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| Doug Stowers and Caleb Holden, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighters, participate in rapid intervention training, Feb. 9, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Rapid intervention training ensures firefighter safety and focuses on assisting a downed firefighter that is out of air. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Randy Burlingame) |
02.14.2019
Story by Airman 1st Class Randall Burlingame
104th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Massachusetts – Firefighters from the 104th Civil Engineering Squadron performed rapid intervention training, Feb. 9, 2019, here.
Rapid intervention training ensures firefighter safety and focuses on assisting a downed firefighter that is out of air.
“We have to have the ability to rapidly rescue them,” said Fire Lieutenant Travis Witbeck, 104th CES “That’s why we have to maintain a Rapid Intervention Team, for when we have people in hazardous environments. It’s strictly for the safety of firefighters.”
This particular training allowed the firefighters to implement multiple components into one exercise, said Witbeck. These components include forcible entry, search and rescue, and CPR.
“All of these elements are not usually thrown together because it is a little bit more complex,” said Witbeck. “This was one of the first times we were able to put so much into it.”
During the exercise firefighters could be seen breaching shut doors, crawling on the ground to follow a firehose, dragging a downed firefighter out of a compromised area, and applying CPR.
The teams all carried a RIT bag with them, which is used to carry an air cylinder that will provide a downed firefighter with air they need, said Witbeck.
“If you’re the downed firefighter and you have no air left and we bring in a full cylinder, then theoretically what will happen is they should both be at half,” said Witbeck. “So you’ll always have spare air.”
Witbeck said the RIT teams are prepared to deal with situations aside from low air.
“When you’re going through a lot of stuff, like walls and stuff like that, there can be damage to the mask and that’s what causes the original problem,” said Witbeck. “So we keep a spare mask on here too.”
Airman William Borcy, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighter, said he found the training to be very hands-on and all-encompassing.
“If there’s ever a call we’ll know what to do,” said Borcy. “We’ll know how to get them and how to start CPR. It’s not just knowing it, but saying I can do it.”
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| Airman William Borcy, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighter, participates in rapid intervention training Feb. 9, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Rapid intervention training ensures firefighter safety and focuses on assisting a downed firefighter that is out of air. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Randy Burlingame) |
