Firefighter Continuing Education Training

An incident action plan sets the strategy that guides efforts in a response. Whether it is formulated mentally by the first-arriving officer or written down and revised as events unfold, the action plan is what transforms strategic goals into tactical objectives, which are used to assign tasks and resources to all units involved.

This course equips fire officers with the knowledge and ability to devise and implement an action plan for emergency responses. Various topics are discussed, including how to determine incident priorities and tactical objectives, how to break down an emergency scene into manageable parts, and how to allocate resources and assign tasks.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

After having served as a member of a fire company for some years, you have become highly skilled at using the tools of your trade. You may feel that your skills and abilities should allow you the opportunity to become a company officer, and this course will help explore the differences between being a firefighter or driver/operator and being a company officer. The job requirements are very different, as are the skills required.

This course discusses the transition from firefighter to company officer and the knowledge and abilities that a fire officer must possess to be successful in the company officer role. This course has 10 lessons with a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Budgeting is a fundamental administrative task in the fire service, and company officers are becoming increasingly more involved in the budgeting process. For this reason, it is important that company officers understand the process and the tasks they may be expected to perform. NFPA 1021, Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications, requires that company officers be able to prepare a budget request to obtain the items needed to operate their stations and companies. As company officers become more familiar with the budgeting process they will be better prepared for the more significant budget responsibilities that come with higher rank.

This course provides an overview of the budgeting process. Various related topics are discussed including the budget cycle, the various kinds of budgets, and understanding revenues in the fire service. Additionally, the course covers strategies for coping with budgeting difficulties in times of economic hardship.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Educating the public on fire safety issues is one of the most important tasks in the fire service to help minimize risks and prevent fire-related emergencies. Community awareness is a prerequisite for effective fire safety education. Knowing the needs and risks in the community can call attention to issues that should be addressed. Similarly, public relations is also a means of educating the public, informing them on the department's activities, and calling attention to safety issues.

This course focuses on providing proactive strategies of community engagement while balancing that with the need to remain always prepared to respond to opportunities to call attention to safety issues through community outreach programs, through the media, and on an individual basis. It also discusses skills and strategies for press releases and methods of responding to citizen's concerns and complaints.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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This course will teach company officers how to successfully train at the company level. The course reviews the benefits of company-level training, the company officer’s training responsibilities, and how to assess a company’s training needs. Emphasis is given to developing a company-level training program.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Being a company officer, means shouldering leadership responsibilities both at the station house and at the fireground. Too often, officers may have strong managerial abilities at the station house and weak supervisory skills at the fireground, or vice versa. The challenge for the officer is to strive to demonstrate excellent leadership in every situation.

This course focuses on equipping officers with both the knowledge and the know how to effectively carryout their leadership in the two areas of supervision and management. To do this, the course reviews a broad range of topics, ranging from the theoretical--such as a brief historical overview of management theories up to the present--to the practical, such as basic principles of budgeting and administrative duties.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Safety inspections are among the most critical duties performed by fire personnel in the course of their careers. Properly performed, these inspections help identify risks before any incident occurs and help business owners and property managers prioritize any work needed to bring a building up to code or to reduce or eliminate evident risks. Fire personnel must be familiar with a set of general inspection techniques; they may also require specialized training depending on the local industrial base.

Fire inspections are performed in concert with property owners and managers. Inspectors should remember that some facilities possess security concerns outside their normal experience. In this case, they should defer to facility management as to the risks which might be present. In the absence of proper safety procedures, the investigator must use the full force of law available to force compliance. At first, some issues may not seem relevant enough to force compliance. For example, the mislabeling of a chemical may seem like a small issue; however, it has the potential to cause harm or even death. Because fire and life safety inspections are so effective at preventing major damage, injury and death, they are the mainstay of a jurisdiction's comprehensive safety management program.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Communication is critical to the achievement of a fire department's objectives. It is also a fundamental function of leadership. Fire officers are vital links in the chain of communication stretching from the fire chief to new recruits. If communication is ineffective then important information is lost, leading to misunderstandings and even mission failure.

This course provides an overview of the communications process with an emphasis on enhancing officers' communicative abilities and recognizing and avoiding barriers to effective communication. The course is primarily concerned with oral communication and includes discussion on topics such as understanding the various elements of the communication process, improving speaking and listening skills, and understanding the role of nonverbal cues.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

It is important that all firefighters understand the structure of their departments or fire protection agencies. A lack of knowledge in this vital area can lead to misunderstanding, inefficiency, and worst of all, can complicate emergency operations. Firefighters must also have a solid understanding of the various kinds of fire protection agencies that exist and how their own departments may interact with other organizations under the Incident Command System.

This course reviews the various organizational structures of a fire department, both at the macro and micro levels. It also provides an overview of the unique mission, roles, and organizational principles of fire departments and identifies the distinctions between public and private fire protection agencies, career and volunteer firefighters, and line and staff personnel.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

In addition to their other duties at fires, company officers are responsible for securing the scene of a fire and protecting possible evidence until the cause of the fire has been determined. In some departments, fire company officers are responsible for making the preliminary cause determination. These requirements dictate that company officers have a deep understanding of fire behavior, investigation techniques, and the importance of proper documentation.

This course discusses the company officer's responsibilities regarding fire cause determination, scene security, and evidence preservation. Also covered are the investigations of accidental, natural, and incendiary fires, as well as proper documentation procedures for the investigation. This course has 10 lessons with a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Firefighting is an inherently hazardous occupation, but that does not imply that some of these hazards cannot be prevented or at least minimized. Countless injuries occur yearly that could have been prevented if greater attention had been paid beforehand to the risks involved. By taking responsibility for the safety and health of department members, fire officers can play an important role in reducing these risks.

This course provides a general overview of health and safety issues that confront members of the fire service. The course introduces current local, state and federal laws pertaining to occupational safety and health that apply to fire officers. It emphasizes the importance of identifying occupational hazards that exist--both actual and potential. Factors related to physical and mental fitness and basic health, such as basic knowledge of exercise physiology, good nutrition and stress management, are also reviewed.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Most fire departments are units of the local government, and as members of a government entity, fire officers need to recognize how their department fits into the broader structures of local, state, and federal governments. This enables officers to work together with the community and to see their individual concerns from the perspective of the best overall interest of the city, the state, and the nation.

This course provides an overview of federal, state, and local government structures, agencies, and functions with a focus on their relevance to the fire department. Of these, particular attention has been given to local governments and the importance of recognizing the fire department's place within them. The course also provides an overview of the different types of local governments a department may encounter, and the ways laws are made.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Firefighting has been described as one of the nation's most hazardous occupations, and fire officers play an important role in helping themselves and other personnel minimize those hazards. On average, there are nearly 100 deaths per year in the fire service, and there are countless more injuries, both reported and unreported. While the number of deaths has been declining in recent years, there is still room for improvement, and many preventable risk factors need to be addressed.

This course provides a general overview of health and safety issues that confront members of the fire service when responding to various emergency incidents. The course surveys the types of general hazards that can be encountered due to environmental conditions or dangers present at the scene and provides an analysis of the hazards present in each type of emergency response. Safety precautions for each kind of response are proposed. The course also discusses the importance and function of a Rehabilitation Area.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

The importance of clear and effective communication at the scene of an incident cannot be overstated. A miscommunication or lack of communication at either end of the communicative process, transmitting or receiving, can lead to costly setback or even failure in incident operations. In the high stakes environment of the fireground there is no room for communication breakdown.

This course focuses on conveying to firefighters the importance of clear and effective communication in incident responses. The various kinds of communication, the components that comprise a department's communications system, and the intrinsic relationship between ICS and communication are highlighted. In addition, six critical junctures of communication during incident operations are reviewed.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

How an incident scene is managed can determine the overall effectiveness of a department's response. Proper scene management can minimize firefighters' exposure to risk and maximize the efficiency of their interventions, whether they are aimed at life safety, incident stabilization, or property conservation.

This course provides an overview of the responsibilities and tasks associated with incident scene management. It discusses topics such as scene safety, performing size-up, and managing the various components of an incident.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Because working fires account for only 4% of total calls, the modern-day firefighter must rely on the skills they have learned from training. NFPA? Standard 1410 covers 14 basic firefighting evolutions that review the basic skill sets used often on the fireground. The standard’s goal is to accomplish these basic evolutions, a reasonable completion time, and the expected outcomes. Evolution one requires a forward hose lay using one engine, one supply line, and two handlines in three minutes. Fireground tactics and the intricacies of each role in the engine company are reviewed.

The course also covers the importance of a communication plan and an After Action Review (AAR). Success in every evolution requires understanding the drill, good preplanning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Fireground evolutions are complex mechanisms. The skills used are not used every day and require regular practice. Faced with an immediate challenge or fireground need, the 21st century firefighter must have immediate recall of a combination of real world and practiced scenarios to rely upon.

In this assignment, a basic explanation of the fireground tactics was explored. Why would a company officer decide to defer water supply to the second due and request that engine two reverse lay in? What are those factors that a company officer uses to formulate this initial arrival decision- one that has such a quick and potentially profound outcome? Success in this evolution requires understanding of the needs of the drill, good pre-planning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Fireground evolutions are complex mechanisms. The skills used are not used every day and require regular practice. Faced with an immediate challenge or fireground need, the 21st century firefighter must have immediate recall of a combination of real-world and practiced scenarios to rely upon.

The 1410 drills are well thought out, scripted, and organized with thorough explanations of the positional skills' expectations and their timing requirements. Evolution 3 explains the procedures and requirements for achieving a two-engine forward lay, and discusses the important roles and responsibilities of the crew members throughout the scenario.

Success in this evolution requires understanding the needs of the drill, good pre-planning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

The 1410 drills are well thought out, scripted, and organized with thorough explanations of the positional skills expectations and their timing requirements. This assignment explores a basic explanation of the fireground tactics. The company officer anticipates a need reverse lay and bring the water supply by ways of LDH closer to the fire scene. This action mitigates friction loss before splitting the water into the attack lines.

Why would a company officer make this decision? What are those factors that a company officer uses to formulate this initial arrival decision, one that could have such a quick and potentially profound outcome? This lesson should provide the reader answers to these and other questions.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Because working fires account for only 4% of total calls, the modern-day firefighter must rely on the skills they have learned from training. NFPA Standard 1410 covers 14 basic firefighting evolutions that review the basic skill sets used often on the fireground. The standard’s goal is to accomplish these basic evolutions, a reasonable completion time, and the expected outcomes. Evolution five requires two engines, one supply line, and two handlines to complete a drafting operation in six minutes. Fireground tactics and the intricacies of each role in both engine companies are reviewed.

The course also covers the importance of a communication plan and an After Action Review (AAR). Success in every evolution requires understanding the drill, good preplanning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Fireground evolutions are complex mechanisms. The skills used are not used every day and require regular practice. Faced with an immediate challenge or fireground need, the 21st century firefighter must have immediate recall of a combination of real world and practiced scenarios to rely upon.

In this scenario, the initial arriving engine will begin a fast attack toward the simulated fire scene and achieve permanent water supply through a water shuttle evolution that will be filling a portable dump tank that the engine will be drafting water from.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Evolution 7 explains the procedures and requirements for executing a reverse lay with a portable ground monitor and discusses the important roles and responsibilities of the crew members throughout the scenario.

Success in this evolution requires understanding the needs of the drill, good pre-planning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Evolution eight requires a single engine company, an engine-mounted master stream appliance, and two supply lines, to complete a forward lay and achieve 500 gpm flow for the master stream within three minutes. Fireground tactics and the intricacies of each role in the engine company are reviewed. The course also covers the importance of a communication plan and an After Action Review (AAR). Success in every evolution requires understanding the drill, good preplanning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Evolution 9 explains the procedures and requirements to execute use of an aerial apparatus and elevated master stream and discusses the important roles and responsibilities of the crew members throughout the scenario.

Success in this evolution requires understanding of the needs of the drill, good pre-planning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Evolution 10 explains the procedures and requirements to execute a reverse lay from an apparatus equipped with an elevated master stream, using one engine and supplying one handline, and discusses the important roles and responsibilities of the crew members throughout the scenario.

Success in this evolution requires understanding the needs of the drill, good pre-planning, teamwork, communication, and practice.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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A hazardous materials incident is defined as the release, or suspected release, of a hazardous material into the environment. Even with the best prevention methods in place, hazardous materials incidents are bound to happen. Understanding the nature of the hazardous materials you work with, and how to respond to an incident or potential incident will help you quickly manage a dangerous situation and minimize damage done to persons, the environment, and facilities. Being able to recognize and quickly request the appropriate aid is the main responsibility of first responders at the awareness level.

First responders at the awareness level are typically workers likely to witness or discover a hazardous materials release within the course of their normal duties. This series review the basics of hazardous materials first responders must know; including identification, effects on the body, decontamination, emergency prevention and more.

NOTE: This training program consists of four learning modules. To maximize knowledge on the topic, it is recommended that you take all four modules.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s) Each

Firefighter/EMTs, firefighter/paramedics, fire lieutenants, fire chiefs, and all other EMS providers and healthcare workers are at risk for exposure to bloodborne pathogens (BBPs).

Healthcare workers are most at risk for exposure, but workers across many industries are exposed to bloodborne illnesses. Any occupations that deal with blood, medical waste, and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) have the potential for exposure to infection. According to a study published in the journal Prehospital Emergency Care, the expected number of annual occupational hepatitis C seroconversions for firefighter/EMTs was estimated to be 3.4 to 33.7 per 100,000. On the surface, this seems like a small number — it goes without saying that that is of no consolation for those first responders, EMTs, and paramedics that do contract the disease.

This course will review the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standard and requirements, as well as some of the diseases associated with BBP occupational exposures.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

This course covers the two primary hazards associated with flammable and combustible liquids: explosion and fire. In order to prevent these hazards, this course and the standard upon which it is based (29 CFR 1910.106), address the primary concerns of design and construction, ventilation, ignition sources, and storage. This training course has 8 learning modules with a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Firefighters routinely have the occasion to interact with various compressed gases. This occurs as part of the fire suppression response, fire prevention and inspection efforts, and during technical and rescue operations. The products that the fire service uses range from compressed gas for cutting needs to the everyday usage of oxygen canisters.

Many hazards are involved in the handling, storage, and use of compressed gas. Compressed gases store tremendous amounts of potential energy, which can be hazardous to civilian employees and first responders alike, unless they understand the general requirements and safety measures when working with these substances.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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As a firefighter, you may be exposed to the hazards associated with confined space operations. This course will familiarize you with both confined spaces and permit-required confined spaces, showing you how to safely work in and around such areas. You will learn steps you can take to work safely, including the elements of a confined space permit system and the potential hazards associated with confined spaces. This course will teach you how to recognize symptoms of hazard exposure in a confined space, how to respond to those hazards, what equipment needs to be available in confined spaces, and emergency response protocol.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

National survival rates of cardiac arrest have stubbornly been consistently low and more or less without change for decades, despite advances in medications, procedures, training, and access to 9-1-1, along with first responders, EMTs, and paramedics.

Very few aspects to the care that prehospital rescuers provide have been proven to increase the likelihood of patient survival to hospital discharge. Two factors that stand out as being effective towards survival are early access to defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) — specifically, continuous, high-quality CPR.

As a firefighter, no matter your level of medical training, there is no other treatment as important as CPR. Your hands are quite literally the patient's heart during a cardiac arrest. Throughout this course you will observe all of the changes to Basic Life Support for healthcare providers, from the optic of a firefighter and first responder.

After completing this course, you will have a broadened set of skills from which to draw upon during hands-on training or real-world calls for service. This course prepares you from the cognitive side. This course is a survey offering that is not intended to replace hands-on training evolutions or continuing education on this dynamic topic. Good outcomes from CPR are linked to frequent training on the part of the rescuers.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Every year over 42,000 preventable deaths are attributed to vehicle incidents. Traffic accidents are a leading cause of incidental deaths among US workers. This training course presents information to aid employees in operating vehicles safely. This training program has 13 learning modules with a 10- question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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Exposure to hazardous chemicals can present numerous dangers to workers. More than 32 million workers are exposed to one or more chemical hazards across various industrial sectors. And with hundreds of new hazardous chemicals being introduced annually, in addition to the estimated 650,000 already existing hazardous chemical products, the risk is increasing every year.

OSHA's hazard communication standard is designed to ensure the information about these dangers is shared with those who need to know. This course covers OSHA's hazard communication standard with an emphasis on what it is and how to comply. It also provides guidelines to help prevent chemical hazard incidents and the adverse health effects that may result. More than one-third of all American workers are exposed to one or more chemical hazards across the various industrial sectors.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Hazardous materials can be used effectively and safely, if care is taken in their handling, storage, and disposal. However, a hazardous materials spill can be a threat to the safety of the company, the environment, and employees. In order to protect themselves, employees should understand and be aware of hazardous materials handling, storage, and disposal requirements.

This course discusses several aspects of hazardous materials by examining the responsibilities of a hazardous materials program; storage requirements; and strategies for cleaning up spills. This training course has 7 learning modules with a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Preventing spills, fires, and explosions of hazardous materials during transportation is a major goal of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To protect the environment, the public, and employees from such incidents, they have developed and adopted rigorous standards for packaging and identifying hazardous materials that are shipped by any mode of transportation.

This course will discuss general Department of Transportation classifications, and requirements for packaging and shipping hazardous materials. Hazardous materials must be properly prepared for shipment. This training course has 14 learning modules with a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), recognizing the unique characteristics of the laboratory workplace, tailored a standard for occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals in laboratories to include approximately 934,000 employees in 34,214 industrial, clinical, and academic laboratories.

This course describes the requirements of the Occupational Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, including the written chemical hygiene plan to ensure employees are protected from all potentially hazardous chemicals in use in their work area(s). This training course has 14 learning modules with a ten-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

More employees are injured in industry occupations while moving materials than while performing any other single function.

This course discusses strategies employees can practice remaining safe while performing work functions that require the handling, storage, use, or disposal of materials. In addition to basic warehouse safety, this course also explores chemical safety concepts, guidelines for forklift and man lift operations, requirements for vehicle and machinery use, and precautions for working with hazardous materials. More employees are injured moving materials than while performing any other single function. This training course has 11 learning modules and a 10-question exam.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

This course discusses the inspector's role in conducting a fire and life safety inspection at public assembly and large gathering areas. Keep in mind that this is a general approach to conducting Assembly Occupancy Fire and Life Safety Inspections and references the International Building and Fire Codes as well as the National Fire Protection Association NFPA1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code. While these code making bodies have provisions that are specific to their agency, not each code citation may exist in the other code book. An inspector has the responsibility of being familiar with the codes utilized in their jurisdiction.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

"No two buildings are the same, which means no two fires are ever the same. Firefighters need a solid background in building construction types, materials and methods used, how the buildings are used by their occupants, how age affects the structural integrity, and how remodeling can change buildings.

This course identifies and differentiates the 5 types of building construction; explains how building construction types are affected by fire; and discusses the specific hazards to firefighters in different building construction types and materials.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Carbon Monoxide is one of the most common hazards firefighters face on the job. Firefighters may find harmful concentrations as they go about their daily work responding to alarms in homes and businesses, motor vehicle accidents in tunnels and, of course, structure fires. They are even exposed to it daily in quarters, though today it's rare to find harmful levels of carbon monoxide in properly ventilated apparatus bays. This course will increase firefighter's awareness of carbon monoxide and its dangers.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

The fire service is a customer-oriented industry. It exists to serve the public and to provide services such as safety and protection, rescue, and medical aid. For this reason, all fire service personnel need to have excellent customer service skills. Using these basic skills when interacting with others, whether they are department colleagues or members of the public, can create a more positive experience. It can also contribute to making the community more supportive of the fire service, which is critical for any taxpayer-funded organization. Customer service is a vital part of the mission of fire service agencies.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Both electric and alternative fuel vehicles have seen exponential growth in sales over the past few years. Many people around the nation are investing in these modes of transportation for a variety of reasons. Between 2013 and 2017, sales of electric vehicles saw a 641 percent increase in sales. Today's electric and alternative fuel vehicles come in wide range of sizes from small cars and pickup trucks to SUVs, large buses, garbage trucks, and semi-trucks.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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This Introductory Guide for First Responders is essential for those employees who may be among the first to arrive at an incident of suspicious origin. It is intended to be a general introduction to the basic concepts for first-responder awareness at the scene of a potential terrorist incident.

NOTE: This training program consists of four learning modules. To maximize retention of the course material, all four modules must be completed within 365 days of starting the course to receive a certificate of completion.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s) Each

Ethics are a relevant part of the job as firefighters. As representatives of the fire service, everything firefighters do reflects not only on them, but on their departments and the fire service as a whole.

This course discusses ethics, their importance to the fire service, and their importance to firefighters' careers. It also explores how firefighters can conduct themselves with high standards as representatives of the fire service, and assists in applying strong ethics to decision making throughout their fire-service careers.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Funding is critical to Fire and EMS operations. Equipment, staffing, training all require funding, and the level they require can increase from year to year. This can be challenging when city, state, and other parent organization budgets are already strapped for cash or cutting back in difficult economic times. Yet without maintaining adequate funding, operations are less effective, the community is under served, and lives are put at risk--both those of personnel and of members of the community.

This course aims to educate Fire and EMS personnel on the skills and tasks necessary for successful grant writing, from the beginning stages of needs assessment and grant research to procuring resources with the allocated grant funds. Key emphasis is placed on federal grants and strategies are proposed for writing grants that successfully reach panel review.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

This course assists firefighters in understanding the advantages of having alarm systems in occupancies; to describe the fundamental configuration and components of alarm systems; and to discuss general principles for responding to alarms, which will ensure safety for the occupants and firefighters.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

In conjunction with VFIS, the Volunteer Combination Officer Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), The National Volunteer Fire Council, and the National Fire Protection Association, Vector Solutions has developed this course to highlight the principles and practices emergency responders must consider with regard to all motor vehicles, while examining potential risks associated with the operation and presence of an emergency vehicle.

The course incorporates long established VFIS intersection safety techniques and seat belt use protocols as best practices in emergency vehicle safe operations.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Roadways are a dangerous place for emergency responders. According to the NFPA, in 2005 there were an estimated 15,885 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles while departments were responding to or returning from incidents. And many more are injured annually from other emergency vehicle related accidents as well. Operating an emergency vehicle is a responsibility you should take seriously to minimize the risk of injury and death to yourself and others, as well as damage to expensive equipment. Since hands-on experience is a key element to operating an emergency vehicle safely, it is recommended that you attend an approved driving course for emergency responders if you are the driver of an emergency vehicle.

This training course reviews the physical characteristics and features of large vehicles, the principles of safe driving, and highlights the risks you may encounter on the road as a driver and a passenger in an emergency vehicle. Understanding these concepts can help ensure you and your co-workers arrive safely on the scene.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Wildfires are a crucial part of natural ecosystems, but also one of the most destructive forces known to man. Within these two extremes lie the responsibilities of the wildland firefighter, who must not only be able to use his skills to protect and preserve human life but is also occasionally called upon to use those same skills for the positive benefit of the ecosystem. Firefighters use a technique called "controlled burn," in which they deliberately set and then manage a fire to properly maintain a fire dependent ecosystem.

This course will explore fire prevention, fire management, and the individual responsibilities of firefighters when fighting wildland fires.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Fire prevention activities done by fire departments to help themselves, and in the form of public education programs, are proven strategies to reduce the carnage brought to citizens and firefighters alike by fire. This course identifies common fire hazards in homes and businesses; explains the differences between surveys, inspections, and home fire safety surveys and the importance of each; and discusses why and how to create a fire prevention public education program.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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This series is designed to be a refresher for the Operations Level Responder to Hazardous Materials Incidents, meeting the requirements of NFPA 472 and 29 CFR 1910.120(q). The courses are divided into four modules. Each module should take approximately two hours to complete.

The first module covers how to survey a hazmat spill or incident; how to collect hazard and response information with MSDSs, labels, and markings; and how to identify the various transport containers and storage tanks used for hazardous materials.

The second module covers the chemical and physical properties of materials and their impact on storage and transport containers; response objectives, including how to assess the risk to a responder for each hazard class; and how to determine the suitability of SCBA and personal protective equipment.

The third module covers the principles of site management, how to establish and enforce control zones, and tactics for emergency decontamination. It will discuss common types of releases and how to deal with them, and how to conduct defensive operations such as damming and diking and air monitoring.

The fourth module covers incident management systems and the first responder's role in a response plan. It will also cover the potential for terrorist attacks, typical agents used in a terrorist event, and the appropriate response tactics.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s) Each

This course reviews the requirements and guidelines for rehab operations. The course discusses topics contained in the NFPA 1584 Standard, and is divided into two modules. The first module discusses aspects related to the regulations and standards pertinent to rehab and their requirements, such as rehab staff roles and responsibilities, pre-incident preparation, and setting up rehab operations at the scene. The second module discusses the practical aspects of rehab related to evaluation and treatment for personnel entering rehab.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s) Each

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This course presents the concepts, science, and economics of fire service-related health and safety. Modern firefighters need to have a full appreciation of these interconnected concepts. Fire service personnel know their professional world is different than anyone else’s. Physical disease and behavioral disorders impact firefighters in ways that both mirror and differ from civilians. These disorders can be unique, yet still clearly identifiable and quantifiable to those looking for them.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s) Each

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The modern firefighter needs to have an appreciation for the interconnected concepts of health and safety. Fire service personnel know that their professional world is different than that of all others. With this uniqueness comes exposure to compounds in various physical states that may predispose the 21st century firefighter to cancer in rates that legacy firefighters never could have envisioned. This course will present the concepts, science and economics associated with health and safety, especially as it relates to cancers and the fire service. In this course, we will identify chemicals of combustion commonly encountered by firefighters and discuss the impact of these chemicals on human health. We will also discuss wellness best practices and ways to help prevent exposure to harmful chemicals in the workplace.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s) Each

The International Building Code defines a high rise as any structure that has an occupied floor more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

The prevention of fire and rapid evacuation of high rise building occupants is an important and necessary concern for fire inspectors. This course will discuss the inspector?s role in conducting a fire and life safety inspection at a high rise building.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

How a structure is built, and the materials that are used, directly affect how a fire will grow and spread. Knowledge of construction methods and materials gives firefighters some advantage when sizing up a building and preparing to attack a fire.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

This course will explore the role of leadership and ethics as it applies to the fire service. In this course, you will learn how to create and maintain ethical leadership at every level of your agency.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

For many years, open houses have been a popular community outreach event for volunteer and combination fire departments around the county. However, trying to keep citizens engaged and encouraging department involvement can be a daunting task. As a department, are you getting the most you can out of open houses? Do you focus on public education, safety, and the recruitment of potential new volunteers? All three aspects are equally as important. This course will share information on preparing, planning, and executing a successful open house. Follow along and learn the ways to host a community engaging, educating and entertaining event.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

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This course, which focuses on the 2015 Florida-specific version updates to NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code for Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors I and II, is part one of a four-part series. Each module will address important code updates to keep Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors abreast of changes and enable Florida-state compliancy in the Fire Inspector role. Module 1 addresses NFPA 1: Florida-Specific Fire Code through Chapter 13.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)

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This course, which focuses on the 2015 Florida-specific version updates to NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code for Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors I and II, is part two of a four-part series. Each module will address important code updates to keep Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors abreast of changes and enable Florida-state compliancy in the Fire Inspector role. Module 2 addresses NFPA 1: Florida-Specific Fire Code, Chapters 14-75.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)

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This course, which focuses on the 2015 Florida-specific version updates to NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code for Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors I and II, is part three of a four-part series. Each module will address important code updates to keep Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors abreast of changes and enable Florida-state compliancy in the Fire Inspector role. Module 3 addresses NFPA 101: Florida-Specific Life Safety Code, Chapters 1-6.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)

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This series focuses on the 2015 Florida-specific version updates to NFPA 1 Fire Code and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code for Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors I and II. Each module will address important code updates to keep Florida-Certified Fire Inspectors abreast of changes and enable Florida-state compliancy in the Fire Inspector role. Module 1 addresses NFPA 1: Florida-Specific Fire Code through Chapter 13. Module 2 addresses NFPA 1: Florida-Specific Fire Code, Chapters 14-75. Module 3 addresses NFPA 101: Florida-Specific Life Safety Code, Chapters 1-6. Module 4 addresses NFPA 101: Florida-Specific Life Safety Code, Chapters 7-31.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s)

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Wildland fires pose a risk both to communities and to the firefighters who work to protect them. Increasing urban sprawl has only heightened that risk, bringing urban and wildland areas into ever closer proximity. As a result, fires in this wildland/urban interface have become more common, costing more than $20 billion since 1970.

The number of fireline fatalities that occur in wildland fires is a tragic reminder of the dangers that can arise from unanticipated changes in fire behavior. Sudden changes in the rate of spread can quickly turn a situation that appeared to be relatively under control into one in which shelter deployment and escape are necessary.

Situational awareness is a key survival strategy in wildland firefighting. Knowing what is around you and making quick decisions can make the difference between life and death. The most significant hazard, entrapment, can be avoided by staying alert and monitoring for changes that could portend extreme fire behavior.

During wildland fire operations, firefighters encounter numerous hazards. Between 2001 and 2010 over 200 firefighters have died while participating in wildland fire suppression activities. The dangers are real and sometimes the difference between injury and non-injury, between life and death, is one quick decision in the heat of the moment. Whether you will make the right decision in that moment will depend in great measure on your level of training and awareness.

This Wildland Fire Safety Refresher course provides firefighters the opportunity to review both the fundamentals of wildland fire firefighting and critical hazards and safety strategies in wildland operations. Included in the modules are discussions of topics recommended for the US National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) Annual Refresher.

Module 1 provides an overview of recent issues and incidents in wildland firefighting and reviews the fundamentals of safety in wildland firefighting operations.

Module 2 provides an overview of wildland fire behavior and strategies for predicting changes in behavior that could lead to hazardous conditions.

Module 3 provides an overview of situational awareness and injury prevention in wildland fire operations.

Module 4 provides an overview of safety strategies particular to wildland fire operations.

NOTE: This training program consists of four learning modules. To maximize knowledge on the topic, it is recommended that you take all four modules.

Course Duration: 2 Hour(s) Each

Airport firefighters need to be able to adapt structural fire and rescue equipment for the airport crash/fire/rescue application. This course lists the firefighting tools and equipment used for aircraft emergencies, and identifies procedures used by fire departments to adapt structural fire-fighting equipment for aircraft rescue and firefighting.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Les Omans from the ARFF Working Group begins a two-part look at aircraft cargo hazards. In this course, he takes us to the cargo facilities of Airborne Express and Federal Express to look at loading and entering a cargo plane and the hazards that may be found there.

Part II: In this course on aircraft cargo hazards, Les Omans looks at the labeling and packaging of hazardous materials. This important lesson includes information on the loading of packages into the cargo plane, as well as how to read packaging slips and labeling codes.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s) for Part 1, 0.5 Hour(s) for Part 2

In this course, we'll tour a typical narrow-bodied commercial jet aircraft. We'll identify on-board hazards and demonstrate how to open all doors and compartments.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

Get ready for a lesson on the phonetic alphabet and aircraft hand signals. These are just two of the training points presented in this ARFF course as instructors cover communication systems necessary for aircraft rescue. Also covered are the requirements of section 4 on emergency communications systems at an airport, in the FAA’s requirements for certified airports, part 139.319(j).

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

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In this lesson, ARFF personnel will get specific training on incident control strategies and tactics. Watch as actual aircraft emergencies are highlighted and then "You Make the Call" for the various emergency scenarios.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

Les Omans of the ARFF working group begins a four-part look at the application of extinguishing agents. In this first course, he’ll cover the types of fuels associated with aircraft rescue and firefighting. Users will learn the common mistakes in the application and use of foam agents; the types and properties of aviation fuel; and the types and properties of polar solvents. The second course discusses flash point, explosive limits, vapor density, specific gravity and wicking, and defines flammable and combustible liquids.

In the third course, topics include mechanical foams and proportioning for crash fire rescue; extinguishing properties of each agent; quantity of each type of agent kept in inventory for vehicle resupply; and the preferred agents to be used in hydrocarbon fuel and polar solvent fires. In the last of four courses, Les Omans demonstrates foam drain out and gives examples of the different types of extinguishing agents.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

In this course, we highlight two departments who discovered the realities of crash rescue management (CRM). Exactly one month after Sept. 11, 2001, New York City was hit with another aircraft tragedy. A passenger jet crashed into a Queens neighborhood, destroying homes and taking lives. This course presents firsthand accounts from FDNY firefighters about the operational and emotional challenges they faced throughout this incident. We also visit the Charlotte (NC) Fire Department and learn from their experience in responding to the plane crash incident at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport on Jan. 7, 2003.

Course Duration: 1 Hour(s)

Large plane crash incidents are usually multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional operations. Join Capt. Bob Hilvers as he discusses Incident Command and the need for specific incident command practices at aircraft crash rescues. This course is an update of an earlier course, revised to comply with new FAA regulations (CFR139).

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)

One of the primary definitions of rescue operations for airport firefighters is to maintain a habitable environment around the fuselage and to assist with aircraft evacuation by stabilizing slide chutes and controlling the evacuees. Firefighters shall become familiar with FAA Advisory Circular AC-150/5210-7C that refers to communications between the Incident Commander and the aircraft flight deck.

FETN’s Aircraft Fire Rescue Training series continues with a look at the emergency aircraft evacuation assistance provided by crews of air carriers. This course examines aircraft emergencies from the perspective of the pilot and crew.

Course Duration: 0.5 Hour(s)