Out of the ordinary training ideas

I am looking for unique, innovative even bizarre training ideas that can be done on the cheap; structural, wildland, tech rescue, MVA, EMS just something out of the ordinary.

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Powers on April 2, 2010 at 2:19pm

Hi Bob. I ran across this situation on my first day of EMS clinicals. A man that was too tall to fit in a stokes litter and had c-spine consideration on the second story of an apartment building. The medic did not feel comfortable bringing him down the stair because it was too narrow and the board would have needed to be tilted on its side. The medic was also a FF in a combined department so he understood the resources available. Luckily they had access to an aerial but this situation could be found in most any community. We loaded the backboard onto the aerial and lowered him too the ground and took back care.

Here is how I have thought about running this training:
Rescue dummy of course
EMTs board and prep the dummy
Rescue ladders a window and prepares ropes
lower the back board down the ladder
*Use a backup line as you would have time

If your members do not know what to expect when you start the evolution you will test:
Ingenuity
C-Spine/backboard skills
Inter-department cooperation
Ladder skills
Ropes and knots
Team communication

Permalink Reply by Frederik Munnik on April 2, 2010 at 3:25pm

Hi Bob, I have another variation on the idea that Matthew supplied. I have used this for training of technical rescue teams and operationally to great success. As with Matthew's idea you have a non-ambularity patient at an elevated position. the objective is to bring the patient to terra ferma and keeping him/her level so as not to further injure. this can be done at a high that suits your ladders, I start from the 1st floor for first timers and end using a pole ladder to the 3rd floor. The drill tests ladder skills, comms, rope work as the main items.

Prep the patient and secure him into a stokes basket using a "spider harness". The heel of the ladder is positioned against the building/structure - if possible - and raised 2 rungs above the sill/rail level. Secure two ropes to the foot end of the basket, run the ropes through belay devices (last mentioned positioned next to each other to facilitate one man operation). Belays is anchored inside the structure, bit of enginuity required here. The top end of the stokes is secured to the head of the ladder using webbing and caribeners. The webbing should be secured loosly (provideing a bit of length, about a foot) to allow the basket to pivit as the ladder is lowered. you require a belay man, edge man and ladder team. The ladder is lowered slowely and the edge man relays info to the belay man who in turn gives slack to ensure the stokes remains horizontal as the ladder moves. Remember edge rollers over the window sill.
I have some jpeg pictures of this system in use recovering patients from a ship/trawler in a dry dock if you would like a visual idea. You can mail me at fred@iworks.co.za
Bob I hope this is bizzare enough for you....LOL!

Permalink Reply by Frederik Munnik on April 2, 2010 at 3:29pm

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kolva on April 2, 2010 at 9:41pm

Thanks guys, those are great. We are always looking for new variations on patient packaging and moving.

Permalink Reply by Darci Fraser on July 20, 2010 at 6:57pm

I think a great training would be to treat a certain firefighter in your department to ice cream!! We could all train on proper form when eating a Klondike bar.

Permalink Reply by S Br on August 19, 2010 at 12:15am

Hey Bob, I have often used the ol' switcharoo trick on some of the probies. I take an SCBA bottle and dump most of the air out of it. Leave enough air in the bottle to allow for about 3 to 5 minutes until the low air alarm goes off. Place the low bottle in a spare pack and then when your Probie is off somewher else switch his pack with the "low air" pack. If your Dept. uses the mask bags make sure you also switch his mask so you dont give it away that something is different. Then set up a typical structure drill, your going to go in do a search etc.. I like to do a full "black-out" drill when I do this but it's up to you. A couple minutes into the search and then his bell rings - once Probie gets over the intial "WTF?" - they want to make a bail back to the front door - I usualy hold them there a say something like " I have a full bottle" or 'My air is at 4000 still" something that triggers them to remember they have a trans fill hose - now they have to try and remember how to transfill and then be able to do it while fully "blacked -out" - once theyve transfilled the bottles to equal pressure you then make your way out and end the drill. What do they learn?
1. how important it is to check your Air just before you enter!!!
2. how to stop and think for a second when something unexpected happens (dont just "make a run for it!")
3. How to trans fill (refresher)- in the dark (ive been on for 17 years and ive never trans filled in an actual fire)
**ofcourse you may get that one probie that checks his air first and catches the low bottle, KUDOS to him if he does but ive done it to a lot guys and havent had one catch it yet, and I make them yell out their pressure in the academy evrytime they turn their bottle on.

Permalink Reply by Miguel Rivas on June 26, 2011 at 6:23pm