| *Weekly Rapid Intervention Crew, or “RIC,” operations was this week’s focus. RIC is specialized skill set for the rescuing of missing, downed, or injured firefighters from a building fire. Our evolutions this week were focused on a downed member experiencing an emergency with their breathing apparatus, and using our Scott RIT-Pack to address the air emergency. The RIT-pack is designed to quickly connect and provide clean breathing to a member with a breathing apparatus malfunction. The RIT-pack has the ability to provide a rapid air supply recharge (simplest), may be converted into a primary independent air supply, or the most complex, a full facepiece swap, for a firefighter experiencing a facepiece failure.
Both Career and Volunteer members participated in evolutions that located a downed member, identified and overcame the air emergency using the RIT-pack, and packaged the downed member for removal to safety. Practicing these special skills helps keep all firefighters on the scene of an emergency safer, providing a rapid rescue team in the event of a catastrophe. Safer firefighters translates into a safer community! |
