Pre Service Firefighter Education and Training Gives Graduates An Advantage
Posted by Jason White on Friday, May 9, 2014
Under: College Education
The job of firefighter is complex. It involves not only extinguishing
hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural
populations but also rescuing people from dangerous situations, like
collapsed or burning buildings.
Today, many fire departments require or prefer applicants who have completed a firefighter program
prior to applying. Centennial College's Pre-service Firefighter
Education and Training program is one such undertaking. It focuses on
offering students theory and practical training that is in accordance
with the approved curriculum developed by the Ontario Association of
Fire Chiefs (OAFC) and the Ontario Office of the Fire Marshal (OFM).
This is achieved through lectures and practical courses that include
simulation training under the guidance of qualified instructors and
practical experience in various activities such as “live fire burns” at
the City of Toronto's Fire Training Academy and the Emergency Patient
Care at Centennial's Healthcare Simulation Centre.
Here is a closer look at some of the courses in this program.
Fire Ground Operations: The Incident Management Systems is introduced
through content that address the observational, assessment, problem
solving and decision making skills required by firefighters. Students
are also familiarized with the role of the firefighter en route to the
fire scene and at the fire scene, fire cause determination, fire scene
security and post-incident analysis and review.
Emergency Patient Care: Students get an overview of the Ontario
emergency medical care system with emphasis on the specific role and
responsibilities of the firefighter emergency patient care responders
and the teamwork essential to the effectiveness of the EMS response.
Included are legislation, regulations, standards, and established
policies, procedures and protocols as well the role of members of the
emergency response team and the specific role of the firefighter
emergency care responder.
Fire Equipment: Firefighters must be fully versed in the equipment they
use to fight fires, not only for their safety but the safety of those on
the scene. As such, this course first examines the anatomy of a fire
and then the purpose, types, uses and limitations of protective
clothing. For this aspect, students get to try out personal protective
clothing and equipment including maintaining, storing, cleaning and
inspecting. They also look at the breathing apparatus and its component
parts; common ropes and knots used to raise and lower firefighter
equipment in emergency and non-emergency situations; types and sizes of
ladders used in the fire service and different methods used in carrying,
raising, climbing and working on ground ladders; lighting equipment and
its operation in order to provide illumination of the scene; and more.
Fire Suppression: Split into two parts, the first course focuses on the
design and components of municipal water supply systems and rural water
supplies, as well as the types and operation of hydrants and methods of
determining flow. It also specifies considerations, procedures and
precautions necessary to successfully extinguish the four classes of
fire and compressed gas cylinder fires. The second, meanwhile, defines
ventilation as it applies to the fire service and describes the
concepts, types, procedures, precautions, and equipment associated with
ventilation operations.
After completing each firefighter course, students are eligible to write the Ontario Fire Marshal Provincial testing.
In : College Education
Tags: firefighter course firefighter program