Tower / Ladder Operations

[Jourdan]

Good evening,

My name is Jourdan McMillan. I am a probationary recruit of the Osolo Fire Department in Elkhart ,Indiana. We are a volunteer department that is privatized and we have recently acquired a new 104. Ft American LaFrance ladder, and have put it into service. Though there is a driving program and a ladder class that one must attend before he is clear to drive, run, or operate on the apparatus.

Recently we have built a training tower behind the station, consisting of an elevated platform, resembling a rappelling tower, about 40 ft. high. We have some ropes and rapelling equipment, however no one is trained in rappeling operations.

Myself being a rock climber / Skydiver, I sort of have a thing for heights. And I would love to take whatever classes and everything necessary to see this rappel team take off. However, I am a probationary recruit, so I'm not even sure where to start in term of classes, certifications, and especially talking to my chief and training officer.

Any suggestions?

[WBenner]

Rope Rescue

Well I would suggest that if you want this program to go is to do a risk anaylis of your City. And that should tell you if you need a Rope program. Stay away form using the term HIGH ANGLE. Id suggest using the term ROPE RESCUE. As rope is the back bone for most Technical rescues such as Water / Ice, Confined, USAR, High or Low angle. Your city Im sure has the need for the above listed. Even though you may not have responded to an alarm such as those listed above you may encounter it. Then what?
And why do you have the equipment if your not trained in it? If you can get on your Safety committee and go from there. Take that equipment out of service until trained on it. Its not the equipment that kills rescuers its the guys who think they know what to do but have no training but have the equipment in front of them to use. Unforntantly you may have to spend some of your own cash and take a Technical rope course. Then they have no choice but to listen to. You may want to get some of the boys interested as well. GOOD LUCK

[jmatthe2]

Jourdan,

Email me at [email protected]. I would like to talk to you one-on-one about getting your team up and running. There is too much to write here.

[slowjoe1]

info

jmatthe2
i am also interested in the above. my station is vol. and we have a rather large state park in our town. this park has alot of hikeing trails along cliffs. we have never been called out for a rope rescue but im sure it will happen someday. any info on equipment that i should be looking into would be appreciated. i was planing on takeing the appropriate courses anyways. my email is [email protected]. thank you. -joe

[jmatthe2]

Jourdan,

Email me at [email protected]. I would like to talk to you one-on-one about getting your team up and running. There is too much to write here.

New email is [email protected]