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Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service, especially company officers.
Many firefighting skills are perishable. That’s why you have to make every day a training day. Full-scale exercises aren’t always possible because of limitations in staffing, time, and resources. But that’s no excuse. We can keep skills sharp through company-level mini drills.
Mini drills focus on specific tasks. These can be standalone tasks or a more complicated task broken into manageable pieces. Mini drills should be limited to small groups, such as a three-person company. This allows all members to ask questions and try different techniques.
So what are some mini drills you should consider? A simple pump operator’s water supply drill only takes a few minutes per repetition and does not require much equipment or setup.
Or consider forcible entry. A walk down Main Street or its back alley can expose the crew to different types of doors and locks. And that can provoke a great training discussion about the techniques and tools needed to breach each door. Doing this on a nice, clear day will make it easier to gain access in an emergency.
Rapid intervention is another key area for regular training. Practice attaching a RIT pack to the quick-fill connection on a downed firefighter’s SCBA. Add a blindfold and firefighting gloves to amp up the complexity. You don’t even need PPE – a work uniform will suffice.
Mini drills are no substitute for the real thing. But with limited resources, they can serve as building blocks to develop more complicated skills. You’re only limited by your imagination.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham, signing off.
