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[Heretic]

We're trying to form an Explorer or Jr. Firefighter program at our department.

We have all the official info on what's allowed, not allowed and our framework for the program.

What I'm looking for is this:

What would explorers / cadets / juniors want to see in a program?

No holds barred. throw out your ideas.

[backsteprescue123]

I'll post more later when I have the time, but in the mean time, could you use a copy of my post's SOP/SOG's, Rules/Regulations, Probationary Packet, etc.??

If so, just leave me an email where I can get them to ya and I would be happy to help.


I will post more later.

[NWOhio157]

Jake, check you PMs.


What we want to see...
I'll also post later... running low on time.

[whitesox4life]

The juniors that I have (I am chief of jr. prog.) told me that they would like to see more privilages like riding 2nd, 3rd or 4th due to scene to all calls (execept Haz-Mat). All 16+ yr olds are 1st responder certified. Jr. officers have 2 ch. radios (1-fire disp. 2-dept. fireground). Was told at meeting last night would like to be able to have A blue light and be able to respond to the scene. Any feelings on that one?

Hope some of this helps.

[t0asty]

Ill post something later when I get the time but please don't turn this into a jr's responding to calls in pov's please. We already have a thread for that.

[donk7267]

toasty...i certainly agree

to answer your question...mostly try to let them train as much as possible with all the other firefighters and do all things (if possible) as the normal firefighters, if you have enough jr's possibly set up a jr command structured mock scene and get them used to the chain of command

will post more later im busy (thats why my post may not make sense)

[t0asty]

At my post we do some search and rescue in the tower with SCBA's. Learn how to operate the engine. At times we do some certification work so we can ride along (get assigned to a shift and you contact the shift leader see if it is ok to ride that day and you are their from shift change to 9pm or till you need to go).
CPR/AED certification. Learn to change air bottles. Ventilation work. hose work. Lots of stuff. Hope it helps.

[Heretic]

RFRD, check your PM's please!

To address some of the things brought forth so far:

Riding 2nd / 3rd out: This I would need to go over with the chiefs, but I don't see an issue here, provided the person is 16+ years old.

Radio's: Pagers, certainly. Radios would be a no, but due to budgetary reasons.

Emergency Lighting: This would be a no, more than likely. The current department policy is 18+ only, with a year or more of experience.

Training: I have every intention of training Juniors as a full firefighter, within the confines of the state laws. These I'm researching now. I think, thus far, the biggest no will be to hazardous situations, i.e. live burns. State law currently will not allow anyone less than 18 attend the firefighter 1 class, unless you turn 18 during the course of the class. Everyone will be CPR/AED cert'ed, and I'm checking into the first responder cert. Again, this may be an 18+ only thing here.

We have a fully contained, self sufficient air trailer that I see as being a big training piece.

Thanks for the input thus far!

[LVFRExplorer9]

Hands On Training.

My favorite meetings at explorers is when we get to do hands on training such as Hose Operations(pulling and manuvering lines). If you can get some aquired autos I definitely suggest extrication. That is one of my most favorite meetings. More later if need be.

[Catch22]

Was told at meeting last night would like to be able to have A blue light and be able to respond to the scene. Any feelings on that one?

Personally, as a chief, I think that's a VERY bad idea. There's enough issues out there with firefighters running lights and sirens on their POVs. You'll also notice it always makes the major media when a junior firefighter/explorer is seriously injured or killed in an accident. Allowing them to run blue lights is inviting a combination of the two. I frown upon any of my guys having blue lights/sirens.

Juniors/explorers are there to learn about the job, not to be firefighters. I will be the first to say that our explorers do a helluva job, but they are there for support, not front-line operations. As such, there's no need for them to hurry and get to the scene. At the same time, if they have to take their time to get to the scene, they're going to be calmed down from the initial adrenaline rush. Gradually they're going to get used to not getting in a hurry and it's going to be natural, which in turn is going to make them better firefighters and officers when the day comes. Too many firefighters go to a scene without being calm and collected.

Just my opinion.

[NickMercer]

The biggest thing if you are a volunteer department like my group would be to allow them to be at any calls that they can. The explorers in my post want the training because they want to do the best that they can on a scene. My group likes to be informed and we are vary imformed and are also allowed to address issues on the department and our cheif is not afraid to let us speak out. The biggest thing is to keep them involved as much as they want to be while not taking away from any schooling. My post prides ourselves on having a B+ average for grades. Also to address the blue light situations. You have to say NO!!! Comming from a Explorer myself, we are a bunch of crazy teens who want nothing more than to drive fast to a call just to see how many cars we can pass and how fast we can get there. As if they isnt enough of them on the road anyways!!!!

[t0asty]

I truly want this to be a good informative thread so I request again to not talk about explorers and their mobile Christmas trees (ie lights on POV's). Just so no to the Christmas show and if you want to talk about it go here. http://forums.firehouse.com/showthre...t=86692&page=4 but It would be nice if the topic stayed dead for a bit. Thanks