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VES Video
Here is a pretty good, basic video on VES (vent, enter and search). It has good demonstration points from the beginning of the operation to the complete search of one room. The thing I like about this video is the use of two persons for the VES.
Although this can be done with one person, you must weigh the risk vs. benefit, it is ideal to do this with two people. However your department chooses to perform this function, you must train regularly.
One thing that is not mentioned in the video is the fact that personnel performing VES must be highly trained and experienced. Knowing how to read changing conditions, fire behavior and building construction is a must.
Keep on training and stay safe out there.
Although this can be done with one person, you must weigh the risk vs. benefit, it is ideal to do this with two people. However your department chooses to perform this function, you must train regularly.
One thing that is not mentioned in the video is the fact that personnel performing VES must be highly trained and experienced. Knowing how to read changing conditions, fire behavior and building construction is a must.
Keep on training and stay safe out there.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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Decent video giving the basics.
One thing that is not mentioned in the video is the fact that personnel performing VES must be highly trained and experienced.
Actually for the most part, I will take trained. The reality is that majority of depts out there are not doing VES on a regular basis, and there are not to many realistic trainings where VES can be done routinely to gain the experience.
What I'm getting at is that VES is another tool in the tool box and something to train on, but in actual use, doesn't occur often. So when mentioning experience, reality is you can arrive with people with limited experience overall in the fire service and something like VES isn't to be waited on for someone who has experience.
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Permalink Reply by Ron King (Fire Chief) on
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Good video. but it goes so much better without smoke and fire.
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Permalink Reply by capcityff on
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Not true for all departments. VES is drilled and used quite often here.
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Not true for all departments. VES is drilled and used quite often here.
I realize that and never stated ALL departments.
I mentioned a good majority are not doing VES on a regular basis and hence the reason why I said I would take trained and not just experienced.
The reality is that there are many, many represented depts here that are NOT Washington DC, not FDNY, Chicago, Milwaukee, Indy, so on and so forth. Reality is many depts could find yourself doing truck work one day and pump work the next. Reality is that fires are not occurring once a day in most cities and it is possible that a FF can miss quite a good number. Reality is VES does not have to be done at every fire and one can go a long stretch in a career without having to do it.
So in reality, VES is another tool in the toolbox, it is something in which should be trained on so even if you do get a crew with a couple newer FF's or those who have been on for years and never performed VES for real, the issue is that training counts, not just experience. That is what my issue was to the comment Jason made about having someone experienced perform the task.
I am by no means saying not to do VES, in fact I am quite a proponent of it. This is something that hasn't been regularly trained on in my dept until up to about seven years ago. Why? Because it simply wasn't the need on every fire, when a search was called for, it typically consisted of interior ops. As more people came on the dept, VES was talked about and trained on more, and is trained on even moreso today. However, the fact remains we have some pretty salty FF's here who been in a ton of fires, but never once did VES. That is the point of why I said I would take trained over just experienced.
I in no way said that VES doesn't routinely happen in other depts, because it does and it is done routinely. However, in many where VES is not as routine, this is why this concept should be trained on so ANYONE can do it, not just experienced personnel.
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I didn't mean that you said that. I was just stressing a point. Sorry.
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I understand....I was expanding on my statements as to why I would suffice for trained over just experienced. Minor detail perhaps, but it is reality that a dept could train and train on this and still not have anyone really "experienced", but may find themselves having to do so.
This is why such videos do help, because the basics are there and give something to start with or refer back to for training, especially if such a tactic is not routine.
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Permalink Reply by Jason Hoevelmann on
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No doubt, add smoke, fire and heat and the anxiety level goes way up.
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Permalink Reply by 55 TRUCK on
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We do VES on most fires. The first due truck is split into two teams. Officer and 2nd seat do interrrior search. Engineer and 3rd seat do outside horizontal vent to include VES. One thing that many people don't realise is that VES can be done on the first floor and should be done. The outside crew will then go in to assist the inside crew with search or overhaul. 2nd due truck is responsible for vertical ventilation,assisting with search & or overhaul.
Depending on the structure size,occupency etc. The 1st due may have all 4 or 3 if there running short go in to do search. 2nd due will then do VES & vertical vent.
For the most part VES is done on all working fires in INDY.
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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nice post that should be reviewed by all. as always Jason, you continue to raise the bar level higher. thanks. CBz
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Thanks fellas, I really appreciate all of you commenting and adding valuable experience for everyone to relate and learn from. Stay safe out there Brothers and Sisters.
Capt. Busy, hope your well and that retirement is treating you good. It's good to still see you here. Take care.
Jason
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