10 SPRING • 2013
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Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal
Developing an annual training program By Capt. Brad Maness
The development of a functional training program is an essential part of any fire and emergency services organization.This article will address some considerations when organizing your training program. Chiefs, company officers, instructors or anyone involved in delivering training play a vital role in preparing firefighters to handle challenges faced on a daily basis. Establishing
an annual program will take time and should include input from all members.Your goal as a training officer should be to deliver the safest and most realistic training possible to help members achieve the department’s mission. With fire responses decreasing, solid training can help provide education when experience in the field isn’t happening.This is possible with a well-
balanced program that begins with firefighting fundamentals and then constantly graduating to more advanced areas. Let’s face it, not all departments place a high value on training and it will show when they pull up on that early morning house fire with entrapment or MVA with multiple injuries. I have personally heard firefighters say,“I can’t think of anything to train on today,” or “we didn’t
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have time.” If you are involved in delivering training programs you can make sure your members don’t repeat those same pathetic excuses. Be a leader and a mentor and help your firefighters see your vision. One important concept that I have always implemented is we should always be training our replacement. If you left your department tomorrow will there be someone capable of doing your job?
Needs Assessment Like with any other program, you must perform a needs assessment to determine what skills are necessary for you department to respond each day. Gain insight from the fire chief and other supervisors. Valuable information can be obtained from those who may have had the job before you. Bottom line is you have to talk with the rank and file to determine what training the members need and want.You may retrieve ideas by looking at run reports or simply patrolling your district to see what you may encounter. Have a few individuals that can assist you with training and can fill in when you are not there. Make use of firefighters with special skills and talents and allow them to act as training officer that day.This can boost morale and break up the monotony of seeing the same instructor time and time again.
New Plans for the New Year Beginning the calendar year with a fresh plan can rejuvenate your program and excite the members. Continuously training on the basic fundamentals fills our toolbox with the essential tools necessary to be successful. Many departments keep their training program simple by adhering to NFPA Firefighter 1 and 2 outlines while others branch out into other disciplines that reflect the services they provide. If you can lay out a 12 month plan on paper that’s great, but many volunteer and combination departments may not be capable of planning that far in advance. Career departments can also have trouble with sticking to a pre-determined plan when each day the crews are washing apparatus, checking hydrants, completing inspections and so on. All of those things are critical and must be done, but if on-duty crews are too busy for at least an hour of training then you should rethink your priorities. In our department, I
usually try to plan about three months ahead of time.This gives me the freedom to adapt throughout the year in the event of a schedule change or if an issue arises that needs to be addressed. It is also critical to have two different drills for each training meeting in case weather, calls or other unforeseen issues cut into your time. In developing the training program you must identify what training to deliver. Do some research with this, but I like to break it down by: required training, needed training and what the members want. By following this criterion you should be able to cover all your bases and then some. Obviously the number of training drills your department schedules plays a huge part in how you set up your plan. My department, at a minimum, trains twice a month and then we have several extra drills throughout the year. I can usually plan on around 30 training sessions annually. Bottom line is, get the most out of the time you have.
What Training is Required? This includes mandated training that must be completed each year. Get familiar with guides that relate directly to training and use them to your advantage. Many of the required drills can be incorporated together. Below are some of the main guidelines that will point you in the right direction. - NPFA 1000 series, Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation and Certification Systems - NFPA 1401 — Fire Service Training Records and Reports - NFPA 1403— Live Fire Training Evolutions - NFPA 1404— Fire Department SCBA Program - NFPA 1451— Fire Service Vehicle Operations Training Program - NFPA 1500— Fire Department Occupational Safety and Health Program - NFPA 1670 and 1006— Technical Rescue Standards for Individuals and Teams • Live Burn (eight hours) • SCBA (donning, emergencies, reduced profile) • NIMS/ICS/Officer Training • Driver Operator Training • CPR, AED, First Aid, and Bloodborne Pathogens • Lockout/Tagout • Confined Space Awareness or eight hours of Entry/Ops training if See TRAINING PROGRAM page 13