Who NEEDS Training?

I was working with a consultant recently who listed "training requirements" as one of the deterrents to why people join or stay in the volunteer fire service. I told her that those words jumped right off the page at me and for the first time, I was offended by them.

We have to change our complete attitude towards training. It requires a 180 degree cultural shift from the way we approach training. They're not training requirements - they're training NEEDS!

Training is what we NEED to become proficient at what we do. More training is what we NEED to counter-act the inherent reduction in experience that comes with fire safety. Training is what we NEED to be called firefighters. Training is what we NEED to stay alive doing what we do.

Actually, training should not only be something we NEED to do, but something we WANT to do. Who doesn't want to get better at the job we do? Who doesn't want to be the best trained firefighter or have the best trained firefighter coming to save your a**? If that's not what you're looking for in the fire service, get the hell out because you're giving the rest of us a bad name. If training isn't your focus, you're going to cause the loss of life, the least of which is your own.

Local, state and federal government can impose all the perceived training "requirements" on us that they can think of, but all of that effort won't save another firefighter's life. That's our job. That's what we do. We save lives. And nobody else is going to do it for us.

Training saves lives. Therefore, that's our job. That's what we do. We save lives through training, civilian lives and firefighters' lives. And nobody else is going to do that for us, either.

NFPA standards are just that - standards. They are the standards by which every firefighter's performance are measured. Not other firefighters - every firefighter. Most people think that our state or county imposes training requirements on our firefighters. I hear that every day in my job as Deputy Fire Coordinator.

They have no idea that we, nor the state, have any jurisdiction in enforcing training needs. Both agencies simply provide the training resources and opportunities for every firefighter to meet the national standards that are set for each and every one of us.

Until we can change attitudes towards training, one firefighter at a time, no one is safe in our business. Because without timely and effective training, we're not firefighters, we're casualties waiting to happen.

Let no man say his training let him down.

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Comment by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on November 18, 2007 at 1:48pm: Wait; are you asking people who volunteer to give up THEIR time to train? Don't you realize that THEIR time is more valuable than OUR time? I mean; they work, they have kids, they have friends and hobbies. Don't forget Direct TV. They want to help; they just don't want to commit. They will help throw buckets of water on a fire, but don't ask them to suit up and treat it like their life depended on it.
Tiger; let's examine what we think they "need" and what they think they need.
We think that they need minimum, basic firefighting skills to function at a level that will make them productive and keep them from getting injured or injuring someone else. They need to train to have a better understanding of hazard recognition in fire behavior and building construction. And they need to know that there are standards that require that they treat firefighting as a profession and NOT as a passing fancy, flavor of the month and something on their social "to do" list.
They think they need a cell phone.
Today, the fire service wants to believe that the reason that we are seeing fewer, new volunteers is because we are requiring too much training, taxing them of their "free" time.
I have said that it is about making a commitment and then keeping it. We are too quick to accept less, because we believe that it is better than nothing. That is why we are willing to accept mediocrity and the walking wounded.
And that is why firefighters continue to die.
Expectations should be clearly communicated with new members. Give them a year to meet them. If not, show them the door. They need to train, we need them to train and we need that commitment that will, at the end of the day, propel the fire department towards its mission to save lives and to protect property.
Art

Comment by Randy Macey on November 18, 2007 at 10:21am: Well put, as well from training you get team work and less freelancing. I have worked towards the ideal that we should be like a pit crew. We each know our jobs and task, complete them and inform task is completed. So Command knows what had been completed as well as where everyone is. On issue we have is double hatters, full time firefighters who Vol. at another fire station.
But from chatting with others, Training is a major issue.
Are those who train qualified to train, or was this a position that was voted in. At our station we have many qualified people that bring a lot to the table. You can use each person, more so when it's a Vol. hall. As you can look at what they do for a full time job and they can offer ideals and tips. Like you stated NFPA is only a standard, one can always bring it up to the next level.
Our two biggest pushes is change, one we have done last year was Seat-Belts. No truck leaves till everyone is belted in. This year our push is everyone comes home.
Safety, Safety, Safety.... Is the push for those what want to be part of a team and Training, Training, Training only brings that to the table.

Comment by SCFD131 on November 18, 2007 at 1:05am: I agree totally 100% with you... More training is needed to keep a firefighter's skills up to pair... If a person isn't skilled to do a task that there chief needs them to do.. then they shouldn't be doing that task.