Location: SW FL Public Service Academy

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Performance Assessment

Location: SW FL Public Service Academy

4312 Michigan Ave

(East side of campus at burn building)

Dates: Annually

Time: 1 Hour (A crew size of 4 can complete the drill in under60 minutes)

Attire: Full PPE with SCBA

Objectives:

Performing this drill will give participants two valuable numbers to keep in mind:

•Their individual estimated SCBAoperating time: This is equivalent to the total time the participant is able to perform the course tasks in an acceptably safe and coordinated manner (put simply, the total endurance drill time). Example: A participant’s low air alarm may sound after 6 minutes on the course, the participant now knows approximately how long an SCBA bottle will last them during high-impact fire ground operations—assuming no changes in the SCBA bottle size or in the participant’s physical condition.

•Their estimated air consumption rate: This is the rate at which the participant consumes the supplied air throughout the operation, and presumably will do so on the fire ground. To calculate this, take the starting pressure minus the ending pressure and divide it by the SCBA operating time. Example: Starting pressure 4,500psi – ending pressure 1,125psi/SCBA operating time of 6:00 = air consumption rate of 562 psi/minute. This figure can then be used to estimate safe operating times for certain on-air tasks (e.g., interior attack) on the fire ground.

Rehab:

•Participants will do pre-evolution vitals in rehab sector

•Once evolution is complete participant will complete post evolution vitals in rehab

•Any participant having problems during evolutions must report to rehab

•There will be a rehab officer with an EMS crew assigned to assist.

•Crews should bring drinks and snacks for themselves.

Preparation:

•Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate!!!

•Practice the evolutions

•Have a current workout plan

•Dynamic stretching at the station before the evolution

Firefighting is an endurance sport, and like a professional athlete, you need to train. The amount of physical and mental training you put forth with SCBA endurance drills will most assuredly be awarded with increased working capacity while on air, a safer reserve when a nightmare scenario (mayday) occurs and a healthier life when not wearing your SCBA.

Description:

1. Each member shall have one SCBA filled to capacity and shall be in full PPE.
2. Participants are medically screened prior to the evolution (including blood pressure & pulse) pre/post drill.
3. Each participant is then instructed to begin the course at a comfortable pace—no running is permitted.
4. Participants are instructed to complete all or as many tasks/stations as possible without stopping. Partially completed stations cannot be counted.
5. Participants continue this process until their low air alarm activates or all tasks are complete, at which point the time is documented. If the low air alarm activates prior to completing all the tasks, the participant may remove their mask and then continue the drill off of air.

1. Participants will continue through the course until they reach total exhaustion or they complete the course—at which point their total operating time is documented.

The evolutions are designed in a series to simulate actual fire ground tasks. At every station, other participants should be supporting and monitoring the activity and assisting wherever necessary. Due to the natural competitiveness of firefighters, the five events will likely become a race. In lieu of “racing” for time, encourage the participants to strive for the least amount of air consumed throughout the evolution. Additionally, do not allow participants to “work past their bell.” Allowing bad behavior during training will not only encourage it on the fire ground, it will guarantee it. Participants should remove their mask and finish the drill off of air once their low air alarm sounds if they have not already completed the drill.

Tasks:

Event 1: High-Rise Pack Carry
Firefighters should start at the bottom of stairs in a well-identified area with their hands on either side of a hose pack but not touching it. At the signal to begin the evolution, the participant picks up and shoulders the high-rise pack and carries it up to the top floor, where they drop the shoulder load on the landing in the designated area. Steps may be taken in multiples on the way up.
Event 2: Hose Hoist
From the top-floor balcony, standing in a designated area, the participant pulls a rope—in a hand-over-hand fashion—to hoist item up and over the balcony railing and place it on the floor in the designated area. The participant then picks up and shoulders the high-rise pack and proceeds down the stairs to the first floor and advances to a force machine. Safety issue: Participants should not stand on any part of the railing.
Event 3: Force Entry
The participant straddles the beam and uses a sledgehammer to drive the beam backward five feet. Pushing, raking or dragging the beam is not allowed and will result in disqualification. Only the face of the head of the hammer is allowed to strike the beam. After driving the beam approximately five feet, the participant places the head of the sledgehammer at the designated area next to the force machine before moving on to the next evolution.
Event 4: Hose Advance
The participant moves to a charged section of fire hose, picks up the nozzle and places it over their shoulder, then drags the hose approximately 100 feet until the nozzle passes a line marked by traffic cones. Once the nozzle passes the line, the firefighter opens the nozzle to show water, turns off the nozzle and places the hose and nozzle on the ground. If the nozzle is not shut before it touches the ground, the participant must go back and turn off the nozzle.
Event 5: Victim Rescue
Once at the victim drag evolution, the participant then drags the manikin (approximately 185 lbs.) approximately 100 feet until they cross the finish line. If the participant loses their grip and the manikin falls to the floor or the participant falls backward with the manikin, they are to reset and continue

SUMMARY

The fire service has long been identified as a hazardous occupation in which an average of 100 firefighters lose their lives each year. This program has been designed to provide a proactive approach to training firefighters to better understand their personal limitations in the use and operation of self-contained breathing apparatus in hopes of preventing the all too familiar trend of firefighter fatalities due to stress and/or overexertion on the modern fire ground.