Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Speaking of the new year, we always have goals we want to meet, eating right, losing weight, and exercising to name a few. The topic I want to speak on is training, why is it important to our jobs.
Training is the backbone of a fire department. It produces a well-prepared force that through repetition increases the speed of an operation and enhances proper execution while reducing injuries.
A firefighter who arrives at an emergency unprepared can be faced with life-and-death situations and will find himself or herself under extreme stress to perform his or her duties.
Training benefits everyone: the firefighter, the company officer, and the fire department.
Firefighters improve their skills. They experience less fumbling and fewer errors. They are able to gain confidence in themselves since they can perform their job at a high level. They develop pride in themselves and in their department. Training allows for continuous growth in their ability and prepares them to assume more responsibility while grooming them for promotions.
The company officer reap many benefits from a highly trained crew. There is better control over operations. The training frees him or her from interruption of workers’ questions, allowing more time for the officer to assume greater responsibility. It improves the firefighter’s overall ability and the officer has less fear of emergencies. The relationship between the officer and the firefighters becomes pleasant and fewer troubles exist. This results in the officer having job satisfaction instead of job headaches.
The department as a whole is a beneficiary since training allows for constantly improved operations. The efficiency of the fire department is recognized by the citizens they protect and can be directly linked to good public relations, permitting the passage of bills that benefit the fire department. It also keeps morale at a high level which although intangible, facilitates every function of a department. The career firefighter will work in a pleasant environment and the volunteer firefighter will look forward to participation in the various departmental functions.
Training, though, must be challenging. Reading from a textbook is boring and counterproductive. To conduct an interesting training exercise, the officer has to be prepared. This involves prior reading and research.
An officer can maintain interest in the subject by asking questions and seeking input from all participants. Drawing from the experience of each member allows for a well-rounded exercise. It also permits the officer conducting the training to reap the benefits of the firefighters’ experience, while letting the officer recognize each member’s level of expertise.
Training permits mistakes to be made and corrected in a non-emergency setting. The fire officer can take the time to stop a training exercise and point out correct procedures. He or she can explain what problems can arise by failing to use the correct method, including problems that can occur if shortcuts are taken.
All fire department members need training. New members need to learn basic skills. Senior members need the training as a refresher and to keep their skills sharp. The company officer, while monitoring training, should provide positive reinforcement when required and adjust or correct improper actions should they occur.
Training fosters teamwork and cooperation. Training can be accomplished formally through drills and practical evolutions, and informally by explaining policies and procedures. Members can set goals and discuss their individual progress with their commanding officers.
Remember to request your training needs through MU FRTI, the Division of Fire Safety, or whatever training programs you use. Remember training is the key to your department’s success.
If the FFAM can be of any assistance to you or your department, please reach out. I can be reached by email at grant_oetting@yahoo.com or call my cell at 660-229-4525, if I don’t answer please leave me a message and I will get back to you. Until next time. Be safe my brothers and sisters.
FFAM
