EFPD Unofficial Training Site: November
"Yes We CAN"
Okay,
I'm sorry but at this time of year, I just couldn't help taking
advantage of a campaign slogan to make a point on safety. As
firefighters we are often faulted for our poor communications skills in
and around the station. While poor communication skills in the
firehouse may lead to spirited debate and damaged feelings, it can lead
to the untimely deaths of you and your fellow firefighters on the
fireground.
While we depend on our Incident Commanders to
make good decisions on the outside of the building, we must ask
ourselves if we are providing them with necessary information about
conditions on the inside of the building. With a simple acronym we can
improve our communications from inside the building and provide
valuable information for the IC.
CAN
stands for Conditions, Actions, Needs. When you first enter a structure
fire or other hazardous environment, you should report this information
to the IC. It is also important to communicate this information at any
time that conditions change, and regularly while you are in the
building. In addition to CAN, you should also report your air supply,
location and current PAR (personnel accountability report.)
A
good report might go something like this: "Engine 12 has made entry at
the "A" side of the structure. We are encountering high heat and heavy
smoke conditions. We are conducting a right handed search of the first
floor and we need immediate ventilation. Air status is full, we are
currently in the living room area and we have par."
This
simple report provides the IC with vital information needed to help
evaluate risks, determine necessary steps that should be taken, and
necessary information for a RIT team should one be needed to rescue you
or you team.
In the example above, the IC should recognize
that there would be a low probability of survival for any occupants in
those conditions. The IC would further recognize that if ventilation
could not be accomplished quickly, then crews should be withdrawn until
conditions could be improved. The IC could reevaluate his current
strategy and decide to go defensive.
Far too many firefighters die as a result of poor communications. With a CAN do attitude (sorry), it doesn't have to be you.
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Yet another reason to chock your wheels
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