Thinking Person's Game
Some people’s hardest decision in life is whether or not they want ketchup on their fries. We wish all our decisions and operations were black and white. Truth is, that only applies to protocols, and we are called upon to regularly operate in the gray. Because of this it’s important for us to discuss and drill all the possibilities when performing a VES. This is where the thinking man’s game kicks in, and we have to quickly and continually evaluate what we are going to do. For instance, what is your operation for the following while performing a VES.
1. Smoke conditions show door is open after taking window
2. Smoke conditions show door is closed after taking window
3. Victim encountered directly below the window
4. Large Victim encountered directly below the window
5. Victim seen with light/TIC/line of sight
6. Child victim found during travel towards door
7. Adult victim found during travel towards door
8. Smoke conditions allow for a hook and look at isolation door
9. Smoke conditions do not allow for a hook and look at isolation door
10. Victim encountered outside threshold of room (DRAG EM IN! DUH)
11. Multiple victims found in room
12. VES Complete, conditions allow to expand into a ladder assisted search
13. VES Complete, conditions don’t allow expansion of search (now what?)
None of these possibilities would come across as outlandish or unrealistic. But every variable in this list changes your mode or steps in the operation. It requires us to have plans in place, and an understanding of what every piece must do the support the goal… Pulling people out of buildings on fire.
In the photos, this is our operational steps for a two man VES to a ladder assisted search (a search..off a ladder.... Crazy?!). Firefighter 1 searches the target room, ff2 picks up comms with command if victim is found, help is needed, and keeps orientation for FF.
Once VES is complete, FF 1 pushes into the hall way and onto the next room. This is the "it depends" we are expected to figure out.
Are conditions so bad we need to isolate room by room? Can FF2 knock out those stairs and Bathroom 2 while FF1 gets bedroom 4?
Can both firefighters knock out the final two bedrooms on their own?! Sure can! Search is about getting dudes to target areas quickly, because those are were victims most likely are.
Some people’s hardest decision in life is whether or not they want ketchup on their fries. We wish all our decisions and operations were black and white. This is why the thinking man’s game is so important, and we have to quickly and continually evaluate what we are going to do.
End of rant. We out!'
