Ok so I have seen explorers carrying many different tools in their bunker/turnout gear and i wanted to know what is some suggested tools we have in our gear while we are at calls?
Permalink Reply by Phil on December 2, 2008 at 4:53pm
I know.... NONE!! THEY should not even be allowed on the scene. What the heck does a explorer need to carry anthing for anyways. I was under the boy scouts insurance, and if i was ever caught dead doing anything close to serious, I would have been kicked out.
Here is what i carry now, I am a lieutenant with 5 + years .
leather fire helmet with nomex
flashlight
gloves
rubber gloves in an old persription bottle to keep them dry
20ft webbing
50ft bailout with two beaners
ear plugs stored in my lid
spanner, seatbelt cutter, linesman pliers, small pipe wrench, two screwdrivers, one stright one phillips, and a utility knife.... all bundled together in an old hose custom mande into a tool pouch
small digitial camera, waterproof paper and pencils..... never carried untill i became an officer.
extra nomex for the rookie
my radio
"I know.... NONE!! THEY should not even be allowed on the scene. What the heck does a explorer need to carry anything for anyways."
With all due respect Lt I strongly disagree with the statement that an explorer shouldn't be allowed on the scene of a working fire mainly because the purpose of the explorer program is to "provide experiences that help young people mature and to prepare them to become responsible and caring adults. Explorers are ready to investigate the meaning of interdependence in their personal relationships and communities." Within my department the main way this is done is through classroom training, scenarios and the ride-along aspect of the program. While on scene the main purpose of the explorer is to assist and work alongside firefighters doing tasks on scene such as opening hydrants and attaching lines while watching and learning and assisting in any other way that the IC sees fit in any area outside the IDLH and in areas that have been declared safe.
Permalink Reply by John on December 2, 2008 at 5:22pm
Holy S**T the whole fricken engine in your pockets except the water tank wow i bet all that crap is heavy.
i am a active interior FF and i carry FF gloves, Extracation Gloves, latex gloves (as i am a medic also), survivor led flashlight, flashlight on helmet, nomex, 50 ft rope, and id tag
I agree with will 100%
But i also respect your opinion on us phil
Its one of the great things about America you can have your opinion and we can have ours.
The exploring program is a learnign experience some posts let the explorers get hands on some do not its up to the firedepartment and the bi laws that they make for the post
I think we need to also realize that not all of us here are in an Explorer program, I for one am a cadet and governed by my dept, not rules from the BSA. Also we are not kids.... we are not 9 or 10 we are usually about 15-18, and we are dedicating our time to doing our best to help out firefighters and learn what we can. When you say Expolers just get in the way then why don't you fix that, train them in what they can do, have them get tools off the trucks. Our last fire I hit the hydrant, helped guide hose into the residence from the front door (2nd floor fire) got tools, and refilled air bottles
Or it could also be said that the bi-laws that are created are not anything related to the BSA protocol in the end and they are only freelancing in which someone is going to get hurt. A department needs to keep in mind that these are young people...some too young to be involved in any sort of serious activity in the fireground. Wait until you have experience and time in before you need to be jumping into getting hurt or a very IDLH environment.
Its my opinion..Im not hating...Im just tired of reading about people getting hurt when things could have been prevented...
I agree with this as well. The best way to keep the post active, interested and learning is to engage us and BSA dictates that explorers are people ages 15-21 and you should train explorers to complete tasks in the cold zone such as safely connecting a hydrant and other outside operations and while training especially in my post our firefighters and post advisors are very good at making sure that safety is the #1 priority in all operations and that we know the correct way to safely carry out all of our basic outside operations.
Permalink Reply by Phil on December 2, 2008 at 7:21pm
See..Its hard with so many different "versions" of the explorer post/junior fire. Its a hard role to fill.. even harder is to convince the guys that this program is very important. I remember when i got in.. when, how cool it would be, to be a real firefighter. All of my expierences were not at the fire scene. It was at our monthly drills.. where I could try an air pack on, connect hydrants, and even take a few state classes.... none of them counted untill I turned 18. I agree with the junior program, dont get me wrong, but we had a kid get hurt pretty bad when he was where is wasnt supposed to be, trying too damn hard to fit in, and all that stuff. You gotta be real careful as well, we had a few 16 year old kids, blabbing in school about calls, and what not, even faking calls to get out of school. We always need people to take our spots when we get older you know?.... You just need to take them aside and tell them staright up whats going on, and advise them to have patenice. Also, give the other guys who are not giving the kids credit a good ass whooping......
its up to the firedepartment and the bi laws that they make for the post You might want to check that. Like I said I was an explorer and am starting a BSA sanctioned post at our department. I think they are a great thing, yes they should be on scene of fires to help with what they can. No I dont think they should be at mav's I have seen stuff I didnt want to see and couldnt sleep because of some of it. One of they major problems with this is like our department we have junior firefighters no connection to the BSA, if something bad was to happen we would have to answer a bunch of questions. Also alot of BSA post dont follow they BSA rules or pick and choose what they want. Stay safe and like I said these are my thoughts. I was an explorer my brother is an explorer and one day I hope my son will be. But we have to have rules not only to protect us from danger but from the money hungry public as well.
With all do respect again Lt. Harmon i am afraid i have made a mistake and i apoligise. The BSA dose have some overview about your bi laws. But the post that i am from the fire department sat down and made most of them with full regards of BSA standards. Our bi laws are also highly regarded in the section that we are in. Multiple deparments around this our area use our bilaws as a guide line to making there own bi laws
Yes i know how you feel about MVA's but all the explorer know if its car vs tractor trailer we pre much know the outcome sadly. But if its just a car accident and an explorer goes to sign in and a firemen or officer tell them no they know what they need to do which is go home. This is one or bi laws.
Again I'm not starting anything but the rules from the BSA are not guidelines they are rules. The rules that must be followed in order to be covered as an explorer post. The problem is alot of places change the rules, thats fine. The problem is when someone gets hurt and the insurance agent for the BSA'a insurance company comes out and finds that you was doing something you wasnt supposed to be doing.
By the way Royce, it's "Bylaws" and "due respect" (though personally I hate that phrase and won't use it!). I'm not being nasty, just trying to assist in your education. I'm always learning, as should all of us. If I deliver a training session and don't have one of the recruits give me a different view of something it's a strange session...