constructed as a single unit.



Shove knife position when opening an outward-swinging door

Tips:

• The shove knife can be inserted above or below latch. I found that I am more comfortable with entering below the latch. From this position, it was less likely that my momentum carried the tool beyond the latch after it exited the keeper.

• Placing a foot against bottom of the door will move the latch into a position where it is not resting against the keeper, allowing for a smoother pull. Doing so may also move the tamper pin into the keeper, if a pin is present.

• Twisting the head of the knife into position over the latch assists in gaining entry with greater success than what is achieved by only applying horizontal force. 



• Avoid the urge to pull the door open too early in the process. When a tamper pin is present, the tamper pin has the tendency to exit the keeper and prevent the latch from depressing. 

 
Attached is a video that covers the specific use of the shove knife in greater detail.

*Credit for the video tip of using the shove knife in the initial door size-up goes to Task Force 1, Inc.

 



Salt is Salty, Not Bitter

A letter to seasoned firefighters.

You have years behind you. As each passes, it seems like life at the station moves further and further from the way it was when you first came in. Regardless of whether the changes are positive or negative, it is not difficult to recognize their impact. Changes in what is acceptable, how the tasks are completed, the time spent together as a crew, the manner in which services are provided, the attention that is given to traditions, etc. all equate to a whole new fire service.

Being firefighters, it just seems natural then to find the source of the change and attempt to "stop the bleeding." This type of thinking is what we are best at. Problem solving is why people call the fire department in the first place, right?

The Servant Leader

"It is amazing what you can accomplish when you don't care who gets the credit." - Harry Truman

 I recently listened to a podcast interview with man who I consider to be a fire service hero. I refer to him as such because he has been at the forefront of leadership, travels both nationally and internationally championing the cause of the firefighting, and serves as the head of multiple organizations that disseminate fire service information to the masses. Upon concluding the interview, he described his desire to be available to anyone who may need him. He then went on to give out his personal cell phone number.

Up to this point, I found it acceptable to hide behind the anonymity of a general email address. It seemed like it would be okay for someone like him to have his people get in-touch with you. Obviously, this guy is far too busy to answer anyone and everyone. Admittedly, I initially went as far as thinking, "that was a dumb move. Doesn't he know that people who are undeserving of his time will be contacting him now?"

Those thoughts could not have been further from the truth for this man.

Proactive Ladder Usage- Part Three

For several posts now, I have discussed the need for aggressive deployment of our ground ladders. Ground ladder usage often gets a lot of push-back, despite being proven in their effectiveness. Hopefully, we can explore some ways to overcome the desire to just leave the ladders on the rig.

How do we make the shift towards being more proactive with our ladders?

The biggest push-back to throwing ladders is almost always a "lack of manpower." While I understand that many departments are handicapped in the number of personnel available, we can find ways to overcome this common issue.

Proactive Ladder Usage- Part Two

Our ladders are being left in their cradles on our engines and trucks. This is even the case on fire scenes. In far too many instances, we are not being aggressive in the deployment of ground ladders. It could be that these issues are only found within the scope of my own experience, but I do believe that a general lack of aggressive ladder work is more universal. Hopefully, recognition of the fact that we can do better will help bring about some positive changes. In the first post, we discussed the who, what, and when of ground ladder usage. Please take some time and read part one, if you haven't already. Next, we will dive into answering two more basic questions regarding this topic.  

Where do we need deploy our ladders?

There is much that can be said in regard to the specifics of ground ladder placement. Instead of going through the in's and out's of placement for window rescue vs window ventilation vs roof ventilation, this discussion is more geographic in nature.

Our ultimate goal in proactive ladder deployment is to establish a secondary means of egress. As was noted in part one, egress points can quickly be overcome by a growth in fire conditions. Fire does not discriminate between interior and exterior exits either; both can be compromised. 

Proactive Ladder Usage- Part One

Regardless of which side you fall on in the debate of truckie vs. engine firefighter, it should be noted that both may have a fire ground responsibility to throw ladders. This does not seem to be widely put into practice, however. Especially for those arriving on an engine, the tunnel vision of only stretching hose lines must be overcome. Ground ladder usage cannot die on the chalkboard.

Aggressive interior operations need to be supported by aggressive exterior operations.

I hope that by asking simple questions, we can come up with simple answers to remedy a general lack of proactive ground ladder usage. This will take place over the course of my next three posts.

Orienting Better Searches

The performance of a rapid, efficient search is vital on any fire where interior operations are taking place. This is, perhaps, the number one way firefighters achieve the goal of making life safety our ultimate priority. Despite the attention that completing a quality search receives, poor search tactics are still prevalent. Much of the shortfall can be blamed on either the mentality that "this is how we have always done it" or the handicapping of state requirements for certification. I challenge you to consider your own ways of performing search, and ask the question, "can it be done better?"

In the Time of Need

 With Father's Day approaching, I was reminded earlier this week of just how great of a privilege it is to be a father. Daily I have the opportunity to watch my daughters grow, and do so with joy on their faces.  It was, however, when my youngest fell off of a couch onto a hardwood floor, that I was given an entirely new perspective on what it means to be their dad.
 
While I am so often able to swoop in prior to impact, instead of catching my youngest as she took a tumble off our living room couch, I found myself picking my daughter up from the floor. It's not the first time she has experienced the inevitable crash-and-burn, likely not the last either, but everything about this fall was different from before. When tears should have been rolling, she only gave a gasp. She arched he back. Then, nothing. My baby slipped into unresponsiveness. 

Fresh Take on Aerial Ops Training

Coming up with ways to keep trainings fresh and exciting can be difficult. While throwing ladders or advancing a hand-line are vitals skills that should be continuously reviewed, it may not always evoke jubilation when these trainings are announced.  In an effort to avoid monotony, seek new ways to stay up on the basics. It was in this spirit that we decided upon a way to incorporate some fun into aerial ops.
 
Start by grabbing some utility rope and tying off an inverted pike pole to the tip of your aerial (I am assigned to a tower, but this drill works the same with a straight stick ladder as well). The pike pole should hang below the aerial's tip several feet. You will find that the greater the distance below the tip that it hangs, the more difficult the drill becomes.

Escape- A Quick Guide to Self-Survival

Self-survival is one of the many topics in our profession that cannot be glanced over. Though most of us will never be caught in a Mayday scenario, it does not mean that we should not come up with a plan before it happens. While I cannot take credit for the ESCAPE acronym below, it would be a dis-service for me to keep it to myself. I truly believe that the information it represents gives firefighters a fighting chance when they encounter a number of Mayday scenarios.  

Defeating a Gated Entry

There are numerous obstacles that firemen will encounter on daily basis that can leave us feeling frustrated, or even defeated. Among them are locked doors and gates that stand between us and the people we are trying to get to in a hurry. Unfortunately, working in a city with thousands of gated residences, both single-family and multi-family occupancies, has the tendency to bring up this feeling often. We can do our best to log gate codes and carry a universal key, Knox or otherwise, but the fact remains that these efforts do not guarantee simple access. Firefighters aren't the type to admit defeat. We will find a way in. 

We're Bringing it On Ourselves: The Downside of Social Media

How many times a day does something on social media leave you thinking, "why would you post that?" Depending on the people you follow, you may have that thought quite often. What I am sure of is that it is not at all an uncommon scenario for each one of us. There are any number of posts that have left me shaking my head. Take for example: Bro taking his daily shirtless selfie in the mirror #madgains #protein. The 100th video showing a kitten chasing a laser pointer. The random plate of food #VEGAN #paleo???. I have also come to absolutely loath game requests and their accompanying "accomplishments." More recently, however, I am finding that the posts that leave me wanting to beg the creator to take them down are in some way fire service related.

Let me be more specific because, obviously, I am in favor of seeing fire related content in social media. What I do not want to see is firefighters creating their own negative publicity.

We're Fighting More than Flames on the Fire Ground

Approaching the topic of cancer prevention in the fire service seems to be a lot like purchasing life insurance or writing a will; it is something we recognize the need for, and yet cringe at the thought of having to do something about it. To be completely honest, I had little desire on my own to dig deeper into the subject. It took my wife expressing her concerns before I took a serious look at how my daily practices could be affecting not only my own of risk of a cancer diagnosis, but exposing my family to harmful agents as well. I owe it to both my wife and two daughters to consider how I approach this topic.

The IAFF recently hosted a webinar highlighting several studies that have shown firefighters are at a greater risk for numerous cancers than that of the general population. In the case of testicular cancer, it is upwards of two times greater. This probably isn't breaking news for you. It is something that most in the fire service have been told for some time. The difference is that we now have have supporting studies with specific evidences.