The Shelbys: LSU FETI 2012

Thursday, we had a field trip to tour the LSU FETI (Fire and Emergency Training Institute) which is one of the top 2 schools in the country for training fire fighters. This is the second time we have been there but the 1st time we’ve been as Bayou Cajun Homeschoolers. The kids get to tour the facilities, learn fire safety, get to see a video made by a previous group of graduating recruits, get up close and personal with a fire truck, and learn all about the firemen’s gear, etc.

Here’s our group:

They took us to a classroom where Crew Chief Crain talked to the kids and parents about what the recruits have to go through during their 14 week program. It is a very tough and rigorous 14 weeks with them learning first hand experience with the use of live fire.

Each graduating class must make a video of their 14 week experience. The children got to watch the video by the graduating class from Dec. 2011.

Here’s the actual video we watched:

After the video, Crew Chief Crain spoke to us about fire safety.

Then, they brought in 3 recruits from the current spring class. This was week 4 for them. They were going to compete against each other to see who could get their entire uniform and gear on the quickest. They must be able to complete this task in 2 minutes or less.

On your mark, get set, GO…

Here’s the video of their 2-minute drill recorded by Candi:

After the 2-Minute Drill, the recruits got up-close and personal with the children so they would know not to be afraid of a fire fighter if they were ever in a fire and saw them in their house. One of the instructors went through all of their gear and uniform teaching the children all about it.

Abram with two of the recruits

Cai and Cade

Ian

Loved this stained glass in one of their offices.

Checking out one of the fire trucks!

This year we were not able to ride in the fire trucks or watch a live burn like we did in 2010 but they pulled us around the facility in a trailer so we could see all of the real props they use to simulate “real” situations they may have to face. They actually have a real burn house which is a 2 bedroom one bath house that is fully set up like a real house that they use to experience a house fire situation. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a good picture of it from where I was in the trailer.