Although tool operations are indeed a skill, much can be said there is an “art” to creating or making space. So how do we cross the line from simple tool application to true spacemaking? We know we need to provide a safe and rapid pathway to disentangle our patient. Many times our pathway for access becomes our same pathway to extricate, as well. But with the changes in vehicles today, is this still appropriate? Maybe cutting isn’t as effective as pushing components apart? Is that pathway staring at us and we just haven’t realized it? Many of you will encounter vehicles that might bewilder or downright frustrate you. Much has changed, but there is a common thread through out these times--we need to provide access and a disentanglement pathway for the patients in the vehicle.

In this educational program, we would like to like to put forth some changes in our current mindset in what we do on scene, the tools we choose and use, how we prepare for the incidents we respond to and even some of our education and training.

Course Exam Available for FREE Use Promotion Code: HOLMATRO when purchasing this course. Be sure to apply promotion code when added to your selection cart. Promotion expires 08/31/2013

What if there were one simple thing you could do to make a major shift toward a safety culture in your fire department? There is, and it's something you already do almost instinctively. Ron Siarnicki and Richard Gist discuss the relationship between firefighters' attitudes and behaviors and how consistent and systematic After-Action Reviews can promote a culture of safety in the fire service.

Course Exam Available for FREE Use Promotion Code: PRCETRUCK when purchasing this course. Be sure to apply promotion code when added to your selection cart. Promotion expires 08/31/2013.

A look at four essential elements of aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF): agents, applications, appliances, and apparatus.

Course Exam Available for FREE Use Promotion Code: PRCETRUCK when purchasing this course. Be sure to apply promotion code when added to your selection cart. Promotion expires 08/31/2013.

Using fans to bring a fire under control is effective and safe when employed correctly in structures that lend themselves to such a tactic. Learn when, where, and how to deploy a positive-pressure attack.

The educational objectives are as follows:
1. Understand the difference between positive-pressure attack (PPA) and positive-pressure ventilation (PPV).
2. Know the conditions in which fans should not be used.
3. Know when the Diagnostic Barometer of Interior Conditions indicates that the fire situation is conducive to PPA.
4. Know to what the three “E”s in the “Big Threee” refer.

Course Exam Available for FREE Use Promotion Code: TMPSTBIG3 when purchasing this course. Be sure to apply promotion code when added to your selection cart. Promotion expires 08/31/2013.

Cribbing is one of the most frequently used and essential tools during rescue operations and is considered to be among the strongest means of support. In this course, Billy Leach discusses stabilization, how cribbing is used to manage gravity, and some important considerations when using cribbing.

In this course, students will discover why suicide in society often occurs and discuss why people do not like to talk about suicide. They will be asked to understand how to change fire service culture regarding firefighter suicide and how to develop a national suicide prevention program aimed at the fire service.

Rural fire departments must master the art of identifying and maximizing existing and potential water supplies in their jurisdictions.

There are several characteristics associated with basement fires such as obvious smoke conditions with no visible fire. Although these conditions may indicate a basement fire, there are other considerations to take into account. Basement fires can challenge the most well-prepared and well-trained fire departments. This course will outline the operational and tactical considerations for fighting basement fires. 

Being able to distinguish between wood frame and steel construction is crucial to any size-up. Here's how to recognize steel frame so you can adjust tactics accordingly.

Are you familiar with the types of buses operated in your jurisdiction? Although some of the same principles of operating around hybrid cars apply to hybrid buses, remember that everything is heavier and bigger in the bus. This course will describe the system design, emergency procedures, extrication and firefighting concerns with hybrid buses.

The equation EP = NP + FL + APP + ELEV is the basic equation every pump operator needs to calculate when operating the fire pump. In this course, learn how to develop a proper fire stream, define friction loss and explain two ways water flows through hoses, and discover how elevation must be calculated into fire stream calculations.

It's becoming more evident that the fire service needs to conduct its business more efficiently. In this course, students will determine how a management team must be assembled, describe the four common components of management, and learn methods of leading through interaction and intrinsic and extrinsic management.

In this course, learn the primary duties of a first-arriving truck company at a residential dwelling fire without an engine on scene and what decisions the truck officer will have to make to maximize effectiveness of his firefighters.

Departments can reduce the chance of injuries from natural gas explosions by maximizing the accuracy of gas detection equipment and training personnel to correctly interpret gas readings.

Are you current in fire extinguishing technology? A look at one system that can replace Halon 1301 and Halon 1211.

Tactics for stretching, advancing, and operating hoselines are critical to firefighting. A review of size-up factors to consider before deploying a hoseline at a residential fire.

First identified in California, Texas, and Mexico during April 2009, swine flu (H1N1) continues to stress government, health care, and public safety resources. H1N1 lessons have been many, and there are likely more to come.

Fire departments that use the incident command system can use this system to help them select the tactics that will bring an incident under control.

To comply with the new standard, the authors say, follow the Rule of Air Management: Know how much air you have in your SCBA and manage that air so that you leave the hazardous environment before your low-air alarm activates.

The author shares lessons he learned while commanding operations at a wind-driven fire that threatened numerous buildings.

Mentoring is the chance to pass on knowledge and experience that can't be found in books or classrooms, but both parties must be committed to the process.

How can a new officer with little time in the field fulfill his duties as a first-line trainer? Miami-Dade (FL) Fire-Rescue helped solve this problem by adding hands-on officer training to its officer development school curriculum, with good results.

In this course from Ray McCormack of Urban Firefighter, students will determine options for hoseline placement, describe a problem encountered when using the first hoseline for both exterior and interior attack, commonly referred to as “Transitional Attack,” and  understand principles of managing hoselines in commercial and high-rise residential fires.

In this course, students will learn why firefighter stress and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been a taboo topic in the fire service and learn the warning signs of stress.

 First responders will be faced with myriad challenges when responding to IED/HME incidents. August Vernon discusses how to identify IEDs and HMEs and their principle hazards, as well as how to guard against intitial and secondary attacks. This course provides the first responder with the means to respond, identify, safeguard and mitigate IED/HME incidents.

Computer simulations can help incident commanders to make life-and-death decisions rapidly on the fireground, regardless of real-world experience.

Recent Underwriters Laboratories tests demonstrate the behavioral differences between solid wood joist and lightweight wood structural members on fire and the collapse times of various floor and roof assemblies.

Examine case studies and lessons learned from the chief’s personal experiences in almost 30 years of crawling down hallways on the Chicago (IL) Fire Department. Each incident is brought to life through exciting pictures and video. Each story reinforces a powerful lesson learned, including risk management, reading smoke, building construction and collapse, fireground tactics, flashover, communications and accountability, commanding the Mayday, and RIT rescue. This course is geared to the seasoned veteran as well as the new recruit. The goal is to prevent firefighter deaths through safer and more effective fireground tactics.

This course will take a look at some of the most hazardous areas of fireground operations and identify what the company officer should be looking for to keep the crews safe.  Students will also be encouraged to rethink some typical tactical assignments when presented with hazardous fire and building conditions. You will be challenged to identify what the officer should be looking for and monitoring during operations. This program supports the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives by advocating better risk management and empowering the fire service membership to stop repeating history.

Teaching personnel to maintain their situational awareness will give them a better chance of avoiding disorientation at a fire, a risk factor that can lead to firefighter fatalities. Realistic, challenging, scenario-based training is key. This course will discuss the link between situational awareness and disorientation.

Follow these fundamental rules to enhance safety and effectiveness during our next forcible entry operation. Experienced firefighters know when to use conventional methods to force doors and when more difficult doors call for power tools or through-the-lock methods. Here is a look at conventional techniques-using hand tools to pry and strike.

The focus is on safe fire operations in all wood-frame structures. Methods of construction and potential for fire spread and collapse of the four types of wood-frame construction are discussed. Case studies are used to demonstrate collapse potential. Also, a look at occupancy types where wood-frame construction is commonly found and ways to identify the type of wood-frame construction in existing structures.