Use the description of the crab/side crawl in this week’s installment to explore alternative methods of searching and/or advancing hoselines during your next drill.
The authors of this week’s article contend that, “Staying low and crawling inside a structure sounds easy enough, but firefighters know that under the heat and smoke conditions of a fire it can be extremely difficult. While the methods used to move through a building during search and fire attack are varied and numerous, several techniques can make this difficult operation smoother and safer.”
Based on their own research and research conducted by the FDNY, authors Bob Sanborn and Keith Mefford analyze why the traditional four-point crawl is an awkward position, for several reasons. They go on to describe ways to utilize the crab/side crawl method for fire attack and search and rescue, as well as offering suggestions for how to communicate while searching or advancing a hoseline.l
To get you started, here are four distinct advantages of the crab/side crawl position over the traditional four-point crawl:
- The head is upright, allowing the firefighter to detect ceiling rollover.
- The balance of the firefighter`s weight is on the rear of his body, with his leg out front to safely detect any drop-offs or holes in the floor.
- Hand and verbal communications are greatly enhanced.
- The elbow is braced on the inside of the knee to help with nozzle manipulation.
To view the complete article, click HERE.
