Jr & Firefighter Confidence and Drill training

Well i have the wheels turning for a new day of training on my dept, i used microsoft office and printed up some curriculum ideas and some firehouse drills, now i talked to all my qualified instuctors and most on my dept, it seems alot are interested, any ideas to keep them interested, seeing how i am basically the leader of my Junior program because im 21, not really appointed or experienced as much but age matters. be onscene 15 times my worst being a MVA/Heavy entrapment our juniors roll on all calls, so i came up with a training program and those instructors willing to teach, basically im pulling it all together because we need practical training, about 10 firefighters are professional and volunteer here. Since lives are on the line and sweat is better than blood, id like some ideas to keep every one interested and make the training something everybody wants to come to and learn critical skills. Any ideas ?

Anything and everything. Things as simple as going over the apparatus to make sure they know what is what and where it's at and changing SCBA bottles, to things more complicated like search and rescue drills. The more they can learn in house the better off they will be when/if they take any state certified training. I know there is a few links on the forum somewhere with different training props so you should look into those too.

In my department we train with the firefighters (due to the size of my department), we basically train on everything the firefighters train on within limits of the law and department SOGs. Mainly we are trained to do what we are expected to do on scene, but we still participate in other trainings we would not be allowed to do on the fireground (e.g. wearing SCBA). To help you out I'll give you a list of different types of training that keep most Juniors interested.

SCBA (also learning how to change the bottles)
Search and rescue
RIT
Water rescue
First Responder and CPR
Water supply (such as assisting the driver hooking up, operating the nozzles in a controlled environment, or an overview of how to get water from point a to b in different scenarios)
Knots
Equipment and its location and name (very important)

I hoped this helped out a little, but basically training on everything the firefighters do can be beneficial, whether the Juniors are just watching or doing, just remember to mix it up.


Jake

Ladders, Rehab(including taking vitals), Exterior ops, SCBA filling(if your dept has an air unit).

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Originally Posted by JakeT59

In my department we train with the firefighters (due to the size of my department), we basically train on everything the firefighters train on within limits of the law and department SOGs. Mainly we are trained to do what we are expected to do on scene, but we still participate in other trainings we would not be allowed to do on the fireground (e.g. wearing SCBA). To help you out I'll give you a list of different types of training that keep most Juniors interested.

SCBA (also learning how to change the bottles)
Search and rescue
RIT
Water rescue
First Responder and CPR
Water supply (such as assisting the driver hooking up, operating the nozzles in a controlled environment, or an overview of how to get water from point a to b in different scenarios)
Knots
Equipment and its location and name (very important)

I hoped this helped out a little, but basically training on everything the firefighters do can be beneficial, whether the Juniors are just watching or doing, just remember to mix it up.


Jake

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nicely put......keeping them interested would be the biggest challenge as alot of training done is repetitive. mixing it up with different drills should keep the "spark"

Also make sure they know and understand the dept. sog/sop's

One of the best ways to teach is by invoking a challenge. You can pretty much make anything into a challenge from gear races to department/apparatus trivia to mazes. The key to this kind of training is accuracy. No point in being the first to have all your gear on if you missed buttons or snaps or zippers that could cost you life or limb in the real world. I have a great SCBA endurance training I could email you if you would like also. Just send me your email address in a private message.

Also I have found one of the most important trainings you can do with juniors is communications training. This can include everything from learning how to repeat instructions back to an officer before doing a task to what not to do on a radio (swear, yell, mumble, eat the mic, etc.). When all other training is forgotten, most anything can still be accomplished with effective communication skills.

Just thought I would share what we do at my Department. Every month we do one Fire Training and one EMS Training, and then throughout the year we do several Saturday 8 hour day trainings.

Fire:
Jan - SCBA
Feb - Ice Rescue Training
Mar - Pump Operations
Apr - RIT
May - SCBA
Jun - Brush Fire Training
Jul - Mutual Aid Training
Aug - SOG/SOP
Sept - SCBA
Oct - Farm Rescue Training
Nov - Rural Water Ops
Dec - SCBA

EMS:
Jan - Cold Related Injuries
Feb - Hazmat/Scene Size up
Mar - Behavioral
Apr - Report Writing
May - Heat Injuries
June - Respiratory
July - Sport related injuries
Aug - Protocols
Sept - Diabetes Emergencies
Oct - Auto Extrication
Nov - Cardiac Emergencies
Dec - Ambulance equipment review

Then we usually do the TRA, HMA, FSVO certification classes as well. Then most of us usually go to other trainings that are currently free. Hope this helps out.

A few questions, do you train at a tower or some form of training prop, do you have access to out of service--not going on calls--engines, how often do you train?

If you do, here is a drill, take all your Pre-connects--crosslays, whatever you call your primary attack lines--into the building charged, then ladder the building. Then put it all away and do it again. Easy fun and efficient... To change it up start everyone in socks next to their gear and have a turnout drill.

A big thing any Junior can do if you have a ladder truck is LADDERS LADDERS LADDERS and more LADDERS. If there is a window and a ladder marry it. Keep going until you are out of either.

Ladders save lives. They save our lives and lives of anyone who may be trapped. Being able to throw a 24 ft ladder by yourself is something I feel anyone should be able to do. I've seen 4 foot 9 girls throw them in full gear with SCBA. As a Jr you can't go in. But that doesn't mean you can't throw ladders.

Another thing:

Our explorers train on Thursdays from 1800-2100. This is EXPLORER training night. They are trained on everything you are trained in an Ohio 240 class. You can't go on calls until you are on the department for at least 6 months, pass a 100 question written test, and a practical exam. This testing procedure goes over everything our probies are taught (radio channels, mutual aid agreements, sop/sog's, trucks, EVERYTHING).

Once you pass your Explorer II test and are able to go on calls, you must also start attending DEPARTMENT trainings on Wednesdays from 1930-2130.

Our explorers are taught enough that many probies will attend explorer trainings to get a better feel for the department and learn things that they need to be checked off on.

By the time our explorers are old enough to go through fire school, they are almost always the best in the class.