What training, other that the required hours of drivers training, do you think a volunteer should have before being allowed to drive the big fire trucks?
In Our department.....twice a year,a "Driving Rodeo" is required.All department apparatus is assembled at the local Career Center,and all members are required to drive each vehicle through a series of simulated scenarios,set up by orange cones and a guide member acting as a "backer",as should be by SOG's.An 8 hour class is also required to insure that those operating apparatus keep the well being of the passengers of that apparatus, first and foremost.It simply does nobody any good ,if You do not arrive on scene in one piece!
Check out this proposed SOP for our company. our SOP's have not been updated in 10 years, not to mention they are very vague and in need of updating.
keep in mind that we are basically starting from scratch. Any input would be greatly appreciated. The proposed SOP goes before the body for a vote as to adopt it or not in 2 weeks.
A comprehensive driving ability course should be established for ALL members to complete twice a year on the interoperability of all apparatus.Set up an agreement with a local school and or career center to afford Your members the opportunity to familiarize themselves with all department apparatus in as close to real life scenarios as possible. State driving laws apply in any driving certifications......This is not enough! Driving to the scene,passenger's responsibilities (depending on seating position),upon arrival on scene,are all imperative to the successful deployment of Your engine! And as a VERY important note....THE TRUCK DOESN'T MOVE .......UNTIL EVERYONE CALLS OUT.......BUCKLED UP!!!!!......LET'S KICK SOME BUTT !!
Thanks to our own Senator Kathy Young, legislation has passed the NYS senate that will pull the CDL requirement for FD drivers and save most fire depts from simply folding up. That requirement slipped through originally as part of something larger and, when it was discovered recently, legislators hurried to CORRECT it. That same state offers an excellent "EVOC" (Emergency Vehicle Operations Course) which is very well attended and should be the first prerequisit for any D.T. Then you train on your own equipment and, when the OIC is satisfied that you can handle the vehicle and you know the wheres and hows of all its equipment, he/she makes a recommendation to the Chief who puts you on the Drivers List for that vehicle. And there is NO D.T. in the first year of membership. Works for us. Keep the faith.
Seems a little fuzzy to me. Why not be expert in one or the other. You cant do both jobs at the same time anyway. With all the differnt jobs required of us, specialization is what we are going to have to build on. You never go in alone.
It can be assumed that Pump Operations Course is required to qualify for the engine and tanker lists and Ladder Company Ops for any ariel driver. One by one you can get all the lists.
Emergency vehicles operations is a good place to start plus knowing how to operate the pump would be another and 100 or more miles of non-emergency driving to boot. And also knowing your first due area would be extremely helpful cause sometimes the OIC is busy bouncing around in their seat trying to figure out which way is up.
we start our recruits out with basic ff skills , then they move up and start drivers training with the station officers permisson, we start them driving and getting use to the trucks, backing scenario's, then we start teaching them the pump training. they drive 150 miles day time, then 50 night time miles, before they are considered to get checked off the truck, however they also must operate the pump on that truck and demonstrate running command, that is before they are considered to be cleared on the trucks,