I just put together a resource for my organization's departmental training officers. It may be of use to others. It ended up being cheaper to publish it than to have it printed. It should be available the first part of October. You can see it at www.createspace.com/3690367
We have an Academy starting soon. I am intrested in any new ideas that you may use in your fire department/ Academy, for PPE. I have taught the usual, Donning/ Doffing, Equipment familiarization ( SCBA, Turnout gear, on in 1 min, and breathing air in 2 min) but I am looking for something new to bring to the table to assist firefighters for a rookie class. I also cover "Whats in your pockets", to bring a newer perspective. Anything you can suggest will be helpful. Thanks
We run a nine-week/450+ hour academy (NFPA FF1/2 & HM operations). Our approach as instructors is to "crawl, then walk, then run" with the goal of master after week six, not in week 1. With that said, it is really not a question of what you want to teach them but how you teach it. Upon graduation, candidates (at least in our program) are to be able to function safely, as a member of a company, under the direct supervision of an officer. They are not decision makers (except in regards to their personal safety. They do not decide if ventilation is needs or exactly where to make the h***-just how to make the h*** effectively, safely, and quickly.
We focus on simple skills (don the SCBA, raise the ladder, pack and pull basic hose loads, for example) in weeks 1 and 2 then move into fireground applications. With regard to SCBA, we do a lot of donning and emergency skills in an open area before we put them in artificial smoke, and it's artificial smoke before real smoke. We also have them wear their facepiece during a classroom session and other non-firefighting activities (just the mask-no SCBA or other PPE) to get acclimated to the feel and breathing.
I firmly believe that skills should build on one another. Skills should be taught incrementally, not in one session. Instructors need to not try and give new members all their knowledge in a compressed time frame (don’t cram 20 years of experience into two days of SCBA).
Finally, don’t teach them to do things that can result in unattended consequences: Don’t turn hoods around to black out masks-weak the PPE correctly and use other media to achieve this result. Don’t omit steps just because its training. Don’t have them crawl into the fire room of the tower to feel the heat when the hose stream reaches 20+ feet. Do we really want them to enter the fire room or make the initial knock from a safe distance so they have a means of egress? Do we want them to don PPE while a vehicle is moving or remain seated and belted?
I am happy that i found this group. I wish that I will get what i want here.
I am a fire fighter in Nigeria and I have interest in becoming an official registered member of International Society of Fire Service Instructor. I work with Anambra State Fire Service headquarters, Awka in Nigeria. I have been in the job for fifteen (15) years. I am also an electrical engineer.
Please how can I be assisted to become a full member of this noble association. What are the requisite requirement to become a member. What will it cost me become an official registered member?
Vernon Applewhite
Mar 22, 2011
Vernon Applewhite
Jun 19, 2011
J. Scott Loftis
Sep 16, 2011
Steve West
Hello Brothers/ Sister of the Fire Service!!!
We have an Academy starting soon. I am intrested in any new ideas that you may use in your fire department/ Academy, for PPE. I have taught the usual, Donning/ Doffing, Equipment familiarization ( SCBA, Turnout gear, on in 1 min, and breathing air in 2 min) but I am looking for something new to bring to the table to assist firefighters for a rookie class. I also cover "Whats in your pockets", to bring a newer perspective. Anything you can suggest will be helpful. Thanks
God Bless
Stay Safe
S.West
Mar 9, 2012
Drew Smith
Steve-
We run a nine-week/450+ hour academy (NFPA FF1/2 & HM operations). Our approach as instructors is to "crawl, then walk, then run" with the goal of master after week six, not in week 1. With that said, it is really not a question of what you want to teach them but how you teach it. Upon graduation, candidates (at least in our program) are to be able to function safely, as a member of a company, under the direct supervision of an officer. They are not decision makers (except in regards to their personal safety. They do not decide if ventilation is needs or exactly where to make the h***-just how to make the h*** effectively, safely, and quickly.
We focus on simple skills (don the SCBA, raise the ladder, pack and pull basic hose loads, for example) in weeks 1 and 2 then move into fireground applications. With regard to SCBA, we do a lot of donning and emergency skills in an open area before we put them in artificial smoke, and it's artificial smoke before real smoke. We also have them wear their facepiece during a classroom session and other non-firefighting activities (just the mask-no SCBA or other PPE) to get acclimated to the feel and breathing.
I firmly believe that skills should build on one another. Skills should be taught incrementally, not in one session. Instructors need to not try and give new members all their knowledge in a compressed time frame (don’t cram 20 years of experience into two days of SCBA).
Finally, don’t teach them to do things that can result in unattended consequences: Don’t turn hoods around to black out masks-weak the PPE correctly and use other media to achieve this result. Don’t omit steps just because its training. Don’t have them crawl into the fire room of the tower to feel the heat when the hose stream reaches 20+ feet. Do we really want them to enter the fire room or make the initial knock from a safe distance so they have a means of egress? Do we want them to don PPE while a vehicle is moving or remain seated and belted?
For more info on how we try to do business please see http://nipsta.org/academy/documents/NIPSTAFirefighterAcademy-Teachi...
Mar 11, 2012
Martin O. Agbili
Hello everyone,
I am happy that i found this group. I wish that I will get what i want here.
I am a fire fighter in Nigeria and I have interest in becoming an official registered member of International Society of Fire Service Instructor. I work with Anambra State Fire Service headquarters, Awka in Nigeria. I have been in the job for fifteen (15) years. I am also an electrical engineer.
Please how can I be assisted to become a full member of this noble association. What are the requisite requirement to become a member. What will it cost me become an official registered member?
Please Someone should guide me through.
Thanks all.
Aug 30, 2012