Firefighter Training Safety

Firefighter safety guidelines are mandated by the federal and local state governments. Whether a firefighter is participating in a training course or emergency scenario, prescribed safety protocols protect the lives of first responders.

Conditioning

• Firefighters must undergo a full physical before beginning the physically demanding training sessions. Although rules vary by state and educational facility, a drug test is also typically required. Firefighters must be able to stand for extended periods of time and pack heavy equipment and gear up multiple flights of stairs during training.

Scenarios

• During training, firefighter candidates participate in drills with pressurized water tanks, portable oxygen tanks and live burns. A live fire scenario can take place on a training center campus or at a vacant building in the community. For the safety of firefighters, emergency medical personnel (EMS) are on hand. An EMS vehicle is sent to all live burns. Although the fire is planned, the same level of caution used during an emergency fire call is employed.

Supervision

• Trainees are shadowed by an experienced firefighter or certified fire instructor. While the firefighter has to work through scenarios using the skills they learned in training, a veteran emergency responder is within arm's reach to aid or redirect a trainee if necessary.