Innovative fire fighting training technologies has given US Coast Guard recruits the best protection in the war against injury. Katherine Crichton writes.
LOCATED on the coast of New Jersey, in the USA, the Cape May Coast Guard Training and Support Centre forges America’s volunteers into trained, highly motivated and proud maritime guardians.
In order to assist them achieve this goal, the US Coast Guard implemented a customised Emergency Response Training Environment™ from technology company BullEx Digital Safety.
BullEx engineers worked closely with members of the Coast Guard to create the fire training simulator to prepare recruits for the challenges of fighting a shipboard fire.
The Emergency Response Training Environment is a 30″ live-fire training trailer with four training compartments designed to simulate the close and confined quarters onboard a ship.
Four separate rooms, approximately 11″ x 4″ each, present trainees with different live-fire emergencies. Instructors have complete control of each of the fires and can observe trainees from a central control room.
Chief Warrant Officer, Tracy Allen, of the US Coast Guard said the organisation takes the responsibility of training each recruit very seriously.
“In addition to preparing these men and women to assist others in times of emergency, it is important that they are also trained to protect each other and themselves when necessary,” Allen said.
“Fire hazards exist everywhere. If a fire breaks out onboard a ship – evacuating and calling the fire department is not an option.
“Live-fire extinguisher training encompassing all classes of fire ensures that our newest members will be able to react quickly and effectively if necessary.”
At the start each training cycle, a trainee discovers a compartment fire and, after a quick size-up, must alert the control room of the specific emergency using an intercom outside of the room.
Once alerted, the instructor activates an alarm and the trainee attempts to extinguish the flames, before the fire grows too large. Trainees must determine the class of fire they are fighting and use the proper technique to successfully extinguish the flames.
The Coast Guard Training Environment uses BullEx’s advanced extinguisher sensing and flame control technology to provide an intense and realistic, yet completely safe fire scenario.
Recruits fight the propane-fed flames with a BullEx SmartExtinguisher®, which discharges only compressed air and water, while the fire props sense where recruits aim and sweep, automatically varying the flames in response. A range of fire scenarios are simulated in each room by using a trash can, stove top, flammable liquids locker or motor prop.
Ryan O’Donnell, BullEx’s CEO, said the company is very honoured to be able to work with the US Coast Guard.
“We are proud of work with the Coast Guard to create first class training environments tasked with preparing all recruits for the challenges of shipboard fires,” O’Donnell explained.
“The goal of BullEx’s Emergency Response Training Environments is to provide trainees with intense and realistic emergency training, while maintaining complete safety and I think together with the US Coast Guard, we have achieved this,” he added.
BullEx Australia 0400 822 271.