Prior to beginning the operation, remember some basic firefighting procedures. If you remove a window for victim removal, you've also created an avenue of ventilation for the byproducts of the fire. One of your first actions should be to close the door to the room you're operating in. This protects you from flames, smoke, and gases and may also increase visibility. Next, make the window into a door by removing the glass, sash, curtains, and blinds. Working from the inside and punching outward reduces the glass inside on the floor where you're working; if you're venting from outside, try and pull outward. Remember to always wear appropriate safety equipment when performing this tactic.
Depending on the victim's size and the smoke conditions, it may be difficult to place a victim onto the ladder. The firefighters operating inside the structure have a few choices: They can put him face down, on his back, or on his side. If you haven't placed the ladder in the window, you could lift up the victim, slide the ladder under him, and drag him up the ladder like it was a ramp (photo 7). If the victim is perpendicular to the ladder, you can drag him over the end of the ladder so his midpoint is balanced on the ladder. Then firefighters outside can pull down on the ladder, lifting the victim off the floor. Next the two firefighters inside can spin the victim easily on the ladder so his body is horizontal to it and remove him from the building. This method works well in training with large victims.
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