_

_

INSTRUCT-O-GRAMTHE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDE

FOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR

VOLUME XI, ISSUE #12 LADDERS — ADVANCED OPERATIONS DECEMBER 1990

International Society of Fire Service Instructors • 30 Main Street, Ashland, MA 01721 • (508) 881-5800

LADDERS — ADVANCED OPERATIONSLESSON OVERVIEW

INSTRUCTOR TASK

To raise and use ladders for rescue; to bringvictims down ladders; to raise ladders for otheroperations; to work from ladders; and to properlyuse the life belt on ladders.

ESTIMATED TIME: 3 hours

INTRODUCTION

Many fireground operations may require the useof ladders for rescue, ventilation, forcible entry,etc. This requires proper placement of ladders forthe use intended, may require firefighters to workfrom ladders and, possibly, the use of the life belt.

OUTLINE

1. Spotting and raising ladders

2. Raising ladders for rescue

3. Working from ladders

4. Using life belt and leg lock

5. Bringing victims down ladders

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

I. NFPA Standard 1001, Firefighter I

A. 3-10.3 The firefighter shall define the uses ofthe life belt.

B. 3-12.6 The firefighter shall climb the full lengthof each type of ground and aerial ladder andbring an "injured person" down the ladders.

C. 3-12.7 The firefighter shall demonstrate thetechniques of working from ground and aerialladders with tools and appliances with andwithout the life belt.

The firefighter shall have knowledge of theproper placement of ladders against the build-ing for the intended use and as a member of ateam shall demonstrate such use. The fire-fighter shall know how to get conscious andunconscious victims down a ladder and how toproperly and safely work from a ladder duringvarying operations.

ISSN: 0739-4551

IOG '90— DECEMBER

LESSON OUTLINE

1. PURPOSE

It is the purpose of this lesson to familiarize thestudent with those ladder operations related torescue and working from ladders, both groundand aerial, if applicable. This will require properremoval from apparatus, spotting and raising forthe use intended and proper application of thelife belt and leg lock.

2. OUTLINE AND PERFORMANCE OBJEC-TIVES

A review of the Outline and Performance Objec-tives shows that this must be an operational ses-sion to prepare the student to function on thefireground. It is not to review the 25 or 26 partsof a ladder. Students involved should alreadyknow how to remove ladders from apparatus,carry ladders and spot ladders at a building.

Here the student must know how to raise andplace a ladder for specific operations. Thestudent must be taught how to get victims downladders in accordance with their size and condi-tion and with maximum safety forthefirefighter(s)involved and how to work from ladders.

3. GENERAL PROCEDURES

When raising a ladder for rescue, a somewhataltered procedure is necessary in order to havea smooth operation. In the standard (normal,usual) raise, the butt is spotted where it shouldbe when the ladder is placed to the building.However, this is not the case when the ladder isto be raised for rescue, that is, to get people outof windows or off balconies, porches, etc. Ifspotted as usual, these people may be able toget hold of the ladder being raised and foul upthe operation.

When raising the ladder under these circum-stances, place the butt of the ladder far enoughaway from the building to prevent these victimsfrom getting hold of the ladder. Then raise, pivot,extend as necessary, place the ladder to thebuilding and quickly pull in the butt to properposition.

This is especially important if you are by-passingpeople on the lower floors to get to those above.Firefighters engaged in these operations mustwatch the people carefully to be sure that any ofthosewhojumpfortheladderdo notfall on them.

DECEMBER^ tOG '90

Point out that in laddering for rescue, we willusually be getting those closest to the fire first.However, smoke conditions can sometimes putthose some distance from the fire in greaterjeopardy. The size up will indicate the job to bedone first. When placing a ladder for rescue at awindow, the top rung should be at, or just over,the sill.

This will make it easier when handling a victimat the window in attempting to get him/her onthe ladder. If laddering a balcony, porch orroof, get three or four rungs over the railing toprovide a good handhold for victims and fire-fighters if the ladder and height will permit thisaction.

When ladders are raised for rescue, victimsinside the building who are physically able todo so may be right out on the ladder as it isplaced to the building. In other cases it may benecessary to go in and get victims and assistor carry them down the ladders.

Use the various ladders available to carry outthis action of getting victims (both consciousand unconscious) down ladders, aerials in-cluded.

In setting up to have the students work fromladders, try to develop a usual situation, suchas venting from a ladder. Have the studentsuse both the leg lock and life belt and stressthat the leg lock is NEVER used on any aerialdevice, only the life belt. When the leg lock isused, be sure it is taken on the side oppositeto the work.

IOG '90— DECEMBER

If working from the ladder to take out a windowfor ventilation, point out that if wind is a factor, thefirefighter must be upwind and should be belowthe window, reaching with a pike pole to knockthe window in. In this way the firefighter will beprotected from the smoke and gases which mayignite, greatly expand and rise up rapidly.

Other work from ladders should include somehose advancement, opening up outside walls orsoffits for fire attack, overhaul, etc.

Properly securing ladders by having firefightersbutt the ladder or tying them in must be workedinto these operations.

When using an aerial device for rescue, a some-what similar approach as used with ground lad-ders is required. The usual operation of raise,turn, adjust elevation and then extend to thetarget must not be used. Instead, the device mustbe extended a bit high so that it is not coming upto, or at, the victims. The last movement must bedown to them. In this way they are less apt tojump for the ladder or tower bucket. Still, firefight-ers in the bucket or climbing the ladder must lookout for those who might fall or jump on them.

Stress to the students that they must look out forthemselves and other firefighters when peopleare coming out of the building onto ladders. Theywill be excited and may jump and miss, or fall. Ifthis should happen, firefighters on the laddershould pull in as close to the rungs as possible,getting as much as they can of themselves underthe helmet. In this way, even though struck by avictim, the firefighter will most likely stay on theladder.

Being alert to the victims coming out of the build-ing is especially necessary when the emergencyor hotel raise is used. This is done with a 40- to50- foot pole (Bangor) ladder when the ladder isused to get people out of several floors at once.In this operation the ladder is extended in linewith windows, balconies, or porches, and the butt

D

is placed about four feet from the buildingwall, outer balcony, or porch line. Thisallows victims near the top to use the out-side of the ladder, and those on the lowerfloors, the inside of the ladder to climb down.The ladder is pinned to the building by thosefirefighters on the poles.

Though firefighters may be used on the sideof the ladder at the butt, no firefightersshould be between the ladder and the build-ing. If firefighters are at the butt, they mustwatch exiting victims carefully.

Ladders may be used for rescue by bridgingbetween buildings from window to window,roof to roof, or balcony to balcony. Eitherstraight or extension ladders may be usedaccording to the space between the struc-tures. Bridging may also be used on thesame building from balcony to balcony, orporch to porch, either from one level toanother, or horizontally across the face ofthe building.

A more simple application of bridging is thatof using two ladders to get over a fence. Theheavier ladder is placed at the fence, thelighter ladder (if available) is passed over.Once it is set, the ladders may be tiedtogether with a rope hose tool.

In accordance with the facilities you areusing, try to set up as realistic a situation aspossible for this training.

When through, check all ladders used andclean as required.

DECEMBER— IOG '90

SUGGESTED LESSON PLAN

INSTRUCTOR NOTES

INSTRUCTOR REFERENCES:

IFSTA — Essentials of Fire fighting

Truck Company Fireground Operations— Richman, Chapter 8, "AerialOperations"; Chapter 9, "Ground Ladders"

Firefighting Principles and Practices — Clark

Reference Photography Rick Brady

i, GROUND LADDER RESCUE

A. Placing Ladder

1. Remove from apparatus

2. Carry and spot for rescue

3. Raise and place ladder to building

4. Pull butt to proper position

5. Look out for jumpers

6. Window — top rung at, or just over, sill

7. Balcony - porch - roof — three or four rungs over railing, eave, orparapet

B. Ladder Rescue

1. Assisting Conscious Victim

a. watch out for jumpers and those who may fall

IOG'90— DECEMBER

INSTRUCTOR NOTES b. firefighters inside, if possible

c. support victim in case of slipping or passing out

d. reassure victim

2. Handling Unconscious Victim

a. placed on ladder same way as conscious victim

b. body supported by firefighter's knee

c. place victim's feet outside of beams

3. Unconscious Victim (variation)

a. victim faces rescuer

b. lessens chance of victim's limbs catching in rungs

4. Unconscious Victim (horizontal)

a. victim lifted out to firefighter(s) on ladder

b. victim supported at crotch and chest

5. Heavy Victim

a. use two ladders side by side

b. two firefighters, one on each ladder

c. one supports upper torso, other lower body

6. Small Adults and Children

a. cradle victims across firefighter's arms

LADDER SAFETY

A. Working From Ladders

1. Life/Safety Belt

a. Life belt, safety belt, strap, or rope hose toolplaced snugly around waist prior to climbing

b. At desired position, hook is placed over rung or straparound ladder and clipped to ring, depending upon type

DECEMBER— IOG '90

INSTRUCTOR NOTES2. Leg Lock

a. taken on side opposite work

b. never on aerial device

B. Safety Review

1. Check for proper ladder position away from victims

2. Butt ladder from back side except on emergency raise

3. Watch for jumpers or falling victims

4. Lock in when working; do not overload ladder

•5. Personnel in full protective gear

6. Choose proper ladder, watch for wires and other obstacles

7. Inspect ladders after use — clean

About the Author

Hal Richman is a retired fire chief with over 30 years in the fire service. He is the

past president of ISFSI, the author of two books on firefighting, and a speaker at

major national conferences. He has conducted operational seminars for officers,

both in the U.S. and overseas. Hal has also performed fire department evaluations

for city governments, and has been head of the Fire Science Program for five years.

Methods and techniques provided in the Instruct-O-Gram are suggested by the

author. There are many other methods and techniques which are equally

successful and used in many municipalities throughout the world. The new

Instruct-O-Gram is aimed at developing sound training procedures for the recruit

level. These procedures may differ from policy which is established by the chief of

the department and commonly posted as the "standard ooperating procedure"

(SOP). It is suggested that any difference in procedures be brought to the attention

of the chief of the department

©International Society of Fire Service Instructors

TRAINING NOTICETIME: .

DATE:

LOCATION:

NOTES:

ADVANCED OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

STUDENT TASK

To raise and use ladders for rescue; to bringvictims down ladders; to raise ladders for otheroperations; to work from ladders; and to properlyuse the life belt on ladders.

ESTIMATED TIME: 3 hours

INTRODUCTION

Many firegound operations may require the useof ladders for rescue, ventilation, forcible entry,etc. This requires proper placement of laddersfor the use intended, may require firefighters towork from ladders and, possibly, the use of thelife belt.

OUTLINE

1. Spotting and raising ladders2. Raising ladders for rescue3. Working from ladders4. Using life belt and leg lock5. Bringing victims down ladders

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

I. NFPA Standard 1001, Firefighter I

A. 3-10.3 The firefighter shall define theuses of the life belt.

B. 3-12.6 The firefighter shall climb the fulllength of each type of ground and aerialladder and bring an "injured person" downthe ladders.

C. 3-12.7 The firefighter shall demonstratethe techniques of working from ground and

aerial ladders with tools and applianceswith and without the life belt.

The firefighter shall have knowledge of the properplacement of ladders against the building for theintended use and as a member of a team shalldemonstrate such use. The firefighter shallknow how to get conscious and unconsciousvictims down a ladder and how to properly andsafely work from a ladder during varying opera-tions.

REVIEW

1. Review SOP's and orders related to ladder-ing for rescue.Fire Department Material

2. Review SOP's and orders related to workingfrom ladders.Fire Department Material

3. Review life belts or similar devices.Fire Department Equipment