Be Safe During Training

Training tower - Copyright Paul Glazzard and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons License.

Earlier this month we gave you some information about the reported injuries occurring during Training.  Just like Wellness/Fitness activities, Training helps you prepare for your job, with the ultimate goal of keeping you safe, but Training can also be dangerous and hard on firefighters.  It can even be deadly.  Just like on the fire ground, safety should come first during training.  Even if the training situation seems like a controlled environment, you want to train as if you don’t know what’s coming next, because many things can go wrong.  Taking training seriously (by taking measures such as having proper trainer/student ratios and having a safety officer on hand) will allow you to put what you’ve learned to work.  Being able to protect those in your community is what makes you a hero, so train safely!

Learn To Train Safety with the Below Online Resources

Error Management Starts During Training (FirefighterNation, 2011)

Reducing Injuries & Deaths Associated with Training (FirefighterNation, 2012)

The Training Safety Officer: Ensuring Safe Evolutions (Fire Engineering, 2009)

Preventative Measures:  A new report aims to reduce training-related injuries & deaths (FirefighterNation, 2009)

Learn To Train Safety with the Below TCFP Library Resources

FIREFIGHTER TRAINING FATALITIES

TRAINING SAFETY: LESSONS FOR THE FUTURE 

FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY RESOURCE KIT 

FIREFIGHTER SAFETY AND SURVIVAL: THE COMPANY OFFICER`S RESPONSIBILITY 

Training Safety Standards

Referring to, and following, NFPA 1410: Standard on Training for Initial Emergency Scene Operations and NFPA 1403: Standard on Live Fire Training Evolutions can help ensure that your Training scenarios are practiced safely. 

Heat Stress

Particularly worrisome here in Texas, is the heat.  Training outdoors during the summer months can lead to heat exhaustion and other heat related illnesses.  Last summer this blog focused on these types of injuries, as well as the value of a good incident rehabilitation program.  These are equally valuable during training.  Revisit that post to learn how to avoid heat related illnesses anywhere – even while training.

Has your department incurred any training injuries?

If so, could they have been avoided?

Does your department take training safety seriously?  If so, how can you tell?