Despite all the safety advantages, there are also safety disadvantages to consider with a thermal imager. Firefighters need to be aware of the safety concerns and regularly practice avoiding them.
Essentials
It is human nature to associate darkness with danger; conversely, we associate safety with the ability to see. A thermal imager gives you the ability to see in dense smoke, but it does not make the situation safe. Remember these key points:
2. The TI display is an “eye magnet.” It is natural to want to see, so it is common for people to stare at the display and ignore their other senses. Be sure to maintain your situational awareness.
3. The ability to see breeds complacency. It is common for users to navigate from “point A” to “point B,” rather than maintain a traditional right- or left-hand search pattern. You still need to stay on a wall, or have a rope line to follow out.
4. You can lose the use of your TI. You might drop it, lose it, or break it. The battery could die. If Mr. Murphy has his way, this will happen when you are at the greatest risk. You cannot rely on the TI alone to enter or, more importantly, exit a structure.
Practice Makes Perfect
For your TI to make your job safer, you have to use it safely. Practice the following techniques to ensure you and your company do not get complacent.
- Standardize your search pattern with the TI. Every scan should move from shoulder to shoulder, viewing the ceiling, walls and floor (high-middle-low). Since your TI does not have peripheral vision, this full shoulder-to-shoulder scan is the only way to ensure you view the entire scene. As you move through a structure, remember to scan behind you to ensure your primary exit is still secure.
- Generally, firefighters who stare at the TI as they navigate become disoriented when it is taken from them. After you scan, choose a waypoint and put your thermal imager away. Get the TI away from your face so that you are not tempted to stare at the display, then crawl to the next waypoint. You should use the TI as you would use a compass and map: as a reference tool to stay oriented and move in the correct direction. At the waypoint, re-scan the scene with your TI and then choose another waypoint. This type of drill reinforces situational awareness skills.
- Navigate with the TI, but follow your standard search protocols. You can use the TI to move faster and more safely, but do not forget to have a back-up plan. You should be able to continue a search or exit a structure without a TI. This means sticking with a right- or left-hand search pattern, or using a tagline.
Table Talk
While you cannot accomplish too much at the firehouse kitchen table, you can do several drills around the firehouse to practice safety with your TI. The bunkroom can be an ideal place to practice because you can do so in darkness. Practice all three of the key safety techniques. Scan shoulder to shoulder, high-middle-low, choose a waypoint and put your TI away, then move along the wall. Complete a full search pattern through the area. To emphasize the importance of traditional search techniques, at some point in the drill, take the TI away from the team. Ask them to continue the search or to evacuate.
This is an excellent way to drive home the use of proper techniques, as well as determine the best system for carrying your TI. Some sort of strap is the most common method, as it gives you the ability to remove the TI from your sight and free both hands to help advance a hoseline. However, you should try different carrying systems to find the one that best suits your operations. Normally, the manufacturer has several carrying options; however, you could find that a backboard strap or other system is more convenient.
Final Report
Your TI is an awesome tool. It gives you the ability to see dangerous conditions, as well as changing conditions, inside a smoke-filled structure. But that ability to “see” can foster over-confidence, as well as over-reliance on the tool. Remember that the TI does not change the environment. Practice solid search techniques regularly so that your TI adds to your safety level, rather than detracting from it.
For more tips on safety, as well as a deeper discussion on how to move through a structure, visit the Technology section of Firehouse.com.
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