FOOLS Survival Training

On Saturday 3 June 2006, several members of the CapFOOLS gathered at the Wake County Fire Training Center for a day of survival training. Instructor Matt Poole took everyone through the infamous "maze", where we encountered a variety of obstacles and hazards that mirrored real-life dangers that have killed firefighters in the past. Although there was not one bit of fire in this evolution, it was by far some of the most physically demanding training that one could go through. I think everyone came out with an increased awareness and better appreciation for the importance of self-rescue and survival skills.

After lunch we practiced rope and ladder bail-outs from a second story window. Hopefully these techniques would only ever be an absolute last resort but, it is important to get comfortable with them in training instead of trying them for the first time under duress in an actual emergency.

Thanks to Matt for sharing some valuable knowledge with us, and to all the brothers who participated - it was a great time!

Erick (Wake Forest FD) and Mike (Garner FD) wait for their turn in the maze	Now THAT's a crew!	Erick cooks up lunch for everyone
Good eatin'!	On the rope bail-out, we had a belay line for safety	Jason (Raleigh FD) eases himself out the window
Care must be taken to not get the fingers caught between the rope and the window sill	The personal rescue rope is simply wrapped around the firefighter's body, and the ends held together in front with one hand	The firefighter can just lower himself at a controlled rate of speed by allowing the rope to feed through
On the ground!	Erick starts the ladder bail-out evolution	Out the window head-first onto the ladder
Erick lowers himself using his hands on the rungs...	...until his feet catch on the top rung	Matt asked us to let go of our handhold for a moment, to prove that our toes COULD hold us securely in place
Once most of the way down the ladder, the firefighter hooks his arm into a rung...	...then pivots his body around until he is right-side-up on the ladder, and climbs the rest of the way down.	Next!
We found that the fire helmet would ride over one's face on this evolution...	...so that it was nearly impossible to see coming down
Each firefighter had a safety line hooked up, just in case	Jason takes a turn
Erick was glad to be on the ground after that one, as we all were	Bishop mans the belay	How it looks from the top
A bit dizzying!	Big John (Stony Hill FD)	Mike McBroom (Stony Hill FD)

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Copyright 2006 NCFirewolf