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What are your safety concerns?
I have been a volunteer in EMS for about 8 years and I went through FF1 in Florida but since then I moved to the Philippines to be with my wife. Since I am here I volunteer as a firefighter/paramedic and its really quite interesting to see how a Filipino fights fire.
We typically use a Helmet, trousers, bunker, and boots. We rarely use a BA even if we need to enter a building. The Dangers we face are equipment shortages. Since more firefighters need to buy their own equipment or people donate equipment usually a firefighter starts off with little or no equipment and is still fighting a fire. Its not uncommon to see firefighters in sandles, bunker, and helmet fighting a fire.
Since many volunteers are not trained at all in firefighting they make mistakes that sometimes costs quite a bit like causing water damage or even death to the firefighter. I still give these guys a ton of credit because when it comes to experience, most volunteers are very quick to respond and they have a lot of experience in fighting fire even if they have not had any formal training. The Philippines has the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) but to become a Volunteer Firefighter you do not need any BFP or foreign training to join.
When I am at a fire scene I rarely see the use of ventilation, and I see people enter buildings with no BA on a regular basis. Things like this are crazy to hear but it works most of the time and even though I do not agree with it I still have to sit back and watch it happen and then be there for my fellow brothers in case something bad happens. I actually seen a BFP Official stand on a roof with no BA and the building was on fire and he actually stomped on the roof with his foot and ended falling through the ceiling. He was not hurt but it was a huge scare to me.
What are your thoughts about how standard firefighting is very different here and would anyone like to help me create a week long course to give volunteers a knowledge about how to fight fire properly? I care about the safety of these brave men but I do not want to see them mistake bravery for idiocy.
Thanks for your comments, help, and suggestions.
-Jason
We typically use a Helmet, trousers, bunker, and boots. We rarely use a BA even if we need to enter a building. The Dangers we face are equipment shortages. Since more firefighters need to buy their own equipment or people donate equipment usually a firefighter starts off with little or no equipment and is still fighting a fire. Its not uncommon to see firefighters in sandles, bunker, and helmet fighting a fire.
Since many volunteers are not trained at all in firefighting they make mistakes that sometimes costs quite a bit like causing water damage or even death to the firefighter. I still give these guys a ton of credit because when it comes to experience, most volunteers are very quick to respond and they have a lot of experience in fighting fire even if they have not had any formal training. The Philippines has the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) but to become a Volunteer Firefighter you do not need any BFP or foreign training to join.
When I am at a fire scene I rarely see the use of ventilation, and I see people enter buildings with no BA on a regular basis. Things like this are crazy to hear but it works most of the time and even though I do not agree with it I still have to sit back and watch it happen and then be there for my fellow brothers in case something bad happens. I actually seen a BFP Official stand on a roof with no BA and the building was on fire and he actually stomped on the roof with his foot and ended falling through the ceiling. He was not hurt but it was a huge scare to me.
What are your thoughts about how standard firefighting is very different here and would anyone like to help me create a week long course to give volunteers a knowledge about how to fight fire properly? I care about the safety of these brave men but I do not want to see them mistake bravery for idiocy.
Thanks for your comments, help, and suggestions.
-Jason
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