We are department made of about 18 volunteers in a small town community. I need to draw up an annual training chart and needed some ideas of what not to over look and how much time should be spent on those topics. If anyone has any comment or has a copy of an annual training schedule from the department, I sure could use it. Thanks.

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Well no two departments are alike nor do they need the same training package. I actually coordinate and deliver some of my neighbor fire department's drill nights. The first thing that needs to occur is you should sit down with the Officer Staff and brainstorm what they feel are strong and weak points of their membership.

From that meeting, you will have a brainstorming list that identifies what the department should focus on, and what the department can do without covering over the next month or year.

Many good department's that I come in contact with, usually have the same problem that their training lacks variety, their attendance may be less than desireable and when I review what they have done (if records are kept) it tends to be something that they do alot like hose drills, drafting, etc.

Basic Fundamentals are always in need of review with hands-on practicals. You could pretty much pull out the IFSTA Essentials manual and cover a chapter per drill night from the front to the back. The key though is to provide a short didactic lecture review each class and then transition into a physco-motor evolution so everyone with different learning abilities, capbilites and styles benefit from the time spent on behavioral change.

TCSS
FETC
I would start out with a good review of the basics...you would be surprised at how many of us forget the basics and dwell on all the advanced stuff we see...or classes we go to....the basics will save your life....Pull lines...Hook hydrants....find equipment on your trucks....USE that equipment..(We had a training night and some of the senior guys forgot about using a hose clamp with a charged line to add a length of hose) Use your Thermal camera in a darkened room to find a victim and hide that victim behind or under stuff...in FULL PPE of course....Instead of following a hoseline out of a structure...use a handline...run it over and through a playground...up the slide...inbetween the rungs on the jungle gym..over the swings...across the merry go round....in full PPE with blackened out masks on air...with the woodchips its easy on knees and equipment.....Stay safe, Remember to Keep the Faith....Paul
Some years back we implemented a new program; we have 2 certified instructors who oversee all that is done. First thing I got to say is FF training is repetitive and boring the longer you are on the worse it gets. I usually set the schedule at the beginning of the year, currently we are doing Illinois FF II, so subject matter and objectives are easy, but one could use say an essentials manual for material. We then set up groups of 3 for each subject, with a senior officer as lead, some do good, some do not, what is a benefit of this, besides the fact I don’t have to do everything is if nothing else the 3 doing the class learn the task very well. This system is not perfect, but does seem to be working well. We also encourage all the outside training you can get, and around here there is about a dozen schools, the point to this is you network, seem to learn more, and build relationships for a lifetime.
Here is the link to our training page. I hope that it can help. We are a small district also (tho not quite has small as you.) If there is anything that I can help you with get hold of me at alex@pofd3.org or the office number is 509-447-5305. I hold a weekly training every thur. called Lunch Lessons. It is a simple 30 minute training. It has 10-15 minutes of lecture and then 10-15 mins. of practical. It is something simple like basic radio operations or knots of the fire service. You can create all kinds of little quick lessons. I usually create them revolving around little things that myself or my crews need to "polish-up" on. Anywho...Be safe and learn something new today.
You need to make sure you cover Driver training and rollover prevention especially considering the size of the Tender in your picture.
Can I please get a copy of your training schedule.
willnipissingfiredept@yahoo.ca
I have a training form for training documentation that I will email you if you email me at the address listed below.

I have listed a few ideas that should help you in your quest for training ideas. I've reported these ideas before on FFN. Have got great comments and requests as a result of the answer to the post.

* I will get training ideas from FIREHOUSE.COM, FIREENGINEERING.COM, FIREFIGHTERCLOSECALLS.COM and other web sites. Great places for information and drill downloads.

* We do inter-department drills with our surrounding mutual aid departments. These have been very successful especially when it comes to RIT. My department hosted a RIT training class and exercise. We used a mobile home for training. Great place to train with confined space. We have also do SCBA training. It's unlimited as to what you can do.

* We have visited our local EMS/Mutual Aid Dept's. for training on their equipment. Covering vehicle layout, compartment contents, and vehicle operation. Great way for PR and inter-departmental interaction. Some day you may be asked to get a widget and you'll know where to find it.

* Each year we tour our local businesses and manufacturing facilities. Great for PR. We have also done simulated fires /emergencies at some of these businesses. Have put FF in the buildings for search & rescue.
We do prearrange these with the business, go over our goals and plans. We give each business a guide sheet that covers the important stuff, { see below}.You be amazed at the positive responses and how happy they are that we take the time to tour and train at their facility.

* I even have had our surrounding mutual aid departments tour the key facilities in our town. This has been done for two reasons. One is for mutual aid response and the other is for mutual aid coverage. If they are covering my town I want them to be aware of where their going and what they may have to respond to.

* Table Top exercises. I have downloaded many photo's of fires, MVA's, etc. for training purposes. These photos are then assigned an incident type, given a location, what is available for equipment & manpower.....then you are the IC.
To make it more interesting another incident may be added while en route or while trying to control this one.
{ I have these for use if you want some.....see below}.

* Area Familiarization. Nothing is more important than "KNOWING" your own community. This should include street/road names, key points of interest, water sources; winter/summer supplies, local businesses, do you have handicapped residence that need special attention, do they have O2, ask your members to really look at your community and list what they see on the ride to work/home, share what they have listed, etc.

* Ask your local fire investigator to give a class on 'METH LAB AWARENESS or SCENE PRESERVATION" Very important items for the fire service. If you set up the class ask your surrounding departments if they have anyone who'd like to attend. Great for inter-dept. PR.

If you want any of the photos I've downloaded with drills e-mail me at nrs5f@comcast.net and I'll send you out a few along with the check sheet.

Best of luck in your quest to better train. Stay safe, train often and share knowledge. Norm

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