Fire Thought For The Day
002
Helicopters
Helicopters, Heavy Metal, Machines, Choppers, Ships, Rotary-Wing, Light, Medium, Heavies, what ever you want to call them, they have a lot of moving parts that are not conducive with humans. Now is as good a time as any to brush up on safety in and around these Ships.
There are a lot of folks that are used to being around them, however, there are even more that have never been around them. On fires you could find yourself around them unexpectedly. For those with a lot of experience it never hurts to brush up. For those with no experience, some information is better than none.
You may say that you will never be around them, never say never. For example, God forbid you and or your people get trapped, a ship may be your salvation in an emergency.
- If you have had some training, dig out the books and study up. Practice.
- Brush up on those hand signals.
- Never approach a Ship from the rear. Take the time to do it right.
- Always get the pilots attention before you approach. And only approach after he signals you too. Wear your goggles they kick up a lot of dust.
- Keep a good hold of your hat or any other loose item and crouch low when you approach. Keep all of your tools low. If it is an emergency, leave your tools behind.
- Never approach, even from the front, if the ship is lower than you are. That is, if you’re on a slope up from the ship, go off to the side down hill from the Ship and approach safely from the side after the pilot signals you to come.
- If it is not an emergency, or if it has been some time since you have been around a Ship, or if it is a Ship you are not familiar with, ask the pilot for a briefing.
- If you do have experience around helicopters, and you happen to be loading equipment in the tail bow, remember the exhaust. It is extremely hot. Do not get over confidant. Make every move a very deliberate and thoughtful one. Make sure the pilot is aware of your intention to load the tail bow.
- If you are receiving a sling load of equipment, remember the sling has powerful kinetic motion. If it hits you, it can do a lot of damage. There is also static electricity at the hook, wear rubber gloves when possible.
- If you are on the ground working a fire near a ship making bucket drops, remember the down wash and what it may do to the fire. Think about the down wash and what it can do to the tops of trees and heavy limbs. They can fall. Be mindful of the drop it’s self. It too can do a lot of damage. When ever possible, move out of the area until the ship has completed its mission.
- When you get in a ship you will notice that the seat belts are fastened. This is to prevent the straps and buckles from falling out of the door and flapping in the wind. This can cause a lot of damage to a ship. Always remember to fasten the seat belts behind you before you exit.
- Do not smoke anywhere near a ship.
- Take your time, don’t rush. Rushing makes you forget things and you loose your ability to think properly. Again make every move a very well thought out deliberate one.
- Once inside the Ship, you will find that it is very loud. Usually there are working headsets. Put one on, this way the pilot can communicate with you. If there is no headset or the headset does not work, watch the pilot. He will make you understand what to do. Always buckle up nice and snug first and foremost. Always do as the pilot instructs you to do. If you think what you are about to do may be wrong, it likely is. Always get the go ahead from the pilot before you do anything. No pictures without the pilots say so. Flash=Startled.
- If you see something wrong, speak up. The pilot may not be aware of what you are seeing. But do it clearly and calmly.
- Read all the labels you can see inside the ship. Don’t move suddenly. Sit as still as you can. Do not bother the pilot while he is taking off or landing unless it is an emergency, such as another ship in the air that the pilot may not see. You can calmly alert the pilot by simply saying one, two, three etc. o clock. They will automatically look in the direction you have stated. Example, if you see another ship to your right, using the nose of the Ship as twelve o clock say three o clock. The pilot will look that way. This being said only do this in an emergency. Your goal is not to startle the pilot. Say what ever you say clear, slowly, and calmly so the pilot can understand you. - Relax and do not panic. If it is your first time in a ship, just take a deep breath and relax. Going haywire in a Ship does not make the pilot’s job any easier.
- Here are some sites to check out.
http://www.skyflightcare.com/Program_Information/helicopt.htm
http://www.rotor.com/helihound/pgr11.htm
http://www.greatslaveheli.com/Helicopter_Safety/body_helicopter_safety.html
http://www.feltonfire.com/HELOSAFETY.htm
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10761&p_text_version=FALSE
Here are some sites with hand signals.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/Images/t8img/1938-53.gif
http://www.osha.gov/OshStd_gif/n_1.gif
The more you practice the better you become. What you live with you learn, what you learn you practice, what you practice you become, what you become has consequences. Practice good habits.
“Fire is not prejudice…it will try to burn anything.”
Until next time, above all else Stay Safe! Tex
002
Helicopters
Helicopters, Heavy Metal, Machines, Choppers, Ships, Rotary-Wing, Light, Medium, Heavies, what ever you want to call them, they have a lot of moving parts that are not conducive with humans. Now is as good a time as any to brush up on safety in and around these Ships.
There are a lot of folks that are used to being around them, however, there are even more that have never been around them. On fires you could find yourself around them unexpectedly. For those with a lot of experience it never hurts to brush up. For those with no experience, some information is better than none.
You may say that you will never be around them, never say never. For example, God forbid you and or your people get trapped, a ship may be your salvation in an emergency.
- If you have had some training, dig out the books and study up. Practice.
- Brush up on those hand signals.
- Never approach a Ship from the rear. Take the time to do it right.
- Always get the pilots attention before you approach. And only approach after he signals you too. Wear your goggles they kick up a lot of dust.
- Keep a good hold of your hat or any other loose item and crouch low when you approach. Keep all of your tools low. If it is an emergency, leave your tools behind.
- Never approach, even from the front, if the ship is lower than you are. That is, if you’re on a slope up from the ship, go off to the side down hill from the Ship and approach safely from the side after the pilot signals you to come.
- If it is not an emergency, or if it has been some time since you have been around a Ship, or if it is a Ship you are not familiar with, ask the pilot for a briefing.
- If you do have experience around helicopters, and you happen to be loading equipment in the tail bow, remember the exhaust. It is extremely hot. Do not get over confidant. Make every move a very deliberate and thoughtful one. Make sure the pilot is aware of your intention to load the tail bow.
- If you are receiving a sling load of equipment, remember the sling has powerful kinetic motion. If it hits you, it can do a lot of damage. There is also static electricity at the hook, wear rubber gloves when possible.
- If you are on the ground working a fire near a ship making bucket drops, remember the down wash and what it may do to the fire. Think about the down wash and what it can do to the tops of trees and heavy limbs. They can fall. Be mindful of the drop it’s self. It too can do a lot of damage. When ever possible, move out of the area until the ship has completed its mission.
- When you get in a ship you will notice that the seat belts are fastened. This is to prevent the straps and buckles from falling out of the door and flapping in the wind. This can cause a lot of damage to a ship. Always remember to fasten the seat belts behind you before you exit.
- Do not smoke anywhere near a ship.
- Take your time, don’t rush. Rushing makes you forget things and you loose your ability to think properly. Again make every move a very well thought out deliberate one.
- Once inside the Ship, you will find that it is very loud. Usually there are working headsets. Put one on, this way the pilot can communicate with you. If there is no headset or the headset does not work, watch the pilot. He will make you understand what to do. Always buckle up nice and snug first and foremost. Always do as the pilot instructs you to do. If you think what you are about to do may be wrong, it likely is. Always get the go ahead from the pilot before you do anything. No pictures without the pilots say so. Flash=Startled.
- If you see something wrong, speak up. The pilot may not be aware of what you are seeing. But do it clearly and calmly.
- Read all the labels you can see inside the ship. Don’t move suddenly. Sit as still as you can. Do not bother the pilot while he is taking off or landing unless it is an emergency, such as another ship in the air that the pilot may not see. You can calmly alert the pilot by simply saying one, two, three etc. o clock. They will automatically look in the direction you have stated. Example, if you see another ship to your right, using the nose of the Ship as twelve o clock say three o clock. The pilot will look that way. This being said only do this in an emergency. Your goal is not to startle the pilot. Say what ever you say clear, slowly, and calmly so the pilot can understand you. - Relax and do not panic. If it is your first time in a ship, just take a deep breath and relax. Going haywire in a Ship does not make the pilot’s job any easier.
- Here are some sites to check out.
http://www.skyflightcare.com/Program_Information/helicopt.htm
http://www.rotor.com/helihound/pgr11.htm
http://www.greatslaveheli.com/Helicopter_Safety/body_helicopter_safety.html
http://www.feltonfire.com/HELOSAFETY.htm
http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=10761&p_text_version=FALSE
Here are some sites with hand signals.
http://www.dir.ca.gov/Images/t8img/1938-53.gif
http://www.osha.gov/OshStd_gif/n_1.gif
The more you practice the better you become. What you live with you learn, what you learn you practice, what you practice you become, what you become has consequences. Practice good habits.
“Fire is not prejudice…it will try to burn anything.”
Until next time, above all else Stay Safe! Tex
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