Our last Support module class last night was a review, then the test, then waiting for the instructor to grade it, then getting the results. I missed 3 out of 75 questions, which was better than anyone else I saw, although I didn't exactly go around asking. (Nobody likes a show-off...)
Starting next week: Exterior (all the fun things you can do from outside a burning building: use ladders, ventilate roofs, etc.) It'll run five weeks (if we don't do weekends).
Friday, August 22, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Hazmat
The last few classes in the Support module were haz-mat. We'll end up getting a Hazmat Awareness certificate out of this, once we pass the test, which is only the first of several levels of hazmat training. At the awareness level, all we're qualified to do is say "Hey, looks like hazmat, let's call someone else to deal with it".
So what did I learn about hazmat? Vehicles carrying hazmat have placards on all four sides, with a color and a number or two. The color is orange for explosives, green for non-flammable gases, and what other colors and meanings I forget. The 4-digit number is the UNNA number, which you can use to look up what exactly is being carried. The 1-digit number indicated the class of material, which (in order) are: 1 Explosives, 2 gases, 3 flammable liquids, 4 flammable solids, 5 oxidizers, 6 poisons, (unlucky) 7 nuclear, 8 corrosives, and the ever-popular 9 other.
When dealing with a spill, you want to be upwind and uphill of it. (And no, we didn't talk about what to do if upwind is downhill; I'm thinking of being to one side or the other, but maybe uphill is more important, as winds change and hills don't. I suppose that'll be in the next level of training.) You then establish zones: hot zone is closest, where you wear all of the needed protective gear to even be there; warm zone is next, which is less restrictive; cold zone is next, which is where first responders will be, but which will still be free of civilians.
Tank trucks have distinctive shapes that will indicate generally what they're carrying. If it's oval-shaped (from the rear), it's carrying non-pressurized liquids. Circular, with a flat end is liquids, perhaps under pressure. Circular with bands around the belly are corrosives (asphault gets carried in these, among numerous other things). Circular with a rounded end is pressurized gases (which are likely pressurized into liquid form in the truck). Propane would be in one of these. Circular w/rounded end and refrigeration unit on the end is refrigerated gases, like liquid nitrogen (among other things); unlike the unrefrigerated gases, these have issues with not being very very (cryogenically) cold, and may rupture the tank if the cooling goes out.
Our engines each contain a copy of the ERG (Emergency Response Guide), which has a list of UNNA numbers and what to do when each are spilled, (i.e. evacuate for 100 meters, evacuate for 2 miles downwind, etc.) You can actually get a PDF of the ERG at the DOT website (how many TLAs can I fit sensibly into one sentence?).
We also covered hazmat gear (what the instructor called a body bag with a view), getting info from waybills, bills of lading, etc, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. But those are the highpoints. So now I'm noticing all the trucks I pass a little bit more closely to see what they might be carrying.
So what did I learn about hazmat? Vehicles carrying hazmat have placards on all four sides, with a color and a number or two. The color is orange for explosives, green for non-flammable gases, and what other colors and meanings I forget. The 4-digit number is the UNNA number, which you can use to look up what exactly is being carried. The 1-digit number indicated the class of material, which (in order) are: 1 Explosives, 2 gases, 3 flammable liquids, 4 flammable solids, 5 oxidizers, 6 poisons, (unlucky) 7 nuclear, 8 corrosives, and the ever-popular 9 other.
When dealing with a spill, you want to be upwind and uphill of it. (And no, we didn't talk about what to do if upwind is downhill; I'm thinking of being to one side or the other, but maybe uphill is more important, as winds change and hills don't. I suppose that'll be in the next level of training.) You then establish zones: hot zone is closest, where you wear all of the needed protective gear to even be there; warm zone is next, which is less restrictive; cold zone is next, which is where first responders will be, but which will still be free of civilians.
Tank trucks have distinctive shapes that will indicate generally what they're carrying. If it's oval-shaped (from the rear), it's carrying non-pressurized liquids. Circular, with a flat end is liquids, perhaps under pressure. Circular with bands around the belly are corrosives (asphault gets carried in these, among numerous other things). Circular with a rounded end is pressurized gases (which are likely pressurized into liquid form in the truck). Propane would be in one of these. Circular w/rounded end and refrigeration unit on the end is refrigerated gases, like liquid nitrogen (among other things); unlike the unrefrigerated gases, these have issues with not being very very (cryogenically) cold, and may rupture the tank if the cooling goes out.
Our engines each contain a copy of the ERG (Emergency Response Guide), which has a list of UNNA numbers and what to do when each are spilled, (i.e. evacuate for 100 meters, evacuate for 2 miles downwind, etc.) You can actually get a PDF of the ERG at the DOT website (how many TLAs can I fit sensibly into one sentence?).
We also covered hazmat gear (what the instructor called a body bag with a view), getting info from waybills, bills of lading, etc, and I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting. But those are the highpoints. So now I'm noticing all the trucks I pass a little bit more closely to see what they might be carrying.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Vehicle Accident and Gas Leak
Responded to a vehicle accident around lunchtime. A truck hopped the curb, clipped a gas line, and hit a traffic light pole. The driver had already been taken out when we got there, and we (from squad) assisted EMS in getting the passenger out and transported. We (4-5 of us) pulled the pax door open (it had been damaged by the impact, but not so much that we couldn't wrestle it open) to give EMS access to the passenger, and used cribbing to stabilize the vehicle.
Others (from engine 2) kept water on the gas leak until the gas company could get there and shut it off. (There were posts in front of the gas pipe, but the vehicle traveled behind the posts and caught the pipe anyway.) Then we rolled up 400ft of 5" and 200-300 ft of handline, (which was the tiring part of it all), and watched the tow truck remove the vehicle.
Others (from engine 2) kept water on the gas leak until the gas company could get there and shut it off. (There were posts in front of the gas pipe, but the vehicle traveled behind the posts and caught the pipe anyway.) Then we rolled up 400ft of 5" and 200-300 ft of handline, (which was the tiring part of it all), and watched the tow truck remove the vehicle.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Spill Control
Got a call for spill control, responded class 3 (i.e. no lights or sirens), acid spilled from a battery. Usually those are found at wrecks of some kind, but not this one. This one was a dumpster sitting on top (!) of a car battery. (Presumably what happened was the trash company came by, emptied the dumpster, didn't see the battery sitting beside it, and set the dumpster down on top of it, cracking it.) Engine 2 and squad responded, w/me on eng. 2.
So we covered the acid w/baking soda, then used air bags to lift the dumpster off the battery and move it out so it could be disposed of. Turned into more of a training call than an emergency. Then we went back to the station, and cleaned off our gear with more baking soda and water.
I also got to talk to the chief about riding on the engine. The last few calls, engine 2 has been short staffed, and folks already on have told me to climb on, but I figured I should ask about it, and chief said as long as I'm not displacing someone who can pack (i.e. wear an airpack into a building), I'm fine to ride on the engine.
So we covered the acid w/baking soda, then used air bags to lift the dumpster off the battery and move it out so it could be disposed of. Turned into more of a training call than an emergency. Then we went back to the station, and cleaned off our gear with more baking soda and water.
I also got to talk to the chief about riding on the engine. The last few calls, engine 2 has been short staffed, and folks already on have told me to climb on, but I figured I should ask about it, and chief said as long as I'm not displacing someone who can pack (i.e. wear an airpack into a building), I'm fine to ride on the engine.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Fire at the Hospital
Well, sort of. We got called last night around 9:30pm for an auto alarm at the Hospital. On the way to the station, dispatch said they were upgrading it to a first alarm building fire, with something happening in an elevator shaft. I rode in on engine 2, (full sirens; gotta admit, it's a rush). We got there, staged, and waited. As a side job, chief had us check the mulch around the parking lot, as he'd smelled something when he came in. (One guy guessed it was his brakes burning...).
Other things of note: a mutual aid engine responded as well, and left first, but staged at a neighboring station to cover. The text messages I got showed we were first paged for engine 2, then engine 1 when it upgraded, but 1 was first out, then us on 2, then both squads (we've got a smaller pickup squad truck as well, squad 2, maybe? when I mention "squad", I usually mean the bigger one, which would be squad 1) and traffic as well.
After maybe 30 mins, we and squad got released, but engine 1 stuck around, as apparently a sprinkler head opened, and they needed to have the elevator shaft pumped out. So I assume there was something in there, but I stayed outside, and saw nothing.
Other things of note: a mutual aid engine responded as well, and left first, but staged at a neighboring station to cover. The text messages I got showed we were first paged for engine 2, then engine 1 when it upgraded, but 1 was first out, then us on 2, then both squads (we've got a smaller pickup squad truck as well, squad 2, maybe? when I mention "squad", I usually mean the bigger one, which would be squad 1) and traffic as well.
After maybe 30 mins, we and squad got released, but engine 1 stuck around, as apparently a sprinkler head opened, and they needed to have the elevator shaft pumped out. So I assume there was something in there, but I stayed outside, and saw nothing.
Friday, August 8, 2008
Medical Assist
Got paged as I was making breakfast this morning, and ran out the door. (Amazingly enough, Dog didn't eat the sausage I left on the stove; sometimes I do love our dog!)
This call was a medical assist. EMTs can call for fire company assistance for a couple different reasons (that I know of, anyway): forced entry and help with a patient. Today's call was for help getting a patient to the ambulance.
A little bit of background here. Today, we have medical regulations known as HIPAA. From what little I understand about it, HIPAA does various things, but one of the big ones (from an emergency services perspective, as well as from a computer programmer's perspective) is to try to ensure patient confidentiality. (I won't launch into a soapbox about what a nuisance idea personal privacy has become; just assume I'm not fond of it.)
Anyway, because of HIPAA, I'm pretty sure that I can't tell you much more than I already have about this morning's call. But rest assured that the two fit, robust (no sarcasm here) male EMTs did actually need the assistance of 4-5 firefighters to complete this call.
This call was a medical assist. EMTs can call for fire company assistance for a couple different reasons (that I know of, anyway): forced entry and help with a patient. Today's call was for help getting a patient to the ambulance.
A little bit of background here. Today, we have medical regulations known as HIPAA. From what little I understand about it, HIPAA does various things, but one of the big ones (from an emergency services perspective, as well as from a computer programmer's perspective) is to try to ensure patient confidentiality. (I won't launch into a soapbox about what a nuisance idea personal privacy has become; just assume I'm not fond of it.)
Anyway, because of HIPAA, I'm pretty sure that I can't tell you much more than I already have about this morning's call. But rest assured that the two fit, robust (no sarcasm here) male EMTs did actually need the assistance of 4-5 firefighters to complete this call.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
FF Training and Fitness
More hose work at training last night. Went much better than last week, because a) I knew a little better what I was doing, and b) I paced myself better. Was still winded (didn't get that much more in shape over one week), but was more relaxed, and took my time at places where I needed to.
In other (fitness) news, I got about half my weight equipment set up over the weekend, and got a light workout in this morning, with the goal of being overall more fit, both for cardio and strength (and perhaps in flexibility, once I get settled into a good routine).
In other (fitness) news, I got about half my weight equipment set up over the weekend, and got a light workout in this morning, with the goal of being overall more fit, both for cardio and strength (and perhaps in flexibility, once I get settled into a good routine).
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Oven Fire
... that I didn't quite see. Called in as a dwelling fire, rode out on squad, but got recalled half-way there. Food apparently caught fire in their oven, but was out at least before squad got there, if not the engines.
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