Notes from a Rookie Firefighter...October 21, 2009

SCBA 2 Drill - Not for Rookies

Last night I finally felt like I was past Rookiedom.

We did SCBA Part 2 in the smokehouse. Last year I wasn't SCBA certified yet so I did the drill but didn't go through the mazes or hatches. I did it last night though.

For all you guys and girls that are experienced, young, and fit, stop reading because you will think I am quite lame. For those of you brave enough to keep reading, I want to tell you some retrospections about myself and the SCBA 2 drill.

In NJ we are going through Indian Summer. While the majority of NJ residents love this time of year, for someone like me with a health condition, the change in weather throws my body into utter pain. Right side of my neck, right shoulder, right calf, left hip, all HURT. When I get up in the morning it takes me about an hour to feel better. Yesterday the weather was mild, but I was in pain all day. I also was nervous about the drill in the first place because I didn't want to fail.

When I got to the drill I had to budy up with someone who was in another one of our fire stations. I didn't know this person but that will happen at a scene so I didn't dwell on it. There were people there from my station but they had done the first evolution already and those waiting had someone to budy up with.

I followed, listened to my partner, and let him help me with the wires and up the hatches. The only major problem I had was getting through the right triangle type opening. I was facing the wall and was told to turn around and pull myself through and that worked. We did what we had to do and I got through the first evolution.

Then I had to do it all over again.

This time I was more acclimated to my surroundings. I noticed later that even though it was pitch black my other senses took over and I was able to see. How is that possible? My partner had issues this evolution getting through the right triangle and I heard him clank around. However, this time since I knew what way my body should go it was alot easier. Now the hatches...I again had a hard time finding the hatch to go up a level because there were two holes next to each other. So I had my partner put this hand on my helmet so I knew what direction I had to go in.

When I got to the last hatch which was too high above me being able to scoot up on my butt, my SCBA started to rattle. I know when that happens you still have about ten minutes or so. I didn't panic but boy was I able to get up that hatch on my butt. Last evolution my partner had to pull me up so it's funny how that rattling noise gets you to move faster!

When I was at the top level we had to search, but I was rattling so I said to my partner that we had to leave because I was running out of air. Even though you are in a controlled environment, I put myself into drill and made myself forget it was controlled during the first evolution. My partner said he wanted to check my air and he found I hadn't opened it all the way. I still had 18 minutes left when I got outside.

We did our search and this time remembered (well I had to be reminded) to go down the stairs on my butt in case the floor gave out. When I was in school I was told you could go down the stairs if they seemed safe but since it was an officer of my fire department I will use this method in the future.

So for those of you that think SCBA 2 is a piece of cake because you've done it 20 times, forgive my lameness!!

This morning, I now have total pain on my left side to match my right. But at least I had an interesting story to tell my supervisor when I came in late. My boss? Well he is a firefighter also so he will understand.

Thanks for reading!

Denise M. Broesler
NJ Rookie Firefighter