To be qualified as an interior firefighter in The Rye Fire Department, one of the requirements is to be trained annually on Personal Escape Systems (PES), also known as Bailout Training. This training is designed to teach and refresh firefighters' skills on how to escape a burning structure by safely "Bailing out" of a window.

During the summer, Rye FD, in conjunction with AAA Emergency and RIT Safety Solutions, hosts bailout certification training classes. This training includes a short lecture inside followed by practice jumping outside. The lecture familiarizes each firefighter with their personally-issued system, which includes a Harness, 50 feet of bailout rope, steel hook and a descender. Firefighters then complete several practice "bailout" scenarios outside to get familiar with their system.

While "bailing out" of a window is certainly a last-resort option and is rarely done, this training enables firefighters to remove themselves from a dangerous and life-threatening situations. These systems are truly life-savers!