Firefighter Close Call caught on Helmet Camera

[cardinals929]

wow a pipe pole comes down like that, you never ever look up while heeling a latr derpis anything could get in ur eyes although that is why they made saftey glasses, but i guess everyone makes a mistake.

[kanoshFireDept]

hey were did you buy your helmet camera???

[CLeHitez106]

hey. FF in training here. If you're not supposed to look up, how do you watch the guy and tell him when to "step in" and so forth?

[OFDUnit23]

Not looking up is for the heelers protection from falling debris. The person on the ladder should have three points of contact at all times, and will usually be watched by their partner (2 in, 2 out). This way, the heeler worries about one thing, and one thing alone, the safety of the ladder. However, many of us know that this isnt always followed to the letter, especially in smaller departments. That is why I feel tying it off is better.

[CLeHitez106]

I get the three points of contact thing, thats a good point, but when you are descending on an extension ladder, and you are stepping in from the fly section to the bed, isn't it good to have someone say "prepare to step in" and "step in" so that you don't miss the 4-6" inches that the bed section is set in, and fall off? that's just the way we were trained at our academy.

[CLeHitez106]

also, If somebody drops something off of their shoulder, isn't it just going to go straight down or to the side? For a dropped object to hit me, it would almost have to be coming off of someone's back, which seems like an unlikely scenario, and even in that case, I think I would have the reaction time to either put my head down, or pivot out of the way while keeping one foot and one hand in contact with the ladder to heel it.

[OFDUnit23]

That is the thing with techniques you will find. There really isnt a standard for many things, which is why it is important to be familiar with your Departments SOGs and SOPs. E.g. we tether our tools up and down, unless the opportunity isnt available. Thus, a person shouldnt carrying anything up or down a ladder.

[OFDUnit23]

Thus, I have found with training, that depending on who is training you depends on the technique used. Thus, one should NEVER tell the Chief and/or training Officer, well they taught us THIS way. Retain what is taught, but always follow your Departments SOGs and SOPs, anything else is great suggestions.