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The Mule Kick. Why do we do it?
Why do we do it? Does it weaken the forcible entry skills we learn?
I'm not necessarily singling this Chicago officer out.
His actions in a video from work this morning just leave me wondering:
Why do we still kick open doors? I can understand the flimsy hollow-core interior doors, but I've seen firefighters kick, and kick, and kick, and kick, exterior doors at private dwellings, apartment buildings and commercial structures. At times with tools in hand.
What is this doing to the forcible entry skills we learn? When we have a tool in hand, and we aren't using it, do we lose that little bit of educational edge we may have had if we had used the tool?
Are you pissing away hard earned money when you go to the conferences and hands-on training, taking forcible entry classes, when kicking a door is your automatic response?
I'm just thinking out loud, not picking on the guy.
What do you think?
Other's comments can also be seen here.
I'm not necessarily singling this Chicago officer out.
His actions in a video from work this morning just leave me wondering:
Why do we still kick open doors? I can understand the flimsy hollow-core interior doors, but I've seen firefighters kick, and kick, and kick, and kick, exterior doors at private dwellings, apartment buildings and commercial structures. At times with tools in hand.
What is this doing to the forcible entry skills we learn? When we have a tool in hand, and we aren't using it, do we lose that little bit of educational edge we may have had if we had used the tool?
Are you pissing away hard earned money when you go to the conferences and hands-on training, taking forcible entry classes, when kicking a door is your automatic response?
I'm just thinking out loud, not picking on the guy.
What do you think?
Other's comments can also be seen here.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
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I'm not a very big "mule" so that kick wouldn't work for well me.
Not to hijack this threat but after watching the video I was more concerned about lack of SCBA where needed, i.e. the FFs on roof and some who entered building. God bless those guys. They responded in force.
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Permalink Reply by Vic Silverfish on
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meh..it's quick. For an interior door where there's not a lot of heat and fire, it's fast. I put it on the same level as a baseball swing with a sledge hammer. Fast, effective, and worth the 3 seconds it takes to try. Irons and rabbit tool are still the proper way to force doors.
One of my favourite memories was holding a line while the entry team deployed a rabbit tool on the front door of a house. A chief got impatient: "Out of the way you kittens!"
made a running, leaping side kick, bounced off the door and landed on his arse! That was beautiful on several levels.
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Permalink Reply by Richard Armstrong on
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i'm with John cause that's what I kept sayin through the whole video.Everybody is worried about breaking/spraining knees or ankles but what about breathing smoke.Why not worry about the cancer he might have 10 yearsfrom now cuz nobody there takes the time to breathe air.Some don't bother to have packs others just walk around with a pack but don't mask up and plug the air in.What's worse slow painful cancer death or a sore or casted ankle for a few weeks?I know what my answer is.This is more than one video I've watched on here where the big city guys don't pack up and then they wonder why their kids are without a dad or mom before they are grown up.The title should be changed to why don't they pack up not why do we mule kick.!!! Just sayin!!!
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Permalink Reply by Eat The Roof on
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I've never been hurt using this method nor has anyone in my crew and were talking many thousands of mule kicks over many years.That is not to say NO one has ever been hurt using it, but then again I'm sure there are plenty of people who have broken hands and fingers while using "The Irons" or other tools.It is quick, in many cases much quicker than the irons ,personally I use whatever will give me an advantage.
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Permalink Reply by Capt./Chaplain Mike Petrosky on
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I have been encouraged from day one of my fire service career to always take a tool with me, everytime ! It doesn't matter if I'm on the Engine, Rescue, Brush, or Tanker. You grab a tool, it can save your life in a jam. Let's use our best tool first, our brain, before bruising ( or worse ) our bodies.
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Permalink Reply by Bekks on
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DING DING DING!
Exactly... yah, this discussion is about the mule-kick which could cause compression fractures, twisted ankles, and all that other stuff...
But WHY are these guys not masked up? That's no brush fire folks...
That's a real-life IDLH STRUCTURE FIRE ladies and gents!
Where did these guys tactics and training go, on vacation? Seriously?
Yah, somebody here may get in my face about this but I am sorry, no B.S. bravado is gonna make me change my opinion about this.
There is NO excuse for this kind of behaviour in this day and age.
We have the latest in scientific space-age material to protect us,
years of experience and scientific research to develop ways to do our job effectively while minimizing exposure to danger,
training that is supposed to give us good habits so we work safely,
insurance companies looking for any kind of evidence/excuse to NOT pay your injury claim,
families that will be left to deal with the pain of loosing a loved one from cancer,
on-scene safety officers,
etc, etc,
Sorry if that sounded a little 'over-the-top' but I get a little passionate about safety. I've seen far too many cancer deaths and people suffering from perminant breathing problems.
Stay safe!
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Permalink Reply by Ron Ayotte on
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I've used the irons, I've kicked in a few doors, I've even ordered the Hurst tool used to force a metal door...
Whatever works.. depends on the situation.
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Permalink Reply by Gregory Borg on
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Again your wisdom is correct, but tools are still better.
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Because Lt. McCaffrey from the 'fighting 17' told him he didn't have to.
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