Week 12: Days 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5

Sorry for the late posts, but it has been a long and tiring week. I haven't really felt like posting....but I am sure you understand.

Day 5: Friday

0700 PT. Long run through the woods (Approximately 3.2 miles)

We then had ANOTHER quiz. Now, we haven't covered any new material since our last quizzes....but we were again lectured about who runs the Academy and who decided when we have quizzes (See Week 12: Day 2). This quiz was entitled "I think I know everything." it was basically all EMT information.

After our quiz, we had lecture on Forcible Entry. We learned about the tools and techniques, various types of doors, windows, etc. We then went out and practiced ripping out dead bolts, ripping apart door jambs, unlocking car doors with lock kits, and then we went over to an abandoned house on the Academy grounds and practiced using a set of "irons" to gain entry into locked houses and rooms.

It was A LOT of fun and I must admit that I am pretty good at getting into locked cars....or at least I was every time I tried on the Durango we had to practice on.

We also lost another recruit today. The recruit that got us in trouble on Monday with the phone call was fired. Hefailed his initial EMT certification practicals, and then failed the retest. With that.....his time with the Dept has come to an end!!

Day 4: Thursday

0700 PT. Combat Challenge

We then spent another day on the pad. This time we advanced hoselines by ourselves while flowing and not flowing. We then loaded hoseline into a hose. For every floor, you must have 50 ft of hose available to reach any room on that floor. We loaded the first floor, and then loaded the second floor....another very demanding day.

I finished the day very battered and bruised.

Day 3: Wednesday

0700 PT. Long run, approximately 3.5 miles

We then spent the day out on the pad doing practicals. We tied off equipment for hoisting, dressing drills, flaking hoselines (setting it up for deployment) and advancing charged hoselines.

Advancing hoselines is TOUGH!! We first advanced on our knees with no water flowing, then on our knees with water flowing. We then advanced while standing both not flowing and flowing.

Day 2: Tuesday

PT at 0700. We all carried the telephone poles around and did exercises with them. We also had a relay race around the academy using tractor tires.

We then spent the day lecturing on Fire Hose, Hose Streams, and Appliances . It was a long lecture with a lot of info. A recruit had the nerve to ask that we have an extra day to study as opposed to take 2 quizzes the next day.....let's just say that was the wrong thing to do!!

Day 1: Monday

We started with PT at 0700. Things weren't going so well and we had to redo a few exercises (due to the person leading) and the instructors got fed up with it. We ran 2 towers and a lap around the academy. After that, we were told to get back to the class since it was apparent we didn't want to PT. We got back to the classroom and sat there from about 7:45 until 9:00.

We then had lecture on building construction. During one of our 10 minute breaks, one of the recruits on light duty decided to call to schedule his MRI (after wasting 7 of the 10 minutes). The lieutenant came back in the room to lecture and the recruit was still on the phone. He then walked out into the hallway while on the phone. The Lt. Was obviously not happy and left the room. Two instructors then came back and asked how much extra time we took and informed us we "owed them" that much time. Just before lunch, we found out what that meant....

We went into the hallway and spent 5 minutes doing wall sits, pushup position and iron crosses. The recruit on light duty that caused it all obviously sat out and had to count out the 5 minutes...."1, I'm sorry Lieutenant; 2, I'm sorry Lieutenant"....up to 300. We found out he has difficulty counting...and he counts slow. It took nearly 20 minutes to finish our "5" minute punishment!!

After lunch, we went out and toured some building sites with homes under construction to look at build types and hazards, etc.