By DONALD L. WEDDING
Scenario: It’s 0710 hours at the station and you’ve just set your gear by the apparatus; you’re ready to start the shift and run some calls. But ... are you really prepared? Is your gear placed on the apparatus properly? Is all of your personal protective equipment (PPE) (i.e., gloves, hood, mask, and so on) accounted for? Have you checked your self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)? Is your flashlight charged and working? All of these precautions, as elementary as they may seem, can keep you from getting seriously hurt or killed.
We’ve all been there: You’re at the station on no sleep, you’ve just returned from vacation, and you’re trying to get motivated and back into the swing of things. Or, maybe you’ve been detailed for the day. You think to yourself, “I’ll make sure all of my gear is straight after I clear my head.” Then, 30 seconds later, your company is dispatched to a reported working fire with trapped occupants.
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