Training Bulletin: Critical Officer's Tool

摘要

How do you train proba-tionary firefighters, sharpen the skills of seasoned members, and pass on veteran firefighters' knowledge and experience? How do you capture the tricks of the trade and critical skills that firefighters need on the fireground? How do you provide the repetition, reminders, and training needed to create and maintain proficiency in critical fireground skills? How do you quickly, concisely convey life-saving policy information to your members? Written standard operating procedures (SOPs) and skill drills from company captains are one method, but is there really enough time to train every member on the myriad of required critical skills and techniques? The answer is no. It always seems to be a game of catch-up: Catch the probie up on initial training, catch the veteran up before the skill perishes, catch up on writing a department or company policy on an important topic, and catch up on the tricks of the trade before the veteran retires. Training and maintenance of perishable skills are huge problems for the fire service. Although experience is our best teacher, it is also the most expensive. Capitalize and use the expensive lessons others have learned so you don't pay the price yourself. Fortunately, working fires are down across the nation. Unfortunately, all of our perishable skills will dull and die off as a result.