Firefighters fight smoke blindness

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Fire calls are the norm for firefighters when it comes to emergency response. They often have to make split-second decisions and be ready for anything at a moment's notice.

But no matter how much training firefighters go through, it's hard to be ready when they suddenly lose their sight fighting a fire.

"Vision impairment is a big problem in a lot of scenes," said firefighter Abram Barrera of the Austin Fire Department . "And we actually had an incident where that became an issue."

That topic came up often when firefighters met for a training session earlier this year.

"One of the components of that program had to do with the firefighters' ability to function safely inside smoke-filled buildings," said Capt. Mike Williams, "where they were unfamiliar with the building, never been there before, can't see."

But finding how to deal with this issue was impossible. Then Williams had a thought.

"We started thinking, 'OK, who would be an expert in those kinds of skill sets?' and that's what led us to Texas School for the Blind," said Williams.

Eventually they got together and created classes, such as a 'firefighter down' situation, designed to strengthen senses other than vision. The idea is to maintain control when a firefighter's vision is lost and to keep from going into a panic, especially in a situation that's already very stressful.

"We are visual learners so when you take the vision away a panic will set in," said Mary Faith Coward of the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired . "So part of their training is to get them used to not having their vision."

Cowart says firefighters were also asked to do common tasks blindfolded, like laundry and other house chores, to help them adjust.

Williams is grateful to the school and says the training will be a real life saver.

"The better we can perform our jobs, the better it is for our citizenry," said Williams.