News

Training

Published Date: 02.18.2011

Safe and effective training is a key component to making sure firefighters and emergency personnel are prepared for the response. The NVFC identifies the following B.E.S.T. Practices for training in the fire and emergency services:

• Utilize fire training programs that conform to the highest professional standards.
• Operate a safe fire training ground at all times.
• Establish, maintain, and deliver fire safety programs for all age groups.

Utilize the following resources to implement these practices in your department.

• Training Standards
• Webinars
• Training Resources
• Articles

Training Standards

NVFC Policy Statement on Minimum Training Standards
The NVFC recommends that all volunteer fire departments in the United States set a goal that personnel attain, at a minimum, a level of training that meets or exceeds NFPA 1001: Standard for Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications or an equivalent state standard in order to engage in fire suppression.

NFPA 1001 Fire Fighter Professional Qualifications
This standard identifies the minimum job performance requirements for career and volunteer firefighters whose duties are primarily structural in nature.

Webinars

The National Volunteer Fire Council has developed a series of webinars as part of its continuing effort to educate first responders about health and wellness. The webinars focus on a variety of health and wellness topics targeted to the fire and emergency services.

From Volunteer to Combination Making the Transition
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Recruitment and Retention for the Volunteer Emergency Services
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Grant Writing for the Emergency Services
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Functional Exercise
This webinar explains how to improve your on-duty performance through targeted workouts.

Nutrition
Learn how to use the nutrition facts label, smart snacking tips, and how to eat healthfully when dining out.

Program Design
Find out about safe and effective training and exercise programs to implement at the station.

Heart-Health
Find out more about the anatomy of the heart, how a heart attack happens, and the unique risk factors of a first responder.

Smoking Cessation
Listen to the Know Your Health: Why I Smoke and How to Quit presentation, which describes the obstacles to quitting smoking and how to overcome them.

The Heart Healthy Tactical Firefighter
Hosted by Erron Kinney, firefighter and former NFL Tight End for the Tennessee Titans, this webcast motivates and empowers first responders to combat their risk of heart disease and improve their overall physical readiness.

Training Resources

NVFC Academy
The NVFC offers a series of training opportunities through the NVFC Academy. Both on-site and online training is available. Course subjects include health, safety, retention and recruitment, grants and funding, leadership, reputation management, Fire Corps, and the National Junior Firefighter Program.

NVFC Training and Education Resources
The NVFC has compiled a list of training and education opportunities and resources for first responders. The opportunities are broken down into the following categories: federal, state, local, colleges and university, department training/education resources, alternative fuels training opportunities, and additional training/education resources.
 
National Fire Academy
Through its courses and programs, the National Fire Academy works to enhance the ability of the fire and emergency services and allied professionals to deal more effectively with fire and related emergencies. Courses are delivered at the resident facility in Emmitsburg, MD, and throughout the nation in cooperation with state and local fire training organizations and local colleges and universities.

Volunteer Incentive Program
The Volunteer Incentive Program (VIP) is an intensive 6-day educational opportunity at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD, designed for volunteer firefighters. A stipend is offered to cover most costs.
 
USFA Training and Educational Resources
This web site provides a comprehensive list of training and educational resources available from the USFA, including course offerings from the National Fire Academy. These resources are primarily targeted towards the fire service and its allied professions.
 
North American Fire Training Directors
The North American Fire Training Directors (NAFTD) is an international organization that promotes the common interests of providing a quality fire training and educational experience for firefighters. NAFTD membership includes State Fire Training Directors of each of the fifty states and all Canadian provinces and territories. In addition to coordinating and delivering their own training programs, the NAFTD works in concert with the National Fire Academy (NFA) and the United States Fire Administration to provide training to over 80,000 fire service students.
 
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) was formed in 1996 in response to the tremendous need to inform the public about the life-saving value of home fire sprinkler protection. HFSC introduces the Built for Life Fire Department program to encourage and recognize all the U.S. fire departments that make home fire sprinkler education a focus of their community outreach.

Articles

Is Your Training Ground Safe?
By Bryant Stiles, NVFC Alternate Director (KY)
This article looks into why safe training grounds must be a priority for fire departments and how safe training grounds can be achieved.

Utilizing Training Programs That Conform to the Highest Professional Standards
By Bryant Stiles, NVFC Alternate Director (KY)
This article looks at how improvements to your training program is a quick, effective way to improve the safety of your personnel and the capabilities of your department. f you are seeking to improve the safety of your personnel or the capabilities of your department, the quickest, most effective, and least expensive process is through improvements to your training program. It outlines the reasons why a training program should conform to the highest standards and the benefits of improving a training program.
 

Resources

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