Training & Education

The effective digital transformation of the UK’s emergency services is essential if it is to continue to provide the best possible Blue Light services, the General Manager of Public Safety & Defence at telent warned today. Barry Zielinski urged the sector to harness every technological tool available to them as a new white paper revealed that between 2015 and 2019, emergency fire and rescue services face – on average – a 22% reduction in their budgets due to government funding cuts, while demand for their expertise continues to rise. Deliver Smarter And Safer Services “Blue Light services in the UK are facing growing pressure to increase inter-service collaboration, share information and services with other emergency service providers and enable operational effectiveness – all while continuing to deal with increasing calls,” said Zielinski. “In order to meet this demand, Blue Light services need to harness every technological tool available to them and use them to deliver leaner, smarter and safer services to the community. The question then becomes one of whether these services have the capacity to undertake digital transformation, manage government-led technology reform and save lives.” Dedicated Emergency Services Network According to Zielinski, there are a number of factors driving digital transformation in the emergency services sector, including political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal trends. New equipment and infrastructure requires many emergency services’ support staff to undergo training, learn new systems" The Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP), for example, was initially announced by the Home Office in 2013, with early phases of testing and deployment beginning later this year. This will introduce a dedicated Emergency Services Network (ESN), migrating emergency communications services from TETRA two-way radio networks to a cellular 4G service – requiring alterations at a fundamental level within the network and control room infrastructure of each service. Need Of Training For Emergency Personnel “To move from TETRA to ESN, it is predicted that around 300,000 users will require new 4G devices, 45,000 vehicles and 115 aircraft will need to be fitted with new communications equipment, and some 230 control rooms will have to be upgraded,” continued Zielinski. “While support is readily available during implementation where third parties are involved, budgetary constraints, new equipment and infrastructure requires many emergency services’ support staff to undergo training, learn new systems and become involved with technology support at a detailed level. In addition, there is pressure to bring together data and knowledge across all three Blue Light services, adding to the pressure on ICT staff across each sector.”  Reduced Operational Costs Zielinski encouraged the sector to make greater use of Managed ICT Services, with benefits including reduced operational costsTo lessen the burden and drive best value, Zielinski encouraged the sector to make greater use of Managed ICT Services, with benefits including reduced operational costs, increased expertise and flexibility, and the future-proofing of equipment and systems. But, he warned, organizations must consider this approach carefully and ensure future partners meet certain criteria. “Whether emergency services want to use an external provider for all their ICT needs or just a few key areas, it is important that they find a provider that has made the right investment in their own systems, expertise and resource levels so that these benefits are passed on,” said Zielinski. “Any partner should also understand the sectors’ business goals, challenges, current processes and culture and build stability and flexibility into their proposal so that the service offering can evolve as Blue Light services’ needs continue to progress. Demonstratable benefits and a thorough understanding of the sector are also essential.”

The ninth round of FeuerTrutz at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg broke new records. The 315 exhibitors (287 in 2018) from 21 countries (15) and over 9,000 trade visitors (8,354) from 50 nations (42) packed Halls 10.0 and 10.1 to turn the event into Europe’s largest dialog platform for preventive fire protection. For two days, the exhibition and accompanying congress with around 1,500 delegates, and the extensive supporting program, put preventive fire protection firmly under the spotlight. Passive, active and organizational fire protection solutions will once again take centre-stage at the next round of FeuerTrutz on 24 and 25 June 2020. On this occasion, the trade fair will take place for the first time in the more spacious Halls, 4 and 4A, while the congress will be held right next door in Nuremberg Convention Center Ost. Increase In Number Of Visitors And Exhibitors The fact that exhibitor and visitor numbers are up once again underscores the importance of FeuerTrutz as an information platform for fire safety professionals"FeuerTrutz 2019 offered fire protection designers, certified experts, building engineers, architects, official agency staff and other fire safety professionals an even more comprehensive overview of the market than in previous years. “The fact that exhibitor and visitor numbers are up once again underscores the importance of FeuerTrutz as an information platform for fire safety professionals. There was an increase in the number of participants from Germany and other countries – a sign that FeuerTrutz has become the must-do event not just in German-speaking countries but also at an international level,” explains Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz at NürnbergMesse. In the accompanying Fire Protection Congress and two compact seminars, fire protection experts provided fire safety knowledge of a high professional calibre. The congress reached around 1,500 delegates, while more than 250 professionals took part in the compact seminars. “In the fire protection segment, continuing professional development is absolutely crucial. The response to the specialist events at FeuerTrutz was overwhelming,” says Günter Ruhe, Managing Director of the FeuerTrutz Network. Exhibitor Forums And Seminars In the new workshop ‘German Fire Protection’, visitors could find out about the German fire protection landscapeThe supporting program for FeuerTrutz 2019 combined established and new features. As well as the two exhibitor forums, which also featured presentations in English for the first time this year, the Fire Protection EXPERIENCE impressed participants with demonstrations at both the exhibition stands and outdoor demonstration area. Parallel to the exhibition, other events also offered sources of information. In the new workshop ‘German Fire Protection’, which was designed for an international audience, visitors could find out about the German fire protection landscape. The two compact seminars ‘BRANDSCHUTZDIREKT Löschtechnik’ (on fire extinguishing) and ‘Fire Protection in Bavaria’ were aimed at experts in active fire protection solutions as well as architects and official agency staff. At the Training & Career Meeting Point, 16 providers presented information on their training and professional development opportunities. This was aptly complemented by the Jobs Board, which listed vacancies posted by exhibiting companies. But the event wasn’t just all work and no play, as fire safety professionals also attended an after party at the nearby Max Morlock Stadium. Record Participation At Fire Protection Congress The congress on the theme Fire protection objective: concepts and solutions for standard and special buildings More than 35 presentations explored the latest developments in building law, the use of digital technology like building information modelling‘Realizing fire protection goals: concepts and solutions for standard and special buildings’ was devoted to the many challenges in fire protection planning and design. More than 35 presentations explored the latest developments in building law, the use of digital technology like building information modelling, or the increasing complexity of fire protection design for flexible use concepts. A separate congress stream was devoted to best practice examples. With around 1,500 delegates, the 2019 FeuerTrutz Fire Protection Congress set new benchmarks. FeuerTrutz 2020 To Be Held In Spacious Halls The next round of FeuerTrutz will take place in Halls 4 and 4A at Exhibition Centre Nuremberg on 24 and 25 June 2020. The Fire Protection Congress will relocate to the directly adjacent Nuremberg Convention Center Ost. “We work closely with the sector to continually develop and improve FeuerTrutz. The move to the new halls provides the ideal framework for achieving this,” says Stefan Dittrich, Director FeuerTrutz at NürnbergMesse. “The change also offers the supporting program new options for a more comprehensive presentation of the various aspects of fire protection,” explains Günter Ruhe, Managing Director of the FeuerTrutz Network.

Chubb is launching an innovative new virtual reality (VR) fire safety training tool to re-create fire-related situations without leaving the classroom. This new ‘YouRescue’ training program, developed in conjunction with Wanadev, is the latest addition to Chubb’s existing training offering. Chubb is a part of Carrier, a global provider of innovative heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, fire, security and building automation technologies. Today, businesses, through their HR or security managers, want to expose their employees to the reality of fire-related incidents to underscore the importance of fire safety training and ensure a practical understanding of how to respond in such situations. The new VR training tool addresses this challenge. The YouRescue program is made up of a 30-minute theoretical group course followed by an individual, practical VR course Easy to use and employing the latest innovative technologies, the YouRescue program is made up of a 30-minute theoretical group course followed by an individual, practical VR course. For the latter, the trainees are led by an expert instructor who stands by their side during the immersive and realistic experience. In one day, two groups of 15 people can be trained, totalling 30 people. Both sessions can be completed in just 40 minutes. The Advantages Of VR Training Using a headset connected to a powerful laptop, the trainee is immersed into a realistic, three-dimensional (3D) situation. In the YouRescue ‘Fire at the office’ training program, the trainee is in an open space and has to extinguish a fire coming from a dustbin, a printer or an electrical cabinet. YouRescue is also a simple-to-deliver training experience for the coach because setting up the material takes less than five minutes and can be performed in a reduced space of minimum two metres by two metres. The second part of the training, individual practice, can also be performed in the same place as the first theoretical part in a simple meeting room. It is not necessary to ask the group to move outside their offices. Taking Initial Action Before Help Arrives The YouRescue virtual reality scripts empower participants to take initial actions before professional help arrivesThe VR training allows each participant to put their theoretical course learnings into practice, which enables trainees to better retain the message. The YouRescue virtual reality scripts empower participants to take initial actions before professional help arrives. The experience also provides the participant with a score that allows them to measure their performance. This can be shared with other colleagues or simply analyzed with the trainer to ensure corrective action. This YouRescue training program has already been used successfully by many customers such as HOP! (Groupe Air France). One maintenance worker who followed this training course in virtual reality said: “If I have to face this type of situation in the future, I’m sure I will react without apprehension, because I will feel like I’ve already lived it!” The Project Perspectives Thanks to its national network of 45 agencies, Chubb France can provide this new training tool across France. YouRescue was created by the technological company Wanadev, located in Lyon. This business offers innovative educational content to talented trainers in the field of enterprise safety. The development of YouRescue relies on a growing network of ambassadors such as training companies or independent trainers willing to operate their digital transformation. The scenario YouRescue ‘Fire at the office’ was developed in partnership with Chubb. Other innovations and scripts are underway.

Tripwire Operations Group, a renowned tactical security and training academy founded and run by first responders, will host the international BRAVO-3 Training Conference & Vendor Show in Daytona Beach, Fl., March 4-6, 2019. This all-inclusive, multi-discipline event will offer unsurpassed training opportunities for those in all emergency services vocations. Police/SWAT, fire, HAZMAT, EMS, Bomb Squad (HDS/EOD) technicians, K9 teams, and specialized members of the military, can benefit from the conference, which will be taught by some of the most world prominent and highly respected authorities in those fields. Ensuring Practitioners Operate At Optimum Levels BRAVO-3 was founded by, and is comprised of, organizations and personnel that have decades of real-world experience within their respective career fields"By leveraging the knowledge and experience of the leading experts in the industry, Tripwire is fulfilling its mission to ensure that all practitioners are operating at optimum levels," said Ryan Morris, founder and CEO of Tripwire, headquartered in Gettysburg, Pa. The BRAVO-3 Conference is designed for those who want to stay at the forefront of their specialty by receiving the most up-to-date and comprehensive information, technology, and TTP's. In addition to quality instruction and demonstrations, this gathering of elite professionals also offers a perfect setting for procedure sharing and professional networking with some of the most well-respected and trusted operators, technicians, and instructors from around the globe. Comprising Of Vastly Experienced Personnel Classroom and practical training is scheduled to take place over the course of two full-days at several locations, including the main conference venue, The Plaza Resort & Spa, as well as the Daytona International Speedway and Southern Coast K9. Hands-on involvement and on-site demonstrations will add to the one-of-a-kind experience the conference provides. BRAVO-3 was founded by, and is comprised of, organizations and personnel that have decades of real-world experience within their respective career fields, including: SWAT, K9/MWD, BOMB SQUAD/EOD, FIRE, HAZMAT, TACMED, SOF, and more. "This is an exceptional opportunity for attendees to have one-on-one interactions, and learn from some of the best in their respective fields," Morris said. "You will not find a more complete collaboration of professionals, whose goal it is to serve their tactical/first responder communities." Showcasing Speciality Equipment And Tools A small sample of the topics offered includes sessions on blast injuries, criminal use of explosives, comprehensive IED electronics, and much more A small sample of the topics offered includes sessions on blast injuries, criminal use of explosives, comprehensive IED electronics, active threat response, extremist interdiction, tracking and human remains detecting, K9 high-risk deployment, and much more. During the event, more than 60 vendors will showcase their products and services, providing a unique one-stop shop that will showcase the top dealers in specialty equipment, tools, training, services, and information. "The importance of highly-trained emergency personnel in the coming years is indisputable. The benefit they provide to a community—and the country—is invaluable," Morris said. "We want to make sure that, no matter what occurs, there are trained individuals ready to deal with it."

Globe, DuPont Protection Solutions (DuPont), and the National Volunteer Fire Council teamed up once again in 2018 to distribute 52 sets of turnout gear to 13 volunteer or mostly-volunteer fire departments. This annual program began in 2012 to provide departments in need with new turnouts to better protect their personnel. Shinbone Valley Fire and Rescue (Delta, AL) and the Barnsdall (OK) Rural Fire Department are the final 2018 gear recipients. Shinbone Valley Fire and Rescue has 16 volunteer firefighters. All are operating with turnout gear that is over 10 years old, which is not recommended according to national safety standards. The department responds to multiple calls a year, including mutual and automatic aid. Training exercises Calls coupled with monthly training exercises and a yearly visit to the Alabama Fire College has left their expired gear very worn, which puts their members at risk. Volunteers do their best to use their oldest and most worn gear for training exercises to preserve the newer sets for structure fires and vehicle incidents. The department actively fundraises to keep up with operation costs but has found it difficult to purchase new gear to ensure the safety of their responders.  This new gear will help our dedicated team to have the protection they need when they are in the trenches" “Receiving this gear gives peace of mind to our firefighters and the people we serve,” said Assistant Chief Travis Strickland. “Thank you to Globe and the NVFC for this donation. Your help goes a long way with our community and our department.” Purchase new gear Barnsdall Rural Fire Department serves over 1,100 residences across 122 square miles. Barnsdall is a rural location with an abundance of ranchland and homes, which make wildfires very prevalent. The department responds to an average of 80 calls each year and provides additional assistance to the city and surrounding fire departments. Only 10 of Barnsdall’s 24 volunteers have turnout gear, and all sets are over 10 years old and not compliant with recommended safety standards. Most of the department’s financial resources are utilized for equipment, leaving them unable to purchase new gear for their responders. “We want to ensure that our team has the best chance to do a good job and stay safe at the same time,” said administrative assistant Brittanie White. “This new gear will help our dedicated team to have the protection they need when they are in the trenches and extend our limited resources beyond what we are currently able to provide.”

In alignment with its position as a pioneer in enhanced safety technology engineering and manufacturing, Spartan Emergency Response ("Spartan" or "Spartan ER"), a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc., served as a Chief Sponsor of the Detroit Public Safety Foundation's (DPSF) Sixth Annual Above and Beyond Awards Ceremony in Detroit. This is the 4th year Spartan Motors, Inc. has been a sponsor of the awards. The Detroit Public Safety Foundation hosts this signature event to recognize first responders and civilians for their selfless service to the citizens of Detroit. Supporting First Responders "We are honored to support the Detroit Public Safety Foundation's efforts to recognize those who have committed their careers to helping others and keeping their community safe," said Daryl Adams, Spartan Motors' President and Chief Executive Officer and a DPSF Board Member. "At Spartan, we feel it's important to back organizations who support our first responder communities." Spartan Motors' suppliers Accuride, DANA, and Marion Body also sponsored the eventHeld at the Detroit Marriott, in the Renaissance Center, the awards ceremony honored numerous Detroit Police, Fire, and EMS personnel with awards which included the Medal of Valor, Purple Heart, and Emergency Medical Merit Awards. Recognition And Award The Home Depot received this year's Public Safety Award, while Tonya Allen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Skillman Foundation, was recognized as City Change Maker – a recognition given to someone who embodies the ideals of Detroit and is committed to making the city a better place for all residents. Spartan Motors' suppliers Accuride, DANA, and Marion Body also sponsored the event. The Detroit Public Safety Foundation is dedicated to creating a better future by improving the health, safety, and welfare of citizens and visitors to Detroit through support of Detroit Police, Fire, and EMS through technology, training, equipment, community outreach, and wellness.

I gave a lot of thought to identifying the biggest challenge facing the American fire service in 2019. Many things came to mind: funding; fire prevention - if every building was sprinklered and all had working smoke alarms, it would solve a lot of other problems; political influences; initial, regular and ongoing training, and a bunch more. But the one constant that kept popping up is the people issue. Staffing. This obviously isn’t the first time you’ve heard that. Normally, when we talk about staffing, we talk about the number of firefighters on the apparatus. That is not exactly what I'm talking about. What I mean is, in 2019, we better figure out where our next group of recruits is coming from. Measurable Drop In Applicants If one fire department is paying more than another, members jump ship On the career side, numerous areas are reporting a measurable drop in applicants—in other words, they need people who want to be firefighters and medics. In some areas, it’s a bidding war. If one fire department is paying more than another, members jump ship. And who can blame them? They have families to take care of. But when the dust clears, there are still far fewer people interested in this job than we need. Some theories are that the new generation: Doesn’t like helping people Are self-focused Aren’t into doing physical things Are lazy Can make the same money without shift work Can make the same money without risk None of these theories gets us far in addressing the problem. The goal of any fire department is to deliver staffed, trained interior firefighters just a few minutes after someone dials 9-1-1 Big Picture Focus On the volunteer side, all you have to do is listen to a fire radio nearly anywhere in the U.S. (and Canada) and you will hear volunteer fire departments toning out... toning out... and toning out—with little response when members are responding from home or work. It, too, is a measurable problem. There are volunteer departments with little funding and others with plenty of funding. Regardless, there seems to be little “big picture” focus on solving the problem based upon what’s best for the people having the fire. Some say to simply hire career firefighters. Is it that simple? What are the pros? And are there any cons? There certainly are. Trained Interior Firefighters Some departments solve the problem by having their volunteers on duty, in quarters, ready to roll The old model of volunteers responding from home or work doesn’t work very well when you consider the proven fire spread in 2019 vs. fire spread even just 20 years ago. Some departments solve the problem by having their volunteers on duty, in quarters, ready to roll. That may be the least expensive option depending upon the local model. Some hire part-time firefighters. Some unfairly and regularly rely on mutual aid. Some have a fair and balanced mutual aid system. Some have their heads in the sand. The goal of any fire department is to deliver staffed, trained interior firefighters just a few minutes after someone dials 9-1-1. If we don’t have people knocking on the fire station doors to become career firefighters or to volunteer, that goal is in jeopardy. I simply can’t see a bigger, more immediate challenge for 2019 than the “people” issue.

In order to recruit and retain, you must change your mindset to that of a business. While we continue to scratch our heads on how to recruit and retain members among the ranks of our departments, we might want to take a look at ourselves. Sometimes looking in the mirror is a hard thing to do, as it may give us a clear view of who and what we are as an organization. For years, the volunteer fire service has had to overcome many obstacles such as funding, a not-so-friendly environment or poor leadership, to name a few. They may even have had to re-create themselves. Business Mindset And Reputation Whether you are in a rural, suburban or urban area, what drives us? Is it pride? Is it fulfilling a need to belong? Ultimately, it is the end user, the customer – the resident, the taxpayer. In order to target new membership, we must be able to sell ourselves as a good, a service and a product. Business models have been around for years and, if followed, yield positive results We need to begin to think about running our volunteer organization like a business in order to be successful. Businesses that are successful have a great reputation. People want to work for them and they easily retain and recruit top talent. Business models have been around for years and, if followed, yield positive results. Building Community Of Employees Let’s take Google for an example, a company with more than 64,000 employees with growth to the tune of billions of dollars each year. When looking at Google’s performance, it raises the question: what is Google’s success secret? How can a company amass $9.7 billion in revenues mostly from advertising? How can they keep great help and recruit? The answer is its leadership being innovative, actively advertising, creating a unique and rewarding work environment as well as creating and executing their business model daily. A business that goes above and beyond by treating their employees great will in return get motivated and loyal employees. Google allows their employees flexibility to work on passion projects and tap into their creativity. Google also encourages its employees to become teachers and coach one another to help build a more creative, satisfied and intimate community of employees. One needs to make fire departments attractive to potential recruits, there are small moments of observation that are then used to make bigger decisions are called “thin slices” Positive First Impressions In this day and age, we need to be ahead of the curve. People want to be informed and they want it now. They want a quality product and will shop around until they find it. They also want to be part of something big. They want to be recognized. Remember the statement, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”? Well, it was the tagline for a Head & Shoulders shampoo ad campaign in the 1980s. Are we continuing to make our fire department attractive to potential recruits? How do we expect to garner new membership if we don’t make that “first impression” a positive one? These small moments of observation that are then used to make bigger decisions are called “thin slices.” Potential candidates for membership are constantly assessing us, slice by slice, as “recruiters". Business Model For Your Demographic We need to create a business model and execute it at all times Is the fire station in good shape? Is it clean and orderly? Is the organization structured? Is the leadership strong and decisive? Or are there cliques and groups that work against the common goal or the command? These are easily seen and quickly discovered by potential candidates. They are looking to see what we are offering them: why should I risk my life, my health, my safety – what’s in it for me? How do we take all of these “thin slices,” package them together and make them attractive for potential recruits? We need to create a business model and execute it at all times. In order to sell, we need to advertise. In order to advertise, we need the leaders of our departments, the innovators and recruiters, to all come together and develop a business plan that works. It should work for your demographic. It should pour information to the masses. It should build on a reputation that you are a place that you’d want to work for! We need to begin to think about running our volunteer organization like a business in order to be successful Utilizing Current Volunteer Membership We need to begin to think about running our volunteer organization like a business in order to be successful. So, what does this mean for “my fire department”? Simply put, it means that you need to rely on the staff you have in place; lean on them and their expertise. Your current membership may hold the keys to your success. Develop a mission statement that is creative and energetic Canvass your current membership for professionals who could be utilized. You may have trained CPAs, human resource professionals, CEOs of corporations, advertising and marketing experts or veterans already inside your organization. They may remain quiet as they are unsure that they are needed to assist. Ask for the help and utilize them! Learning From Shortcomings Do not hesitate to implement them into your business plans. Help them look at how to target demographics in your area. Remember that great leadership will work to identify an individual’s strongest points and work to utilize them for maximum effectiveness. When you create a plan, be sure that you set obtainable goals. Develop a mission statement that is creative and energetic. Don’t eat the elephant in one bite: set a timeline in your plan. Meet often with your team, as you will learn more from your shortcomings than from your successes.

Want to know an easy way to judge the quality of a fire department? Look at how much they train. Career, volunteer or combination, fire departments become successful through training. Yet all training is not equal. Focus too much on hands-on training (HOT) and you could be missing important legal and compliance updates. Lean heavily on web-based training and you may fail to identify shortcomings in skills proficiencies. Keep students confined to a classroom and you may lose their interest quickly. Not surprisingly, a balance of all three types of training is needed to produce competent, empowered firefighters. For this article, I was challenged to think about what’s missing from our current fire training programs. As I thought about the varied way we approach fire training, three issues jumped out at me. Base training on facts and statistics Take advantage of new technologies Incorporate policy into your training   Your training program should also be strong in the types of calls you respond to most Base Training On Facts And Statistics If your department has a robust training program, outlined by a calendar of various topics and employing a mix of HOT, online and classroom training, you’re ahead of the curve. But even in departments with well-developed training programs, training is often based on preference or habit, not data. Think about the topics in your training program. Do you know why they’re included? Do they match your call make-up? Are they targeting specific skill shortcomings? (And yes, we all have them!)What’s missing from many fire department training programs is a detailed needs assessment What’s missing from many fire department training programs is a detailed needs assessment that in turn establishes a factual basis for the year’s training topics. The needs assessment should include: Surveying the members to determine the types of training they want or feel they need. Measuring firefighter proficiency on basic tasks, such as NFPA 1403 drills, NFPA 1710 drills and EMS patient assessment skills audits, to assess personnel by mandate or by industry best practice. This will identify skills deficiencies to address through training. Incorporating call volume statistics and details. A significant percentage of the calls fire departments respond to are EMS and vehicle extrication But I’d venture to guess the training programs of most departments don’t match those percentages. Yes, you need to train for the high-risk, low-frequency tasks. But your training program should also be strong in the types of calls you respond to most. Incorporating these “facts and stats” into your training program will help you keep it fresh, relevant and interesting. Firefighters can use their phones and tablets to access department training information and complete training assignments Take Advantage Of New Technologies There is something to be said for back-to-the-basics, keep-it-simple firefighter training. But it’s a mistake to ignore technological advances. From teaching safe apparatus backing procedures to practicing hoseline deployment and Vent/Enter/Isolate/Search (VEIS) tactics, instructors have more options than ever before. Some instructors regard simulators as second-rate to “the real thing.” Certainly, simulation and other forms of technology-driven instruction can’t replace the value of hands-on experience. But they can augment it in important ways. Driver simulators, for example, not only save money because apparatus don’t have to be taken out of service or sustain wear and tear; they also provide an environment where firefighters can learn without risk of injury. If sitting behind a computer isn’t your kind of thing, live-burn simulators, vehicle fire simulators and hazmat simulators are available—and they all significantly boost training efficiency.Technology will never replace hands-on instruction, but it can facilitate it But you don’t need fancy simulators to incorporate technology into your fire training program. Learning management systems (LMS) are another important tool that can increase training program efficiency. Although they’ve been around for a long time, LMS continue to improve. The ability to integrate with mobile devices is huge, allowing firefighters to use their phones and tablets to access department training information and complete training assignments. Leveraging this technology can allow you to more efficiently manage information, schedule training and free up valuable time needed for other important tasks. If you’ve attended some of the larger regional or national fire conferences recently, you may have had the opportunity to see audience response technology in action. By capturing the firefighters’ responses to questions in real-time, instructors can adjust the material to reflect students’ knowledge level. Audience response is also simply a great way to keep firefighters engaged. Technology will never replace hands-on instruction, but it can facilitate it. If you’re using training methods that haven’t changed in decades, something’s missing from your training program.   Without incorporating policy into your training, you’re only giving your firefighters half the equation Incorporate Policy Into Your Training I saved the biggest and best for last. When I work with fire departments across the country, I repeatedly discover the failure to incorporate policy into training. Think about it: Training curricula are almost always designed around procedures—the how of doing something. But isn’t the why just as important? And that’s what policy is all about. Without incorporating policy into your training, you’re only giving your firefighters half the equation.Inevitably firefighters will encounter times when following the procedure isn’t possible Inevitably firefighters will encounter times when following the procedure isn’t possible. That’s when policy training kicks in—firefighters understand the fundamental objective, and they can think on their feet about how to achieve it. Training on policy also helps departments address the issues that so often get firefighters into trouble. How many of your firefighters really understand your department’s social media policy? What about the rules surrounding sick time usage? These are things that trip up firefighters time and time again. If you’re not training on policies, it’s unlikely firefighters remember them. How many of your firefighters really understand your department’s social media policy? In addition, normalization of deviance is a risk to every organization. When personnel fail to follow policies and no negative repercussions result, it can quickly establish a new normal. Policy-based training resets the “normal” and makes sure that members of the organization comply with the policy and not what they think the policy says.Most line-of-duty death reports cite failure to comply with policy or lack of adequate policy Fire instructors often avoid training on policy because they regard it as boring or unrelated to what really matters—firefighter safety and survival. Yet most line-of-duty death reports cite failure to comply with policy or lack of adequate policy as contributing factors in the incident. If you’re worried that policy will make your training program dry and uninteresting, link it to real-world events. An online search provides lots of examples of when things went wrong and how adherence to policy might have produced a different outcome. And limit policy training to small chunks. Take out a 10-page policy and go through it line by line, and your students’ eyes will glaze over in seconds. Instead, look for ways to enrich your current training by bringing relevant pieces of policy into it. Your firefighters will be learning the department’s policies without even realizing it! Focus On Continuous Improvement Fire chiefs and fire instructors have a challenging job. Budgets are tight, and training is often one of the first things to be cut. Yet we need firefighters to be proficient in all-hazards response. Every department has a long training wish list. But if we focus on continuous quality improvement, we can get a little better each year. Looking for opportunities to incorporate statistics, technology and policy into our training is a good place to start.