Where's the training

[joebru]

I am curious as to where other departments are getting their extrication training. Especially in Western Canada.

[iamvff]

We are a volunteer dept. in SW Manitoba. We got ours arranged through the MB. emergency Services College. They came to our Town a couple of years ago and did a full weekend course.

Be safe,
iamvff

[DFCSmash]

Well joebru, that's a good question. Seeing as how Western Canada is about 9 million square kilometers, maybe you wouldn't mind narrowing it down a little? Your location?

Geez iamvff, ya beat me by 30secs :D

[Michael13]

Our personal salesman, from Code 4 in Mississaga came down and demonstrated out new cutters that we purchased about 2 years ago. He had a slideshow presenatation, and gave many tips on all the new cars and where air bags are. I was told that 15 years ago auto ex was 90% spreading and 10% cutting. Now its the other way around- 90% cutting. It surprised the heck out of me how powerful Hurst's new cutter is. We cut the steering shaft right off and it has no problem with the nadder bolt or door hinges. Although I only know the basics of Auto Ex, some of our members are very good at it, and we are basically a self taught department. Us rookies, have learnt everything we know from senior members. I believe my training is up to par.

[iamvff]

Originally posted by DFCSmash
Geez iamvff, ya beat me by 30secs :D

Sorry....I'll try to type slower next time. I'll use one finger instead of two:D

Be safe,
iamvff

[joebru]

Originally posted by DFCSmash
maybe you wouldn't mind narrowing it down a little? Your location?

I am asking where you got your training, not where I got mine!
I got my training at the JI, and in the Middle East.

[DFCSmash]

I got my initial training in Shoal Lake MB from the rep who sold us our first set of Jaws. Then about 5 years later we ran a Vehicle Extrication course through the MB OFC, which 8 of us took. Now along with 2 other members, we run a veh. ex. update and refresher (uncertified, but informative) a couple of times a year.
I should mention that I have Fire Service Instructor I, but not Veh Ex Instructor.

I apologize for misunderstanding your Query. Thought you were looking for Veh. Ex. training locations in Western Canada. :confused:

[Toxic]

We had 2 carreer firefighters from Winnipeg (who are also volunteers and instructors in their home communities) to come out and train us. They deliverd the OFC program that DFCSmash and iamvff mentioned. That's pretty standard in Manitoba as long as you can find an available instructor qualified by the OFC.

We will be doing vehicle Ex again in the near future for the new guys when we get our new set of jaws. I hope the same guys deliver the course. They were excellent.

[iamvff]

Originally posted by Toxic
We will be doing vehicle Ex again in the near future for the new guys when we get our new set of jaws. I hope the same guys deliver the course. They were excellent.

Toxic,
Could you let me know if you have room left when you do your course, we have about 4 new guys that I would like to have get their training on this. Even if you only have some room left for 1 or 2 that would be alright.

Thanks in advance,
be safe
iamvff

[Toxic]

Sorry iamvff. We have enough new guys for our own course - we have 2 halls. Our neighboring fire district is also hounding us for some of their guys.

I can try to find the names of the instructors if you like though.

[iamvff]

Thanks for the try, we will try to get in touch with the fella's that did ours last time. ( in the nice warm spring)

Thanks anyway,
be safe,
iamvff

[LTPVFD]

Here on central Vancouver Island, our training is contracted out to KGC Fire Safety. George Klemm, owner of KGC is well known and respected in the auto extrication field.

He puts on an excellent weekend course. The course is 20 hours in length. Four hours of theory, and update on automotive technology. The rest of the course is hands on, incorporating as many scenarios as possible in two 8 hour days. You get to use all the tools, and learn many tricks of the trade.

We put on the course once a year. The course is open to all members of the department, whether they are new or veterans. Space permitting, we open up the course to members from area departments.

In addition to this, we have several training nights throughout the year where we review auto extrication techniques, and make convertibles out of cars and trucks !! :D

You may wish to check out their web site at www.vehiclex.com and click on KGC on the top bar.

Stay safe !!


LTPVFD

[badry2]

Our firefighters take an intro to auto extrication course sponsored by Fire ETC and recognized by NFPA. We too are looking for more advanced extrication courses. Holmatro has a great interactive CD-ROM that is worth taking a look at. You might also want to check with TERC.

[firefighter26]

When we first got our tools the salesperson came up and gave us a demo. From there, we borrowed the CARS series of videos from a neighbouring department. They are pretty dated but full of good information anyway.

Apart from that, a few of us took an Auto Ex Level one course through the JI, but to be honest, when I took it I had already been on the department 5 years and been on the auto ex team for 2 years, so I ended up helping the instructors and supervising some of the newer firefighters taking it as well. I found it useful though because any training is better than no training.... and I got a chance to take a car about with a socket and ratchet set; which was fun.

I'll usually give the new guys a few hours of lecture with overheads (I made my own a few years ago and have a laminated set that can be used for reference during the hands on section) and videos, but most of the training gets done in "the pit" where we'll complete dozens of slow time scenarios moving increasingly difficult and so on.

I also encourage anyone to come out and either watch or join-in with the auto ex team. When we get rolling in high gear before the competition we'll often cut 2-3 cars a week for about 1-2 months prior, which is a TON of hands on experience.

[remya]

Our particular hall is paying to have an instructor come in for a weekend. He will be cutting 5 cars and teaching 12 hands on members each day. Observers are welcome so if you are north of Barrie on the weekend of June 4&5 let me know and I'll give you directions.

[Squamish-FF]

Ltpvfd, I have done all my Auto-ex training from KGC, over the last 15 yrs in North West BC. I am now with Squamish Fire Rescue.
George Klemm is awesome, I have enjoyed his way of teaching. Not too many BC guys with the credentials he packs.Tons of hands-on with a good mix of theory.
Holmatro tools rule!

[DCCHam]

We had Chris Christie (spelling?) from Hurst Canada come in and do a weekend training for our neighboring department along with some of our members. He's supposed to be comming back to put another one on for us again soon where we just bought the new cutters and spreaders from him.

On our own trainings, we try to get JAWS training in our weekly training schedule at least once a month. We have it really good here, where we have a towing and salvage yard a couple of miles from our station and they'll let us cut up and tear apart as many cars as we want. They'll put them in any scenario (flipped, stacked, even on their nose if we want) that we request and will clean up the mess after we're done.

[MFDFF33]

We have it really good here, where we have a towing and salvage yard a couple of miles from our station and they'll let us cut up and tear apart as many cars as we want. They'll put them in any scenario (flipped, stacked, even on their nose if we want) that we request and will clean up the mess after we're done.

We have that too.... it's great to know that all we have to do is contact them a few weeks or days before and we can go down and go to town... but we want to get an old bus, because you never know...

[DCCHam]

Something we always look for too is mini-vans. For as many of them that are on the road, we never seem to get many in the junk yards. The sliding doors on them make for an interesting extrication.