Photo By Master Sgt. Shaiyla Hakeem | U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Eugene Blais (center), with 655 Regional Support Group, 316...... read more read more
“Fire safety is important because it saves lives.”
Spoken by U.S. Marine Corps Master Sgt. Daniel Helfrich, senior enlisted advisor with Security Cooperation Team 19.2, who conducted a 5-day fire warden safety course at Joint Training Center-Jordan (JTC-J) in September.
He has been a Marine for more than 22 years and has worked in the fire service industry since 1997, serving with fire departments across the nation and following in the footsteps of his father who started fighting fires in 1986. Helfrich said fire safety training at JTC-J is extremely important because if a fire breaks out, it will take everyone to either help extinguish it or clear the area for the Jordanian Fire Department.
“Thousands of people die every year due to not having an understanding of fire safety,” he explained, “With fire safety training, people gain an understanding of what is going on and then can make sound choices on how to react.”
The course included 40 trainees and encompassed instruction areas of overall fire warden safety, fire scene preservation, fire behavior, which is determining what to do based on how the fire looks or what it is doing, and fire extinguisher training. According to Helfrich, most people do not have experience in using a fire extinguisher; they think it is a simple task, however, it is not as simple as one would think. For example, what is burning determines the type of extinguisher to use, among other things.
“Most people do not get close enough to the fire for the extinguisher to work,” explained Helfrich, “Or they don’t apply the extinguishing agent in the correct manner.”
On the final day of the course, trainees participated in a practical application of putting out contained flames by using a fire extinguisher and applying what they learned.
In attendance was U.S. Army Sgt. Tatyana Keeler, a medic with 38th Infantry Division, Task Force Spartan, Indiana National Guard, serving as pharmacy noncommissioned officer in charge at JTC-J. She learned that fire safety is not as simple as just putting out a fire, and it also requires teamwork; everyone can help in some way or another.
“Maybe they cannot use an extinguisher, but they can help get them [fire extinguishers], as well as aid in crowd control,” she said.
Keeler explained she is a hands-on learner so putting out a real fire aided her in knowing what to do in the instance of a real fire. She described extinguishing the flames during training as, “exhilarating,” in knowing that she now has the familiarity and ability to put out an actual fire. She learned that fire safety is not as simple as just dousing a fire, and it also requires teamwork.
“I think the training makes me a better Solider because it not only teaches me a new skill, but also reinforces teamwork and comradery with my fellow Soldiers,” explained Keeler, “…teamwork is the key to putting out an effective fire.”
| Date Taken: | 09.24.2019 |
| Date Posted: | 09.24.2019 04:44 |
| Story ID: | 343262 |
| Location: | JO |
| Web Views: | 181 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Jordan has flare for safety, by MSG Shaiyla Hakeem, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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