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Training
Ok well I have recently stepped into being the training officer for my second department. I also am in charge of recruiting. Therefore I am looking for any ideas that people may have. I already have the IS-100 and such under control. I also have fire school under control, as I am currently sending 2 individuals to it. But I need more ideas. For practical training. We are a Fire Rescue Dept. with 1 Pumper, 1 Tanker, a 6x6 Brush rig that doubles as a tanker, as well as a van that is set up for rescue and pulls our portable cascade system. We are weak on man power right now with only 8 people. But are working to improve that. I am in need of ideas and such that will help us get the training rolling again. Our dept. had a chief for years that did not have meetings or training scheduled. Now we have a new chief and between him and the rest of us we want to make things happen there. Please help me with some ideas.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Chief Tal Mong on
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Sounds to me that you have your hand full! Once you have everyone with I-200 and I-700, practice engine company operations, search and rescue w/SCBA's, laddering buildings. Discuss ventilation and the different applications. Get awareness level hazmat and lead your department to the operations level at a minimum, anything less than operations level, you'll just get someone hurt. What ever training you do, it will be more than what was happening in the past. Remember one thing, spread your training out, your people will not retain all the information presented, if you keep pushing classes on them. Rome was not built in one day!
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Permalink Reply by Haven5 on
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Set up drills that focus on the basics. They can get old but the basics are what you need on every call. Pump Op, stretching lines, relay pumping, ladder work, search and rescue, etc. Throw in some scenarios and competition to keep in interesting. Most of all have a plan for every drill. Planning makes every drill, simple to complicated, easier to run and more effective for the learners. There are many websites with good drill ideas: Firehouse.com, MFRI.org, Firefighterclosecalls.com, and Fireengineering.com are just a few. The book by Howard Chatterton," Volunteer Training-A Year of Weekly Drills" is also a great source. Hope this helps.
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Permalink Reply by Keggster on
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You'll never go wrong with the basics as stated. I'd suggest that you, the chief and possible the other members sit down and decide what is needed first. Base it on the type of calls you run most and work on what everyone is weakest on. Look at the training your members currently have and go from there. One thing to keep in mind, not everyone will want the same thing but all need to be trained just the same. I've served as my dept's Training officer for serveral years. It's a thankless job but an important one. Don't mean to sound like I'm putting the position down, just the opposite. I enjoyed it very much and glad I was asked to do it. Keep things simple in the beginning and keep it moving forward. You'll do fine
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Permalink Reply by Padre Pete on
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Yo Bob, I came across a great article in the most recent FIRE-RESCUE mag. It gives great credibility to something I have tried, in vane, to promote for years. All about the need for us all to specialize and to be able to offer recruits specific areas of specialization. We are so much more than we once were, people, probably like yourself, who are busting thier humps to be good at everything are going to become nearly impossible to emmulate. Finding just a couple of areas that are personally fulfilling becomes a realistic readily attainable goal and may help recruits and trainees zero-in on what realy matters to both of you. Not all medical, tech rescue and fire ground support people need to be pump operators. It well be great if you and your new chief can get regularly scheduled drills (like 50/yr.) and a requirement for attendance to a certain percentage them into by-laws or some other protocol. Keep The Faith
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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How about a good review of the basics...they will save your butt in the long haul and we (myself included) tend to push them aside for more advanced items....Does everyone in your department know where everything is on every vehicle....? and if so...do they know how to use it..? We did this in our Department and even some of the "old salts" were stumped finding things.......some had never used a hose clamp on a 2 1/2".....it was good for all....Paul
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Permalink Reply by Robert on
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Well I can honestly say that I have never even seen a Hose clamp used outside of fire school. But I do know where everything is. I don't think some of the others do. I personally know that 2 of the new guys don't. But one is readily willing to learn everything. I have had to slow him down so he retains it. The other new guy was thrown to the wayside by the old chief. So I am actively trying to get him involved again.
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