The lives of the firemen are not easy. Their works are risky and of course, dangerous. When there’s fire people get out from the burnt house to save themselves, firemen gets in to fight the fire.
Firemen must be alert, healthy and smart. They must undergo and pass the fire drill on their first part of the training as firemen.
Important aspect of being a fireman is to undergo the Basic Rescue Training. Part of the Basic Rescue Training is to introduce different Repelling Styles. It helps them to rescue victims especially in high buildings that only windows are the only left passageway in order to escape from fire.
There are 4 styles of repelling that is important that every fireman should learn. First, the Victim Under Repelling in which the victim is carried by the firemen from the building out through passing the window, both grip the rope. Second, the Standard Jump Repelling, it is done by the firemen in going down through the window without passing the window. Third, The Lizard Style in which the head is the first to positioned in going down using the rope. It is the fastest style that helps the firemen goes down from the top of the building. Fourth, The Australian Walk or the Geneva Style which the firemen walk on the wall of the building to kill the fire.
There is also the type of rope-tying that firemen should know. The Seat Harness Knot safely ties the whole of the lower abdomen of the body that secures they are in a sitting position. This kind of knot-tying safely secures them in going down the building. There is what we also call the Kermantle Rope which this type of knot-tying can support to carry 9,000 lbs or equivalent to 1 big truck.
The Basic Medical Respondence is important in giving help to civilians when there is fire. In order to identify the victim, the firemen placed different colored ribbons in their hands. This process is called the Triage Method. They use color coding. Green Ribbons, the victims suffered Minor Injuries. They can be able to walk. Red Ribbon (First Priority), they are injured, unconscious and they are in life-threatening conditions. Yellow Riboon (Second Priority), they are injured yet conscious. They are not in life-threatening conditions. Black (Last Priority), they are dead.
It has been known that the New York Fire Department is the famous fire station all around the world. But the most number of fire volunteers are in Tokyo, Japan. There are 16,000 volunteers. They have big fire departments and many fire stations also.
There are 3 kinds of fire trucks. The Ladder Truck is used to rescue civilians who are trapped in high buildings. It has telescopic ladder. The Pumper and Tanker Truck carry water to fight smoke and fire. It contains 1,000 gallons of water. If there is no water in the tank, they get the supply in the Fire Hydrant.
The firemen-on-duty will stay in their bunker. They can sleep there and wait for the signal if there’s fire. Bunker Gear is the outfit of the firemen. The total weight of their gear is 25 kilos in weight if it is dry and 40 kilos if it is wet. That is why, firemen should have lots of body resistance especially that their gear is very heavy.
The Bunker Gear is made out of Noives which is resistant to heat. It is not easily ruined. They also have boots. It is made of hard materials. They should also wear gloves to defend themselves from heat. There is also what we call as SCBA of the Self Contained Breathing Apparatus. It gives air supply for the firemen especially when they fight big smoke. It is placed at their backs. It is helpful for firemen to breath.
There are 3 kinds of helmets. White Helmet, for City Officers, Red Helmet for Officers and Yellow for Non-Officers. The rim of the helmet in front is short. The rim at the back is big in order to protect their heads and backs from falling fire debris.
Firemen’s Rim is created by Jacobus Burk in 1970. High Crowned Rim protects firemen’s head from falling objects. There are also pants which is called the Turnouts. It is called so because the name speaks for itself. Turnouts let them wear in just a second. All firemen’s attire is weighting 60 kilos which measures seem that they are carrying a person.
In order for them to easily get out from their quarter when there are alarms of fire and for them to easily go down from their bunker, they use the fire pole. The Fire Pole is invented by David Kenyon. Imagine if there is no fire pole, it takes more minutes for firemen to use the ladder in going down. By using the fire pole, it takes them only seconds to be on the ground.
Way back in 1648, the system of fighting fire is through Rattle Watch or Bucket Brigade. The firemen are walking from place to place in order to know if there is fire in the place. And because there are no fire trucks, they just use pails, passing them from one person to another until it reaches the end for the last person in the end to throw water to kill the fire. Indeed, it is so tasking and slow. In 1900s, horses carry buckets filled with water. That is equivalent of fire trucks system now.
Fire is unpredictable. That is why, when there is fire, you should remain calm instead of panicking. Your first priority is to go out from the house as much as possible. You should find the right exit when going out.
It has been listed that on May 15, 1845, the tragic fire was experienced in Guangdong, China. Because of its fatal fire infliction, it is recorded as the Worst Single Building Fire. The main reason for the cause of fire is gas exhortation which lost 1,670 casualties.
The main cause of deaths due to fire is smoke inhalation. It is best to drop and crawl on the floor when there is fire for in the lower ground, there is the presence of 1 foot availability of air for you to breath. When there is fire, the hot air will be present up the surrounding house or establishment and the warm air remains below. That is why you need to drop for you to inhale the warm air down.
Never go to the comfort room. It is a false advice that when there is fire, you should go to the comfort room because there is water there. But the smoke will get inside the comfort room. It will cause you to be trapped out from your escape.
It is a must that homes should have fire extinguisher. Fire Extinguisher is invented by George Manby. Before it was made of Copper Cylinder that contains 3 gallons of water. Now, there are many types and forms of fire extinguisher.
You should remember to do these important things when there is fire.
*If the fire is cause by electrical wiring, then turn down the main electrical switch to avoid much fire.
*If your clothes are burn, directly do the 3 things: Stop, Drop and Roll.
*To avoid fire, remember to avoid electrical loading
*Unplug the appliances after using
*Matches and lighters should be kept away from children’s reach
*Never leave lighted candles unattended.
We need to be careful in all ways and means. Fire can result and happen anytime of our lives. But in order to prevent and avoid such fatal incident, it is better to keep all things that can create cause of fire.
Our life is important. We should be preventive, careful and alert all the time. Still, prevention is the best policy.
Cecille Ann Gregory, writer of this blog
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