After weeks of learning we finally revisited the blacked out mask exercise which we failed at so miserably last time. Now we were ready. Armed with knowledge from the recently read and powerpointed chapter on Rescue & Extrication we once again entered the kitchen prop and searched for our victim. Beyond knowledge, we also had a tag rope which really does make finding your way back out a lot easier. Hansel and Gretel ain't got nothing on us.
Four of us entered the prop on our knees and crawled to the opposite end where we found the dummy lying by the stove I think. Together we dragged and pushed it to the entry door and successfully completed the evolution. Piece of cake.
Across the fireground in the burn building we practiced with live smoke and this time used the booster hose to search the house for a mother & infant. Ventilation was not part of the scenario so we couldn't see much better than with the blacked out masks. Honestly, I was surprised at how difficult it is to see in a smokey environment - even though we've been constantly reminded that it is.
Search & Rescue is disorenting and intense. Your breath quickens, you start to sweat and your eyes strain to find any semblance of the familiar or recognizable shape (and we've been in this building numerous times.) It took us over nine minutes to find the baby after we'd found the mother in our first attempt. In our second go we found them in less than three minutes. You never know where the victim lies so you roll the dice and hope its closer to the right if you go right and left if you go left.
Great day. Tomorrow we're rappelling. Yeah, from a six story building!
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