When seconds count, can we count on you?

A lot of attention is given to being fast in certain areas of our job; getting oxygen administered quickly to someone with low SPO2 stats, getting water on the fire, and performing primary searches. To do any of these things quickly, we better make sure we can get inside first. Think about it. When push comes to shove and we need inside, can YOU be depended on to get the job done? How long has it been since you have had to force a door open? With all honesty, its been a few months for me. Think its not an important skill? My last three force entry situations have all been for EMS reasons. In one of those, I was looking at the patient through the front door, and witnessed her fall head first to the floor. Pressure situation? Immediate need? ARE YOU READY? Don't be the one that stands back, or is happy to grab the irons for someone else. Be the answer and be ready to make a positive impact.

The "Irons". Without a doubt, they are the most versatile tools we have, and they are invaluable. I invite you to open your tool compartment and reintroduce yourself to them. Have a table top discussion and share your knowledge with others. You have encountered things in your career that others have not, so please share it. We never know what might make a difference to someone later on.
I know that many of us think "I will just mule kick the door if I need to" and I also know that that sometimes works. Well, if you make "kicking" your habit and lose your skills of force entry using tools, you might fail when someone needs you the most.

So as we approach our door we are going to force, size it up. What is it made out of? How many locks does it have? Which way does it swing? For this scenario, our door will be an inward swinging door with a single dead-bolt lock above the door knob (very standard for residential front doors). Unless you are attempting to cause as little damage as possible because thats what the situation dictates, you should always "shock" the door. Striking the door at the top, middle, and bottom with the axe or halligan will tell you how solid the door is, or where potential locks might be located. On some doors, you may be able to force them using only the halligan tool. By using the adze end and making a purchase point, some locks will fail and you have done your job. If the lock holds, you will need to reposition the halligan and put the fork in your purchase point. Have the axe strike the back of the adze until the crotch of the fork is even with the stop of the door frame. The curve of the fork should be towards the door. If you are holding the halligan, keep your eyes on the fork and trust the person striking. If you are striking with the axe, be on one knee and hold the axe upright so the tool has a greater surface area to strike the adze. But how do you develop the trust that he/she wont hit you while holding the halligan? Train! With your eyes focused on the fork, you say "hit" or "strike" until you have the tool where you want it. Tell your partner "STOP". This should be the only other time you need to look at your partner, and this is done to verify that they heard you and are stopping their strikes. Push towards the door till it pops open. You may need to reposition your tool to finish the job, but some extra force to that lock should get you in.

Remember when seconds count, you can be the difference, so stay on your skills and keep training. Go around the firehouse with your crew and size up different doors. Talk about the possibility of different locks being present and how you would mitigate those issues. And again, share your knowledge with others.

STAY SAFE!
Justin Longerich
C-Shift STO