Firefighters better equipped for rope rescue, dodging mold

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Firefighters better equipped for rope rescue, dodging mold

North Fort Myers Neighbor

By JENNIFER MOSSCROP, nfmneighbor@...

http://www.northfortmyersneighbor.com/news/articles.asp?

articleID=3229

Ten firefighters at the North Fort Myers Fire Department, station 1,

will soon be certified in rope rescue operations after completing a

40-hour course, last week.

The certification will allow the firefighters to perform victim

rescue from any elevated structure and respond to out-of-state

emergencies if necessary.

During a four-day period, Cortner, a private fire service

instructor and firefighter for the city of Fort Myers and private

instructor, Brad Fox, taught the men how to ascend and repel down a

rope using brand new equipment purchased by the fire department for

training. They also taught them how to rig and securely latch a

victim into a stoke basket from a high elevation using mechanical

advantage systems.

On Tuesday, Dec. 5 the firefighters endured an eight-hour lecture

covering equipment, practical applications, the standards of the

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), criteria for

certification and weight loads.

" I think it is great and the guys love it, " said Captain Rice

during a hands-on training session Wednesday Dec. 6 at the Willis

Rd. station. " This furthers our training plus we can assist the city

with a rope rescue team. "

According to Cortner, knowledge of rope rescue can be a matter of

life or death for workers whose equipment malfunctions - workers

like painters, window washers and sign installers.

This is not the first time firefighter, Gene McMullen, has taken a

rope rescue class but he says it is a good refresher for him.

" If you don't use it, you lose it, " he said.

McMullen took two high angle rescue courses in Orlando a few years

ago.

" It is fun, I like to do it, " he said. " It keeps me up on the

different knots and it is good for the younger guys who never took a

course before. "

Cortner brought the firefighters to the city parking garage in

downtown Fort Myers on Thursday, Dec. 7 and Friday, Dec. 8 to

practice uninjured and injured patient rescue from four-stories up

using a dummy in a stoke basket.

" It is very strenuous to ascend a rope and a lot of it is

technique, " said Cortner. " Coming down is the easy part. "

Afterwards the men took a written test consisting of 30 questions

recapping the four-day training. Questions about the equipment,

policies and procedure and different mechanical systems were

included.

Cortner will be assisting in a rope and collapse rescue course next

week for both Cape Coral and Fort Myers fire departments. He said

that the North Fort Myers station can take their certification up a

notch and complete a technician level class which delves into

highline or vertical rescue.

In addition to the rescue training, about 45 firefighters last month

took a two hour course on how to keep themselves and others safe

from indoor mold and black water.

Starting Nov. 8 through Nov. 10 the station participated in a First

Responders Awareness Program held by the National Organization of

Remediators and Mold Inspectors (NORMI) that addressed indoor air

quality contamination. NORMI Senior Trainer, Della White, was the

instructor.

" I recommend the class to any first responder, " said Rice. " It made

us aware of the potential hazards of mold. "

The North Fort Myers Fire Department was the first station to take

the course.