Funding是越来越难获得,和火departments are forced to stretch their precious dollars to the limit each year. Adding to this conundrum is the fact that, far too often, thefirefighter trainingbudget is the first line item to be reduced or cut, but with a little footwork, some stick-to-itiveness, and an innovative approach to obtainingtraining propconstruction materials, even the smallest budgets can reap outstanding rewards.
Lumber Rehab
Most communities have at least one large, franchised home improvement store within driving distance or a local mom-and-pop hardware store with a lumberyard. All these places have “cull piles” of discarded lumber that is either warped, damaged, or otherwise unsellable. Here you can find many usable pieces; much if not all the lumber in these piles is free for the asking. This lumber is periodically cut into small pieces and discarded in a dumpster, eventually ending up in a landfill instead of in a fire department training prop.
RELATED FIREFIGHTER TRAINING
- REALISTIC TRAINING PROPS THAT FIT YOUR BUDGET
- Firefighter Training Prop: Modular SCBA Maze
- How to Build and Use a Fire Attack Prop
- Training Drill: Less-Expensive Metal Cutting Props
You can make warped lumber usable in a number of ways. Often, only one end is the issue; not the entire piece. Cutting off the unusable end will yield a perfectly serviceable piece of lumber. If the issue is in the middle, some water and some weight will remove the warp completely. Saturate the warped piece of lumber thoroughly and then place it on a flat surface. Next, place some weight along the length of the lumber. Other similarly dimensioned lumber, concrete blocks, bricks, and brick pavers are just some of the items you can use for the weights. Allow the piece to dry over several days andvoilà, you will magically have a straight piece of lumber in place of a warped one.
Charitable Donations
Large commercial home improvement stores’ annual budgets include sizable charitable donations. Timing is the key to obtaining items through the charitable donation process. Most businesses operate according to a fiscal year (July 1-June 30) vs. a calendar year (January 1-December 31). Determine how the business you plan to approach operates its budget, and get your donation requests in as early as possible.
当您获取这些物品时，无论它们是什么或如何收到它们，都会在您拾取它们并在部门的社交媒体网站上显示它们的照片。这项为业务的免费广告值得在黄金中重视，并向社区展示了企业对消防部门的欣赏程度以及消防部门对业务的欣赏程度。将院子标志放在训练场上，显示业务名称，徽标和联系信息；为使用的道具拍摄很多照片。这些标志将不可避免地在您发布的图片中 - 更加免费和持续的广告。
Wood Trusses
If a company in or near your first-due area manufactures wood trusses, get to know the management of that enterprise. From time to time, these manufacturers have trusses they can’t use because of an error in ordering. Instead of letting these trusses be destroyed, your department can use them as the first building blocks of a roof ventilation prop. They are also sometimes damaged during delivery to the job site; the contractor may write them off as unusable. The damage may be a dislodged gusset plate, broken finger joints, or a cracked component. These are all easy fixes, and you can use the trusses as the basis for a peaked-roof ventilation prop. If the truss is completely unusable, you may salvage some of the individual components for dimensional lumber. Take pictures, and be sure to get the company some free advertising (photos 1-2). Note: I am not advocating operating on a lightweight wood truss roof during a fire involving the roof structure; this prop is simply used for training.
(1)Photos by author.
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Construction Dumpsters
Speaking of job sites, construction dumpsters harbor a treasure trove of usable items for your training needs. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of feet of dimensional lumber that can be used to build training props. Partial and full sheets of drywall, some barely damaged, are perfect for demonstrating and practicing wall-breaching techniques. Wooden pallets by the score make great props to hone chain and rotary saw cutting skills. They can also be joined together in numerous ways to construct obstacle and confidence courses.
MORE FIREFIGHTER TRAINING PROPS
- Drill: Inexpensive VES Prop
- Chalk and PVC: A Creative Prop for Vertical Ventilation
- 通风道具
- USING PROPS, SIMULATORS, AND MOCKUPS FOR MORE REALISTIC TRAINING
Various types of metals are often found in these dumpsters; they make great props for practicing rotary saw cutting techniques and torch operations. Pieces of corrugated metal work well to mimic roll-up and garage doors. Thicker pieces of metal such as rebar and I-beams provide excellent challenges even to the best torch operators.
Always be sure to speak with the project manager about your needs. Don’t go “dumpster diving” in the middle of the night. Most companies will welcome you removing items from their dumpsters; it reduces the contents’ weight and thus reduces the disposal fees. It’s truly a rare win-win situation you hear so much about but rarely ever experience. Of course, get pictures (photos 3-4)!
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Public Works Department
Your local public works department also has a number of items you may be able to acquire at no cost to bolster your training program. In addition to lumber, they may have large pieces of concrete that allow rotary saw cutting practice or can be used in developing a breaching/breaking training station. Cast iron pipe is also good for saw training. A variety of large pipe (concrete and high-strength corrugated plastic) makes excellent props for reduced-profile self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) maneuvers and obstacle/confidence course construction (photos 5-7).
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Powersports retailers (motorcycles, ATVs, boat motors) traditionally have large amounts of metal that were used in shipping their products. These metals are of varying gauge and offer a multitude of training opportunities for circular saws, reciprocating saws, and torch operations (photo 8).
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通常，您甚至不需要离开消防部门的四堵墙来寻找出色的培训道具并提供高质量的培训。最近，在互联网上发布了培训演变，该培训仅使用个人防护设备（SCBA）和14英尺的屋顶梯子。将梯子放在设备舱地板上，水平定向在梁上，并在两端稳定。该演习由SCBA拆卸技术组成，其中消防员在零可见性条件下接近梯子，从他的背部移开SCBA（但没有移开面部片），将瓶子穿过两个梯级，然后继续进行。爬行同一区域。它比其他人更适合某些人，但是即使穿上个人保护设备，您也会惊讶于适合您的事情。该演习结束时，在仍在零可视性条件下正确重新构成SCBA。
只需要一种基本要素才能制定有限资金成功的培训计划，即精神。简单的问题解决是所有消防部门每天都在做的一件事。我们收到一个寻求帮助的电话，并采取行动，使人们在问题上有不同背景和经验，以使其消失。它确实消失了，或者至少变得不那么问题，因为每个人都专注于一个共同的目标，并使用人类的创造力来实现它。以相同的方式为您的培训道具获取培训道具和材料的方法。每个人都认识一个认识某人的人。不要让有限的资金绳肌训练。您的努力将以有效，高效，训练有素且有能力的消防力量付出红利。188金博网网址多少
JAMES L. JESTERis a volunteer assistant chief with the Ocean City (MD) Fire Department and a career assistant chief with the Salisbury (MD) Fire Department, where he is a special operations team leader. He is an instructor for the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, specializing in firefighter safety and survival and rescue technician. Jester has lectured extensively for the Maryland State Firemen’s Association.
James L. Jester will present “20 Training Props/Drills on a Shoestring Budget” at FDIC International in Indianapolis, Indiana, on Friday, April 29, 2022, 10:30 a.m-12:15 p.m.
