Additional Post 6: Search and Rescue

Two weeks into the month of February I got the chance to be part of a search and rescue stimulation with the other fire explorers in my post. The firefighters on hand split all the explorers into groups of four and proceeded by putting towels inside our masks in order to insure we couldn't see anything. Aside from that, they had a smog machine running in order to represent smoke and make the stimulation feel more realistic.

The objective of the stimulation was for my group and I to stay as low as we possibly could to the ground  and follow the water hose up the stairs in order to find a life size dummy and work together as a group to pull it out. The hardest part was communicating, while still trying to extract the dummy from the building. We were all tired from dragging it across the stairs and in order to talk to one another we had to scream as loud as we could due to the masks that we were wearing. Through out the entire exercise we where using breathing apparatuses to take in air, but towards the end the instructors took us off that air supply, which ultimately made the task much harder for us. In the end it was rewarding to see that our communication skills and teamwork allowed us to successfully take the dummy out of the building. 

The video above shows the other explorer and I dragging the dummy out of the building. (Please excuse the bad quality)

Blog 16: Advisory Meeting #2

EQ: What is the best way for a team of firefighters to limit injuries and fatalities while fighting structural fires? 

Answer #2: The best way for a team of firefighters to limit injuries and fatalities when fighting structural fires is by conducting routine equipment checks. A firefighter's equipment is their first line of defense and is also critical for being able to fight structure fires. Their personal protective equipment, ladders, ropes, and trucks should be constantly being checked in order to insure a safe day at work.

Support 1: Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of a firefighters coat, pants, hood, helmet, boots, gloves, breathing apparatus, and personal alert safety system (PASS). As explained in "The History of Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment" by Paul Hasenmids, PPEs are a firefighters first line of defense against heat and exposures. I was also told, while conducting my 3rd interview, that most firefighters start off their day by checking their personal equipment and later learned how a little act can make such a big difference. 

Support 2:  A self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is a device that all firefighters use in order to receive breathable air when put in dangerous atmospheres. As I learned from being part of an explorers program, there a nine different components that make up an SCBA. I was also told that this piece of equipment needed to be cleaned and inspected daily and after each use.

Support 3: In the article "8 Ways to Protect Against Cancer with PPE" by Grace Stull I learned that personal protective equipment does not only protect a fireman from heat, but it also helps reduce the risk of obtaining any disease. This article specifically focuses on cancer, but I've also heard about the effect that other chemicals can have on the health of firefighters, such as carbon monoxide. From conducting research checks I've learned the importance that PPEs can have on a firefighter's health and why it's crucial to make sure they are always in working condition. 

Research Sources: 

Jeffrey O. and Grace G. Stull. "8 Ways to Protect Against Cancer with PPE." Firerescue1.com. Firerescue1.com, 28 January 2014. Web. 6 February 2014.

Hasenmeier, Paul. "The History of Firefighter Personal Protective Equipment." Fireengineering.com. Pennwell, 16 June 2008. Web. 6 February 2014.

McCromack, Jim. "A Guide to the Daily Equipment Check." Firefighter Nation. Firefighter Nation, 1 Mar. 2011. Web. 21 Feb. 2014.

Concluding Sentence:

The best way for a team of firefighters to limit injuries and fatalities when fighting structural fires is by conducting routine equipment checks.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

Content:

1.  Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

Much like my first independent component, for my second independent component I plan on continuing to attend my fire explorer meetings, which are held at least once a week. The meetings usually last approximately 4-5 hours. I will accomplish any tasks that I will be given by the firefighters to the best of my ability and learn all the material they present to us. At Post 10, were I do my mentorship, my adviser tends to focus most of his attention on a new topic each month. During each meeting he usually goes over a different part of the month's topic. All in all, for my independent component I really want to master all of the new fire related techniques or skills which I will be taught in the future.

2.  Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.

To show evidence of work, I pan on continuously filling out my second independent component log. Aside from that I will take pictures, when I can. I don't plan on photographing every moment of my explorer meetings, because that would interfere with my actual learning, but I will capture images of what I feel are the most important parts of my experience. Lastly, I will show evidence of completing my work by keeping track of any paperwork which I receive and eventually share it on my blog.

3.  And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.

By continuing to attend my explorer meetings at station 166, located in the City of El Monty, I will be able to learn more about my topic by simply being exposed to the fire service. When ever I attend any meeting, I always come home with some different form of knowledge that I wasn't aware of before. From being exposed to the work life of firefighters, I have already learned about the benefits and hardships about the career, alongside the importance of knowing all of your information and going out of your way to help another person. Attending my explorer meetings will help me learn more about different aspects of the fire service, which I am eager to explore.

4.  Post a log on the right hand side of your blog near your other logs and call it the independent component 2 log.

Done.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a) “I, Steven Robles, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
  (b) Firefighter Cunningham played a huge role in helping me complete my First Independent Component because he is the person who actually taught me new things when ever I attended my  fire explorers meetings.
  (c) I have completed my digital spread sheet. It can be located in the right hand side of my blog or by clicking here.
• (d) For my independent component I continued to attend my normal explorer meetings. The interesting part about my logged hours was that I got to write about a yearly  explorer event, know as the mustar, which the other explorers and I had to prepare for. I also got the opportunity to volunteer at a number of different locations and learn more about the career of firefighting like things such as yearly inspections that they have. 
• INTERPRETIVE: My independent component consisted of learning about different aspects of the fire service by conducting hands on activities. I sent a majority of my mandatory 30 hours preparing for a mustar with the help of my other explorers and post leader. By preparing for the mustar I was also able to learn about the different types of equipment that firemen use. I also spent a large part volunteering, which helped me understand the huge importance that being open and willing to help others has on the job.

The image above is the cover of the mustar packet which goes over each event in the mustar. Some of the explorers in my post received a copy in order to help them prepare for and get a general ideal of what to expect. 

The image above is a picture Post 10 at the mustar event. I am located in the far left.

The image above shows myself and another fellow explorer, Tagle, posing by the bed section of the fire truck after learning about the different sections of hose that can be found of the truck. 

In the picture above I was separating toys when volunteering at the Spark of Love Toy Drive. 

• APPLIED: As I mentioned before, everything that I did through out my independent component helped me understand a different aspect of the fire service. For example, the mustar showed me that firefighting doesn't always have to be pure work and no fun. I got to learn about the different equipment while conducting hands on activities when preparing for the mustar. I also learned the importance of volunteering and how rewarding it feels to actually be directly involved in helping make a difference in someones life. Lastly, simply by spending so much time at station 166 with the other explorers I got the chance to appreciate the power of creating new friendships with others who have similar interest, which is important in the fire service because I've found that firefighters tend to spend large amounts of time with a set group of people. 

Grading Criteria 

• Log on a digital spreadsheet ✓
• Evidence of 30 hours of work ✓
• LIA submitted to blog ✓

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:

1. Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

• After completing my 30 minute presentation, I would have to say that I'm most proud of being able to control my nervousness better than in my 10 minute presentation. I know that I still need to work more and spend more time practicing my presentation, but for the most part I'm content with how I did. 

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P          AP       CR       NC

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

• The reason why I feel that i deserve a "P" grade on my my Lesson 2 project is because I met all of the requirements, while still trying to incorporate a fun and interesting presentation. Both my hook and lesson activity required each student too think about a possible answer or write down their thoughts. Aside from that, I feel that my first answer was a very specific response to my essential question. I also sited my research and reference my mentor a little. While meeting all the requirements, I even tried to focus on asking the class lots of questions in order to keep them engaged. 

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

• I believe that I excelled in being able to give the class a specific answer to my essential question. Even though I may have bored some, I  feel that those who did listen and were actively engaged in my presentation were able to learn something new. 

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

• If I could go back in time and redo my Lesson 2 I would choose to practice presenting my power point more than I did the first time. Aside from that, I would also want to try to focus more on making my presentation fun and engaging for the entire class. Maybe next time I'll give little rewards in order to grab the students attention. 

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?  

• I'm thinking about revolving my second answer around the firefighter's equipment. I could possibly say that another way for a group of firefighters to limit injuries and fatalities when fighting structural fires is by making sure that their personal protective equipment (PPEs) is in working condition at all times. I would have to do more research on this, but for now I'm thinking about focusing on the importance that fire equipment may have on a firefighter's life.