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VES Video

Here is a pretty good, basic video on VES (vent, enter and search). It has good demonstration points from the beginning of the operation to the complete search of one room. The thing I like about this video is the use of two persons for the VES.

Although this can be done with one person, you must weigh the risk vs. benefit, it is ideal to do this with two people. However your department chooses to perform this function, you must train regularly.

One thing that is not mentioned in the video is the fact that personnel performing VES must be highly trained and experienced. Knowing how to read changing conditions, fire behavior and building construction is a must.

Keep on training and stay safe out there.

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Permalink Reply by Shareef Abdu Nur on November 16, 2010 at 11:35am

These guys did a textbook job! Very well done! Their tool selection was excellent! If I were to offer any constructive criticism, I would say only 3 things that we have found works a little better for us:

1. Before a member sounds the floor, he/she should sweep the floor with the hook or haligan feeling for any possible victims and then sound the floor.

2. Turn the ladder on its' side and strike the window with the beam side vs. the flat side. This keeps debris from getting caught beween your rungs and gives you a stronger surface area for striking the sash.

3. If/when a victim is found, we should radio to Command that we found a victim, where we found him/her, and how we are extracting the victim.

Also, it was a great job on teaching the members to check twice for orientation under the smoke. Great maneuver!

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