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Training Drills Or Weekly Training On Driving
How often does any department have a few hours to discuss driving during drills or weekly training meetings?
Does the training officer go over just fire dept regulations for driving or add info from the state drivers handbook to see if everyone is up on safe driving and regulations?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Cassie on
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We start our weekly training night with announcements, etc. which often include reminders regarding driving (e.g. which roads are icy, which bridges we can't take the engines over, where the bad potholes are, reminders to keep jake brakes off in winter, etc.). Then, we include driver training as part of our training. We run drills as if the training building was on fire, each crew working on whatever drill they haven't "passed" yet (like offensive fire attack, first story patient rescue, second story patient rescue, roof venting, etc.). Someone may be learning how to run the pump and charge lines under the guidance of an experience D/O for those drills. Other individuals may get some 1-on-1 training on driving the other engines, water tenders, etc in the local neighborhoods. Also, people occasionally arrange for driving training outside of our training nights. They call an experienced driver and meet up with them to go drive around the area whenever they can find time.
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Permalink Reply by Gerald Stubbs on
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I'd like to see more on this topic myself. I'm new to a volunteer dept and am working on getting the hours on the trucks, how do you guys train on pump operation? I don't intend to hijack the thread, just asking!
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Permalink Reply by ashfire on
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Most of our members had to take Pumps Class through the county training division or thru Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute. Some of us ended up with both classes and then had to learn from some of the drivers about our pumpers. We also had to take driver courses too and learn the the areas in the first due and others. It help to have someone checking the mapbooks while you drove to find hydrants and address and cross streets.
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Permalink Reply by Michael P.Fischer on
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Sounds like a solid approach to addressing the very important apparatus driver/operator role that often gets overlooked.
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Permalink Reply by Loyd Dittfurth on
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It seems like backing is the hardest thing for most people to do. We have a course set up that they drive threw it then back threw it. You can make it as tight or as wide as you want. They dont let me set it up anymore to challange myself. As I have had people say just because your an old truck driver doesnt mean we are.
Be safe
Loyd
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Part of our SOPs include having spotters for backing up. Unless there is only one person in the engine... we use other firefighters to guide an engine/tender in all backing operations. Sometimes, if the driver is talented, "spotting" means walking/standing behind the engine essentially doing nothing... but just in case there is something they don't notice... or the driver is not yet fully experienced at backing engines... the spotters are ready. We also have some narrow and steep areas in our district that require spotters for even the most experienced drivers (i.e. when turning around on roads with steep embankments).
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Firehouse posted a story about a Maryland fire company who's pumper struck a ladder truck from another county which caused the ladder truck to strike two other vehicles and then the pumper kept on going on the call that both units were responding on. Do you think there could have been some need for driver refresher training before this or monthly reminders?
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If we look at the firefighting, EMS and rescue work training and is done weekly or monthly and refreshers done annually which may include driving. I think that getting to the scene and returning safely is a big importance when it comes to driving.
Reviewing driving SOPs and driving laws should be done regularly and also reviewing area maps and changes to roads and streets. Hydrants out of service and other problems which could effect driving.
Knowing how apparatus handle in different driving situations is also important if something happens.
Most of the LODD in my county have been due to driving accidents including the first record death in the 1920s was due to a car pulling back on to the road after the first responding unit passed and the second unit was coming up from behind which caused the driver of the unit to avoid the car and crash killing him.
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Permalink Reply by Britt Blackmon on
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The EVDT class is a pretty good class. It basic common knowledge but it gets you comfortable driving the trucks.
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Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
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The best Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) we've ever had was brought to us by our insurance carrier, VFIS. They sent a guy up for a couple of days and put most of us through it. It covered everything. Other classes are given by area and county schools. At meetings we talk about specific issues regarding driving, sometimes including applicable state law and just plain old common sense. When an individual is observed doing something unsafe he is couseled by officers. We always use spotters as well.
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Permalink Reply by FETC on
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All firefighters have EVOC. We review that program annually and we set up a refresher driving course as well. Policy review is the company officers responsibility. We have one on response, speed, opticoms, and a backing policy.
But on a daily note: We have daily roll call (each morning) and driving habits, concerns, status of apparatus and state of repairs are discussed with the DC. It always ends with recent review of LODD (apparatus) and a reminder that seat belts are not an option!!
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