Give me your tricks. Part 3

[CALFFBOU]

It has been a while since the "Tricks" postings. So I thought
I would start a round for the newer folks.

I have my list from the old "Part 2" at home, so stay tuned
for it.

-Bou

UPDATE-

I found my submitted tips from one ofthe old threads. Here they
are-

-Always start the chain saw BEFORE mounting the roof.
You will know it will start and its warmed up for the job.

-When mopping the entire fire station, do the restrooms LAST
so you dont mop those collected germs and hairs all over the
place. (Yes- use warm water and a mild soap)

-Keep the apparatus windows rolled UP while in quarters. Why?
Keeps the DUST and BUGS out of the cab. (Spiders like to do
inside and web the place up)

-Keep a fat marker pen or construction chaulk in your turnouts.
Good for search and rescue or patient status marking.

-Keep a flashlight in your turnout coat AND pocket. One might
go out and you might not be wearing both items at the same
time.

-Keep a penny in your vehicle's glove compartment to measure
the tire tread. If Abe's head shows (2/32nds), then the tire
is O/S. (out of service)

-Turnout coat wet and needs to dry? run a long broom handle
through it and let the entire coat hang. This will let it
drip dry faster. (If you dont have an indutrial dryer)

-Traffic Collision (T/C) aka MVA to the East coasters- Fuel
leaking from a line? If you cant crimp it, stick a golf tee
in it. (I carry one in my turnout coat)

-Vehicle fire- Cant get that damn hood to open and its
flaming under there? Take that axe, and chop it right in the
center. THEN turn it 90 degrees to make a nice little hole
for your nozzle to stick in.

-Driving Code 3? Remember to keep that "chin up"! Why?
Keeps you looking forward and farther to project traffic
movement and project your next move.

Hope those help. I will post more as I remember them...Bou

[erics99]

Originally posted by CALFFBOU
It has been a while since the "Tricks" postings. So I thought
I would start around for the newer folks.

I have my list from part 2 at home, so stay tuned for it.

-Bou


PS- Who will be the first to recommend the 'ol nails in the
coat/helmet trick?

Yes the nails in the band of your leather helmet will work nicely. Great for chocking multiple doors, although wood chocks would be my first choice if available.

[CALFFBOU]

When it comes to wedging doors, I do NOT recommend using
your hand tools. (axe, hux bar, haligan tool, etc) I saw a
large sized FD do that once at the base of the door. I have
no idea what they were going to use when they reached the
fire floor and needed tools for forced entry.

Anyways, I love the wedge its from the fire store. Here is
your link- http://www.thefirestore.com/store/category.cfm?cID=456

[mglax13]

I'm newer to fire fighting and I was just curious now that it was mentioned, what exactly do you do witht he nails in the helmet band. I see you said to chock a door. How exactly?

[gunstar34]

Originally posted by mglax13
I'm newer to fire fighting and I was just curious now that it was mentioned, what exactly do you do witht he nails in the helmet band. I see you said to chock a door. How exactly?

You open the door, and take you nail, (slightly bent nail) and you put the point end of the nail into the narrow part of the door were you would normally chock a door, then to firm the nail in there, you pull the door close some so the nail gets pushed between the door and the jamb. now the door wont close behind you. there small and light and easy to carry many in a pocket.

[bolivas203]

Originally posted by gunstar34


You open the door, and take you nail, (slightly bent nail) and you put the point end of the nail into the narrow part of the door were you would normally chock a door, then to firm the nail in there, you pull the door close some so the nail gets pushed between the door and the jamb. now the door wont close behind you. there small and light and easy to carry many in a pocket.

I am curious as to why you use a "slightly bent nail"?

I use a 2 1/2" Masonry nail to do the same. I use this method as a back up if I run out of wooden door chocks.

You open the door and hold the nail between the door and the jamb and pull the door closed a bit and the nail takes a bite into the jamb and prevents the door from closing on you. I use the masonry nails as they are a bit tougher and will penetrate metal doors/jambs.

[blancety]

Originally posted by bolivas203



I am curious as to why you use a "slightly bent nail"?

I use a 2 1/2" Masonry nail to do the same. I use this method as a back up if I run out of wooden door chocks.

You open the door and hold the nail between the door and the jamb and pull the door closed a bit and the nail takes a bite into the jamb and prevents the door from closing on you. I use the masonry nails as they are a bit tougher and will penetrate metal doors/jambs.

Same here bro...never had a problem.

[HeavyRescueTech]

I know this was already brought up in parts 1 and 2, I love my rubber strap on my helmet. I keep it under my helmet shield on the front of my helmet.

I keep a pair of trauma shears (on permanent loan from the squad ) and a wooden door chock up there. I have since added a garrity life light to both my department issue leather and my personal helmet as a backup light, and from the one fire i've used them in, they are worth it. Haven't put nails on my helmet yet, still aren't convince they can take the place of a wooden door chock. The trauma sheers are great for MVCs when you need something to cut a seatbelt or expose a trauma patient for assessment.

I also keep a pair of round-tipped cabled cutters in my bunnker pants, on the off chance (and I pray I never need them) that I get caught up in any wires while doing interior operations in a fire.

[ullrichk]

Originally posted by CALFFBOU

Anyways, I love the wedge its from the fire store. Here is
your link- http://www.thefirestore.com/store/category.cfm?cID=456

I've always got one Firestore wedge in my pocket and a handful of wooden ones. I wind up handing many wooden ones out to other firefighters who don't carry anything(!). The Firestore wedges are a bit too expensive to give away, but they work well in a variety of situations. Mark 'em or lose 'em!

[CALFFBOU]

One thing I forgot about wedges. I love my "wedge it" but
I also have some wooden ones in my coat as well. I always
saved them for an actived sprinkler head.

Well the time finally came and I jammed both of those
suckers in there and it worked perfect. And they are
cheap to get too.

NOTE- Two wedges would slide right where the red line is
in the photo below.

[gunstar34]

Originally posted by ullrichk


I've always got one Firestore wedge in my pocket and a handful of wooden ones. I wind up handing many wooden ones out to other firefighters who don't carry anything(!). The Firestore wedges are a bit too expensive to give away, but they work well in a variety of situations. Mark 'em or lose 'em!

For half the price go get a 2x4 and cut some wooden wedges, I used to have firestore wedges, but the way i go through them, it wasent worth replacing them every week. Also, carry many wedges, buildings have more then one door.

[CALFFBOU]

gunstar34- As Ihave stated, I use both. the nice plastic one
is great for doors and I make sure I always get it back.

But, I love the wooden wedges too. They are nice and cheap
and I use them for poped sprinkler heads.

Having the plastic one is great and only cost $8.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Keep a roll of cloth medical tape and a pen in your turnouts. If you get re-routed to another call, you can take a piece of the tape, stick to the thigh area of your bunker pants and write down the address you are being sent to instead of asking Fire Alarm 2 or three times.

It's also great for writing down information at any incident!

[fdsq10]

We have several Schools, and some business that the front entrance doors are the panic release (push) style from the inside. The alarm panels are located away from the front entrance making it imposible to see what area is activated. After hours school security is dispatched to let us inside, however they are usually 15-20 in arriving. I use a tool from our vehicle lock out kit place it between the space of the two doors, and pull back to release the panic bar,works great. School security always questions as to how we got in, I tell him TRICK'S OF THE TRADE. Stay Safe.

[R1SAlum]

We have thousands of rowhouses with skylights over the stairwells. Our roof team guys always tap a few times on the side of it to warn the Engine advancing the line up the stairs that there will be a shower of glass coming soon.

I've seen this trick a few times on doors that open inward... if forcible entry is having problems getting in, the 2 Truck guys getting ready to throw the 30' ground ladder can make waste of the door, wood or steel, by aggresively ramming it with heel end of the ladder. It won't work with iron security bars in the way though since these doors will swing outward.

Advancing charged 2 1/2" is easier on diminshing grip strength by using a piece of webbing tied into a loop. Take a girth hitch and throw into over your shoulder or if your crawling down a hallway it's easier to pull on the webbing instead of the hose.

[FlyingKiwi]

Traffic Collision (T/C) aka MVA to the East coasters- Fuel
leaking from a line? If you cant crimp it, stick a golf tee
in it. (I carry one in my turnout coat)

A piece of soap rubbed over the spot will do the same, the petrol hardens the soap.

[DeputyChiefGonzo]

Originally posted by FlyingKiwi
Traffic Collision (T/C) aka MVA to the East coasters- Fuel
leaking from a line? If you cant crimp it, stick a golf tee
in it. (I carry one in my turnout coat)

A piece of soap rubbed over the spot will do the same, the petrol hardens the soap.

We carry wax toilet bowl sealing rings on the rigs for the same purpose. If they can stand up to the abuse of firefighter defacation and micturation, they can surely plug up a leak or two!

[sbfdco1]

-Vehicle fire- Cant get that damn hood to open ...

You can also drive the pike, adz end of the Halligan, into the corner of teh hood and pry back. If the hood doesn't fold right away, you can crease the corner w/the back end of the axe. You do not need to take a Paul Bunyan swing either, you don't want to pierce the battery. This has proven to be very effective when the hood cable is burned away and you need to get some water in teh engine compartment.


I keep a piece of webbing tucked/folded neatly under the velco knee pad, (right knee) w/a 4" loop hanging out off to the side. The loop is out of the way and it is easily accessible. The folded webbing is tuck at the bottom of the pad and doesn't get in the way when crawling.

[CALFFBOU]

All of thricks are gone? Guess I should have titled this one-
"Give me your leather tricks" instead?

[gunstar34]

Originally posted by sbfdco1


You can also drive the pike, adz end of the Halligan, into the corner of teh hood and pry back. If the hood doesn't fold right away, you can crease the corner w/the back end of the axe. You do not need to take a Paul Bunyan swing either, you don't want to pierce the battery. This has proven to be very effective when the hood cable is burned away and you need to get some water in teh engine compartment.

What i like to do to get to the battery, take the grill out with the halligan, and find the cable-put the cable between the forks of the halligan and twist till the hood pops (thats if you cant open from int. of the car.)