Developing Confidence

Most of humanity has developed a dependence on their senses of vision, touch and hearing to accomplished their day to day activities.  Firefighters however do not have that luxury.  We are asked to enter harsh uninhabitable environments wearing 40-50lb of gear that greatly reduce if not eliminate our sight, dexterity and hearing. In order to overcome these limitation we must be fully confident in our gear and have the ability to work quickly and efficiently in-spite of our impaired senses.  Building this confidence can be done through a method known as stress inoculation.  Gear confidence through stress inoculation occurs by exposing yourself to tight and uncomfortable situations that you may encounter on the fire ground, managing your stress response, and working through the situation.  This builds confidence in knowing that you have done something and can do it again when the stakes are higher.

For this weeks training we will be gearing up for time then navigating a series of obstacles that may include entanglement, wall breaches, confined space, and searches in full turns out gear.  Each of these challenges are designed to push you physically and mentally in a controlled environment.  

Day 1

Dress out speed drills 

• Organized all of your gear at your feet including SCBA 

• When time starts don your gear as quickly as possible

• Time stops when ALL gear including mask and pack and gloves are donned, air is on and you are ready to make entry.

• 5 second deduction if there is skin or mask straps showing 

• Evolution should be done a minimum of 3x 
• The goal is be fully dressed out in 90 seconds or less