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Permalink Reply by Tom Williams on February 9, 2011 at 1:42pm

Here ya go Zachary, try this out. Has been a big hit at my department.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0_fgU3tWPg

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Permalink Reply by Zachary Wolfe on February 9, 2011 at 4:23pm

I like t!hat. Thanks Tom

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Permalink Reply by Station10Capt106 on February 9, 2011 at 7:49pm

Paprika is a good spice to use . . .

Last year on one training night we set up an obstacle course in a field with traffic cones and had two teams on handlines. They raced each other through the course pushing a bowling ball. Not only was it fun but it taught good hose control and teamwork.

After a few times through that we moved the cones to form a soccor field and played soccer with the bowling ball and the handlines. This lasted for a bit and then it turned into a big water fight. Perfect ending to a hot summer night and was the perfect stress reliever too. We all left wet, happy, tired and the best part . . . more united as a team.

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Permalink Reply by Erik Wood on February 9, 2011 at 7:58pm

Any ideas on how to get people to just show up???

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Permalink Reply by Zachary Wolfe on February 9, 2011 at 8:10pm

My philosophy for training is simple: We are all adults, and therefore are responsible for our own certifications. My job isn't to spoon feed training to my staff, but facilitate, and if something isn't working then I need to adjust how I set the opportunities. In the State of Ohio, we have to document at least 54 hours Continuing Education every 3 years to maintain certification as a firefighter, similar to what the EMS personnel have always done. For my department, I have learned that I will rarely get guys to every training session, and that is something I have to accept. We do the following:
1 hour (before or after) monthly business meeting
2 hour (3rd Thursday) monthly Fire Training
2 hour (4th Thursday) monthly EMS Training
Online Fire Training Program (30 classes each year, my choice)
Online EMS Training Program
Usually quarterly larger training (Haz-Mat, EVOC, Farm Extrication)

I look at it if my guys don't have enough hours then it is THEIR fault, and not mine.

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