Emergency Response Training Courses

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Training Courses

This is a listing of our current courses. Almost all of our courses can be tailored to meet your organization's training needs. Many of our courses make extensive use of mock-ups and training props that are specially designed to simulate the real life experience. Our experienced team members are experts in developing informative and entertaining hands-on learning experiences that elevate the skill level of every participant.

If the course you are interested in is not listed, please contact us with your request.

Firefighting

Firefighter Bail-Out Refresher (FF-103) (8 hours)

The techniques of firefighter bail-out are a necessary survival skill that must be practiced on a regular basis to keep skills sharp. This drill on bail-out techniques is designed to reinforce the skills needed to survive a “once in a career, life-ending” situation. This drill will also cover alternative methods for anchoring using whatever is available at the time of escape. Skills and topics addressed include:

· System inspection and care

· Anchoring techniques

· System deployment

· System repacking

Bail-out practice can be conducted in the firehouse if the facility permits. If not, an acquired structure or training facility is needed to conduct this class.

Pump Operations Refresher (FF-104) (8 hours)

The pump operator has a critically important role on the fireground. This drill will focus on the critical skills that all pump operators must master to provide the proper fire flow to crews working at fire incidents. The following topics will be covered through a combination of discussion and hands on exercises:

· Basic hydraulics

· Master streams

· High rise operations

· Large diameter hose

· Multiple hose lines

· Drafting

· Relay pumping

· Quick friction loss formulas

Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) – Awareness/Operations (FF-110) (24 hours)

This course was designed to meet the most recent draft NJ recommendations for Rapid Intervention Crews. The course will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely operate on or command a Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC). The course covers all aspects of RIC search and rescue including who should be on a RIC; when and where you need a RIC; how to conduct a RIC size-up; tasks a RIC should perform while in staging mode; understanding how to operate during Mayday calls; types of incident problems leading to RIC deployments; structure type related problems; and RIC rules, regulations and guidelines. The hands on portion of this course will put students through several scenarios designed to provide hands on experience with RIC operations. The RIC course can be conducted in the firehouse if the facility permits. If not, an acquired structure or training facility is needed to conduct this class.

Rapid Intervention Company (RIC) – Knots and More Knots (FF-111) (3 hours)

This course is designed to help students become proficient in tying knots and basic hauling systems prior to taking the Rapid Intervention Crew (RIC) – Awareness/Operations course. The most recent draft NJ recommendations for RICs state that students shall be competent in successfully demonstrating the ability to tie the following knots:

· Handcuff knot

· Family of eights – eight, traced, on a bight

· Clove Hitch

· Bowline

· Water Knot

Rapid Intervention Crews (RIC) – Refresher Proficiency Training (FF-112) (16 hours)

This refresher proficiency training course meets the most recent draft NJ recommendations for RICs. The course consists of a lecture followed by hands on practice with several RIC scenarios. The RIC course can be conducted in the firehouse if the facility permits. If not, an acquired structure or training facility is needed to conduct this class.

Rapid Intervention Crews (RIC) – Proficiency Training Drills (FF-113) (3 hours)

Several standard drills are available for individual delivery. Choose from:

· Nance drill (hose, rope lower)

· Denver drill

· Below grade to grade rescue

· Upper floor rescue

· Drags & carries

· Rope assisted search

· Air management

· Communications

The RIC course can be conducted in the firehouse if the facility permits. If not, an acquired structure or training facility is needed to conduct this class.

Streetwise Firefighter (FF-200) (12 hours)

The streetwise firefighter course offers practical knowledge and tips on how to succeed at the calls firefighters face everyday and avoid the pitfalls that lead to mistakes on the fireground. The class addresses responses to and tips on handling routine and common emergencies such as activated alarms, odors of smoke, utility problems (natural gas, propane, water and electrical), elevator emergencies, carbon monoxide (CO) alarms, motor vehicle accidents, and emergencies involving hazardous materials. The class concludes by providing useful tips on keeping your firefighting tools in top form and ready for use and tips on increasing your proficiency with common hand tools carried on the apparatus. This course will give you the opportunity to grow, learn, and improve how you handle those tricky but common emergencies!

Fireground Strategy & Tactics 1 (FF-201) (8 hours)

Fireground strategy and tactics are the essence of fire department operations. Knowing the methods and processes used to fight fires are a necessary requirement of all those in the fire service, from newest recruit to the fire chief. The goal of this course is to familiarize the firefighter with the strategic and tactical considerations required on the fireground. The course includes a mixture of lectures, case studies, and classroom exercises. Topics covered will include fire behavior, extinguishing agents, firefighter safety, company operations, and common concepts for specific occupancy types.

Fireground Strategy & Tactics 2 (FF-202) (8 hours)

The goal of this course is to continue to familiarize the firefighter with the strategic and tactical considerations required on the fireground. The course will include a mixture of lectures, case studies, and classroom exercises. Topics covered will include basement fires, fires in buildings with built-in fire protection, multiple-family dwellings, commercial buildings, high-rise office and residential buildings, and places of assembly.

National Fire Academy Building Construction

This course is designed by the National Fire Academy for all emergency responders. The basic knowledge of building construction is the key to firefighter fireground safety and strategy and tactics. This course is delivered in two sections: Section 1 (Combustible Construction) addresses classes III, IV, and IV construction. Section 2 (Non Combustible/Limited Combustible Construction) addresses class I and II construction.

Firefighter Boot Camp (FF-101)

Firefighter Boot Camp is an intensive course, taught at your organization's location, which is designed to quickly bring new firefighters or veteran firefighters requiring a refresher up to speed on the basic fundamentals of fire ground operations. The Boot Camp can be tailored to include aspects specific to your organization.

Topics include:

• Firefighter Health and Safety, Fireground Safety

• Hazardous Materials Awareness

• Fire Service Structure and Communications

• SCBA Fundamentals

• Fundamentals of Building Construction and Fire Protection Systems

• Fireground Fundamentals

• Fire Service Tools and Equipment

• Fire Extinguishers

National Fire Academy Calling the Mayday (FF-102) (6 hours)

This class follows the curriculum provided by the National Fire Academy to prepare firefighters for when they find themselves in a “once in a career life ending situation”. The training consists of two modules. A classroom portion details the Mayday process itself – the need for a mayday procedure, mayday protocol situations and response with an effective mayday message. The hands-on portion allows students to master delivery of the mayday message under a variety of situations, in accordance with the job performance requirements set forth by the National Fire Academy. Students who successfully complete each module will receive a certificate from FEMA / the National Fire Academy. This training will be tailored to reinforce the Fire Department’s existing mayday SOG to enhance its use in an emergency.

Alternative Power Vehicle Firefighting (FF-130) (3 hours)

This class will cover topics that will enhance the understanding of the rapidly changing world of alternative power vehicles. The better understand the firefighter has for these systems will enhance safety and efficiency on the scene. The topics to be discussed:

• History of alternative power

• Types of alternative power

• Power source construction and operation

• Vehicle rescue concerns

• Traffic safety

• Firefighting strategy and tactics

Truck Company Training Series

Unconventional Entry (FF-121) (3 hours)

This drill enhances the truck company member’s forcible entry skills beyond the standard conventional and through-the –lock entry methods taught in basic firefighting classes. Today’s firefighters are frequently faced with situations that call for less aggressive entry methods. Entry methods for these situations that are reviewed in this program include:

· Key-in-the knob lock entry

· The ‘King Tool’ for paired aluminum entry doors

· Use of shove knives and personal knives for inward and outward opening doors

· Entry through residential overhead garage doors

The review of these concepts is best combined with a tour of the fire department’s response area to pair entry methods with actual occupancies within the response area. Also included for discussion and hands on practice is conventional and power assisted entry methods for forcing padlocks, another topic infrequently presented in the fire academy setting. This training requires the fire department to provide two or more padlocks per participant to allow for hands on practice using the irons to force these locks conventionally.

Effective Ground Ladders Operations (FF-122) (3 hours)

One hallmark of an excellent truck company is their ability to rapidly and effectively place and operate on ground ladders. This program builds on the truck company member’s basic ground ladder skills by developing a repetition that allows rapid selection, transport and placement of ground ladders. Also included for skill development are ladder relocation methods, using ladders to vent windows, ladder placement for firefighter egress and miscellaneous tips and tricks for improving the truck company’s ground ladder skills.

Fire Service Power Saws (FF-123) (3 hours)

Many fire departments carry multiple types of power saws on their apparatus, however most firefighters get little or no formal training or realistic hands on training with these saws. This program helps firefighters get hands on with their saws to fully understand their capabilities and their limitations. Topics for discussion include a review of the fire department’s saws, operation, care and maintenance of the saws and different chain and blade combinations and their uses. Students get hands on cutting roof mockups (chain and circular saws), steel (circular saws) and concrete and masonry (circular saws)

Oriented Search (FF-124) (3 hours)

Oriented search methods help expedite the search operation while reducing search team member anxiety. Using an oriented search supervisor to remain oriented to egress and monitor fire conditions with the TIC allows search team members to concentrate on diligent search methods and complete primary search more quickly. This drill presents the oriented search concept, and includes hands on practice to improve the skill level of the search team supervisor and the search team members. Search practice can be conducted in the firehouse but is most effective in an acquired structure.

Aerial Ladder Spotting Techniques (FF-125) (6 hours)

Aerial ladder operators sometimes only get one shot to get their truck in the right position for the task at hand. Once the truck has been “spotted” getting set up for operation becomes the critical path to putting the truck company to work. This drill involves a review of aerial ladder spotting and set up considerations, then challenges the driver/operator and his crew to arrive, spot the truck, set up and get into position in as short a time as possible. Special emphasis is placed on developing the skill of the turntable control operator to accurately place the main ladder to the objective on the first try. This drill can be done in any open parking lot.

Fire Safety

Please contact us to discuss the design and development of fire safety training courses to meet the needs of your organization.

Compliance Training

Comprehensive Annual Refresher Compliance for Fire Departments (FF-100) (3 hours)

This comprehensive course covers the annual refresher training requirements of several standards. Please contact us to discuss the design and development of a training course to meet the needs of your organization.

Hazardous Materials, Level 1 - Awareness

Meets the training requirements of OSHA's HAZWOPER Standard, 29 CFR 1910.120 for annual refresher training.

Hazard Communication / Right-To-Know

Meets training requirements of OSHA's Hazardous Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200 for biennial refresher.

Bloodborne Pathogens

Meets training requirements of OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 for annual refresher.

Bloodborne Pathogens Annual Refresher Training (FA-101) (2 hours)

Meets training requirements of OSHA's Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1030 for annual refresher. Customization is included for your organization which consists of a review of your existing Exposure Control Plan, the design and development of a training course to meet the needs of your employees, and a course completion certificate for each participant.

Vehicle Rescue

Vehicle Extrication – Stabilization (RQ-110) (3 hours)

This drill will cover the basic types of vehicle stabilization. It will also focus on the proper use and construction of vehicle stabilization methods for vehicles in various positions. The techniques performed in this drill will aimed at using basic and advanced equipment for the safe stabilization of vehicles at the scene of any accident. Course meets or exceeds the training requirements of NFPA 1670.

Topics for discussion and hands on practical exercises:

• Stabilization safety procedures

• Box Cribbing

• Step Chocks

• Wedges

• Over-turned vehicles

• Vehicles on their side

• Vehicles on other vehicles

Vehicle Extrication - Entry and Disentanglement (RQ-111) (8 hours)

This drill will cover the basic and advanced methods of vehicle extrication. Course meets or exceeds the training requirements of NFPA 1670. Emphasis will be placed on:

• Scene safety

• Patient care

• Rescuer safety

• Basic entry procedures

• Advanced entry procedures

Vehicle Extrication - Heavy Lifting (RQ-112) (8 hours)

This drill will discuss the equipment needed to lift and stabilize vehicles and other large and heavy objects. A focus on scene safety and the safe use of the necessary equipment to perform the lifting tasks will be described. Course meets or exceeds the training requirements of NFPA 1670. The topics to be discussed:

• Air bag and lifting safety

• High Pressure Air Bags

• Medium Pressure Air Bags

• Low Pressure Air Bags

• Lifting Struts and Jacks

• Hi-Lift Jacks

• Porta- Power Jacks