Training Resources for the Fire Service
DEPARTMENTS
Rick Haase’s Volunteers Corner
Fire department training can be a complex and overwhelming task. It’s the training officer’s responsibility to keep firefighters educated and up to date in many areas, including fire attack, hazardous materials, rescue techniques, and fire investigation. The training officer must also deal with budget restraints, time considerations, primary job conflicts, family problems, and a shortage of training materials and instructors. Fortunately, though, the training officer can turn to outside agencies, schools, and industry representatives for help. Here’s a brief description of some of these outside sources:
State fire institutes, fire academies, and fire marshals. All states provide some type of training through a state fire institute or academy or the state fire marshal’s office. These classes are usually taught by expert instructors and cover many fire service topics. The sessions are offered at a centralized location or at individual fire departments. They’re either free of charge or very inexpensive. Training from this source is the most widely used and easiest to obtain in the fire service today.
Mutual aid and county fire organizations. Mutual aid and county fire organizations offer firefighters from many departments a chance to receive training and to interact with each other in a nonemergency setting. These types of organizations also allow training officers from member departments to share knowledge in their areas of expertise, and all types of fire service training are available. The sessions are either free of charge or very inexpensive. Any costs that are incurred may be split among participating departments to keep costs low.
Area specialty teams. Dive teams, arson units, rappel teams, haz-mat teams, and so on are excellent training sources. Each can provide experts to teach both basic and advanced material in its specific field. A joint training session will also allow the specialty team and the fire department to learn about each other’s capabilities.
Emergency medical services units. Whether your department provides first response or full ambulance service, a training class with area EMS units can be used to familiarize each unit with standard operating procedures, medical equipment, and rescue units and ambulances in use today. Including area EMS units at your next auto extrication drill will improve your teamwork at your next accident scene. Don’t forget to also invite the airborne medical evacuation service in your area. A few members will gladly fly in and discuss their operations and make recommendations for better cooperation during incidents.
Medical organizations. The American Red Cross and American Heart Association can provide your department with water rescue, first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation classes. Local hospitals will gladly send emergency room personnel or disaster/ medical team members to discuss care to be given by your department’s emergency medical personnel. Training with these and other area medical providers will greatly strengthen the EMS system in your response area.
Police agencies. Police agencies often arrive at fire and rescue incidents before the fire department. A training class with representatives from your local, county, and state police units will allow firefighters and police to become familiar with each other’s operating procedures. Many police agencies also have access to haz-mat, arson, and communication specialists and equipment.
Emergency service and disaster agencies and rescue squads. Local, county, and state emergency service and disaster agencies can provide your department with a wealth of training materials on haz-mat incidents, disaster management, and rescue techniques. Many ESDA units also have well-trained personnel with specialty equipment for all types of emergencies. Contact your local or county ESDA coordinator for training materials and related information.
Some areas also have rescue squads that are independent of fire department rescue squads. A training session with these organizations is a must. Many times, both the fire department and rescue squad must work together at rescues. Unit capabilities and procedures should be familiar to everyone responding.
Training agencies and schools. There are many training agencies and schools that provide materials or classes on all fireand rescue-related subjects. Some examples are the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the National Fire Protection Association, the National Fire Academy, and Safety Systems Inc. Many community colleges, technical schools, and universities also offer all types of training.
The only drawback to these resources is the cost. Almost all of these organizations have fees for their classes and materials. Sharing costs among neighboring departments can help cut expenses.
State and federal agencies. Agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. or state Department of Transportation, and the U.S. or state Environmental Protection Agency offer training materials and instructors for classes on haz-mats incidents and rescue techniques. These agencies are also good sources of funding for different types of classes or seminars. You may have to make a few telephone calls to obtain the training resources you want, but a diligent training officer will be able to gather some good class material from these agencies.
Military. A wealth of training resources are available from military bases. Most military installations have fire and rescue personnel, equipment, and training grounds. Military air stations have excellent crash/rescue programs. Contact the officer in charge of fire, rescue, EMS, and airborne medical evacuation services for details.
Equipment manufacturers. Learning how to use equipment correctlv and safely is an important part of a fire department’s training program. Many manufacturers offer classes to demonstrate the correct use of their equipment. They also offer training materials and manuals on the various applications of their products. Most equipment manufacturers’ sales representatives will be more than happy to set up classes or provide training materials for your department.
Industrial organizations. Many industrial organizations throughout the nation provide training materials and instructors free of charge or for a minimal fee. Groups such as the Chemical Manufacturers Association, the Chlorine Institute, and the American Petroleum Institute offer excellent training. They provide experts who can give specialized training in haz mats, fire suppression, and rescue situations.
Local industries. Local industries are among the best and most available sources of training materials and resources. Local industry is also a good place to look for hands-on training on specialty equipment, such as haz-mat suits, foam apparatus, and so on. Many larger industries, such as chemical or refinery operations, have fulltime safety personnel and on-site emergency response equipment. Some even have on-site training facilities.
If your firefighters aren’t properly trained, both they and your equipment are useless.
Local transportation companies. This training resource is often overlooked. Trucking, bus, airline, and railroad companies are excellent sources for training involving haz mats and vehicle extrication. These companies also have access to specialty equipment and response teams for haz-mat emergencies.
Utility companies. Gas, water, and electric companies will gladly provide training on the shutoff and emergency procedures related to their equipment. They can provide instructors, training materials, equipment demonstrations, and piping and wiring maps of their lines. Each utility handles its own emergencies somewhat differently. Be sure to train with each companv that could be involved in an incident to 1 which your department responds.
Local agricultural dealers. If your department covers a rural area, you may encounter both agricultural machinery and agricultural haz-mat emergencies. A class with your local grain elevator operator, agricultural/ chemical business representative, and farm implement dealer can greatly alleviate confusion at your next agricultural emergency. These experts can explain the workings of their machinery, give tours of their facilities, and provide training materials.
Towing companies and salvage yards. Both towing company and salvage yard representatives can provide vehicles for extrication training. Tow truck operators can also provide some good information on vehicle stabilization techniques, extrication, and the use of winches and rigging. Your firefighters can also tell the operators what’s expected of them at accident scenes. A good tow truck operator will become an asset at any rescue scene.
Miscellaneous. There are many other people and organizations you can look to for training. Many insurance companies offer material on arson, fire prevention, and fire inspections. If there are many construction companies in the area, it may be beneficial to arrange a training class with a local heavy equipment operator. Local specialists such as chemists, engineers, and lawyers can provide basic classes in their areas of expertise. Last, but not least, are your department members. They all have skills which they can share with each other. This may prove to be just the training your department needs.
Once you’ve contacted your resources, it’s a good idea to document them for future reference and to make sure they comply with state and federal regulations. Make note of the organizations, original contacts, instructors, reference materials, addresses, telephone numbers, and any other pertinent information. Good record keeping will make it easier for the training officer to coordinate future classes.
Outside resources can give a training officer more free time to work on future projects, making the job easier and more enjoyable. The outside sources will also help stimulate firefighters’ interest in training.
Your department may have many members and the newest equipment, but if the firefighters aren’t properly trained, both they and the equipment are useless. Give your department the best training possible; it will pay off!
