Description: Ready, Set, Train - Chris Battlo examines everyday firefighter and EMS training and its impact on fireground operations. He while examine trends from the past, present and future for fire, rescue, EMS responders and leadership.
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EMS Training? Not Again!
By Chris Battlo - Wednesday May 15, 2013
There has been a definite shift toward first responder or medical calls in most areas. No longer can you be a firefighter alone; many departments require you to be a minimum of EMT or have first responder training. Other departments are handling so many medial calls that they staff engines or other apparatus at the advanced life support level with paramedics. While there are still departments that are fire response only they are becoming fewer and fewer, and even those agencies find themselves assisting EMS crews on a regular basis. Why did I spend time stating the obvious about the fire service? Why spend time talking about a subject that inflames many when they will tell you “EMS and medical is not what I signed up for!”? The... -
Is Firefighter Communication a Lost Art?
By Chris Battlo - Tuesday March 26, 2013
It has been a very busy time around our area. Fire everywhere, motor vehicle accidents are on the rise and medical calls at an all-time high. Does this sound familiar? This seems to be the current trend everywhere. This has given me the opportunity to listen to lots of radio traffic and observe many face-to-face discussions. As a result I have noticed a trend that basic communication seems to be a problem around many incidents. These observations led me to have some anecdotal discussions with some very experienced incident commanders from various places. Each of these commanders verified that fireground communication seems to be problematic in some form or another. It seems that in today's fire service there are many styles of... -
Don’t Just be a Firefighter: Take Responsibility for Your Training
By Chris Battlo - Friday March 8, 2013
I was listening to a few firefighters talk the other day and they were fussing about the training their department was providing or not providing. One guy asked the other if he had seen the catalog of courses for the fire academy this quarter. Firefighter "A" said "it's not my responsibility to train off duty, if I need it they have to provide it." This set me back a little bit; I couldn't understand why someone would feel that way. The more I listened to them; Firefighter B told A that he was going to start some advanced courses and maybe even some officer level and instructor courses. Firefighter B laughed and said "we don't need that we are "just firefighters." As soon I as heard this I was taken back to an exchange that occurred... -
Firefighter Training: Slow it Down to Reduce Mistakes
By Chris Battlo - Monday February 25, 2013
I have a very high energy eight-year-old that studies and practices martial arts. Recently he was preparing himself for his next belt examination and was having trouble with a few the techniques. In an effort to help him through these problems I set him up with a couple of private lessons for one-on-one help. I sat and observed one of these lessons and listened closely as the instructor worked with him. Each time this young man would do the technique improperly the frustration would grow. Finally the instructor asked him why he was messing up so bad, and with reluctance he said "because I'm going so fast." That was the right answer. Next it was explained that if you want to do better, you must slow down and practice. I listened more and... -
Integrate Training to its Fullest
By Chris Battlo - Tuesday February 19, 2013Recently I have had the opportunity to watch several training evolutions. These have been both single company and multi-company drills. Each involved establishing water supply, deploying handlines, conducting search, victim removal and fire suppression. As soon as the victim was out, the evolution was over and there was no consideration for the care of the victim at all. In today's fire service most all firefighters are trained at least to the level of medical first responder, many more are EMTs and paramedics. With this in mind I can't help but wonder why the evolution objectives do not require treatment of the victim after successful removal when we train. The short answer is that EMS will be standing by and take over care. This is a...
