Blog - The Raven Speaks
Due Diligence in Selecting Trainers
November 8, 2011
The latest edition of Firefighting in Canada magazine contains an article in which Raven Rescue’s Executive Director Walter Bucher shares ideas on selecting a technical rescue trainer.
With more fire departments expanding into technical rescue, and an increased emphasis on NFPA compliance, more people are beginning to dabble in technical rescue training. While this may make it easier to find a trainer close to home, it is often a difficult and time consuming task to choose the best one.
The article cites Raven Rescue’s Executive Director Walter Bucher and Mark Alderman of Access Rescue in Ontario. Both companies have a long history of providing training for fire departments and other emergency responders.
Bucher and Alderman assembled a list of best practices in choosing a trainer including:
- Check for professional associations and memberships.
- Request references.
- Ask for liability insurance. $ 2 million is now standard.
- Check materials are up-to-date and take-home info is provided.
- Ask for Standard Operating Guidelines.
- Check for knowledge of NFPA standards and WCB guidelines.
- Find out what documentation of training is provided.
- Check instructor:student ratios meet industry standards.
- Ask for a site specific safety plan.
These and other suggestions are detailed in the article by David Gillespie, a 16-year veteran of the fire service, a technical rescue trainer for swiftwater and surface ice, and currently acting captain with Peterborough Fire Services in Ontario.
To read the entire article click here to go to the digital version and scroll to page 10.
comment to this post.
