Volunteer Firefighting Training

Jeff Seaton is a firefighter from San Jose, California. The Little Rock Fire Department brought him in to provide new training techniques for its men and women.  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Firefighter still in critical condition; was not wearing safety gear during water rescue training  

  

  

How likely is it that the fireground medical screening exam will uncover any of the fireground medical emergencies that we have listed throughout this series? As they say in academia, “When the answer is unclear, that’s a good question.”   

Kilimanjaro climb was tribute, fitness reminder  

  

  

News reporters use the memory jogger of "Who, What, Where, When, Why and How" to gather information for articles. This memory aid can be used as a needs assessment tool for fire and EMS trainers in the selection of training programs. Whether the program requires a textbook only or a complete curriculum with multi-media presentation, an objective selection process must be conducted  

The motto "be prepared" has stuck in my mind ever since my days in the Boy Scouts. The profession of firefighting and EMS seems to really exemplify this phrase. We are not always sure what we should be prepared for, but nonetheless we need to have some semblance of preparation for anything we may face.   

Industry-backed program provides hands-on experience  

The old follow-the–line-out is great, but if you study specific cases such as the FDNY Black Sunday fire, you will find rapid exit is the only option in most cases to spare your life. It should be critical to us as firefighters, officers and instructors to spend some time familiarizing ourselves with escape procedures.   

I had the humbling honor last week of attending a planning meeting at the National Fire Academy for the Vision 20/20 and the Everyone Goes Home programs. The goal was to be able to "identify a coalition of actions that will fulfill goals and objectives of both Vision 20/20 and the Everyone Goes Home program by incorporating a greater awareness of fire prevention initiatives to enhance firefighter and civilian fire and life safety."   

Official recommendations include recruit screening and keeping training atmosphere free from intimidation  

  

Over the years, you've probably been to many conferences, classes and training sessions where instructors either said, "Find a mentor!" or, "Be a mentor!" Achieving these mentorship goals is easier said than done, but there are basic ways to turn this theory into reality.   

  

Overstating the importance of training may not be possible in the fire service. If fire departments had daily activities reflective of all the responsibilities of the job, then skill levels would be maintained.  

Earlier this year while channel surfing I stumbled across the commencement speech for this year's graduating class from Smith College. It was given by Margaret Edson, a Smith graduate and an award-winning playwright who teaches kindergarten in Atlanta. The focus of her talk was the joys and values of classroom teaching. Her eloquent speech made me think about how we educate our firefighters.  

Deputy fire chief was struck by a motorized water monitor and 30 feet of aluminum pipe launched from elevated aerial ladder at fire  

  

  

  

Local firefighters seek ways to fix a training program that is shorter than comparable cities, lacks recommended periodic refresher courses  

  

  

Bullard is introducing an online training program for fire service and law enforcement professionals who buy its thermal imagers.  

  

  

  

  

LODD during a tree-felling exercise was the result of poor training and an unsafe workplace, according to state investigators  

  

New vehicle technology (NVT) seems to have become a mythical being that some of us, as rescue workers and firefighters, are inclined to overlook for reasons that include, "We don’t see those types of cars come into our area."  

  

  

  

Firefighter suffered serious burns after falling into basement; investigation team makes 47 recommendations on contributing factors  

  

Chief David Case describes his department's operation and the lessons it learned during the conference in Indianapolis Wednesday  

  

  

Apparatus on mock calls to build response time data stopped; using lights and sirens in non-emergencies violates state law, police say  

Acting fire commissioner reprimands chiefs over public safety risks; mock calls were designed to collect response time data  

  

Bullard is offering an online training program for fire service and law enforcement professionals who buy its thermal imagers. The program, called "Bullard Smartline," explains thermal imaging technology and how to interpret images. It covers the complete line of Bullard Thermal Imagers for fire service and law enforcement  

  

  

Hundreds of firefighters and vehicles blaring sirens will fill the World Trade Center site for its largest post-9/11 emergency drill  

  

Course at the U.S. Military Academy goes beyond tactics and into the theory and history of terrorism around the globe  

  

Champion Rescue Tools has created the 5-Star Extrication Training Academy at the company's new corporate headquarters and training facility in Upland, Calif., east of Los Angeles.  

Bullard, manufacturer of fire service safety equipment, is offering online helmet-care training for firefighters. The course helps fire departments comply with the National Fire Protection Association 1851 standard, 2008 edition, for fire helmet care and maintenance. The standard requires basic cleaning and inspection plus yearly advanced cleaning and inspection.  

A commission recommended the sofa store site be redeveloped as a memorial, training facility and new Fire Department headquarters  

It was April and time for the annual training sessions, exhibits and networking at the Fire Department Instructors Conference in Indianapolis. As is typical at this show, it was a feeding frenzy for those wanting to see the latest in trucks, ambulances, chassis, equipment and now, software. I dare say it is impossible to see everything in the two and a half days allotted to the exhibition. More than a few groups had lists in hand obviously trying to make the best of the time they had available.  

  

  

  

  

  

Chief says tests meant to guide training, no need for punishment; about a dozen D.C. paramedics have been ordered into retraining  

  

  

  

  

  

  

As Safety Week drew to a close, I was proud to look back and see how our department has grasped onto this concept and really put effort into it. We performed various drills and also covered various safety procedures during conversations around the kitchen table.  

Welcome to 2007, a new year and new beginnings. This time of year brings renewed hope and the feeling and vision of a fresh start for many.  

All fire departments look forward to purchasing a new apparatus. We endeavor to outfit our trucks with the best equipment and options, limited only by our budgets.  

Field Training Officer (FTO) programs are designed to mentor people taking on new roles. These programs explain the complexities of the new position as well as help them assimilate into the agency's social structures.  

Over the years, we all have been subjected to a variety of training methods as instructors struggled to present new material, review standards and practice skills.  

  

A NIOSH report says two firefighters who fell to their deaths were not familiar with equipment before a high-risk training situation  

The National Fallen Firefighters' Foundation (NFFF) conducted its second line of duty death (LODD) summit in March at the Fireman's Fund Headquarters in Navato, Calif. The first summit was in 2004 in Tampa, Fla. From the first summit, came the 16 Life Safety Initiatives. The more recent summit identified ways fire departments can meet the initiatives.  

Tanker operations are a vital part of rural firefighting. Unless rural departments are fortunate to have a pond, river or lake nearby to draft from, the only other water sources are the water on board the engines and tankers, or tenders, depending upon your region.  

  

Medical monitoring is the foundation of rehab. In the past, medical monitoring and emergency care were not emphasized as much as in the current standard. Rest and relaxation are great, but it is critical to monitor the well-being of the personnel working at the incident scene.   

  

Without a doubt, protecting the firefighter from harm is the number one priority of every fire department. There are many programs today designed to make sure that "Everyone Goes Home."  

A deluge gun became dislodged from its staged position, striking and injuring the volunteer firefighters; chief hospitalized  

The new Pierce Master Technician Program is certification training that enables dealer technicians to achieve expertise servicing Pierce apparatus.  

As I sat in our most recent officer's meeting, I noticed a paragraph that our division chief of operations had added to the agenda: "Lessons Learned." It encouraged officers to present one incident or situation where they and their crews enacted a training practice.  

  

  

  

  

Medical director pulls certification of 25 firefighters; fire chief says the move puts good medics out of commission and endangers residents  

  

  

  

Initial company operation on the fireground can be hampered by the officer's inability to make critical decisions. In some cases this is brought on by fear of making a mistake.   

The Five Star Extrication Training Academy jointly sponsored by Champion Rescue Tools and Volvo Cars of North America is issuing a free new vehicle technology (NVT) extrication training DVD for firefighters.  

  

Three firefighters suffered first and second degree burns after their turnouts were charred; OSHA says injuries could have been avoided  

  

  

  

As much as emergency medical service (EMS) has become the predominant response of many fire departments, motor vehicle collisions are a large part of EMS and fire response that call on our abilities to do medical and rescue operations simultaneously.  

  

A fire truck training conference hosted by Spartan Chassis, Inc. attracted 199 fire truck service personnel of all levels of expertise from across the United States, Canada and the Middle East.  

  

  

  

  

A frequently overlooked, or underestimated, component of a fire department's purchase of new technology is the associated firefighter training and education that's required to effectively use it.  

  

  

  

  

A NIOSH fatality report urges apparatus rollover protection; the firefighter was pinned with the roof collapsed around his head  

  

  

  

  

In order to plan for EMS equipment training, we need to think about the audience or whom will we be training. The obvious answer is EMS personnel, but it's not that simple.  

The "graying of America" is covered widely in the mainstream media — but what about its effects on our responses? People aged 65 and older made up 12.4 percent — or 35 million — of the population in 2000. It's predicted they will form 16.3 percent of the population by 2020, while in 2030 nearly one in five Americans will be 65 and older...  

  

Special rescue events present a great challenge to the fire service due primarily to the fact that they are infrequent.  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

As I sit here in the cold, rainy, unpredictable weather of Connecticut, I cannot help but look forward to the next ‘Cruisin for Solutions’… We had a great week of fun and sun, oh yeah, and we learned quite a bit from each other.  

Good training is half education and half entertainment. You need to achieve your educational objectives while keeping your members attention and involved.   

Whenever members take outside courses, they should be required to bring what they've learned back to their department and share it with their fellow members.  

Last week I introduced you to the Fire Officer II course that I recently attended. This week we pick up at the 'interesting' discussion about the Fire Act grant.   

Everyone knows they need to refuel their car, recharge their batteries and take care of the maintenance of their vehicle. The problem is, people often don't think about recharging their mind.  

Wow! Somehow it has been four months since I last wrote a column for VolunteerFD.org. Many of you have written me to ask where the columns were, when the website would be updated and with many other questions. Well this is the start of the rebirth of VolunteerFD.org!  

Over the weekend I had the pleasure of bringing Todd Hoffman in for training at the East Berlin Fire Department. The class was held on a Saturday, and had 50 firefighters from across CT, and even one from NY.  

The 'dinosaurs' love to talk about the times they were covered in blood, walked through fire and sucked up smoke. After all, it looks good to come home covered in soot, right?   

As 2004 comes to a close departments look towards their 2005 plans, and training schedules are often at the top of the plan.  

I have spent the past 16 months working on my Paramedic at the Hartford Hospital (HH) Department of EMS.   

One of the hardest tasks for a training officer, especially of a volunteer department, is keeping training interesting.   

The Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute recently released a study titled 'Health and Safety Guidelines for Firefighter Training' that reviews an extensive body of research on firefighter health, injuries and safety.  

  

People with strong character give 100 percent and strive for excellence because they refuse to do less than their best. People with weaker character blame the organization and others for their lack of excellence and settle for mediocrity.