This page is for new members...
Entering into the fire service, especially with no prior experience, can be challenging. In order to help you transition into this new world we have established a path for you to follow. You will be assigned a mentor to help guide you through the first six months with the department.
New Member Checklist
Here is a checklist for new members to go through. It addresses meeting the department, learning our rules, getting equipment, to going through various necessary training. Print it out, and check off the various tasks as you complete them.
| new_member_checklist_4-12-2014.xlsx |
Get Familiar With our Trucks and Equipment
Knowing our equipment will improve your safety and help the efficiency of any scene. Take the time to look at all of the trucks and learn their specifications:
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-Truck Names
-Function of each truck -Volume of water on each truck -Volume of foam on each truck -Number of SCBAs on each truck -Hose locations on each truck -Hose lengths on each truck -How to connect nozzles,hoses, and couplings -How to use a generator -How to use a chain saw |
-Location of the Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) on each truck
-Location of the Lucas Device -Location of spare SCBA cylinders -Location of Landing Zone (LZ) lights -Location of saws on each truck -Location of hand tools on each truck -Location of first aid equipment on each truck -Location of ladders -Location of lights |
Complete Some FEMA Training
After 9/11 the emergency services across the United States changed the way they manage scenes. A pre-planned management structure has been developed to enable resources from different agencies to quickly manage a scene with little confusion. This is called the Incident Command Structure or National Incident Management System. We use this form of command structure on every call we respond to.
The National Incident Management System is FREE training is on the FEMA website. There are plenty of online classes you can do. Below are links to 4 of the classes we would like you to complete. You can do them on your own, in the comfort of your own living room. When complete, please print out the certificates and bring them to the station. We will put them in your training folder.
IS-100.b Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100
IS-200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
IS-700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
IS-800.b National Response Framework, An Introduction
The National Incident Management System is FREE training is on the FEMA website. There are plenty of online classes you can do. Below are links to 4 of the classes we would like you to complete. You can do them on your own, in the comfort of your own living room. When complete, please print out the certificates and bring them to the station. We will put them in your training folder.
IS-100.b Introduction to Incident Command System, ICS-100
IS-200.b ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
IS-700.a National Incident Management System (NIMS) An Introduction
IS-800.b National Response Framework, An Introduction
Get Familiar With Our Radio Operations
Our dispatchers at Morgan County 911 are called Central Dispatch or Central on the radio. Everyone has a radio number and uses it for communications between themselves, Central, and the rest of the department. A list of our radio numbers is found on the Members page of our website. We can also communicate using the numbers of the trucks we respond in. Central will repeat what someone says to enable the rest of us to get the report in the event we didn’t hear it.
Here is a basic example of how radio communications work:
-You hear the two tones over the open radio -OR- your radio while on PAGE starts to beep.
-Central Dispatch will say over the radio “Priceville Fire and [name of an ambulance service] we need units to respond to 1313 Mockingbird Lane for a chest pain call. Patient has a history of heart problems and is complaining of difficulty breathing. 1313 Mockingbird Lane, cross of Jones Rd and Smith Way.” You get the call information, location, and cross-streets closest to the call.
-One of our EMTs will get on the radio “Central, Priceville [radio number], EMT responding.
-Central Dispatch will acknowledge and say “Priceville [radio number] responding. Priceville you are responding to a 70 year-old male complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. Caller says they have had a severe pain on the right side of their chest that started 15 minutes ago. They have taken nitro with little relief. 1313 Mockingbird Lane, cross of Jones Rd and Smith Way.” After you acknowledge the call Central will give you more information that they have received.
-From here, you might hear other members go enroute to the scene or the station. Typically, for chest pain calls someone runs for an AED and the Lucas device.
-When someone responds with a truck you will hear “Priceville 450 enroute, [number of] EMTs on board.” Central will repeat their statement.
-When someone gets on scene they will inform Central Dispatch and setup incident command per NIMS. “Central, Priceville [radio number] on scene, establishing Mockingbird Lane Command”
-The Incident Commander or someone designated by the Incident Commander should be the only one communicating to those outside the scene. Occasionally the Incident Commander will give reports informing responders who aren’t on scene some idea of what they are getting into. This report is called a scene size-up.
-Central will frequently check the status of the scene. Incident Command will briefly inform Central of what they have.
-When done on scene you will hear Incident Command clear up all units “Central, Mockingbird Lane Command is terminated, all Priceville units are clear and available, one patient transported to [hospital name here].” Central will repeat the report.
As you can see, when you communicate on the radio you will address the person/entity first, tell them who you are, and then provide the message. This is helpful when there are numerous calls from different departments going on at the same time. You can also see we use plain-talk communications, ten-codes aren’t used to prevent misunderstandings (a ten-code from one department might not be the same ten-code for another department).
During calls where there are fires or car accidents you will hear other information on the radio directing others where to go, tools/trucks that are needed, severity of the call, and so on. Turn your radio on and listen to the communications throughout the county. In no time you will be able to understand everyone throughout the county.
Here is a basic example of how radio communications work:
-You hear the two tones over the open radio -OR- your radio while on PAGE starts to beep.
-Central Dispatch will say over the radio “Priceville Fire and [name of an ambulance service] we need units to respond to 1313 Mockingbird Lane for a chest pain call. Patient has a history of heart problems and is complaining of difficulty breathing. 1313 Mockingbird Lane, cross of Jones Rd and Smith Way.” You get the call information, location, and cross-streets closest to the call.
-One of our EMTs will get on the radio “Central, Priceville [radio number], EMT responding.
-Central Dispatch will acknowledge and say “Priceville [radio number] responding. Priceville you are responding to a 70 year-old male complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. Caller says they have had a severe pain on the right side of their chest that started 15 minutes ago. They have taken nitro with little relief. 1313 Mockingbird Lane, cross of Jones Rd and Smith Way.” After you acknowledge the call Central will give you more information that they have received.
-From here, you might hear other members go enroute to the scene or the station. Typically, for chest pain calls someone runs for an AED and the Lucas device.
-When someone responds with a truck you will hear “Priceville 450 enroute, [number of] EMTs on board.” Central will repeat their statement.
-When someone gets on scene they will inform Central Dispatch and setup incident command per NIMS. “Central, Priceville [radio number] on scene, establishing Mockingbird Lane Command”
-The Incident Commander or someone designated by the Incident Commander should be the only one communicating to those outside the scene. Occasionally the Incident Commander will give reports informing responders who aren’t on scene some idea of what they are getting into. This report is called a scene size-up.
-Central will frequently check the status of the scene. Incident Command will briefly inform Central of what they have.
-When done on scene you will hear Incident Command clear up all units “Central, Mockingbird Lane Command is terminated, all Priceville units are clear and available, one patient transported to [hospital name here].” Central will repeat the report.
As you can see, when you communicate on the radio you will address the person/entity first, tell them who you are, and then provide the message. This is helpful when there are numerous calls from different departments going on at the same time. You can also see we use plain-talk communications, ten-codes aren’t used to prevent misunderstandings (a ten-code from one department might not be the same ten-code for another department).
During calls where there are fires or car accidents you will hear other information on the radio directing others where to go, tools/trucks that are needed, severity of the call, and so on. Turn your radio on and listen to the communications throughout the county. In no time you will be able to understand everyone throughout the county.
Get Familiar with Our Bunker Gear and SCBAs
We have established minimum standards for members to use our gear on any type of fire call. The presentation below is what we use in training to to meet our requirements. The presentation doesn't teach firefighting, how to cut cars, and nothing medical. It teaches you how to safely use and care for our gear, how to identify some hazards on scene, and some basic scene safety. After the training is complete, you will be required to successfully take a written test and be able to demonstrate safely putting your gear on in a specified time. Everything from the written test is covered in the presentation. After both of those tests are complete, and with some follow-on training, you will be able to fight fire.
| bunker_gear_and_scba_safety_4-12-2014.pptx |
| physical_test_for_priceville_fire_department.docx |