What is a Bail Out Bag, and why do we have to test it? Part of firefighter training includes safety and survival on the fireground, and our gear is designed to give us maximum survivability while doing our jobs. Bail out bags are becoming a part of that survival gear at Norwood Park.

What is a Bail out bag? In the event a firefighter has become trapped above ground in a fire (a two story house or high rise, for example), a bail out bag is designed to give the firefighter a chance to deploy and escape system and get to safety with a minimal chance to injury. The department “test drives” this gear before purchasing it, to see how well the firefighters can deploy it under both optimal and less than ideal situations. In this case, the firefighters tested the bail out gear by deploying from the hose tower behind the station, and rappelling to the ground below (pictured are Firefighters Erlewein, Curran, and Mattio).

Firefighters have to think of all levels of the community they serve in, above ground and below. In 2009 Norwood Park drilled using confined space and trench rescue equipment in the communities sewer system. Awareness of what happens beneath the city allows us to be prepared for the rare incidents that require below grade rescues and recoveries. Pictured are Commander Carpino and Gold Shift.

In addition to preparing for the unexpected and rare, Firefighters routinely practice on the gear which is a regular part of their fire suppression assignments. In some cases, houses which are being torn down are lent to the district for use in this training. In this case, a donated house was used for Ventilation and Search and Rescue training.

First of all is Search and Rescue. Have you ever tried to navigate your house in the dark? How about in the dark on your hands and knees? How about in the dark, on your hands and knees, in a house you’ve never been in? Now try doing that with 50 pounds of gear and a time limit. This is what firefighters do at every house fire where someone could potentially still be alive. Drilling is crucial in this area to minimize the time it takes firefighters to find and remove a victim, as well as locate and extinguish the fire. Search and Rescue drills give firefighters a chance to develop and train on routines to help get you out faster, and put that fire out quickly! Pictured and Paramedic/Firefighter Randels and Firefighter Unger.

Ventilation?! Why is Firefighter Appelhans cutting a hole in a perfectly good roof?! Fires create a lot of heat and smoke, and by ventilating a hole up top, we create a chimney to vent out the bad gases and smoke, increasing survivability for people inside and visibility for the firefighters both coming for their rescue and trying to locate the fire. Constant practice and education on roofing materials and construction helps firefighters locate the right spot on the roof to make this chimney, and make short, efficient work of the ventilation.

Swift water in our district?! Well sure! In addition to occasional floods, Firefighters have to be aware and prepared for their surroundings in all types of weather and emergency situations. For example, firefighting on property with an inground pool could potentially create dangers for firefighters if the pool is covered or not visible. Gear absorbs water by the gallon, and each gallon weighs about 8 pounds! How do you float with all of your gear? What do you do if the ground suddenly opens up into an 8-10 foot pool?

Using the Mont Clare Towers swimming pool off season offered us an opportunity to practice survival in this unexpected circumstance. Firefighters were able to practice falling in, floating and escaping a pool in full protective gear, and gain valuable insight and confidence in their ability to handle the emergency. Pictured are Deputy Chief Kovalcik, and firefighters Erlewein, Henmueller, and Unger.