The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Ladders
I am compeating in our local ladders race, in one part of the comp we do excape, i was wondering some other peoples oppinions on the quickest and safest way to get down a ladder
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Boo Bergeron on
-
When the word 'escape' is involved I am thinking either May-Day or Rapid-Egress and with that in mind my suggestion would be a ladder-bail. Being in position at the laddered window, exiting in a head first direction, hook (my preference) the right arm, and kicking out, causing the body to spin on the ladder, positioning you on the beams free of the rungs to slide down; efficient because it gets the controls (your head) out first positions you to land/finish boots first. I learned this in a may-day class, it is quick and easy, BUT definately something I would practice first if I was unfamiliar with.
-
-
Stand by...I just noticed that this was under a Junior/Explorer discussion. Now, don't get me wrong, I am all for these programs (in fact I am over ours at my dept.), however, the ladder bail technique I mentioned, and I am sure others would agree, is somewhat advanced in its nature and like I said requires practice. I know that when we teach ground ladders we are required to tell our students that it is one of the more "at risk" days of their FF I course, ladders need to be respected. My advice, in retro-spect, would be to go to your ranking officers and see what they would suggest you do at your level of participation with your department. A head-first ladder bail may not be at the top of their list.
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
-
Boo....for training purposes....I agree practice, practice and practice some more but do so with a safety line....don't want someone to slip or miss a grab and end up doing a face plant at the bottom of the ladder and breaking their neck...learned this in Firefighter Survival class...it isn't that difficult...once you convince yourself that going down a ladder head first is the option to take....LOL
-
Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
-
A similar fall as Paul described happened to one of our guys, in a controlled environment, no competition, he fell, broke his leg, dislocated shoulder, was off of work about 9 months and may be going in for surgery again soon.
Yeah, such a bailout is no place for a kid and really no place in a competition.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
