Where firefighters come to talk training
The cost of today's training! Does cost determine the quality?
Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend in the fire service when it comes to training. It seems the more "letters" Firefighters and Chief's have behind their names the more they charge to educate our Brothers and Sisters. While I do recognize that there are a lot of costs associated with running a business, the bottom line still remains the fire department and firefighters home budgets are becoming less and less in regards to having money to get the training. They most likely have recognized a need for this particular training or maybe they just want a different perspective to create safer, more effective fire operations. The part that is really sad is in some of the discussions I have had with fire departments, the training they recieved did not equal the cost they paid. I caution fire departments and my Brothers and Sisters alike to ensure before they decide to hire in for training to know what objectives they want to meet. Also are the companies or persons conducting the training are more than just "letters" and actually can relate to your juridictions needs. Are they asking for your SOP's, Are they asking you what objectives you want to meet? Don't just let them dictate to you. Your fire problems aren't always theirs. Suburban departments aren't Urban departments and normally tactics employed by each are dictated by the response areas and responsbilities. When working with various companies or persons ask them for a break down of what your really paying for and the small fortune some are trying to make off of you and call it Brotherhood! Most should be willing, if you have never used them before, to give you a resonable price and allow you to see the quality in the training and then you may be willing and even able to pay more. Some will get mad at this blog and that is ok because as my Grandmother would say " A hit dog always holla's." Start looking in your local area for firefighters who are talented and look outside also, and truly match apples for apples; I also ask you to check references and really dig into the back ground of the folks providing the instruction and you may find they don't have the credability you would really like them to have or even have the respect of the Brothers and Sisters they serve with everyday! Just some observations on training from a fire service student. What are your thoughts?
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Comment
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Comment by Art "Chief Reason" Goodrich on September 4, 2012 at 2:52pm -
Training is like cigars.
Just because it says it's a premium cigar and you pay a premium price, doesn't mean that you're getting a great cigar. Some of the worst cigars that I ever smoked, I paid way too much and some of the best were reasonably priced.
Yeah; training is like that too.
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Comment by Amos Akers on September 3, 2012 at 9:23pm -
Cost does not always determine quality, and you don't always get what you paid for.
Some of the more cost effective ways to bring in and develop training for your department is to first determine what your department training needs are. Do you have mid and high-rise buildings being constructed in your department's area where 2-3 story buildings were once the tallest buildings? Is your department taking on new response duties such as a HAZMAT team, Confines Space, High Angle, or Trench Rescue? Or are you just looking for some back to the basics, street smart firefighting courses?
Once you answer this question, then you can ask if it is more cost effective to have an outside training company come in for initial training, or should you put together a cadre of instructors that you will send to outside classes and who will come back to deliver what they have learned to other members of your department.
In some cases, it is more cost effective to send instructors to outside training events such as FDIC, Firehouse Expo, or training events hosted by other departments, where they can learn new skills to bring back to your department. This is generally useful for the forcible entry, engine and truck company, bread and butter or vehicle extrication type classes.
Once you get into topics which your department has never dealt with such as high-rise/commercial building operations, or the more risky technical rescue/USAR activities, then it may be worth your while to bring in training companies with instructors who actually have experience in those fields. This is where you will have to do your homework, and budget for it.
To help save money, reach out to mutual aid, and surrounding departments to share the expenses that may be associated with bringing in outside instructors.
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