The fire service is a dangerous profession where mistakes can cost lives. Even making simple mistakes can lead to injuries, so it’s up to you to be vigilant and aware of the dangers. Here are 10 best survival tips for new firefighters:
If You Get Stuck in Your Gear – STOP!
There are two problems that can affect your gear, especially your SCBA. One is that you’re running out of air and the other has to do with heat. You heard right—heat can damage your air tank, which means you could lose all the time you’ve got left on it. This is because fire melts certain plastics used in tanks to keep them at a certain shape. So if you’re in a fire and the temperature inside it is as high as 200 degrees, then even your tank can melt.
Know When to Leave
The first thing you should do if you find yourself in a serious fire situation is to deploy your PASS device (Personal Alert Safety System) and pull the pin on it if you have to. These devices will sound a loud alarm and also send an emergency message. You can sort of think of them as your last resort.
Get Yourself Out!
If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, the first thing you should do is take off your mask and make sure that you’ve got an escape route. So get yourself out!
Know When to Go
If you find the fire is too powerful for you, then leave. You can’t fight a fire alone because that will lead into more dangers for you and your team mates. Get them out of there! If they’re not getting it, then use your PASS device!
See more: https://ezcustomgifts.com/10-effective-strategies-for-fireground-communications/
Stay Calm
If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, try your best to keep calm and think of a plan on the way out without panicking. Panicking leads to bad decisions which can cost lives.
Stop, Drop, & Roll
If your clothes catch fire then stop where you are, drop to the floor or ground, and start rolling. This will help smother the flames until they’re out. Also remember that you should leave your gear on because it’s not very easy to roll over fire with your helmet on! Make sure you get yourself somewhere safe so you can take off your firefighter uniforms, towel dry yourself, and call for help.
We have also shared some basic firefighting tips in our blog. Check them out for more details.
Keep Your Gear in Tip-Top Condition
Always check your gear before you use it to make sure that everything is safe and sound. If there are any problems, then take them up with your supervisor right away so they can be fixed or replaced.
Know When You Can Drive
There are some situations where you shouldn’t be driving a fire truck. If the road is too small, for example, then it’s not safe to drive because your truck might end up crashing into something else or ripping down power lines. In other cases, you shouldn’t drive if there are hazards on the road that could distract you from driving safely.
Keep an Eye Out for Flooded Areas
We already mentioned that firefighters are vulnerable to drowning, so you should pay attention to places where there might be flooding or water accumulations. These are often in areas near rivers or canals, around dams, and in sewers. Keep an eye out at all times!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
If you’re a new firefighter and don’t really know what’s going on, then ask your senior colleagues about it. They will be happy to help you out if they can! There are also some great apps out there that can make life as a firefighter much easier! These apps tell you everything from local weather information to details about all the department vehicles.
So if you’re a new firefighter, then these tips will help keep you safe and sound on your missions! Follow them at all times and you should be fine. If something happens that wasn’t mentioned here, then ask someone immediately to make sure that you’re doing it right!
Otherwise, if you are still interviewing for a firefighting job, we have an article that may interest you.
See more: https://ezcustomgifts.com/11-rules-for-new-firefighters/
