Firecapt
03-06-2011, 09:30 PM
This is something we all need in our “toolbox.”
Having been in the Fire Service in a very rural area for over 32 years I can tell you that just finding the location of the incident is more than half the battle. I always told the people I mentored: "You must know your area; as long as you can find the location, your training will carry you through the rest of the incident." While we always had great “run book maps" and tried to keep them updated there were always deficiencies. Many times the run book would get us to the general location but not to the specific address. A common example of this is a campground or RV park. While we got to the “front door” so to speak, we didn’t know the exact campsite or space within the park that we were going to. This is especially critical at night (after dark). Especially if all of the people involved are inside the RV attending to the patient, fire, etc.
So where am I going with all this? There’s a way to help responding personnel find you faster and increase your chances of survival in a medical, fire, or police emergency.
All you have to do is make your RV’s lights flash! Here is the easiest way to do this:
• Use a 12V 552/536 flasher (see pic below) plugged into your trailer cord.
• Tell the 911 dispatcher (when you call) that the incoming units should look for the RV with the flashing lights.
• Send anyone not involved with the direct control of the problem out to the street to help lead in the Emergency Services Responders.
Here’s how I took care of the first objective:
Buy a 552/536 flasher (about $4) and tape it to the king pin bracket. Mark the outside of the tape to make sure your family can find it in an emergency.
Mark the trailer cord-end so that there is no confusion as to where to plug it in.
Have a drill in doing this routine. Trust me, it may save your life or the life of a family member to do this. It’s not hokey to practice this exercise, the time to try it out for the first time is not when you have an emergency. It may be your husband, wife, or child that has to grab this flasher and plug it in. First go through the procedure with all family members, then have a drill. Besides, it’s fun to practice this in the dark since it makes your RV’s lights flash!
At a time when nobody expects it have an unannounced drill. Say something like: “this is a drill OMG Mom is having a heart attack, Dave, plug in the flasher and then go lead in the Emergency Personnel.
I know what you’re thinking “this is way over the top.” Please believe me it’s not. What I have just described and the drill to remember the procedure may make all the difference in saving a life, preventing further injury, or keeping a fire small instead of devastating. Trust me on this, our ability to find you in an emergency is the most important thing. Once we get there we can deal with whatever we are confronted with, 32 years in the business has taught me that.
This is literally a $4 life insurance policy!
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 1a.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 2a.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 3a.jpg
Having been in the Fire Service in a very rural area for over 32 years I can tell you that just finding the location of the incident is more than half the battle. I always told the people I mentored: "You must know your area; as long as you can find the location, your training will carry you through the rest of the incident." While we always had great “run book maps" and tried to keep them updated there were always deficiencies. Many times the run book would get us to the general location but not to the specific address. A common example of this is a campground or RV park. While we got to the “front door” so to speak, we didn’t know the exact campsite or space within the park that we were going to. This is especially critical at night (after dark). Especially if all of the people involved are inside the RV attending to the patient, fire, etc.
So where am I going with all this? There’s a way to help responding personnel find you faster and increase your chances of survival in a medical, fire, or police emergency.
All you have to do is make your RV’s lights flash! Here is the easiest way to do this:
• Use a 12V 552/536 flasher (see pic below) plugged into your trailer cord.
• Tell the 911 dispatcher (when you call) that the incoming units should look for the RV with the flashing lights.
• Send anyone not involved with the direct control of the problem out to the street to help lead in the Emergency Services Responders.
Here’s how I took care of the first objective:
Buy a 552/536 flasher (about $4) and tape it to the king pin bracket. Mark the outside of the tape to make sure your family can find it in an emergency.
Mark the trailer cord-end so that there is no confusion as to where to plug it in.
Have a drill in doing this routine. Trust me, it may save your life or the life of a family member to do this. It’s not hokey to practice this exercise, the time to try it out for the first time is not when you have an emergency. It may be your husband, wife, or child that has to grab this flasher and plug it in. First go through the procedure with all family members, then have a drill. Besides, it’s fun to practice this in the dark since it makes your RV’s lights flash!
At a time when nobody expects it have an unannounced drill. Say something like: “this is a drill OMG Mom is having a heart attack, Dave, plug in the flasher and then go lead in the Emergency Personnel.
I know what you’re thinking “this is way over the top.” Please believe me it’s not. What I have just described and the drill to remember the procedure may make all the difference in saving a life, preventing further injury, or keeping a fire small instead of devastating. Trust me on this, our ability to find you in an emergency is the most important thing. Once we get there we can deal with whatever we are confronted with, 32 years in the business has taught me that.
This is literally a $4 life insurance policy!
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 1a.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 2a.jpg
http://home.comcast.net/~firecapt1/Flasher 3a.jpg