It’s often said that when we teach at a drill or class, we ensure the student has learned when they show an alteration in their behavior or activity. I’ve often said that I learn best via bruises, either yours or mine, but I’d prefer you took the bruise and I learned the lesson. To this day I remember how I learned not to put your hammer on top of the ladder when you are working — some bruises and lessons last longer than others.

The Houston Fire Department suffered a tragedy in April last year when they lost two members, Captain James Harlow, 50, and Probationary Firefighter Damien Hobbs, 30, during a house fire that rapidly deteriorated. Original reports expressed that an elderly couple was still in the building and a few days ago the Texas State Fire Marshal’s Office issued its report on the LODDs.

Following the loss, the Houston Fire Department gathered together and created its 10 Rules of Survival, which it gave to members late last year. First and foremost, the department and its leaders of every rank are to be commended for both supplying the opportunity for their members and for each of us to learn.

I say opportunity because learning is shown through changed behavior, and as I review the rules I’m willing to say there have been times when I haven’t always lived up to them.

While the rules were devised by and for Houston, there are lessons to learn for all by going over the 10 Rules of Survival in turn and finding out how they apply to us:

Seat belts — Use of seat belts is mandatory any point in which the vehicle ismoving.

Pretty clear and I know that I am, I believe, now in total compliance, although it was not always so. Learning how to effectively hook up your SCBA, fire safety gear, while belted goes a long way in helping with this. The front portion of the equipment really sets the pace on this. If you’re the driver or officer, demand it and lead by example.

Speed — Obey all traffic laws; obey all HFD policies; do not bust red lights or intersections; non-emergency response is acceptable.

It is TOO easy to let this slide, but it’s not even a little bit acceptable. If responding in your personal vehicle on a call back or as a volunteer, you can be so preoccupied listening to the call and thinking about other things that you can very easily forgot how fast you’re going. There are effectively three speeds; under the speed limit, at the speed limit and over the speed limit. If you go a little over, before you realize it, you could be going a lot over.

PPE — Only HFD issued PPE; no extra layers for insulation; weakest part of PPE ensemble is the SCBA face gear.

The use of PPE every time seems a pretty basic concept, but every year there are lots of injuries that never needed to happen because people didn’t wear each part of their PPE. There are lots of excuses, and in lots of departments it is very hard to get appropriately fitting, useful PPE. It is very simple to pass over certain parts of our PPE and even I’ve done it in the past. There were situations when I didn’t wear my hood but I learned my lesson. I even wore street shoes at the station one day and learned that the new wheel chocks had moving parts. Let’s just say my foot modeling career was over at that point.

We must also always remember that our PPE is only as useful as our weakest link. Before my department provided bailout equipment, I was purchasing my own ropes and carabineers. While buying components at the local mountain climbing store, the salesperson asked me what I was getting the carabineers for. When I told her, she mentioned that the metal may melt or warp at a fairly low temperature. So, I questioned at what temperature the rope would burn through, too.

Size-up — Perform a 360; accurate arrival reports; use TIC for temperature reading prior to entry, communicate through radio.

I am a real believer in at least the team leader, if not every person, seeing the full picture. So take the time and take the walk. Even though we teach that size-up starts long before the call, you require a personal, visual reference. We can often feel that we don’t have the time; we have been given an order and must get in the building quickly.

When we look at LODDs used in structure fires, many occur at residential properties where a 360 wouldn’t be that challenging to accomplish. If you’re an officer or team leader, it’s a must. And if you are sending teams into harm’s way, you should make sure they’ve taken the walk before they go in.

Water before you go — Goal to get an uninterrupted water supply prior to entry.

Not very long ago our district only had hydrants in a low percentage of the area. We went to plenty of fires, others and ours, where if the water hadn’t been figured out it simply took us longer to lose the fight. As first due units it’s easy — and again I have done it — to get so focused on getting even a shallow amount of tank water on the fire that you don’t remember to lock down a plan for an uninterrupted supply. A blitz attack, darkening it down from the outside makes sense, but command, the hydrant man, the chauffer, and the guy on the nozzle all has to make sure we’re bringing water to the fight, with more than necessary in reserve.

Low-Low-Low — On entry; inside; on exit.

When I began in the fire service, I had a great instructor by the name of Tom Maloney. Tom was always adamant about this tactic. It is a habit that many of us lose over time. Heat, especially from hidden fire, has a way of increasing without us realizing it. And on this issue, we’re kind of like lemmings: once we see one firefighter standing up, we tend to all stand up.

Ventilation — Goal of first ladder is ventilation; release heat and smoke to benefit firefighters and survivable victims.

I could talk for hours on this. Until recently I was the captain on the Truck in our department and I really believe many departments have lost the art of coordinated ventilation, and are much too focused on getting the line on the fire first.

RIT — RIT on every incident; in place ASAP.

The speed and complexity with which fires can occur simply makes this a necessity. Keeping the RIT available for each call will become a habit, a learned behavior over time. Not unlike the water supply rule, the period when you most require it isn’t the time to find out you do not have it.

Crew integrity — Not an option; critical to incident accountability; call Mayday early.

Freelancing is dangerous to you and me, so you shouldn’t. We often see people do it and don’t want to be the bad guy. Let’s be forthcoming, most of us are type A, get it done people and don’t want to only stand around. What we don’t convey enough (myself included) is that when you freelance, you screw me up — so stop it.

We must also know that the building and its contents are less forgiving of human errors. The amount of time we now have to realize that we are in trouble and get ourselves out is much less than it was 15 years ago. Situational awareness, knowing your own condition and sending it up the chain, is paramount to self-survival. We have to make early Mayday calls socially acceptable in the firehouse.

Communication — All through incident; interior and exterior progress reports.

We all have people in our departments who people feel talk on the radio too much. It happens and newer members see us roll our eyes and they begin to learn that talking on the radio is bad. I have thought it myself and I am positive I’ve conveyed it.

There is no way for command to be informed of what is happening and how we are working if we don’t give feedback by communicating or progress reports. If you’re on the outside, demand reports. If the interior team isn’t providing the right information, make them repeat it. Do it enough and you will get what you need each time.

The above rules are basic, but sound. There are many; the key is to truly learn them.