Chris Johnson sent in these photos of how the guys from Concord, NH Tower Ladder 1 found a better use for the bag they were issued as an MCI triage kit… They cut the waist belt off of the pouch and added some quick clips, allowing it to fit onto the side of the Hydra Ram perfectly. They use this to carry the through-the-lock tools hands free and in an organized way anywhere they go. The bag is actually clipped onto the swivel-ends of the shoulder strap, not the Hydra Ram itself. This allows the whole bag to come off when the shoulder strap is dropped to use the tool (although you can still use the tool with the bag hanging from it.) They also added some rope zipper pulls so the bag can be opened with gloves on.
Through-the-Lock Bag Contents:
• K-Tool
• Key Tools: standard one, home made one, and a 5/32†Fox one
• Shove Knife
• Vice Grips with Cable Handle
• (2) Door Chocks
Leave it to a truckie to dump out the med bag . . .
Love the concept though! 🙂
Love it! I’m going to do this on our truck, Thank you for sharing!
We added a 25 foot length of rope to the FE bag. Has a dog collar clasp on one end and a big knot on the other. When forcing an inward opening apartment door from the hallway of a multiple dwelling, loop the rope around the doorknob and clasp it with the dog latch on itself. Throw the other end of the rope toward the means of egress in the public hallway. If conditions deteriorate and you have to retreat the company out of the apartment, you can close the door remotely and not have to take the beating of trying to get back to the door itself to close it.
Absolutely brilliant, and the dog leash idea is another awesome design
Great idea and so is the dog collar bit.
Great idea! and could you show me the picture of the dog collar idea?
Nice setup! Compact and well thought out.
I think the dog collar he’s referring to is called a snap hook. There are various kinds shown here
http://cdwplus.com/singlemenuM.html
Seems to me a carabiner would work, or even a loop tied in the end of the knot, which you can use directly or slip.
Looks like a pretty good idea…I’d switch out the K-tool for a Lil-Rex tool.
Carabiner, snap hook, dog leash hook all work. Found that wrapping the rope around the door handle twice then snugging the latch up to the handle on the rope keeps it from coming loose. We used to have the Can positioned firefighter crawl on his belly and use the 6′ hook to pull the door closed once everyone was out of the apartment. The rope is a lot safer and as I mentioned before, the brothers avoid taking a beating getting back to close it.
Another tidbit of advice….PRIOR to forcing the fire apartment door, force the door to the apartment next door and / or across the hall so you have a nearby area of refuge. The Engine Co. will be in the process of stretching the line so you should have a few moments to get at least one other door opened.
Jason,RSFDNY Thank you for your information.
I really appreciate it.
Do you know who manufactured the bag? The idea is great having a hard time finding a similiar bag
Does this qualify as a murse?
Thanks for the positive replies.
@Squad: The traige bag came from a local NH EMS supply company called Bound Tree. They’re a good company and sell numerous products designed in house. I’m not sure if this particular bag is their own product or not, but here’s a link to the product page on their site:
http://online.boundtree.com/store/product_index.asp?Cat=MCI%2C+SAFETY%2C+TRAFFIC&SubCat=MASS+CASUALTY+KITS&Prod=681260
We’ve also used extra Ferno IV kit bags that came with our large ALS bags. They’re a similar arrangement of a couple interior pockets and elastic loops and have worked well for various kits of small truck company tools (elevator keys, etc). They didn’t fit they hydraram as well as this triage bag, though.
@Lance: I’d love to swap the K for a Lil-Rex but the price is a lil-high in the current budget situation. It’s definately a superior tool, though.
Thanks again & be safe Brothers!
Chris
Great stuff Chris!!
I wonder if I could hang a framing square off of it….