Jacob McConnell Eagle Scout project

Around a year ago I got into a roll over school bus crash on my way to a wrestling tournament. We landed on the roof of the school bus. After the bus stopped rolling we got out of the bus. Luckily everyone was safe and only had minor injuries. After using all of my scouting knowledge on first aid training, I assessed the situation and made my way to the people who were hurt the worst. First, I went to a girl who had a fractured leg she was saying her leg hurt when it was touched. I laid her down and got her leg elevated. I also suffered from a gash on my forehead and suffered a minor concussion. I was praised by adults and loved ones on how calm and collected I was after the accident. I was encouraged to join the Cutler Township Volunteer Fire Department. On my first day, I noticed a lot of things that aren't in your typical fire house. The fire trucks were extremely outdated and the hoses were older than a typical fire hose. I got to talking with the Fire Chief about the fire house. He said that they have been needing to get a hose washer for a while now. I told him that I was a Life Scout in the scouting community and for my Eagle project I can make a hose washer. He thought it was an amazing idea and I did too due the amount of time and effort I put into this fire station, and how much time and effort they put into their rural community and me without compensation.

A fire hose washer will greatly reduce the amount of time it will take to clean fire hoses after each use given everyone on there is volunteering their time. A portable fire hose washing station is a flat bed cart that has a soaking tank for dirty fire hose to soak and loosen the dirt that is on the hose. Once done soaking the hose will go to a power hose washer that has bristles and sprays high pressure hot water at the hose that is going through it. Then the hose will be sent to a hose winder to roll it up to keep it off the dirty ground. The hose is taken off the winder and hung to dry.

When dirt is left on the hose it acts like sandpaper on the hose reducing the life span of the fire hose. The total cost of this fire hose washer is $3500 due to shipping costs and the price of supplies we are buying. We also have to set a budget because we don't want any extra funds. The scouting rules say that we have to use every penny towards the project and that no funds can be donated nor can we keep it for ourselves. With that information we set a budget limit of $3500.

Thank you so much for your donations and we'll keep you updated on my project!