Firemen afraid of being on a ladder???? Check out ladder testing

by Dustin J. Millis

Oct 25, 2008

Okay, so the title pretty much says it all here. Throughout my short time in the fireservice, right around two years now; I've spoken to more then a few firefighters who say that they would rather be 1000' up on a roof then 10' up on a ladder. Just today, I was talking to a firefighter that told me he wouldent clean his own gutters because he didnt like being on a ladder!!!! This guy is a firefighter!!!! Anybody see a problem here??? I DO I tried to explain to him that being on a ladder is a pretty crucial part of a firefighters job for reasons that we all know and that I am not going to explain here. This guy is brand new to the department and still going through mandatory so I understand that he is nervous about a few things, hell; there are still things that I dont particularly like to do, but you can bet that when it comes time to do them, I'm gona do it. Among the responses I get from the guys who dont like being up on a ladder, I get most commonly that they dont think its sturdy, that it might slip, that it wont hold the weight. Whether that is the reason or not, we all know those are pretty silly responses. Okay, so now I have to admit that I was always afraid of using a ladder as a "bridge" between two points. That always seemed really dangerous to me. I felt as if the ladder was going to slowly bend the closer I got to the center and then snap dropping me the fifty million feet into the giant volcano. Okay, so maybe not a volcano, but you get the idea LOL. Anyway, that all ended for me when I helped out on "ladder testing day". WOW, if there is one thing that will give you confidence in your ladders, putting 500 pounds of dumbells on the very center of it and making it hold that weight for five minutes is definatly it. Watching how much stress these ladders can hold and come right back to shape is really pretty amazing and it totally gave me the confidence to use a ladder as a bridge whenever I wanted/needed to. Case and point, if you or any firefighter you know is a little uneasy climbing or using a ladder, make sure they get down to the station when your ladders are being tested and they will surely find a burst of confidence Stay safe brothers and sisters

  • Mark Montgomery

    This is not, in my experience, uncommon. I have come a cross numerous firefighters over the years with all sorts of problems or in some cases phobias about many of the aspects we expect firefighters to take on.

    For example, we had an officer who would not, under any circumstances, wear SCBA! This person was a training officer at a busy volunteer station but on 7 years working with him and at numerous calls I never on saw him even put a set on his back, let alone start up.

    Oct 26, 2008

  • Dustin J. Millis

    I dont see how someone who would not put on an SCBA could become an officer. I mean, I know everybodys afraid of something and we really shouldnt judge them for it, but there are so many cases where a FF is totally uneffective when he wont even put on an SCBA. That doesnt set a very good example for younger FF's which is what I thought officers were supposed to do.

    Oct 26, 2008

  • Jenny Holderby

    I'm one of the fire fighters who does not like ladders. On many occassions I have climbed a ladder when I HAD TO CLIMB IT but don't set a ladder in the floor & tell me to go up, cross & come down. I can't/won't.
    As far as SCBA goes, there are numerous fire fighters who would rather not don SCBA unless the have to. When it becomes a necessity, the brain redirects and you do things you wouldn't normally do.

    I have had several fire fighters who were uncomfortable in SCBA until they learned how to breath with it on. One of our newest members is "slightly clostrophobic" and came down with chest pains in training. I suspect the chest pains were actually an anxiety attack manifesting as chest pains. When he was taken to the hospital they found that he was also dehydrated.

    Oct 26, 2008

  • Kevin Teel

    Dustin, do you have any advice on someone afraid of climbing the arial. I had a situation where i was nervous and froze for 30 seconds on the arial because I thought i was going to lose my footing and fall in between the rungs. I'm primarily an engine guy but sometimes if manpower is low I tag in on the truck. Any advice for me will be greatly appreciated.

    Kevin

    Oct 27, 2008

  • Rich

    Hey I'll admit I hate being on a ladder....for me its my fear of heights....though when it comes down to it at a fire scene I will climb the 75' stick and operate our 100' tower ladder heck I will sit and vent a roof all damn day...just not a fan.

    Kevin- for the arial the best thing you can do is set up the ladder and climb as high as you feel comfortable.... keep doin that and you will wanna push yourself to eventually get to the top. Its not a one day process but it works man....thats what my officers did with me when I first got in.

    Oct 27, 2008