| After months of design work, plan changes and revisions, the Huntingtown VFD is pleased to display their new top of the line MAYDAY prop. As many firefighters are aware, Huntingtown VFD was the first VOLUNTEER department in the COUNTRY to require every firefighter to complete this annual training. The newest prop is made of light-weight aluminum, is collapsible for ease of storage and transportation and can be moved to different rooms with the integrated wheels. Since 2004, the Huntingtown VFD has been using a plywood prop to simulate when a firefighter is lost, disoriented or trapped in a fire. After years of frequent usage it became apparent that the prop needed to be upgraded. Through hard work and engineering with Steve at Max Metal (Deale, MD) this was accomplished. Late last week, the prop was picked up and delivered to its new home. The old prop was donated to the Saint Leonard VFD.
During this MAYDAY simulation, the firefighter "falls through a floor or roof." By interacting with conditions created by the prop, the firefighter adds to his or her Recognition Primed Decision-making experience and response. The blindfolded firefighters crawl up a ramp. At the end of the ramp is a teeter board. The board suddenly dumps them into the cushioned pit. The props cause the firefighter to be in a MAYDAY parameter. This prop safely simulates falling and triggers the MAYDAY decision and response. Remember, with this simulation, the firefighter is in a burning building that is Immediately Dangerous to Life & Health (IDLH). Thus, he is in a MAYDAY parameter and must call the MAYDAY. Once inside of the pit and the MAYDAY is declared, he must exit. All of the exits contain separate type egress holes; a 24" square hole, a 20" circle hole, a triangle, or a 16" square hole to simulate studs behind walls (studs are typically separated by 16" voids).
Currently, emergency responders do not undergo extensive education in MAYDAY while training to become a firefighter. The skills are not taught in the basic Firefighter I and Firefighter II classes. In 2004, two Huntingtown VFD members began traveling to the Fire Expo's in Baltimore, MD and to the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis, IN training firefighters in these valuable lifesaving activities. In April 2008, the same two members published "MAYDAY made simple" in the national magazine FIREHOUSE.
For past Huntingtown VFD MAYDAY articles:
1. http://www.hvfd6.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=514
2. http://www.hvfd6.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=237
3. http://www.hvfd6.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=259
4. http://www.hvfd6.org/index.cfm?fs=news.newsView&News_ID=380 |
