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Articles and information
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F.A.S.T - "It's all attitude"
By Robert Moyer
Your company responds to a chemical spill at a local
warehouse, with reports of missing employees,
possibly still in the building. Upon arrival control
zones are established and at the same time the
Hazardous Material Team is requested and technicians
respond. Upon arrival on the scene all members are
assembled and a plan devised, but before any entry
teams are allowed to enter the hot zone, a FAST Team
is set in place, simply for the reason that if
something goes wrong, they can assist or possible
rescue the entry team. The FAST Team is the entry
teams only hope of surviving if something goes
wrong.
A Technical High Angle Rope Rescue Team response is
requested for an automobile over a steep embankment.
Rescuers arrive, but before the first rescuers
deploy, back-up members with safety lines are set in
place, again for the reason being that if something
is wrong, they can assist or rescue the "rescuers". |
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This is the same for most specialty teams and is
enforced by SOP's, SOG's, policies and procedures
and in some cases OSHA. This is why I ask myself,
that the idea of using a back up team for fire
suppression, it is met with so much resistance. I
would never consider sending any of my fellow
firefighters into the above mentioned situations
without a back up team. Why is it so hard to
convince somebody of the importance of a F.A.S.T,
Firefighters Assistance and Search Team? |
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Fire Fighters In action!
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NFPA statistics show that a large number of
firefighters fatalities occur on the fireground.
During 1995 we lost eighty-eight firefighters in the
line of duty. This number was lower than in 1994,
but still the fatalities of eighty-eight
firefighters is too high. In 1995, over 94,000
injuries occurred in the line of duty, 50,640 were
on the fireground. This comes to show that this job
is and always will be dangerous.
The F.A.S.T. concept is mostly attitude. We should
train or firefighters to see the warning signs that
can get us into a situation that we cannot handle.
We should also train our firefighters how to assist
and when necessary, rescue one of our own. Train
them in the techniques used in "Saving Our Own."
The attitude most definitely needs to be positive.
You have to realize that when the Incident Commander
places you on F.A.S.T , he is telling you that if
anything happens to his men, he is counting on your
team to bring them out alive. So imagine that you
are a firefighter in distress. Think of those times
you became disoriented in a smoke-filled room. What
if you could not find your way out. You search
frantically for a way out, and with each breathe of
air you take, the closer you are to running out.
Then suddenly the floor beneath you gives way,
sending you into the gut of the fire breathing beast
below. Now while all this is occurring and you are
fighting for you life, think of the type of crew
outside, if any, that is ready to come in and get
you out. Are they upset or discouraged because they
did not get to "crash and bang" on the big one? Do
they have the proper equipment? Do they have the
right attitude?
It is my belief that we should instill this positive
style of thinking in our F.A.S.T. Teams. When
someone asks you how you can justify placing
firefighters on the team, when they could be out
there fighting the fire, give them a copy of the
NFPA statistics regarding firefighters deaths and
injuries. Discuss the impact that a firefighter
death can have on the fire service and their
families.
I hope and pray that every time a F.A.S.T. Team is
set up, it will not be needed. But just in case
something goes wrong, why not have them ready? It is
not just having a team and their tools ready, but
having a positive attitude.
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/firefighting/15976 |
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