ESCONDIDO FIRE DEPT TRAINING MANUAL Section Truck Module Page 1 of 7 Carrying Ladders Revised

Transcription

1 Truck Module Page 1 of 7 CARRYING LADDERS While carrying ladders firefighters must announce their presence by calling out LADDER COMING THROUGH. It is preferable but not always practical to carry ladders with two people. While carrying ladders one-person it is difficult to see behind therefore shifting the balance point a little forward will help the butt end of the ladder be lower and the tip end (behind the firefighter) be higher. This helps avoid more obstacles. Carrying a Roof or Straight Ladder - One Person 1. With the ladder lying on the ground, take a position so the ladder is on your left side. Position yourself so that you are at the balance point of the ladder facing the tip end of the ladder. 2. Grasp the beam nearest to your body and lift up and away from your body until the ladder is resting on its beam. Once the ladder is in the beam position, in one fluid motion, take one step towards the ladder. 3. From the kneeling position stand up, lifting the ladder with your legs, keeping your back straight.

2 Truck Module Page 2 of 7 4. Once you have completed lifting the ladder, in one fluid motion, pivot your body towards the butt end of the ladder, and bring the ladder to rest on your right shoulder using your right hand to carry the load of the ladder. Your left hand shall be placed on the top beam. Once the ladder is at the shoulder position and stable, slide your left hand forward slightly beyond the balance point. 5. The ladder shall be carried butt forward with the lower beam resting in your right palm. The opposite hand is placed on the upper beam forward of the balance point. The one person carries are executed with the butt of the ladder angled slightly down. Notice the forward end is lower than the rear. This helps avoid obstacles behind the firefighter. 6. To lower the ladder, reverse the procedure. While beginning to lower the ladder, pivot towards the tip of the ladder.

3 Truck Module Page 3 of 7 7. As you continue to lower the ladder, pivot your body until you are facing the opposite direction (tip end). 8. In one fluid motion continue from the pivot position to lowering the ladder to the beam position. Step away from the ladder and lower to the flat (bed) position. Carrying a 24' Extension Ladder - One Person 1. With the ladder lying on the ground take a position so that the ladder is on your left side. Position yourself so that you are at the balance point of the ladder, facing the tip end of the ladder. Same as it was done with the straight ladder.

4 Truck Module Page 4 of 7 2. Grasp the beam nearest to your body and lift up and away from your body so that the ladder is resting on the beam. Once the ladder is in the beam position, take one step towards the ladder (the bed section of the ladder should be next to your body). 3. Once the ladder has been placed on its beam, walk to the butt end and set the shoes for the surface you will be using to ladder. Now walk to the tip of the ladder maintaining contact with your left hand. 4. Once you have reached the tip of the ladder lift the ladder with your left hand pivot your body towards the butt end of the ladder. Make sure that the pivot is not made until you have completed lifting the ladder (Lift with your legs). Upon completing the pivot, the lower beam of the ladder should be resting in the palm of your right hand. Your left hand will be supporting the top beam of the ladder. The ladder should be at shoulder height at this time.

5 Truck Module Page 5 of 7 5. Walk forward towards the balance point of the ladder maintaining hand contact with the beams of the ladder. Once the balance point is reached, dip your knees slightly to aid in bringing the ladder to the carrying (horizontal) position. Once the ladder is stable in the carrying position, slide your left (top) hand one or two rungs beyond the balance point to stabilize the ladder. The ladder is now ready to be carried to your objective. 6. The ladder is carried butt forward with the bed section of the ladder next to your body. The bottom beam shall be placed in the palm of your right hand at shoulder height at the balance point. The ladder is not to be carried directly on the shoulder. Your left hand shall be placed slightly forward of the balance point, assuring the butt of the ladder is pointing slightly downward. Carrying an Extension Ladder - Two Person 1. With the ladder lying on the ground, bed section down, two firefighters will be facing the tip of the ladder. The ladder will be to the left side of both firefighters. One firefighter shall be positioned at each end of the ladder between the first and second rung. 2. Grasp the beam nearest to your body. On the command BEAM LADDER", lift up and away from your body until the ladder is resting on its beam. As the ladder is being raised to the beam position, take one step towards the ladder. 3. On the command "PICK-UP-LADDER", both firefighters lift the ladder with their left hand. Once both firefighters are in the standing position, in one fluid motion, pivot so that you are facing the butt end of the ladder. Hand placement should be between the first and second rung or around the last rung if at tip position. The tip person, or the butt person in reverse operations, shall secure the ladder by grasping the rung directly in front.

6 Truck Module Page 6 of 7 The ladder should be secured firmly against the crook of the elbow and pulled in tight against the upper portion of the arm. While walking the firefighter near the butt end of the ladder must set the shoes for the surface being used. 4. To lower the ladder, the operation is reversed. On the command BEAM LADDER", both firefighters grasp the top beam of the ladder with their left hand. In a fluid motion the firefighters shall pivot towards the tip of the ladder and lower the ladder to its beam. Once the ladder is resting on its beam, the command BED LADDER" is given and the firefighters lower the ladder to the bed position. Carrying an Extension Ladder - Three Person 1. With the ladder lying on the ground, bed section down, the ladder commander will position at the butt end of the ladder between the first and second rung facing the tip end of the ladder. The second firefighter will position at the tip end of the ladder between the first and second rung facing the tip end of the ladder. The third firefighter will position at the balance point of the ladder on the opposite side of the ladder commander and the tip person. All three firefighters should be facing the tip of the ladder. 2. On the command "PICK-UP-LADDER" all three firefighters will grasp the beam closest to their bodies and lift the ladder. Once all three firefighters are in the standing position, in one fluid motion, pivot towards the butt end of the ladder. The ladder should be resting in the palm of the hand at shoulder height. The ladder is now ready to be carried to the objective.

7 Truck Module Page 7 of 7 3. To lower the ladder, the process is reversed. Facing the butt end (if not in the reverse position) the ladder commander will give the command BED LADDER". All three firefighters will place their outside hands on the top beam of the ladder and pivot towards the tip end of the ladder. In one fluid motion all three firefighters will lower the ladder to the ground. The ladder should now be in the "BED" position.