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atfcobra2313
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Re: Surviving Disaster
I'm not sure about tom but my two worst fears of dying are drowning and fire.
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9/13/2009, 1:40 pm
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ATF Phoenix
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Re: Surviving Disaster
I hate to say it, but I haven't seen the show yet. Sounds like a pretty good one. I am assuming that in the high rise building, you are above the fire floor and visibility is still fair. The cell phone thing sounds like a pretty good idea. Texting is good, if you know exactly where you are. Just remember that most high rise buildings have two staiwells. One could be blocked by fire, so you would need to plan for the alternate route as well. Stairwells are designed to be a sort of "safe area". They have a greater fire resistance rating than the hallways. That is why fire doors close when the fire alarm goes off and staiwell doors all have signs that say "keep closed" and "do not prop open." If the doors are open, it negates the effectiveness of the safe area. The stairwell then becomes a chimney, counducting fire and heat to the upper floors. The only sure way to be ready is to practice your escape route regularly. If you work in a high rise, just practice going to the staiwells when you leave for lunch or to go home. Take one for a week, then the alternate. You'll be amazed at how quickly it becomes second nature. If there is smoke in the hallways, then you will have no visibility and you must crawl low underneath it. Heat and smoke rise, so the cooler, cleaner air will be near the floor. Visibility is better there, as well. Be prepared because distances will seem greater when you are crawling. I have crawled into houses and swore that I was about 800 feet from the front door, only to realise that the true distance was more like 200. You work harder and cover less distance with each stride when you crawl, so it feels like you should be much further than you actually are.
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9/13/2009, 6:42 pm
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Falconn
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Re: Surviving Disaster
Very nice review Tom...
Thank you for the suggestions. I know they are based on your experience and training. Priceless!
There were some "last case" scenerio stuff in the previous episode that I wondered what you thought of. When you get a chance to watch, please let me know.
-Falcon
Last edited by Falconn, 9/13/2009, 8:26 pm
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9/13/2009, 8:23 pm
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ATF Phoenix
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Re: Surviving Disaster
Ok, saw the episode. Lots of good information. There were a few things that I saw that were a little misleading. First, he talked about flashover. This was when the keyboards and the tabletops were producing vapors. He said that you had only a few seconds to get to cover. The only cover in a flashover is being out of the room. Flashover is a condition that occurs when every object in the room reaches its autoignition temperature simultaneously. That means EVERYTHING! You included. Firefighters in turnouts included. The thing that most people don't realize is that smoke inhalation means heat inhalation. Smoke is toxic, true, but an even bigger problem is heated smoke. The airway threshold for a human is 195 degrees for one minute. Skin threshold is 300 degrees for one minute. Temperatures in a flashover reach 1200 degrees. No survival. Temperatures just outside the room may still be bearable, but inside the room you cannot survive. Firefighters are taught that when they see the contents beginning to off gas. spray water at teh ceiling level to attempt to cool the room for a second and bail out. You cannot stop flashover, but you may delay it for a second. When it occurs contents, carpet, plants, everything goes up. Bad juju. Tommy no likey! Then there was the part about wetting down your clothing to protect yourself. This can work if you use it on cloth as a filter to help with the toxic smoke, but wetting your clothing in general is risky. Kinda like steaming a lobster. I've been steam burned several times around my neck and ears, when my hood didn't quite get pulled over my mask enough. Not pleasant. Can't imagine that all over your body! Now for the good stuff. Breaching a wall...you better believe it! We are taught it and we practice it regularly. The more walls you can get between you and the fire, the better. Like he said, watch out for electrical lines. It may look tight between the boards, but if I can make through a 12 inch space with an airpack on, any of you can make it. If you have any other questions or comments, feel free to write. I'm no expert, I just know what I've seen and been taught by the experts.lol 
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9/16/2009, 8:39 pm
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kodiak08
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Re: Surviving Disaster
SOUNDS LIKE I NEED TO CHECK THIS SHOW OUT. WHAT CHANNEL, DAY, AND TIME? KODIAK
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9/16/2009, 8:58 pm
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Falconn
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Re: Surviving Disaster
Tom,
Great review.... Thank you.
Kodiak,
Tuesdays at 10:00 on Spike.
-Falcon
Last edited by Falconn, 9/16/2009, 11:16 pm
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9/16/2009, 11:15 pm
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atfcobra2313
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Re: Surviving Disaster
But 9 central time.
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9/17/2009, 4:19 pm
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