Lost & Disoriented

We know that a common reason that firefighters are killed or injured is because they have become lost and disoriented. I believe that this has a couple of underlying causes and we will try to work on one of these this week.

This week is a simple one and I just want to add a small twist to it so that you can just beef up the learning just a little bit more. (As Emeril says "Let's kick it up a notch!")

Using an existing maze or creating a known path or set of obstacles have personnel under blackout mask or training smoke conditions navigate the prepared course.

The instructor should create a fairly detailed diagram of the course and the path students should take while navigating it.

The course should be signed so that it will take about 10 - 12 minutes to complete at a pretty moderate pace.

Have students as members of a two person team navigate the course while using SCBA.

After they come out, have them rehab and secure their SCBA and have them sit quietly and re-draw on a piece of paper provided their route and any and all significant objects they may have discovered.

Do not review how they did at this time, nor allow much collaboration between members. The diagramming is an individual effort only.

If time permits have them do this again if their skills were poor.

This second time their senses have been heightened and they will make it a point to be particularly cognizant of their surroundings and means of egress.

Not a bad skill to reinforce for operating in a smoke filled environment!