Senior Project Firefighting free essay sample

Firemen face different obstacles every day and have to be ready to jump right in with whatever the circumstance may be. Tactics such as how to use ventilation tools, the proper way to handle forest fires, and the basic prevention techniques to stay as safe and efficient as possible. Becoming a fireman is not cut out for someone who is not athletically gifted. It takes a strong person; both mentally and physically, do complete the drills that one must see every day. The equipment alone is all extremely heavy and powerful. There are many things that most people are unaware of when it comes to the basic characteristics of being a firefighter. Overview of Firefighting When the average person thinks of being a firefighter, they usually imagine cute Dalmatian dogs, loud sirens, heavy clothes, huge water hoses, poles to slide down, and giant ladders. Firefighting is a more complex job than people think because it has many characteristics that we do not think of. We will write a custom essay sample on Senior Project: Firefighting or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Aspects such as the various types of technology used, the different tactics you see on a day to day basis, the physical abilities one must be capable of, and the types of equipment used. It takes both physical and mental strength to get through a day of saving lives and fighting fires. This paper discusses the topics that examine why there is more to being a fireman than just loud sirens and huge water hoses. Today’s technology has played a huge role in the amount of lives saved these past years. Some people say that some technology today is even more intelligent than the human mind that created it. The firefighters have come up with a new device called the â€Å"Rotor Craft†. The Rotorcraft is a heavy duty helicopter used to put forest fires or very large fires out. It is basically a heavier-than-air flying machine that uses lift generated by wings, called rotor blades, that revolve around a mast. Several rotor blades mounted on a single mast are known as a rotor. The International Civil Aviation Organization defines a rotorcraft as supported in flight by the reactions of the air on one or more rotors. Rotorcrafts generally are aircrafts where one or more rotors are required to provide lift throughout the entire flight. Compound rotorcraft may also include additional thrust engines or propellers and static lifting surfaces. There are several different types of tactics and strategies used for firefighting. One of the first thing they do in order to complete their proper duties, are immediately stop what they are doing in an act of an emergency when they get a call. This is an important aspect that must be properly done because it is urgent that all the fire fighters get to the scene as fast as possible. Another important procedure that must be followed is being quick to change into the firefighter’s proper clothing. If this is not done in a fast amount of time, then someone’s life could be ticking away. Firemen also use many tools to help them complete their job on an everyday basis. There are ventilation masks that help to allow them to encounter situations where they can breathe properly without injuring their lungs. Once they are on scene, firefighters are each assigned various tasks. For example, the engineers would control the fire hoses while the captain directs all the other men to their own specific jobs. It is very important that everyone has their own jobs to complete so that various tasks are being completed at one time to insure quick outcomes. Forest fires are one of the larger jobs that a firefighter has to work on, and also the most dangerous. When one is fighting a forest fire, it is not known how that fire is going to react to the way you are fighting it. The wind, precipitation, and altitude has to do with how extreme a fire is. Bigger tools such as water helicopters, called rotorcraft’s, are used to help put out fires by dumping water or fire retardant chemicals from up above. Firemen also can put fires out faster by cutting down trees and digging trenches. This allows fire to have no place else to go and eventually puts itself out. Physical fitness is very important for firefighters, because if they were weak then they robably shouldn’t be a firefighter since there are so many tasks they perform that require them to have muscular strength and endurance. Firefighters go through a series of boot camps that help them prepare for the difficult job of saving lives. One must also be fearless of heights for fighting fires on tall buildings or bridges or some fore of architecture. A firefighter’s physical state also helps them with rigorous drills. The physical abilities of a firefighter can help with real life situations, for example; carrying operating tools, pulling hose lines, search and rescue missions, or pushing ceilings or walls down. There are a series of equipment a firefighter uses daily. To start off, they have very heavy duty saws in which they can cut through most things you would not think they could possibly cut through. There are also axes, which are also very heavy duty for the tasks they must perform. Sledge hammers are also used, to knock down walls and break down doors and clear paths. And of course, the hoses they use are very thick and high pressured to perform maximum distance, because the further the distance the hose can spray, the further away the firefighters have to be from the scene, and the more safe they are. Some other equipment would be things they wear. For instance, heat censored goggles that make it easier to find humans or animals in a smoke filled environment. Firefighting requires many different Special Forces. One special force would be airport fire fighters, whom are not just for emergencies. They take shifts operating fuel trucks and checking out aircraft fire hazards and making sure every plane is safe before its next departure. SCBA is a term used in this career that stands for self-contained breathing apparatus. SCBA can also be used for underwater emergencies as well, giving necessary oxygen when needed. There are also teams of firemen who complete special rescue missions who use their own specific technique to fight a fire based on their specific region. Hazardous Material Technicians are firemen who are sent to help in hazardous situations and who have had the proper education and training to deal with these sorts of extreme situations. Discussion The progression of technology and the different tactics that firemen face have both proven that firefighting is a more complex career than most people hink. There are objects such as rotor crafts and sensor detectors that help firemen do what needs to be done during their time of duty. In addition to technology and tactics backing up the fact that firefighting is a bigger job than most of us think, physical fitness and the various types of equipment, also go hand in hand with this statement. It is proven that without the proper physical fitness, the tactics needed to be done in this career, could not be done correctly if one is not physically fit. It takes a strong person both physically and mentally to complete all firefighting skills. The equipment used for firefighting situations can make or break an emergency. Without proper equipment, a fireman might not be able to enter a house full of smoke or break open a crushed car door. Firefighting is a more complex job because it takes more to get this job done than the average person thinks. If it were not for the many tools and equipment, technology, special tactics, and physical fitness, then our world would not have the help of fire fighters for today’s emergencies. Being a firefighter is not a career for everyone. Though it is an extremely rewarding job, it takes someone who is hard-working and committed, and who can go home with a smile on their face knowing they saved lives. There are many different positions in the fire department, so anyone would fit in with the firefighting business. References Knapp, Jerry. (2009). New Technology to Improve Firefighter Safety amp; Efficiency. Internet. http://www. fireengineering. com/articles/2009/03/new-technology-to-improve-firefighter-safety-efficiency. html Faulkenhan, Mark. (2011). Archives for Firefighting Strategy and Tactics. Internet. http://thecompanyofficer. com/tag/firefighting-strategy-and-tactics/ Duty, Michael. (2012). Airport Firefighting Jobs. Internet. http://www. ehow. com/about_4762712_airport-firefighter-jobs. html Hinckley, Michael. (2012). What Equipment Do Firefighters Use? Internet. http://www. ehow. com/about_4672931_what-equipment-do-firefighters-use. html Dunn, Vincent. (2005). 50 Ways Firefighters Live. Internet. http://vincentdunn. com/nj/50-Ways- Firefighters%20-Survive%20. pdf Quick, Victoria. (2010). A Safer Search: Mastering the Firefighter-oriented Search Method. Internet. http://my. firefighternation. com/profiles/blogs/a-safer-search-mastering-the Locke, Jessica. (2011). No Second Chance for 9/11 FDNY Firefighters. Internet. http://firefightersfund. blogspot. com/ Richards-Gustafson, Flora. (2010). Types of Firefighting Jobs. Internet. http://www. ehow. com/info_8140613_types-firefighter-jobs. html Prziborowski, Steve. (2010). Becoming A Firefighter: 10 Must-do Things. Internet. http://www. firerescue1. com/fire-jobs-search/articles/755562-becoming-a-firefighter-10-must-do-things/