Fire Service Exploring

Fire Service Exploring (sometimes referred to as just Fire Exploring or Exploring, while its participants are called "Explorers") is one of the career-oriented programs offered by Learning for Life, a branch of the Boy Scouts of America.

Description

Fire Service Exploring is a program offered by Learning for Life that introduces major aspects of the fire service to young adults ages 14-21. Once enough training has been acquired, Explorers can be allowed on actual fire/medical calls under certain conditions such as, but not limited to::*Explorers cannot enter a structure unless deemed stable and secure.:*Explorers must maintain a safe distance from a structural fire.

Certain local, state, and federal laws as well as National BSA Regulations restrict the duties an Explorer can perform on a fire ground or a medical call.

Organization

The program is divided into numbered local groups called "Posts" which are sponsored and organized by a fire department in the area. This fire department provides some funding, materials, gear, and a place to meet and train.A Post is typically run by the post officers, headed by an Explorer Captain, who is first Explorer in command and usually elected annually by the Post membership. In addition to the captain, there are one or more lieutenants who act as second and third in command. Besides the officers, other positions include secretary, engineer, treasurer and others. Also, a number of adult leaders, called "advisers", are required of every post. Advisers are above the captain in command and advise the officers and provide training and supervision for Post activities and events.

Training/Duties

Fire Explorers are trained in relatively basic tasks that can be performed to assist firefighters working on the fire ground or the site of a medical emergency. Those tasks range from dressing hydrants to filling air bottles.

Medical Training

Some fire exploring posts offer medical training which can be as basic as a simple first aid certification to as advanced as a first responder certification. Explorers may be trained with basic EMS, such as CPR, spinal immobilization, IV spike, and vitals.

Explorers do go on EMS calls when riding out with their crew, and may offer EMS support.

As mentioned before, there are many limits as to what an Explorer can and cannot do. Task can very depending on what the officer allows the explorer to do and the extent of the training the explorer has received.

Uniforms and Insignia

Fire Explorers receive uniforms that identify the department that their in and mentions that the individual is an Explorer. The types of uniforms are listed below.

Uniforms will almost always bear the insignia of Fire Exploring and/or the fire department they run out of. Class A uniforms can bear the American Flag shoulder badge, the official Fire Explorers badge , and sometimes the badge of the department they represent and various pins like name plates etc. The Class B uniform T-shirt will be a simple Explorers or fire department logo printed in the shirt. Turnout gear may or may not have much more than the name of the Explorer printed on the back on the jacket.

Media depiction

* In the television series, "Code Red", the child character, Danny Blake, is a Fire Explorer who enjoys unusually privileged access to Fire Department activities due to his father being a Battalion Fire Chief.

See also

* Law Enforcement Exploring
* Explorer Search and Rescue
* Exploring
* Learning for Life

External links

* [http://www.learning-for-life.org/exploring/fire/index.html|Official Site of Fire Service Exploring]