FRESH APPROACHES TO TRAINING
BY CARL F. WELSER
Apart from ruthless rules and mandatory participation, volunteer firefighters tend to greet their internal training program with a mixture of enthusiasm that follows a fairly predictable curve. Some firefighters can`t be held back. They want to know everything. Today! On the other end of the scale are the few who require spoonfeeding. That little bunch is tough to train because so much of the substance is lost on their bibs and mustaches. The middle majority is willing but skeptical. They`ve seen it all, and they`ve done most of it at least once before. As resistant to change as the fire service may be, we still want our familiar old meat and potatoes served up with fresh, new sauces. We crave novelty over stability.
Novelty for its own sake is just that. But freshness is appealing. The smart training officer trusts the fundamental wisdom of delegating training tasks to others for the sake of freshness. Everyone grows a bit larger in the teaching process.
Many standard training evolutions are designed for an engine company consisting of four career firefighters who eat, sleep, ride, and work together for 24 hours at a crack. The volunteer training officer who tries to apply this training to 30 work-weary volunteers in two hours on a Monday evening eventually will find the process quite daunting.
Nevertheless, there are some novel approaches to training that still work well–at least once.
SHORT QUIZZES AT BUSINESS/ASSOCIATION MEETINGS
Many volunteer fire departments hold monthly business or association meetings. What a perfect time to interject a mini-training session! The presiding officer may grant no more than a few minutes of precious meeting time, but ingenuity can turn it into a valuable and memorable few minutes. It`s a perfect opportunity to review SOPs and other policy-related material, especially when recent operational deficits are fresh in mind. Always be careful to treat the topics generally without dwelling on errors or holding anyone`s feet to the fire in an open meeting. Public faultfinding is neither fair nor wise.
Consider presenting the material in the form of a quiz. For better or for worse, competitive games can play a vital role in departmental training programs. It is the nature of action-oriented people to be more than mildly competitive, and who could be more action-oriented than firefighters?
If your department isn`t already divided into training/action groups, now would be a good time to do so. Groups of three to seven people work well. Five is optional. Remember what we`ve learned about span of control. Let each group appoint its own “company officer” to serve as moderator and spokesperson.
For departments already computerized, it is not difficult to build a database of questions and answers relating to departmental SOPs. In the absence of a computer, a typewriter works as well. So does a pencil. No need for academically prepared sets of material. Focus on areas in which your department shows evidence of confusion or unfamiliarity. Let the questions reflect real-life situations relating to your operations and administration. A stack of index cards bearing questions and answers pertinent to the inner workings of your own fire department will come in handy on many occasions, whether for probationary members to quiz each other or for candidates to bone up for an officer`s exam. About six questions will suffice for a mini-training session.
Here are several examples of real-life questions and answers:
When the Kohlrabi Corners Fire & Rescue swings into action, some personnel tend to get excited and begin transmitting important information before their handheld radios properly engage the radio repeater. This question addresses the problem in gentle but corrective fashion.
Q. What is meant by “jumping the repeater”?
A. Our radio repeater requires about a half second to switch on. Any message spoken during that half-second interval will not be transmitted, and the information will be lost. As a reminder to yourself, preface every transmission with “Kohlrabi,” which nicely fills in the half second.
The incident command system offers good advice for phrasing the address and identification portions of radio transmissions. Not everyone remembers this advice under pressure.
Q. When establishing radio communication with another unit, which message format is preferred: “Hey, you! It`s me” or “It`s me. Hey, you!” and why?
A. “Hey, you! It`s me” is the preferred form. For example, say “Dispatch, from Main Street Command,” not the reverse. When establishing radio communication, it is important to name the other unit first. That gets the unit`s attention. Then, identify yourself. The reverse form is almost always confusing to the listener, especially when the heat is on.
Some of Kohlrabi`s drivers tend to back an engine tightly against the stop chocks in the fire station and then set the parking brake. This puts a strain on the drivetrain. The following question provides a way of disseminating important advice without pointing a shaming finger at anyone.
Q. What precaution must be taken when parking an engine against the stop chocks in the fire station?
A. As you feel the rear wheels begin to rise on the stop chock, allow the engine to ease forward off the chock before setting the parking brake.
FORMAT
During a mini-training session, one question is asked of each training/action group. Members may discuss the question briefly among themselves, agree on a solution, and offer their answer. If the answer is correct, the group gets one point. If the answer is incorrect, the question is passed to the next group. If the second group answers the question correctly, it gets two points.
The entire game should deduct no more than 10 minutes from a meeting. Whoever writes the answers to the questions must be prepared for the power of group-think to develop suggestions for changes in SOPs as a result of the response. Dynamic fire departments do not engrave their SOPs in stone. Discussion of an answer that needs changing may require more than 10 minutes, but group consensus on something that really matters is a grand achievement.
Reviewing competitive point scores may be enough to pique and hold the attention of the most jaded firefighters. If the training budget allows, it might be even more interesting to post annual scores and treat the winning group to dinner once a year at the department`s expense.
If the department observes no other system of dividing personnel into work units or companies, these quiz groups may also serve well as action teams on training nights. Most training evolutions work better with four personnel than with 40.
SETTING PERSONAL TRAINING GOALS
There are always a few firefighters in your department–perhaps more than you think–who will rise to a personal training challenge. This falls in the realm of what some people might call mentoring or coaching. Spend a few moments each year helping a few willing firefighters develop a personal training program complete with goals. Recommend appropriate reading in journals and texts. Spend a few more moments at intervals during the year reviewing their progress. This will work wonders for the individuals and for the betterment of the department. Personal goals are intended to reach beyond the ordinary scheduled training program of the department. The motivated member is encouraged to seek the help of more experienced members to learn higher-order tactical and equipment operations that may currently be considered the personal bailiwick of a few special people but also need to be more widely disseminated among the membership.
SIGN-OFF SHEETS FOR PERSONAL CERTIFICATION
Who can deny that the avalanche of laws, rules, and standards promulgated by federal, state, and advisory agencies over the past decade casts a tremendous burden of responsibility on fire officers? The training officer bears a great deal of this responsibility. Trying to live up to this responsibility on a daily basis leaves a conscientious person with the nagging feeling that something important has been overlooked.
There should be better ways of equalizing the burden of this responsibility among line firefighters across the board. Experimentation with a “sign-off system” might help (see the sample form on page 15).
Whatever legal or moral weight is carried by a piece of paper bearing a member`s signature and captured in the member`s personal training file is uncertain. But the yearly process of obtaining the piece of paper, complete with signature, helps communicate to the individual firefighter the seriousness of what we are doing. It also clarifies our training parameters. Kohlrabi Corners Fire & Rescue is working toward the development of a complete set of annual certification sign-off sheets covering Driving, Pump Operation, Extrication Tools, and virtually every other aspect of operation.
Flexibility in scheduling is essential to Kohlrabi`s operation. Departmental proctors approved by the chief of the department and the training officer are authorized to conduct annual certifications for one or more firefighters at their convenience. The job is too big, the material too elusively familiar, and the burden too great for one lonely training officer to bear it all. n
ANNUAL SCBA CERTIFICATION
Permanent Training File–Kohlrabi Corners Fire & Rescue
OBJECTIVES:
1. Review our written SCBA policy per our SOPs on SAFETY. See reverse side [below].
2. Fulfill testing objectives for the FF-I Practical Exam (FFTC) with reference to inspection, donning, and operation of SCBA.
3. Test for adequate “face fit” of the face piece.
4. Complete a search and rescue problem.
5. Demonstrate competence with the air manifold system by successfully refilling at least one air cylinder to 1,800 psi (minimum).
6. Sanitize and place the SCBA back in service.
LESSON PLAN:
7:30 Explanation of the training sequence. Review SOPs pertaining to SCBA. Sign SOP statement on reverse side of this sheet [below].
7:45 Implement the stated objectives for the session. Conduct an operational check of SCBA with the help of a group proctor.
8:00 Search and Rescue Problem
Afterward–Cleansing and maintenance of ALL our SCBA
1. Clean and wash cases inside and out; siliconize cases (make them shiny).
2. Sanitize face pieces (light Clorox® solution).
3. Reassemble SCBA in cases or racks and remount in engines.
PARTICIPANT`S PERSONAL EVALUATION:
“I successfully participated in this training exercise.
I reviewed our SCBA use policy (reverse side of this sheet [below] and concur with it.
I succeeded in donning the SCBA in ______ seconds.
I obtained a successful face fit with the face piece.
I successfully completed a search and rescue problem.”
INITIAL THE STATEMENT THAT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR SCBA CAPABILITY:
____ “I feel comfortable using SCBA and can accept assignments requiring use.”
____ “I prefer not to perform SCBA assignments and will notify each incident commander of this fact.”
PARTICIPANT`S SIGNATURE: HOURS CREDITED: 2
________________________________________________________________________________
(Sign on reverse side as well)
GROUP LEADER/PROCTOR: ____________________
TRAINING OFFICER/INSTRUCTOR`S SIGNATURE:
________________________________________________________________________________
* * *
(Reverse Side)
SOP Chapter 3. SAFETY (Excerpts re SCBA)
Kohlrabi Corners Fire & Rescue
3.412 The incident commander may increase or decrease the dimensions of the Hot Circle at any time as conditions warrant. The Hot Circle encompasses that area in which (NFPA 1500-5-3.1):
a. the atmosphere is hazardous,
b. the atmosphere is suspected of being hazardous, or
c. the atmosphere may rapidly become hazardous.
3.413 Under hazardous conditions, only firefighters fully protected with approved turnout gear and SCBA shall ordinarily be permitted within the boundaries of the Hot Circle.
3.611 A full set of turnout gear shall consist of approved helmet, coat, boots, bunkers, and gloves. The member shall wear the protective turnout gear and equipment whenever he/she enters the Hot Circle as defined by the incident commander around a hazardous scene or is otherwise exposed or potentially exposed to the hazards for which it is provided.
3.62 SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS (SCBA; NFPA 1500, 5-3) The Department shall provide sufficient open-circuit, positive pressure SCBA to protect all personnel entering the Hot Circle around a hazardous scene.
” I have reviewed these standard operating procedures, and I agree to them.”
PARTICIPANT`S SIGNATURE: ________________________________________________________________________________
DATE: _______________________
CARL F. WELSER is training officer for the Hamburg (MI) Fire Department, Inc.
