Training Days: Firefighter Training on Falling into a Body of Water

Article and photos by Tom Kiurski

 

In some fire academies, recruits have to enter the
water with their full
turnout gear on to learn about the buoyancy of the gear. Many other academies do not require this. Where I live in Michigan, we have
more than 12,000 inland lanes and many pools. Add to this a large number of rivers, streams, and ponds, and the potential for a firefighter to fall into a body of water is certainly there. Most academies in our area do not require fire academy students to enter the water with their turnout gear on. We decided to learn a little about it.

 

Firefighters need to know what to do if they happen to fall into a body of water wearing full turnout gear. Firefighters have drowned while wearing turnout gear in the water. Turnout gear does have some buoyancy, but it’s something firefighters must be trained on.

 

Turnout gear has its best buoyant capacity when it is clean and full of air. The best way to trap air in the gear is for the fallen firefighter to hold the collar of the coat closed at the top
to trap in any air and look upward, tipping the head back. The firefighter must remain calm and limit his movements, like flailing, to keep up his strength. Hopefully, his partner or someone on the fireground has seen him fall, and help is on the way. Many items can be extended to the firefighter to grab so that he can be pulled to safety.

 

If this does not happen quickly, the turnout gear will begin to soak up the water and become heavy.
To help increase buoyancy, do the following:

 

1. Use the helmet as an improvised flotation device. Take off  the helmet, lift it up slightly, and trap air in it while holding it in front of you.

 

2. Since your boots can fill up with water, take a deep breath and take them off, one at a time, keeping them near you. Pour out the water from one boot and turn it upside down, trapping air inside it. Submerge the boot  in front of you. Hold it with one hand while you repeat the process with the second boot. Once both are filled with air, place one under each armpit for additional buoyancy.

 

3. Reach or paddle to your helmet and hold it with both hands for an additional lift.

 

4. As the coat becomes too heavy, it may have to come off. Let go of your improvised flotation devices to shed the coat. Once done, repeat the process of emptying the boots of water, trapping air in them, and repositioning them.

 

We used our city-owned outdoor pool for this training. I explained that we would use only turnout gear that had been cleaned prior to entry into the water. We have several sets of spare gear; this was no problem. In addition to the practice, the entire process was recorded and photos were taken so that those who were not able to be at any of the training sessions could get some information outside of the classes.

(1) If you fall into a body of water wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) remain calm, position yourself on your back, and call for help.

(2) While awaiting for help to arrive, remove your helmet, lift it from the water, and place it in front of you, trapping air inside the helmet for increased buoyancy.

(3) If help has not arrived and the gear takes on added weight from the water, it may be best to remove the PPE.

(4) If you have to wait for help, n remove your boots, dump out the water, and place the boots under your armpits after you trap air in them. Retrieve the helmet and retrap air in it for a little “lift.” 

Tom Kiurski is training coordinator, a paramedic, and the director of fire safety education for Livonia (MI) Fire & Rescue. His book, Creating a Fire-Safe Community: A Guide for Fire Safety Educators (Fire Engineering, 1999), is a guide for bringing the safety message to all segments of the community efficiently and economically.

 

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