Preparing for fire emergency is the best way of minimising their effects whenever they occur. Apart from enforcing safety laws in buildings, municipal councils also place water outlets at strategic locations around towns in order to ease the work of fire fighters. People who operate such equipment should first go through fire hydrant training courses to ensure they handle them safely and easily during emergencies.
Water coming from inside these structures is always under very high pressure. The intensity, if directed to a person, can cause skin damage or even break a limb. It is therefore imperative that whoever handles these facilities is aware of the safety precautions. Proper wearing of body protective equipments including gloves, headgears, and overalls while on duty will also assist to minimise effects of mishaps.
The public should also be kept away from the scenes during any activities. Proper coaching also helps in reducing damages to the facility during its use. Trainees are usually given reasons why they should do something in a particular way and not just directions. In this way, they learn the importance of simple procedures like limiting the speed of opening or closing a valve.
In addition, a trained person can operate these facilities with much ease hence facilitate quicker emergency response. Using a wrench to free nuts for example can be pretty slow for someone who is not conversant with the tricks. Improperly fixed hoses can also pull out and cause damages to vehicles and buildings before it is contained. Messages about properties of a hydrant are always communicated using colours, letters, and digits on the caps.
The valve should only be opened after the hose is fixed to the engine and the connections double-checked. One should also learn how to read the different types of messages painted on the caps. Pressure and diameter of outlets are always indicated on them. By understanding these codes, a person will easily determine if equipment is fit enough for the job hence avoid wasting time in trial and error. The programs also incorporate mapping.
Numbers and letters can also be used to show the diameter and pressure released. The operator therefore gets all the information even before opening. This reduces disappointments of spending time to access a facility during emergencies only to find that it cannot do the job. Learners also get the rare opportunity of venturing deeply into the geography of a town. This will involve mapping of different plumb lines across the city.
There will be no need to spend on contractors whenever cleaning or simple repair is to be done. The modules also cover aspects like leak detection and pressure analysis. Moreover, trainees acquire knowledge about different products as they interact with manufacturers and therefore are able to give advice on which ones to purchase.
Most importantly, the courses stress on the importance of hygiene. Water hydrants are usually connected to the mainstream supply and therefore contamination should be avoided at all costs. This calls for proper use of back flow checkers and other practices that enhance cleanliness. The courses are therefore comprehensive enough for anyone who wants to make a competent fire fighter.
Read more about What You Should Know About Fire Hydrant Training Courses.
