Wellington County Fire Departments

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Wellington County Fire Departments
Firefighter Safety and Survival
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Objectives

• Discuss reasons for firefighter fatalities
• Identify Causes of Firefighter injuries and
  Deaths
• Define Mayday
• Discuss the parameters of a Mayday
• Discuss the IC responsibilities when a Mayday is
  call
• Identify what to do when you call a Mayday
• Discuss and practice Self Rescue Techniques

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Firefighter Down
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Reasons for Firefighter Deaths and Injuries

• Ineffective size-up
• Improper strategic and tactical decisions
• Absence of an effective emergency rescue plan
• Lack of training
• Poor judgment

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Other Identified Causes of Injuries and Deaths

• Failure to recognize rapidly deteriorating
  conditions
• Inexperienced Officers
• Failure to use safety equipment
• Loss of water supply
• Freelancing

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Sudden Unexpected Events

• Lost/trapped or unaccounted for firefighter
• Flashover
• Backdraft
• Rapid fire increase
• Explosion
• Collapse
• Cardiac Emergency

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Cant Happen Right?

• You've carefully thought out all the angles.
• You've done it a thousand times.
• This is a routine fire.
• It comes naturally to you.
• You are confident.
• You know what you're doing, its what you've been
  trained to do.
• Nothing could possibly go wrong, right ?

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Think Again!!!!
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The MAYDAY CALL

• The life you save may be your own

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Mayday

• Video of a simulated Mayday
• Firefighter Mayday Training

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What is a Mayday

• It is used internationally as a distress signal
  in voice procedure radio communications.
• It is used to signal a life-threatening emergency
  by many groups, such as pilots (marine and air),
  police and fire personnel, and transportation
  organizations

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What is a Mayday (cont.)

• The call is always given three times in a row.
• Mayday, Mayday, Mayday !!!
• This prevents mistaking it for some
  similar-sounding phrase under noisy conditions.
• It means HELP ME

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Mayday Recordings

• Toronto Firefighter Mayday 4 / 25 / 10

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Reasons Firefighters Dont Call a Mayday

1. Pride
2. Overconfident
3. Denial
4. Lack of Communication/ Radio Traffic

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Reasons To Call A Mayday

• FALL
• COLLAPSE
• TRAPPED / CAUGHT
• LOST
• LOW ON AIR

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Defining the parameters of a Mayday

• The if then approach call a Mayday if
• You fall through the roof
• You fall through the floor
• You become tangled, stuck or pinned and can not
  free yourself quickly
• You are caught in a flashover
• You become lost or disorientated and you can not
  find the exit door or window quickly

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Defining the parameters of a Mayday

• Your primary exit is blocked by fire or collapse
  and you are not at the secondary exit in 30
  seconds
• You are low on air and cannot exit immediately
• Your partner collapses
• Start them early, Cancel them if not needed

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Case Scenario

• An examination of three Seattle near-misses
  uncovered some disturbing similarities
• None of the firefighters in distress called a
  Mayday
• None of their partners called a Mayday
• Nobody activated their emergency button
• None of the crew leaders activated their pass

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Case Scenario cont..

• Seattle findings contd
• None of their partners activated their pass
• Each firefighter became separated from his
  partner
• Each firefighter ran out of air
• Each firefighter suffered debilitating effects
  from carbon monoxide

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What information should I give the IC when I
find myself in a Mayday situation?

• LUNAR
• L Location
• U Unit
• N Name
• A Air (you and partner)
• R Resources (What do I need to help me)

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What to do if you find yourself in trouble

• Do not panic. Stop and think about what is
  occurring, your location in the building and how
  you got there. This may help you find your way
  out.
• Keep your crew together. Discuss your problem
  and share information.
• Admit that you are lost and call for help with
  the radio and verbally to those that may be near.

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What to do if you find yourself in trouble

• Follow a hose line or lifeline.
• After you send the Mayday communication, activate
  your PASS device in a manner that will not
  interfere with the rescue.
• Conserve your air supply. (Air Conservation
  Drill)
• Shine your light and position your PASS to be
  most effective.
• Make noises with a tool.

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What to do if you find yourself in trouble

• Search for an opening.
• Create an opening.
• Wall Climb
• Most residential
• structures have
• exterior walls that
• are easy to breach.

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Incident Commander Responsibilities

• Stay calm
• Immediately obtain situation information
• L.U.N.A.R.
• Identify primary hazards to trapped firefighters
• Immediately move fire ground communications to
  another TAC channel (discuss this point-may not
  be practical)
• Immediately call for more equipment
• Call a PAR

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Remember

• Fire Ground Operations Continue
• When someone is trapped and the fire is put out
  98 of the problem is removed.
• NOW the trapped victim (Firefighter, or civilian)
  needs only air to survive.
• Removal/disentanglement/extrication could take a
  long time.
• REMOVE THE HAZARD

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STANDARDIZED ACTIONSof aLost / Disoriented
Firefighter

• Control your P.A.S.S. device
• Initiate a the Mayday! call
• L-Location
• U-Unit
• N-Name
• A-Air (you and partner)
• R-Resources (needs)
• Monitor radio / Update Command
• Use flashlight to signal
• Use tools or debris to alert rescuers
• Stay calm, conserve your air supply
• Stay with your partner or crew

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STANDARDIZED ACTIONSof aLost / Disoriented
Firefighter

• Attempt to locate an exit Seek area of refuge
• Move towards visible light
• Listen for audible sounds
• Search walls for windows, doors, etc.
• Search for hose line (Read couplings)
• Attempt to locate a life line
• Create an exit or opening
• Go down steps unless in a basement or sub-floor
• Assume defensive posture
• Right lateral side
• Protect face piece with gloves