Day 75 - We spent the day learning about air monitors...how they work, why we need them, etc...The buzz also started for the first wave of cadets leaving in March, as assignment talks began.
We ended the day with light PT work. This time we got to do our work out with our SCBA face-piece on.
Day 76 - Radiological training...all day, with a test at the end of the day. Really not all that exciting. We didn't have dress outs, or PT...just Radiological Training.
Next week? Haz-Mat training....We are moving the classroom to the gym for two weeks of hands on fun. Time shall see....
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Day 73 & 74 - ICS and Foam...Lots of Foam
Day 73: An empty day on our calendar. With everyone feeling a little cabin fever (as evident by two of our colleagues getting in to it , it would have been nice to have a free day, but no one new what to expect...What we got? We graded our tests, attended a healthy lifestyle rewards seminar and then sat through a few hours of computer assisted ICS 100.
We did have PT with Ralph....This consisted of waving around hose in different patterns. Not too bad, but still a work out.
Day 74: We started the day out in the resource building removing pallets from the building and stacking them back at the wood pile. We then went back into the building for a quick run through of foam.
Before lunch, we got our foam tools out, and ready for the afternoon session.
After lunch, we produced foam, and pulled hose. It was a great afternoon. We finally got to perform tasks that are along the lines of what we are going to be paid to do out in the station.
We then were sent to PT for our mid-week butt kicking. It was a rough one, but doable. I am tired of doing Squat thrusts however, with our without a jump.....
Friday we have a PT evaluation. Hopefully things will go well....
We did have PT with Ralph....This consisted of waving around hose in different patterns. Not too bad, but still a work out.
Day 74: We started the day out in the resource building removing pallets from the building and stacking them back at the wood pile. We then went back into the building for a quick run through of foam.
Before lunch, we got our foam tools out, and ready for the afternoon session.
After lunch, we produced foam, and pulled hose. It was a great afternoon. We finally got to perform tasks that are along the lines of what we are going to be paid to do out in the station.
We then were sent to PT for our mid-week butt kicking. It was a rough one, but doable. I am tired of doing Squat thrusts however, with our without a jump.....
Friday we have a PT evaluation. Hopefully things will go well....
Monday, February 22, 2010
Day 71 & 72: Yells, Cars, and Elevators....
Day 71: It was the day...the day we put our TWO days of intense (hint of sarcasm) extrication training to the test...PIT DRILLS.
My partner and I were Bat. Leaders for the day, and before we could get started we had to gather some equipment (dummies, backboards, air cylinders, etc). We got lucky, and snuck into the Resource Building while the door was up. We gathered all our materials and our gear and staged ourselves in the classroom. After a short video on Air Bag and new vehicle safety features we got started.
Bat. B headed off on a morning field trip, while Bat. divided into three groups. Around ten, groups 1 and 3 were put into service. For the next hour and ten minutes, we sat in the class room talking to Lieutenant. Finally we were dispatched to a hit and run. Away we headed to the pit....
Let me set the scene...three squad trucks are facing a wrecked blue car. Surrounding the car are 6 firefighters more or less yelling at us. Our groups leader did his walk around, and put us to work. I gathered all the hydraulic equipment, while the others started to crib. As I hooked up the tubes, a firefighter came up, asked me if I liked my eyesight, and then slammed down my face shield. My bad....but kind of appropriate. To make a long story short, we rescued both victims in 26 minutes, while removing both doors and the roof. For the next 20 or so minutes, Squad 1 critiqued our work. While it was rough at times, their assessment was informative.
We then broke for lunch....Krystals never tasted better.....
After lunch we headed over to a local Auto Repair Shop. There we looked at wrecked cars. We also visited the Honda dealership to take a look at some Hybrid vehicles.
We ended the day swapping stories with Bat. B.
Day 72 - We started the day in the resource building for dress out drills. With both Bat. A & B combined, Lieutenant had folks running around. For the first round, Bat. A had to get dressed and walk over to one side of the building. For Round Two, Bat. B had to move. Round Three, had us all going outside in front of the building, and the final round had Bat. A getting dressed quickly and then walking across the drill ground to the other side of the drill tower, while Bat. B had to get dressed and walk outside the door....Bat A still won.
After Dress outs, we had a tough test on extrication. We then spent the rest of the morning discussing elevators and after lunch, we took a look at an elevator system at the local college.
We ended the day with a quick run and a few pull-ups. I'm up to seven. Better than the two I could barely do at the beginning of the academy.
Tomorrow is an open day....
My partner and I were Bat. Leaders for the day, and before we could get started we had to gather some equipment (dummies, backboards, air cylinders, etc). We got lucky, and snuck into the Resource Building while the door was up. We gathered all our materials and our gear and staged ourselves in the classroom. After a short video on Air Bag and new vehicle safety features we got started.
Bat. B headed off on a morning field trip, while Bat. divided into three groups. Around ten, groups 1 and 3 were put into service. For the next hour and ten minutes, we sat in the class room talking to Lieutenant. Finally we were dispatched to a hit and run. Away we headed to the pit....
Let me set the scene...three squad trucks are facing a wrecked blue car. Surrounding the car are 6 firefighters more or less yelling at us. Our groups leader did his walk around, and put us to work. I gathered all the hydraulic equipment, while the others started to crib. As I hooked up the tubes, a firefighter came up, asked me if I liked my eyesight, and then slammed down my face shield. My bad....but kind of appropriate. To make a long story short, we rescued both victims in 26 minutes, while removing both doors and the roof. For the next 20 or so minutes, Squad 1 critiqued our work. While it was rough at times, their assessment was informative.
We then broke for lunch....Krystals never tasted better.....
After lunch we headed over to a local Auto Repair Shop. There we looked at wrecked cars. We also visited the Honda dealership to take a look at some Hybrid vehicles.
We ended the day swapping stories with Bat. B.
Day 72 - We started the day in the resource building for dress out drills. With both Bat. A & B combined, Lieutenant had folks running around. For the first round, Bat. A had to get dressed and walk over to one side of the building. For Round Two, Bat. B had to move. Round Three, had us all going outside in front of the building, and the final round had Bat. A getting dressed quickly and then walking across the drill ground to the other side of the drill tower, while Bat. B had to get dressed and walk outside the door....Bat A still won.
After Dress outs, we had a tough test on extrication. We then spent the rest of the morning discussing elevators and after lunch, we took a look at an elevator system at the local college.
We ended the day with a quick run and a few pull-ups. I'm up to seven. Better than the two I could barely do at the beginning of the academy.
Tomorrow is an open day....
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Day 70: The Big Guns....
Today we started the day with a visit from the Chief of the Department. He showed us some well used turnout gear and a few photos. It was very interesting and very eye opening.
We then viewed a few slides about Hydraulic tools. After that, we headed out to the drill ground and ran through a few stations.
1st station had us cutting with Reciprocating saws and working with a come-along. At the 2nd station, we stabilized a vehicle using air bags and cribbing. At the 3rd station we played with the three common hydraulic tools (the spreaders, clippers, and the ram).
The time was 12:30, so we broke for lunch.
After lunch, we headed back out to the drill ground. This time for five stations.
1: Hydraulic cutting (doors, frames, etc.)
2: Rolling back the dash using hydraulic tools
3: Pulling the steering column back using a come along
4: Operating an Air Chisel
5: Setting up air bags
It was a very fun and educational day. Tomorrow we put our skills to the test. It should be a good time.
We then viewed a few slides about Hydraulic tools. After that, we headed out to the drill ground and ran through a few stations.
1st station had us cutting with Reciprocating saws and working with a come-along. At the 2nd station, we stabilized a vehicle using air bags and cribbing. At the 3rd station we played with the three common hydraulic tools (the spreaders, clippers, and the ram).
The time was 12:30, so we broke for lunch.
After lunch, we headed back out to the drill ground. This time for five stations.
1: Hydraulic cutting (doors, frames, etc.)
2: Rolling back the dash using hydraulic tools
3: Pulling the steering column back using a come along
4: Operating an Air Chisel
5: Setting up air bags
It was a very fun and educational day. Tomorrow we put our skills to the test. It should be a good time.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Day 69: Creating a Scrapheap
It was Wednesday, so we started our day with dress outs. One little twist was added. We had to surrender half of the gym. Due to a class, all thirty of us were crammed on one side. I somehow ended up in the dead center of Bat. B. No worries, even amongst strangers, we still managed to pick up two wins. Because of the class, we were kicked out of the gym.
After a little break, we headed outside to prepare for our day of extrication. We loaded up our two squad trucks (with wood and cribbing) and headed out to the drill ground. There we flipped two cars...one on its side and the other on its roof. We spent the rest of the day practicing our stabilization skills. We also got to disassemble the vehicles using hand tools and the group I was in got to use a reciprocating saw to cut a trunk in half.
A fun day...tomorrow we bring out the big guns and really start cutting up some vehicles....
After a little break, we headed outside to prepare for our day of extrication. We loaded up our two squad trucks (with wood and cribbing) and headed out to the drill ground. There we flipped two cars...one on its side and the other on its roof. We spent the rest of the day practicing our stabilization skills. We also got to disassemble the vehicles using hand tools and the group I was in got to use a reciprocating saw to cut a trunk in half.
A fun day...tomorrow we bring out the big guns and really start cutting up some vehicles....
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Day 67 & 68: Extrication Begins
Day 67: We started the day with Dress Outs...The losers had to battle the weather and head out for a few laps around the drill grounds. The drill required us to get dressed as fast as possible and then head to the opposite baseline. Bat. A won all three attempts. We did have a two minute timed drill and we all passed.
We then took our 25 question Hazmat Exam. Once again, my study guide proved helpful, and I got another 100.
The rest of the day was spent in the classroom having instruction on Extrication...well kinda of. All we really covered was Extrication History...oh and we read one chapter in our extrication book...and then had a quiz. Things were back to normal, 10 minute breaks, and hour lunch and then our favorite....PT...
A very strange PT....One of our fellow cadets had to run, while the rest of us did our leg lifts. We all then did our regular sets...but very quickly. I'll be honest, it was a little tough. We finished up stretching while that same cadet did his leg lifts. We all went around and timed his leg lifts.
We were sent home tired, sweaty, and ready for the weekend...but it was only Monday..
Day 68: Another day, and another day of Extrication. Today we had a guest speaker from the LifeForce. They are the local Emergency Airlift agency. Our goal was to learn how to prepare a Landing Zone for the helicopters. After he did his presentation (which was done very well) we had a few lecture slides. At 11:30 we were excused for an hour and half lunch. Most of us headed to Ci Ci's pizza.
After lunch, half of the class headed over to Erlanger to look at the Helicopter hanger. The rest of us waited for them to get back. Because LifeForce had to make a call, neither group got to see the hanger. Our group didn't even get to leave the training center.
The rest of the day we discussed stabilization and the use of cribbing. We were then excused for PT.
It was a Ralph day and we had two exercises:
1: Complete 1 squat thrust with a jump, pick up a 2 1/2 inch hose and run it full court and back. Then complete 2 squat thrusts with a jump and run the hose full court...complete this pattern up to 10.
2: Make waves with a 1 3/4 inch hose by pulling it up and down 200 times in 4 sets of 50.
Not a bad work out, but a workout indeed.
Tomorrow? More extrication and the usual dress outs...
We then took our 25 question Hazmat Exam. Once again, my study guide proved helpful, and I got another 100.
The rest of the day was spent in the classroom having instruction on Extrication...well kinda of. All we really covered was Extrication History...oh and we read one chapter in our extrication book...and then had a quiz. Things were back to normal, 10 minute breaks, and hour lunch and then our favorite....PT...
A very strange PT....One of our fellow cadets had to run, while the rest of us did our leg lifts. We all then did our regular sets...but very quickly. I'll be honest, it was a little tough. We finished up stretching while that same cadet did his leg lifts. We all went around and timed his leg lifts.
We were sent home tired, sweaty, and ready for the weekend...but it was only Monday..
Day 68: Another day, and another day of Extrication. Today we had a guest speaker from the LifeForce. They are the local Emergency Airlift agency. Our goal was to learn how to prepare a Landing Zone for the helicopters. After he did his presentation (which was done very well) we had a few lecture slides. At 11:30 we were excused for an hour and half lunch. Most of us headed to Ci Ci's pizza.
After lunch, half of the class headed over to Erlanger to look at the Helicopter hanger. The rest of us waited for them to get back. Because LifeForce had to make a call, neither group got to see the hanger. Our group didn't even get to leave the training center.
The rest of the day we discussed stabilization and the use of cribbing. We were then excused for PT.
It was a Ralph day and we had two exercises:
1: Complete 1 squat thrust with a jump, pick up a 2 1/2 inch hose and run it full court and back. Then complete 2 squat thrusts with a jump and run the hose full court...complete this pattern up to 10.
2: Make waves with a 1 3/4 inch hose by pulling it up and down 200 times in 4 sets of 50.
Not a bad work out, but a workout indeed.
Tomorrow? More extrication and the usual dress outs...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Day 66: Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
Today is Friday...and you know what that means...Yes, lunch at Moe's and Snow.
Once again we were let out early because of the snow. Not nearly as much as last time, but I'll take what I can get.
We started the day with dress out drills. I had an incident with my air pack, so it cost us a trip through the tunnel, into the window on the the second floor, a climb up to the top, a decent down the scuttle hole, a journey to the bottom floor, and another quick trip through the tunnel...my bad. We also lost the very next drill (but thankfully not my fault).
Today was our last day of HazMat. Instead of having to sit in the classroom, we set up decontamination tents in the gym. Think of them as giant tents with showers (hot water included). We also helped stock our training trailer for our next HazMat journey.
Due to the weather, we were sent home at 3:30. I took that opportunity to get the wife a valentine gift....
Monday starts extrication...that's right...cutting things apart. Stay tuned.
Once again we were let out early because of the snow. Not nearly as much as last time, but I'll take what I can get.
We started the day with dress out drills. I had an incident with my air pack, so it cost us a trip through the tunnel, into the window on the the second floor, a climb up to the top, a decent down the scuttle hole, a journey to the bottom floor, and another quick trip through the tunnel...my bad. We also lost the very next drill (but thankfully not my fault).
Today was our last day of HazMat. Instead of having to sit in the classroom, we set up decontamination tents in the gym. Think of them as giant tents with showers (hot water included). We also helped stock our training trailer for our next HazMat journey.
Due to the weather, we were sent home at 3:30. I took that opportunity to get the wife a valentine gift....
Monday starts extrication...that's right...cutting things apart. Stay tuned.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Day 65: A 30 man pushup?
Today was a very simple day. We spent most of the day running Incident Command scenarios and taking breaks. For lunch I headed to Chick Fillet...I think I left hungrier than when I went in (if that's possible). We also watched a video on recognizing and understanding the signs of smoke.
PT was fun. We went up the tower holding weights. We stopped on every floor and did 10 push-ups on each floor. We then had to carry the weight back down.
We then went back inside and did a 30 man pushup (everyone in a huge line) and followed that up with a 30 man circle push up.
We ended our day with a itinerary for next week's extrication training. It should be a good week....
Tomorrow? Dress outs and Hands on Haz Mat....
PT was fun. We went up the tower holding weights. We stopped on every floor and did 10 push-ups on each floor. We then had to carry the weight back down.
We then went back inside and did a 30 man pushup (everyone in a huge line) and followed that up with a 30 man circle push up.
We ended our day with a itinerary for next week's extrication training. It should be a good week....
Tomorrow? Dress outs and Hands on Haz Mat....
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day 64: Well Surprise surprise....
The morning started with dress outs. And while I was never the last person to cross the line, Bat. found ourselves climbing the tower. And this was no stroll in the park...Through the window, up the stairs, down the scuttle hole,down the stairs, through the tunnel, and back in the gym.
After dress outs, we packed up our gear, put it away, and headed to class. After a little class clean up, we took a vote. Chief wanted us to elect our class President and Vice-President. Votes were cast, the ballots were counted, and yes, I came out as the VP. I don't really know what that means because the Pres. has to give a speech at Graduation. But I'm still honored that the class would elect little ole me....
The rest of the day was the same ole, same ole....Classroom until PT.
PT was not as difficult as I had expected it....now it wasn't easy, but not what I expected. We did increase our rep count from 35 to 45.....
Tomorrow, we rap up our book work, and get ready for hands on....
After dress outs, we packed up our gear, put it away, and headed to class. After a little class clean up, we took a vote. Chief wanted us to elect our class President and Vice-President. Votes were cast, the ballots were counted, and yes, I came out as the VP. I don't really know what that means because the Pres. has to give a speech at Graduation. But I'm still honored that the class would elect little ole me....
The rest of the day was the same ole, same ole....Classroom until PT.
PT was not as difficult as I had expected it....now it wasn't easy, but not what I expected. We did increase our rep count from 35 to 45.....
Tomorrow, we rap up our book work, and get ready for hands on....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day 63: One day closer.....
Today was more of the same....lecture, break, lecture, break, lecture, lunch, basketball / football, lecture, break, lecture, break, lecture, PT, Home. It really has become, as one of my classmates put it, death by powerpoint.
In PT today we did sets of tens. Our first exercise was a push up to a squat stance - 10 sets adding one to each set (so by the end your are doing 10 for a set). We then followed it up with a sit up to a roll-stance (again adding one till we reached 10).
We then did half court monkey walks (with 10 push ups) and half court seal walks (with 10 sit ups).
We ended the day with one of my favorites....the group push-up.
Tomorrow, dress out drills, Captn's PT, and more "death by powerpoint"...Not complaining though...I still love going to work!
In PT today we did sets of tens. Our first exercise was a push up to a squat stance - 10 sets adding one to each set (so by the end your are doing 10 for a set). We then followed it up with a sit up to a roll-stance (again adding one till we reached 10).
We then did half court monkey walks (with 10 push ups) and half court seal walks (with 10 sit ups).
We ended the day with one of my favorites....the group push-up.
Tomorrow, dress out drills, Captn's PT, and more "death by powerpoint"...Not complaining though...I still love going to work!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Day 62: A Clean Sweep.....
Seems like the Super Bowl caught up with us all....today was rough. Not in a PT sense, we didn't have it....Not as in Dress outs, Bat. A won all four events....And Not academically, our test was pretty simple....So what was rough? Trying to stay awake in class. I don't know if it was the temperature of the building or what, but we were all asleep today. Even the sugar wasn't keeping our eyelids open....
At lunch, the classroom turned into a bunkhouse. I walked in to the room to find it in almost complete darkness and several folks zonked out...
Hopefully tomorrow will be better....
At lunch, the classroom turned into a bunkhouse. I walked in to the room to find it in almost complete darkness and several folks zonked out...
Hopefully tomorrow will be better....
Friday, February 5, 2010
Day 61: Welcome Back
Today I returned to normal cadet life, my days in the EMT-5 were gone. Or so I thought. Halfway through Dress Out Drills, Lt. came in, took me and Bryant out, and informed us that we (more importantly me...Bryant is fine) still might be able to get out early. But that dreamed faded after lunch. I was told I was not going to be able to get out early, and that I would have to retake the EMT Basic Class.....No biggie...
The rest of the day...Hazmat in the classroom, Moe's for Friday lunch, and Captain's PT. 7 Suicides, push ups, and mtn. climbers...done in sets of 7, 11, and 5.
Monday...more hazmat, dressouts, and pt...
The rest of the day...Hazmat in the classroom, Moe's for Friday lunch, and Captain's PT. 7 Suicides, push ups, and mtn. climbers...done in sets of 7, 11, and 5.
Monday...more hazmat, dressouts, and pt...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 59 & 60 : A New Surprise
Day 59: We started out the day with a few dress outs. We even had to climb the tower and go through the tunnel. Kind of a nice way to start the morning. We continued the day with more sugar than any one human should intake. We ended the day with the EMT-5 practicing IV's and airway management. The three of us were ready for our practical. The rest of the class had an awful day of PT that lead to some after class discussion.
Day 60: The day began, and with it so did Hazmat. We finished up our 2nd class and took a test....a 100. It was understood that this may be our weekly test. If that's the case, no homework or studying over the weekend.
The rest of the day we had lecture. The whole day I was preparing for my practical at 3:00. Finally, it was time. We all gathered in Lt. office, and the first cadet picked his card. While he completed his task, we overheard the evaluator and Lt. talking. To make a long story short, because the other guy and I did not take our class in Tennessee, she could NOT let us take our practical. We were told that we had to go to our original states and take it. Not a problem...so I head to Missouri and take it again....wrong. So...after a few phone calls...it looks like I will be staying until the 20th of May. No biggie, I will still be a firefighter at the end of it all....
So tomorrow....back to class, and back to PT!!!!
Day 60: The day began, and with it so did Hazmat. We finished up our 2nd class and took a test....a 100. It was understood that this may be our weekly test. If that's the case, no homework or studying over the weekend.
The rest of the day we had lecture. The whole day I was preparing for my practical at 3:00. Finally, it was time. We all gathered in Lt. office, and the first cadet picked his card. While he completed his task, we overheard the evaluator and Lt. talking. To make a long story short, because the other guy and I did not take our class in Tennessee, she could NOT let us take our practical. We were told that we had to go to our original states and take it. Not a problem...so I head to Missouri and take it again....wrong. So...after a few phone calls...it looks like I will be staying until the 20th of May. No biggie, I will still be a firefighter at the end of it all....
So tomorrow....back to class, and back to PT!!!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 58 - Atomic Fireballs & Jolly Ranchers
With long classes and short nights, we all needed a pick me up to get through the day. We decided on candy. Nothing like a little sugar rush to wake you up.
We had another day of Hazmat class and we actually had PT with Ralph. My first in two weeks. With days of no PT and EMT preparation class, PT at school has been an after thought. I enjoyed it.
Thursday is my first hurdle in my EMT quest....tonight more studying.
We had another day of Hazmat class and we actually had PT with Ralph. My first in two weeks. With days of no PT and EMT preparation class, PT at school has been an after thought. I enjoyed it.
Thursday is my first hurdle in my EMT quest....tonight more studying.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 57 - All Hazmat...All the time
Doesn't seem that long ago that I was sore and exhausted every time I came home from school. For a second time in a row, I start a week with no PT. In fact, the last time I did PT at school was two weeks from tomorrow....We skipped it again today, because we are 3 days behind with HazMat.
We started our day with a test (95) and then jumped into classwork. We did take a short field trip to see the Hazmat resource trailers. Very Nice. We even have portable trailers that have heated showers in them.
We finished the day with more classwork and a test review...
Tomorrow? More of the same. Fortunately I kind of enjoy the topic....
We started our day with a test (95) and then jumped into classwork. We did take a short field trip to see the Hazmat resource trailers. Very Nice. We even have portable trailers that have heated showers in them.
We finished the day with more classwork and a test review...
Tomorrow? More of the same. Fortunately I kind of enjoy the topic....
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