Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | ||
Bad Links? | Recruits working through firefighter trainingBy LEE WILLIAMS Cradling a fire hose, three Fayette County firefighters inched up a ladder as flames poured from the two-story home. As the men neared the window and prepared to douse the flames, two other firefighters rushed into the home and searched frantically for the lost child who was hiding under the bed. The two teams carried out their functions simultaneously, but as a rule a firefighters job is to protect lives first, property second. Fire crews pulled the child to safety within minutes and after safely clearing the home, the firefighters cheered. This was the scenario seven fire recruits were faced with June 1 during Week 7 of a 12-week training program. The drill was held at the burn building on Volunteer Way off McDonough Road. Fire recruits Steven Brown, Mike Dingler, Chris Campbell, Tony Sailors, Scott Crabtree, Hayes Mercure and Rodrick Maddox participated in the drill. Capt. Jimmy Hall, who has been the fire training educator for the Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services for 22 years, was charged with training the recruits. He said the men did well on the drill. Hall said many people dont realize nearly everything the recruits learn is taught in a classroom, but the drills are where they get to master what they learned. This is the fun part, Hall said. Fire behavior and hose work is all classroom stuff. This is where you put it all together and they start using their education. Some trainers dont look forward to drills because thats where they lose their recruits, but not Hall. I lose very, very few, Hall said. We lose some here and there, but as far as a high turnover, we dont lose that many during recruit class. Fayette County Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman Capt. Pete Nelms said the men got a chance to use state-of-the-art, self-contained breathing apparatus purchased from a $300,000 Fire Act Grant. The self-contained breathing apparatus comes standard with a safety mechanism that activates anytime a firefighter is inactive for a period of time or to let them know they are almost out of air. This equipment goes a long way in protecting firefighters lives. They have a PASS alarm (or a personal alert safety system) that lets other firefighters know they are down, Nelms said while the fire recruits suppressed the blaze started on a bed of wooden pallets for training purposes. The men not only had to get use to the fire equipment, but also wearing over $6,000 of heavy fire safety equipment. Thats why physical fitness is key in the fire safety business, Nelms said. All recruits before they are hired go through a very, vigorous agility test thats recognized by national standards and they are required once they are hired to continue physical fitness not only for the firefighters well being, but also its important to reduce injuries and heart attacks. The No. 1 killer of firefighters are heart attacks, so physical fitness is critical. Once firefighters complete the training, they also have to pass a national firefighter certification test. Firefighters who want to work at the county must go a step further and become certified as an emergency medical technician. Some of them will possibly go on to be paramedics, Nelms said. In our department, a firefighter must become a paramedic in order to become an officer. Once the men graduate, they will be assigned to a station based on need, Nelms said. |
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