Over the last two Monday parades 2030 (Elmdon and Yardley) Squadron's Red and Blue flights have enjoyed a visit to Hay Mills Fire station. Both nights were wonderful both ran by white watch.
 
The first part of the evening was a safety brief and a talk about the station and the role of a fire fighter and how the role is much more than just putting out fires. Cadets where then shown around the fire engine and all the machinery and tools carried to rescue lives. During the talk the cadets saw someone in the full fire fighting personal protective equipment with breathing apparatus and mask on so it could be explained what all the protective clothing does in a fire and how the breathing apparatus works.
 
Then it was drill time, the cadets where split into two groups. One of the groups was taken to the tower where they where shown the drills for climbing a ladder and how to climb it correctly. Once shown it was time to put what the cadets had been shown into action. The cadets walked up to the ladder one at a time and would shout "FOOT THE LADDER" then another cadets would put one foot on the ladder and hold rails for safety and give the safe sign "LADDER FOOTED" the cadets then climbed in to the tower where a fire fighter made sure the cadet got off the ladder safely and correctly. All the cadets went into the tower when they where in the tower they climbed to the top on the fixed internal steps where they got to see the views of Birmingham city centre skyline. Cpl Jacob Henry said " What a fantastic drill to do with the professionals and what wonderful views"
 
While cadets were in the tower the second group were doing hose drills. Each cadet was given a reel of hose and they did "yard drills" with them just as white watch do daily on a working tour. Every cadet ran there hose out then run the hose to make sure all kinks and twists where out, then they were rolled back up nice and tight. Then it was time to get the water going with the hose been ran and the attachments been fixed and the water turned on. The fire fighters stood and helped the cadets control the hose. Explaining exactly how it would be used in putting out a fire and what the different sprays did.
 
The evening's for both flights were brilliant leaving on a real high. CPL B Everrett said " it was a real eye opener, to see how hard some of the drills are it clearly is a very hard and physically demanding job ".
 
" Special thanks to the fire fighters of White watch Hay Mills fire station from 2030 (Elmdon and Yardley) Squadron"