BY ROBERT MORAN
Conducting a safe and effective primary search is undoubtedly one of the most dangerous fireground operations you will be asked to carry out during your firefighting career. The thought of being on the floor above a fire without the protection of a handline, searching through areas with which you are not familiar in dense smoke and high heat, is a huge challenge even to the most seasoned and experienced veteran firefighter. An abundant number of methods and techniques on how to complete this dangerous task are instilled in firefighters throughout their careers. Coupled with your department's operational guidelines, these approaches provide a foundation on which you can build a personal course of action that will allow you to successfully accomplish a primary search that will ensure your safety and enable you to complete the task at hand. Although our own personal safety will always be our number one fireground priority, we must face the fact that completing a primary search under any fire condition is a dirty and dangerous job. Aggressive primary search is a main component of our profession. The search must be completed quickly, efficiently, and without hesitation, or the very citizens we are sworn to protect will perish.
产生一些启示ful thought on the subject and positively increase firefighter safety while conducting this type of operation, I have gathered together the following "Ten Commandments" of conducting a safe and effective primary search. Although they are not written in "stone," following these basic, yet essential, tips will improve your performance and safety while executing your searches.
If you are a current subscriber,login hereto access this content.
If you would like to become a subscriber, please visit ushere.
