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Are Your Ground Ladders Safely Marked?
Several years ago in Houston, we marked all the top 3 rungs of our ground ladders ( including the attic / scuttle hole ) with the red/white reflective tape the government mandates truckers to have on their trailers. Also, the entire beam of a roof ladder is also taped to avoid a trip on a roof as well as to see it ( like the attic ladder) if you must make a hasty escape. The tape is easy to put on and clean up is soap and water. What does your department use?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Interesting. Good idea!
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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Good idea
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Cole on
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It just makes sense to mark the ladders at the tip, as well as the balance point. Ground/portable ladders are probabaly one of the most neglected areas of training. Every firefighter should be profecient in placing, and raising ladders, and should be capable of raising the 24' ladder alone as well.
Far too often the only time the ladders are removed from their nest is when they are needed urgently, it becomes a pathetic spectacle.
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Permalink Reply by Blake Smith on
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That is a good idea. Anybody have a good site to buy the tape from?
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Permalink Reply by Robert G. Parry on
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Get a hold of your Public Works / Road Department Supervisor who may have some on hand as well as a local trucking company to start with. Maybe they have some spare on hand or at least lead you in the right direction. Just an idea. In Houston, our supply division ordered nthe tape...Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Chad Wachs on
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Just finished marking all of our 35's, 24's and roof ladders - thanks to this article. We decided not to mark the entire beam but the last 4 feet (from the 4th rung to the tip). This saved some tape and gave us a good visual from the ground when the ladder was properly extended enough for roof operations.
For those that asked above, we bought our tape online (city sign shop had it but was twice the price). We went with the 1" wide since it fit all of our beams. I liked the 6/6 pattern since it was very easy to cut 1 foot sections to place between the rung holes in the beam and it looked symmetric (versus the 7/11 pattern that you normally find on DOT tape). We bought from:
http://www.reflects-light.com/product.sc;jsessionid=C92272A36198B86...
Type was the 6/6 roll 1" @ 150 feet. We used 7 feet per ladder (3.5 per beam). Let us do all the ladders in the department with one roll.
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Great to hear. Good luck and be safe! What department are you with?
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Permalink Reply by Tim McCloskey on
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My department has gone with a new company that deals with firehouses. Its called Firehouse Pride and they make markers for the tip section and balance point on the ladders. The markers are reflective and you can see them easily in all types of weather conditions (sunny, rainy, foggy days). You can also make them custom to your department by labeling the both markers by whatever you want to make it and with department colors. My department chose to do you department name on the tip and our number on the balance point (I've seen some with the truck and number on the tip exp TRUCK 17). We also got a discount for a bulk order. www.firehousepride.com
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Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
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I like it, good idea
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Having a backup plan is paramount when it comes to our survival. Your post, and hopefully, others bumping it constantly will get the word out about this exceptional idea. Using something that already exists to make something else better.
You have no idea that in two-weeks, someone who read this post and who's father-in-law is a trucker, used a spare roll of this reflective tape to copy what you recommended on the FFN site. Three days later, the newspaper printed this story from an interview with another very grateful firefighter:
"An early morning structure fire required us to ladder the building to provide ventilation. Unfortunately, during the evolution, the roof gave way and the building started to collapse with all three of us on the roof. The smoke was intense, you couldn't see anything. But... our flashlights caught the reflective surface on the ladders that one of our new firefighters had done just three days ago. The firefighters were able to quickly locate the ladder and do what is called an emergency bailout procedure. We feel lucky to be alive."
Note: Firefighter Parry, FFN contributor was cited as being responsible for the saving of three firefighter's lives because of the article he posted in April 2011. He has been recommended by the FFN membership to receive a meritorious lifesaving award for his contribution to the fire service.
Very creative and understand that your post just might make a difference in somebody's life.
Nicely done sir.
CBz
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Captain Schlags; I thank you for this article. I am just very grateful a member of our proud profession did take the time to read and recommend it to his Department. So many times an idea like this is dismissed by " a veteran" - one of our own. I am sure many of you have found out the kitchen table is the best place to discuss these issues at relief time when there are "double the troops" or stressed at a weekly drill at the volunteer ranks. Thanks again! I am curious where this fire happened at? Be safe Bob Parry
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