Volunteer firefighter training covers a wide range of topics, from basic firefighting techniques to first-aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). A portion of volunteer firefighter training also includes instruction on how to operate firefighting equipment, such as firetrucks. The use and operation of self-contained breathing apparatus, also known as the air tank, is one of the most important aspects of volunteer firefighter training. It allows a firefighter to take a breath after entering a burning building to look for survivors and put out the fire.
Many of the world’s firefighting forces are made up entirely of volunteers. All volunteer firefighters must be taught basic firefighting methods and techniques to ensure that all responders to a fire scene are operating in the same manner. Volunteer firefighter training typically covers procedures such as connecting fire hoses to hydrants, venting buildings, and implementing search patterns in an attempt to locate victims. Other fundamental techniques are covered in the training, such as how to hold a fire hose correctly and what settings to use on a fire hose nozzle.
Firefighters are also trained in first-aid and CPR so that they can help not only victims of fires, but also firefighters who may become injured while on the job. Vehicle operation and procedures are covered in part of the volunteer firefighter training. The modern firetruck is packed with valves, pumps, and other components that could easily overwhelm an untrained firefighter. This unfamiliarity could result in more damage to a structure, as well as injury or death to other firefighters who rely on the knowledge of the person assigned to operate the truck safely and efficiently.
All volunteer firefighter training must include not only the operational methods of the self-contained breathing apparatus, but also the limitations of its use. There are suggested limits on how many tanks of oxygen a firefighter can consume in a given amount of time while on the scene of a fire due to health concerns. Failure to adhere to this limit can jeopardize a firefighter’s safety.
All firefighters must also be able to communicate effectively using the department’s radio equipment. All firefighters, but especially those who enter a burning structure, benefit from radio communication. This type of training, which is included in volunteer firefighter training, could mean the difference between surviving a burning building and becoming a statistic.