Several studies have pointed out the following consistent findings in regards to firefighter MAY-DAY’s & LODD’s:
- We become disoriented and lost in zero visbility environments and lose situational awareness. With Tactical TIC use, the enhanced size-up (Tactical 360) incorporates the firefighters training where they read the building (its floor- plan, fire location & severity, and locate secondary means of egress) prior to making entry. Once inside, by staying oriented (up to four ways: hose-line, search rope, a wall, or another firefighter) the TIC assists in locating secondary means of egress. In our enhanced search methodology portion, the fire attack crew is instructed to “draw” the doors and door frames with water as they move past them. When viewing the doors through the eyes of a thermal imaging camera, the crew-leader is always aware of a secondary means or egress or area of refuge within a few feet of their crew.
- Communication: In almost every LODD report, we see that failed communications or poor communication is a contrtibuting factor. In our training, we teach the crew leader to consistently communicate the following data: fire location, severity, building lay out, and secondary means of egress.
- Rapid Intervention isn’t Rapid: It takes on average 12 firefighters to rescue 1 firefighter and 1 in 5 members of the rescue team will experience an emergency of their own. Studies have also shown that the majority of rescuing downed firefighters are made by the crews already inside. Our training incorporates this concept, by staying situationally aware, monitoring air (or ROAM), and slowing the progression of the crew so they move together as a unit. Each area is cooled, checked, communicated, and critical information is communicated to the crew before moving forward. The crew doesn’t move anywhere that the crew leader hasn’t checked first and sent water ahead of them to ensure a thermally stable environment. In the event of a RIC scenario, it is imperattive that not only the firefighters working inside are able to not only begin rescue efforts but reenforce firefighting efforts. In many cases, fire attack efforts are
abandoned thereby allowing the situation to worsen creating additional MAY-DAY situations. By equipping the nozzle man with a situational awareness TIC. They are able to staff the line, flow water where needed to protect the crew members who are effecting a rescue, and protect their movement as they extricate the downed firefighter. As seen in the adjacent photo, firefighters can stay situationally aware in zero visibility of the conditions around them.
This training program is offered in an 8 hour classroom/hands-on/live fire format. Participants will begin with a classroom lecture on case studies, line of duty deaths, and current rapid intervention methodologies. The program will emphasize how tactical thermal imaging concepts can regain the upper hand and buy back time for our downed or lost firefighters. Fundamental concepts will be reenforced and scenario based objectives will be completed in a crawl, walk, run learning format where participants will build upon these sets and repeititions until the final live fire objectives are to be completed.
Insight Training LLC offers this program for up to 30 students with three live fire instructors for $3,000 per day. This cost does not include travel and lodging. This is approximately $100/per student whereas most courses cost firefighters invidvidually $200-300 per day for training. Insight Training LLC will provide all PPE (with the exception of SCBA’s), our own thermal imaging cameras, go-pro video cameras, and all video captured will be provided back to the host organization upon completion of the training.
We look forward to working with you and your department,
Instructor Andy Starnes
Insight Training LLC
Level II Thermography Certified