CAP Talk

Operations => Safety => Topic started by: DJ Light Chop on March 16, 2017, 04:39:30 PM

Title: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: DJ Light Chop on March 16, 2017, 04:39:30 PM
For our Safety Day I contacted the local fire department and they agreed to come present a class on fire extinguishers.  They brought with them a giant simulator with a projector and a mock extinguisher hooked up to a computer.  Like a big video game.  The cadets seemed to really enjoy it, and they learned some practical fire extinguisher handling techniques.  It seems like this is a service that a number of fire departments offer, so I'd encourage people to look into it.

This is what it looked like.
(http://www.pyrosoft.ca/images/home-blurb-3.png)
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: stillamarine on March 17, 2017, 01:17:06 AM
It's like a FATS machine for hose draggers!
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: DJ Light Chop on March 17, 2017, 01:39:32 AM
That was my first impression as well.  :)  I love the FATS.  I just wish the gas cartridges lasted longer on the magazines, they're always almost dead by the time I get to use it.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: audiododd on March 17, 2017, 05:23:42 AM
Simulator??  :-(. Back when I was required to have annual extinguisher training when on Active Duty, we would go watch a VERY Air Force-y video and then would get to do live training. They would light a container on fire and would let us put it out using a real ABC extinguisher.

Oh, well...enough pining for then"good old days."  That sounds like a pretty cool experience for the cadets. And a good safety meeting topic.

Dodd
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: NIN on March 17, 2017, 12:05:14 PM
Every year when the guy would come in to recertify our fire extinguishers at work, that month's safety meeting was on fire extinguishers.

The first year, he brought in a simulator like this (the screen was 1/4 the size of that one, LOL), but he'd forgotten to recharge the "extinguisher" so it didn't work.

The next year, he had some other technical malfunction.  No workee either.

The following year, he gave up and brought live extinguishers and we we did it with real fire out back of the building.

I always enjoy the live training, but the simulator does a pretty good job to train a lot of people quickly, easily, and over the long run more cheaply.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: stillamarine on March 17, 2017, 03:25:25 PM
Quote from: DJ Light Chop on March 17, 2017, 01:39:32 AM
That was my first impression as well.  :)  I love the FATS.  I just wish the gas cartridges lasted longer on the magazines, they're always almost dead by the time I get to use it.

Have you seen the VirTra 300? The screens go around 300 degrees. I take our Interns once a semester and our Explorers a couple times a year to the USMS office to use theirs. It's awesome.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: DJ Light Chop on March 17, 2017, 04:36:23 PM
Hell, my dept. is so cheap they won't even replace our ammo, they definitely aren't going to be a wrap-around simulator. 
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: Chappie on March 17, 2017, 04:54:00 PM
Quote from: stillamarine on March 17, 2017, 03:25:25 PM
Quote from: DJ Light Chop on March 17, 2017, 01:39:32 AM
That was my first impression as well.  :)  I love the FATS.  I just wish the gas cartridges lasted longer on the magazines, they're always almost dead by the time I get to use it.

Have you seen the VirTra 300? The screens go around 300 degrees. I take our Interns once a semester and our Explorers a couple times a year to the USMS office to use theirs. It's awesome.

The agency that I work for has this...it is indeed awesome.   As part of the IT staff, I assisted in getting it set up -- and of course, there had to be testing out the system :)   What a trip.   The sights, sounds, change of plot/action within the same scenario, selection of use of force tool...simply great training.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: stillamarine on March 17, 2017, 11:21:14 PM
Quote from: DJ Light Chop on March 17, 2017, 04:36:23 PM
Hell, my dept. is so cheap they won't even replace our ammo, they definitely aren't going to be a wrap-around simulator.

We don't get issued ammo............

Check your local Marshalls Office. We use theirs. I know some of the guys at ours and they checked me out on it so now I just get on the schedule.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: Eclipse on March 17, 2017, 11:55:12 PM
It looks like in addition to the live fire time, the Citizen's Academy I'm in right now the village is going to
bring in the FATS for the whole department and let us use it as well if we can come in on an off day from the rest of the class.

I also understand that my state's police academy has the 360 simulator.

This looks like a cool toy, I'm sure it saves money and is considered "safer" then driving around with cans of fuel
in a truck to fill up pans and actually light up a fire, I've done that training a couple times both in corporate situations
and with CAP, but there is a visceral sensation of danger when that pan or wall goes
<<*WHOOSH*>>(http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/ab219/TheNecromanticCat/ORIGINAL%20SIZE%20ANIMATIONS/fireball_001_71x100.gif)

and the heat hits you in the face, that is difficult to impart with a screen.

Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: TheSkyHornet on March 19, 2017, 07:45:54 PM
That's pretty cool. I've never seen that before.

I would really like to have a class where members actually discharge a fire extinguisher. Most adults have never actually used one. I think it's important to teach people through safe, controlled, practical application so that they don't encounter a real situation some day and go, "I've never actually done this before!"

Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: Eclipse on March 19, 2017, 08:06:10 PM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on March 19, 2017, 07:45:54 PM
I would really like to have a class where members actually discharge a fire extinguisher.

One thing the simulator won't teach you is about not discharging one into the wind.  You only have to taste
that chemical once to learn that lesson.

Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: TheSkyHornet on March 19, 2017, 08:10:17 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on March 19, 2017, 08:06:10 PM
Quote from: TheSkyHornet on March 19, 2017, 07:45:54 PM
I would really like to have a class where members actually discharge a fire extinguisher.

One thing the simulator won't teach you is about not discharging one into the wind.  You only have to taste
that chemical once to learn that lesson.

That. Was. Hilarious.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: SarDragon on March 19, 2017, 08:57:32 PM
When I was in boot camp, I was one of the lucky guys to participate in the protein foam demonstration. This was in the days when AFFF was just being introduced. Protein foam is some nasty stuff. It stinks, and tastes horrible, but, in its day, did OK at putting out Class B fires. It was a better product for "foaming" runways, though. It had better endurance.
Title: Re: Fire Extinguishers
Post by: Luis R. Ramos on March 19, 2017, 10:02:46 PM
Back when I lived in PR and not involved in CAP yet, I was a member of an Explorers post. We did Boy Scout Camporees and First Aid stuff. We also taught CPR and First Aid for the community.

And the teenagers did lots of crazy stuff.

Once we went inside the machine room of the AC of a conference room, and found a fire extinguisher. One of the teens points it to my face at about 7 or 8 inches. He says "Not full, will not discharge." Despite the indicator which said it was. He starts fooling around "Will press, will press."

So he turns around about 15 or 20 degrees, pressed the button, and the extinguisher discharged its contents. I would have received it in the eyes, nose and mouth. And I am asthmatic...

Lessons learned:

1. Never point anything that may be loaded to anyone's direction even if you think they are safe. Weapons, or fire extinguishers.
2. Never fool around.