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Jerry Springer’s FD Training Tips

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What’s the secret to Jerry Springer’s ability to capture an audience and send them away talking about the show? Even more than that, why is it that he has such a faithful following of viewers – willing to skip even the most traditional afternoon snooze to catch his show? Maybe one of the keys to successful fire department training is entertainment. Here’s a few of the things that seem to be working for Jerry. It seems that he’s always got some kind of interesting topic (even outrageous), the pre-show hype appeals to a whole bunch of people, he’s found a way to make every topic come to life on the stage, and he’s been able to sink a hook deep enough into his viewers to get them to come back day-after-day-after-day. Maybe it’s time that we ask him for some help with fire department training – or maybe we can just follow his lead.

Here’s how Jerry might do it… (more…)

Posted by on April 3, 2011 • Filed under: Uncategorized

The Two Sides of Firefighter Training

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There’s been a number of discussions lately that imply that our training may be what’s getting us into more and more trouble on the fireground. Here’s a few thoughts to consider…

We’ve been involved in firefighter survival and rapid intervention team training for a while now, in addition to basic engine and truck company training, and have found that as the years go by there are more-and-more images showing up that capture firefighters in very bad situations. The images also capture the fact that the firefighters are getting out of those bad situations. These situations, captured by the images, are like a double-edge sword. What do the images say?

(more…)

Posted by on March 21, 2011 • Filed under: firefighter-survival, firefighting-operations, Fireground Training, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics

The Company (Officer) & Training…

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Company (Officer) Training is a two-way street – you must get it and give it. Company officers must continually train to increase their proficiency and they must continually provide training to increase the proficiency of their crew(s).

One of the biggest misconceptions about being, or acting as, a company officer is that solid firefighting skills will get the job done – NOT! As a company officer there’s much more involved. The company officer must remain solid in firefighting skills, make sure that crew members do the same, and make sure that everybody works together – a lot tougher than it seems!

Getting Training…

Continuous training on firefighting skills is a given. While every firefighter should seek out as much training as possible, the company officer must go above and beyond. Catch the seat of any apparatus responding to a working incident and you better know what everyone on the rig should be doing – and you better make sure it’s getting done. No more letting somebody else (more…)

Posted by on March 4, 2011 • Filed under: Uncategorized

Managing YOUR Mayday

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MAYDAY! Sooner or later it just might happen to you. The big question is – are you prepared to deal with it? Consider the following scenario – upon arrival you encounter heavy smoke in a two-story double residence. The company you’re with is assigned to search and rescue, the first due engine is in the process of making the hydrant and advancing the attack line – the search begins. The house is very cluttered and it’s difficult to make progress. As you begin to make your way to the second floor the stairs give way and you’re in the basement – your partner already made the floor and doesn’t realize you’re not right behind. The engine crew runs into a slight delay and the fire begins to gain the stairway to the second floor. (more…)

Posted by on February 24, 2011 • Filed under: firefighter-safety-health, firefighter-survival, firefighting-operations, Fireground Training, Get-Out-Alive, Mayday, rapid-intervention-teams, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics

Today’s Special from FDTN

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We’d like to welcome everyone to FDTN’s new online training blog. Our goal is to provide everyone with simple, easy-to-use, training sessions that you can use the next time  you’re at work. From time-to-time we’ll also offer some specials to help you take advantage of more of FDTN’s firefighter-friendly training products.

Today we’d like to encourage everyone to become a member of FDTN. Annual membership is $48.00/year and with it you’ll receive our monthly FIRESCUE Interactive through the mail. Add our new Fireground Search FireNote to your order for only 15.00 plus shipping. Regular member pricing is $19.95. For a complete listing of our products and courses visit our main page at: www.fdtraining.com.

Order your FDTN Membership and Fireground Search FireNote today!

Posted by on February 21, 2011 • Filed under: Uncategorized

The Second Line…

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Attack lineWhen arriving as the second engine company on a working fire, besides laying a second supply line, you will obviously have to stretch a second handline too. The question for most officers is “which” handline should we pull? For some companies, the question seems to be “whose” handline should we pull?

Those officers are the ones who, for some odd reason, like to pull the second handline off of the first engine. Those officers will often say that by doing this, they have less to pick up after the fire, thus getting them ready for the next one. If you have this mindset, then you are focusing on the wrong fire! The only fire you should be worried about is the one you are pulling up on.

Here are some things to consider. To make an effective stretch, and an effective attack, there are two things that a good officer, and engine company, will want to know ahead of time:

  1. How many feet of hose do I need to get me there?
  2. What nozzle do I need for the best attack?

If you’re an officer who likes to pull your line off the other engine, then you will get this information seconds before you begin your attack. If the officer of the first engine decided that he needed 200’ to reach the fire, then guess what…if he was right, then you will get 150’, and likely won’t be able to get to the fire to back them up.

Another thing to consider is if the nozzles on the other engine have been maintained.  If you are in a busy company, then your hose and nozzles likely get exercised enough that you know if they are working properly.  Can you say this for sure about the companies you are running with?  What if the pipe you pulled off the other company has a nozzle with a badly broken stream. Maybe it has a rock in it from the last fire. Maybe the bale is broken.  Once again, this is not the time to find out.

One more thing to consider.  NEVER pull a second handline smaller than the first handline.  In other words, if the first-in officer felt that the fire would require at least one “big water” line, then by pulling a 1 ¾” handline, you have second guessed that officer, changed the game plan, and possibly the outcome of the fire.

And remember, most engines only carry one 2 ½” handline, so, as with all handlines…BRING YOUR OWN!

Posted by on February 20, 2011 • Filed under: attack-line, backup-line, Engine Company Training, engine-company-operations, Fireground Training, Stretching-lines, Uncategorized

Ground Ladder Training

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Here’s a ground ladder training session that provides not only ladder basics but also fireground decision making. It’s simple and easy to set up — find a building with multiple windows, on multiple floors if possible, and put a couple victims in the windows. Start the crew from a staged position where they can’t see the victims. As they come around they’ll have to make decisions on who to go after first and what ladders to use. Give it a try!

Posted by on February 7, 2011 • Filed under: fire-rescue-topics, firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, rapid-intervention-teams, rescues, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics, truck-company-operations, Uncategorized

Truck Company Operations I

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Posted by on February 5, 2011 • Filed under: Events, Uncategorized

Engine Company Operations I

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Posted by on February 5, 2011 • Filed under: Engine Company Training, Events, Fireground Training, Uncategorized

Welcome to FDTN’s Training Blog

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Welcome to the Fire Department Training Network, the nation’s premier provider of realistic fireground training. Whether you’re an individual firefighter or company officer seeking to become better at your job, or a department training officer looking to challenge members of your department, the Fire Department Training Network’s membership, training products and training courses are designed to provide you what you need.

In the posts ahead we’ll be offering some simple training tips/sessions that you can use when you’re at work. We’ll do our best to provide you with everything you need to pull the drill together and get things started — the rest is up to you!

Posted by on February 2, 2011 • Filed under: firefighter-safety-health, firefighting-operations, fires, training-development, training-fire-rescue-topics