DAY 1: Understanding Fire Service Culture
Location: Division of Training Facility at Folsom St-2310 Folsom St, SF CA 94110
Time: 0800-1600 hrs
The Understanding Fire Service Culture course provides a broad overview of the fire service and its psychological components. After successful completion, the participant can earn one hour of continuing education per hour of training (sponsored by the American Psychological Association).
Learning Objectives:
- Identify cultural components of the fire service, including performance standards, jargon, shift work, and barriers to treatment.
- Describe the complexities of firefighting and emergency service, including trauma exposures.
- Identify unique challenges to interpersonal relationships.
- Explain organizational demands inherent in the firefighting profession based on the paramilitary organization.
- Explain current trends in peer support and psychological services offered to fire departments and barriers to treatment.
DAY 2: Fire Operations 101
Location: Treasure Island training Facility-600 Avenue N, SF CA 94130
Time: 0800-1600 hrs
FireOps 101 class is designed to simulate some of the emergency operations Firefighters and Ems personnel face daily. The primary learning objective is for participants to experience the real-life dangers of firefighting and EMS work in an immersive scenario-based format. Before performing the scenarios, participants are fitted with firefighter turnout gear and learn how to don/doff an SCBA, learn how to use a halligan tool and axe to assist in forcing a door and practice chest compressions, and how to deliver hi-flo oxygen effectively. The morning practice will prepare participants for the immersive afternoon scenarios.
1. FIRE BEHAVIOR
This scenario will offer a live fire experience! Participants will be able to feel the heat, see how firefighters work together as a crew, understand the stages of fire, and learn how to properly and safely extinguish the fire.
2. SEARCH AND RESCUE
Saving lives is the primary mission of firefighters and EMS personnel. Often, firefighters must perform search and rescue before the fire is extinguished, making this one of the most dangerous situations we face. During the search, you will learn about the important tools and equipment we use that make a difference in the life and death of residents and firefighters.
3. AERIAL LADDER OPERATIONS
Fire scenes are very complex, and it is important for aerial trucks and fire engines to work together to help make the scene as safe as possible. Rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, overhaul, and aerial operations must be coordinated. You will have the opportunity to climb an aerial ladder, watch our crews operate on a roof, and understand the importance of proper ventilation in a fire building.
4. CPR AND POSSIBLE OVERDOSE
The prescription opioid and heroin overdose epidemic affects individuals nationwide, from big cities to rural communities. In this scenario, you will experience a routine overdose call that quickly turns into a cardiac arrest. Overdoses and cardiac arrest are among the most time-critical emergencies our members respond to daily.
Tentative Fire Ops Schedule for SFFD –
- 0800-0845: Warm up, Stretching, and Light PT
- 0900-0930: Welcome from the Chief of Department, brief history of SFFD
- 0930-1000 Turnout Gear fitting. Donning and doffing practice
- 1000-1200 Rotations in teams( 4 per team) through manipulative stations:
- SCBA
- CPR skills
- Forcible Entry
- Climb aerial
- 1200-1300 Lunch- cooked by BHU members
- 1300-1500 Live fire rotations
- Search & Rescue
- Aerial Ladder Op
- Fire Behavior
- Mega code
- 1500-1600 Fireboat Ride on San Francisco Bay- group diffusing with BHU
STEP 3: Participants will complete Ride Alongs (forty hours of shadowing firefighters and paramedics in their daily tasks with a “Task-Book” to be Completed by a Clinician and Signed by a Fire Officer. To be completed within three months of the classroom training..
STEP 4: Participants will complete three consultation hours with a Fire Service Psychologist (virtual via Zoom).
STEP 5: FSPA will provide two case examples, and the participant will demonstrate proficiency of cultural competency (reviewed by a Fire Service Psychologist to ensure the participant meets the standard.) This will be in a test format.
Earn: Basic Fire Service Psychology Cultural Competency Certificate
Special Features or Requirements
Program is open to participants from the Bay Area
Before the start of the program, participants will be required to sign an acknowledgment of the dress code, any relevant policies, and liability forms.
Dress code policies:
Please wear simple and comfortable work-out clothes (leggings or sweats). SFFD will provide with SFFD T-Shirt at the end of the training.
Registration Notes
- The registration for this program is limited. If we receive your application after registration is full, we will offer priority access in the next open training program.
- There are registration exceptions for departments who have limited participation to local clinicians. In the event your preferred class dates or location are within this designation, you will receive priority registration access for the next offering without the resident requirement.
- We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for the classroom training. Please email info@firepsychology.org to make a reasonable accommodation request. Requests must be submitted at least forty five days prior to the event.
