24 Backdraft Magazine | A Volunteer Fire Service Publication | Volume 5 | Issue 1 | www.thebackdraftmagazine.com
Continued from Page 23
the kit was opened and if there was a kit within the kit, that
kit was opened. That drill proved so successful and the
members found it so helpful that we did the same thing with
all our other rigs. From these drills, more in depth drill were
developed utilizing some of the equipment we realized we
hadn't used in a while and needed to brush up on.
If you are still having trouble coming up with ideas, visit
some of the many training web sites and fire based web sites
available on the Internet. Many even have drill outlines and
step by step directions help run the drill. Visit the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and health (NIOSH) web
site and review firefighter fatality reports. Many valuable
lessons can be learned from these reports, and every
single report can generate a drill plan. The reports usually
contain video, audio and photo attachments as well to help
with the presentation.
Repetition can be a great way to re-enforce lessons learned
and ensure our members are getting the message. But,
if not done carefully and creatively it can also bore your
members and possibly prevent them from coming back for
drills. You certainly do not want that to happen, but you can
still get the same message across and still teach the same
operating procedures by tweaking the drill slightly. Drill
evolutions can be repeated the same night, or if necessary,
they can be repeated several weeks in a row. In fact, that
may be better because in volunteer departments it is not
always possible to get the same attendance every week,
so by repeating it you are getting the information to new
attendees and re-enforcing it with those who made the
previous drill. It's good to have a plan in place so if your
attendance is made up mostly with the same people you
can throw some curves their way. It will still deliver the same
message, but it will be done in such a way that it challenges
the members and hopefully creates excitement.
In the volunteer ranks, we are always welcoming new
members into the ranks. They may join on a Monday and
show up on a Wednesday for drill. It's easy for the new
member to get lost in the crowd or worse, thrown into
the mix with veteran and experienced members and be
expected to perform at their level. Pay attention to these
newer members and assign an officer or mentor to work
with them. Some departments create separate "new
member" or "probie" drills to introduce the new members
to the fire service and review important department SOP's.
That's a great idea and worth considering.
At the same time, let's keep our senior and more experienced
members interested and coming back to drill. Too many
times the veterans stay away from drill because they have
done the same thing over and over again and grow bored.
We not only want to keep these members interested, but we
want them to come to drill as well. Senior members coming
to drills helps deliver the message that training continues
throughout one's career in the fire service
These experienced firefighters have much to offer. Engage
them. Keep them interested and coming back. Plan
advanced scenarios for the veterans. Throw some curves
at them. Let them go off with another officer and do some
advanced work. For example, at an auto extrication drill,
have newer members practice the basics scenarios while
the senior members are off practicing advanced techniques.
Don't be afraid to let veteran members help teach. Let them
work with new members. A word of caution if doing that: just
like officers need to know ahead of time if they are assisting
at a drill, let the veteran know as well. Discuss it with them
ahead of time and get their "buy in" and ensure they are not
only willing to do it, but prepared to do it as well.
Members need to be encouraged (or mandated) to attend
specific drills based on their level of membership. Structural
or interior certified firefighters should definitely be attending
SCBA, smoke house, live fire attack and other drills utilizing
those skills. FAST or RIT team members should be attending
those classes. Drivers should be driving and operating the
rigs they are qualified to drive. In addition, officers need
to embrace training and enthusiastically participate as
well. Training is for everybody, no matter what their level of
membership or experience.
Be flexible with the drills and be prepared to modify it
based on attendance. In the volunteer departments we
usually never know exactly how many members will show
up for the drill. It's a good idea to have a plan in place to
accommodate a large attendance and a small attendance.
We cannot simply stand in our volunteer firehouses filled
with all that great equipment and those beautiful shiny trucks
and act like we are ready to respond to our communities
cry for help. We need to ensure we are ready. One of the
keys to being ready is well planned, regular and pertinent
training.