Agenda - Council - 08/13/2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ramsey, Nowthen, St. Francis, Oak Grove, and Bethel, Minnesota Feasibility Study for Shared or Cooperative Fire and Emergency Services Support Programs Although the delivery of fire suppression and emergency medical services lies at the core of each department's mission, it is necessary for every emergency services agency to be supported by other activities. These activities provide the basis for employee training and education, career development, public safety education, fire prevention, and code enforcement. Training Providing safe and quality fire and emergency services requires a well -trained workforce. Training and education of personnel are critical functions for each study agency. Without quality, comprehensive training programs, emergency outcomes are compromised and emergency personnel are at risk. "One of the most important jobs in any department is the thorough training of personnel. The personnel have the right to demand good training and the department has the obligation to provide it."$ Proper training of emergency services personnel starts prior to being hired or joining an agency. Specific knowledge and skills must be obtained to achieve a basic understanding of the roles and responsibilities of an emergency responder. Several of the study agencies have entered into a joint effort to offer a combined `rookie school' that provides this basic introductory training. Beyond the introductory issues, personnel should be actively engaged on a regular basis and tested regularly to ensure that skills and knowledge are maintained. In order to accomplish this task, agencies must either have a sufficient number of instructors within their own organization or be able to tap those resources elsewhere. Training sessions should be formal and follow a prescribed lesson plan that meets specific objectives. In addition, a safety officer should be dedicated to all training sessions that involve manipulative exercises. Beyond the regular training offered to general staff, certain individuals should be offered specific officer development training in order to prepare them for more responsibility as they progress through the agency's command structure. Placing individuals in positions of authority without first giving them the tools to succeed often ends in failure and discouragement by both the officer and their subordinates. General Training Competencies The first comparison reviews the fundamental components that are considered as the most foundational elements of an effective training program. $ Klinoff, Robert. Introduction to Fire Protection, Delmar Publishers, 1997. New York, NY. iEmergeney 5errices Constl!fang page 69