New class announcement: Improving Tactical Decision Making (ITDM)

December 10, 2012

As a fire officer, are you truly committed to Everyone Goes Home? As firefighters rise up through the ranks, fire behavior, building construction and fire tactics are studied. But as a fire officer, is this education continued? Is the available information used to help make good, sound tactical decisions, or does one hold onto what we learned many years ago? A fire officer has several responsibilities. These include ensuring a safe and effective fire ground operation and making firefighters’ safety the highest priority at an emergency scene. With the help of modern technology, the S.C. Fire Academy would like to assist in developing and improving the tactical decision-making of S.C. fire officers. Using national tests and scientific studies, we would like for you to decide: Science or Stories? Chief Shane Ray, the S.C. State Fire Marshal, recently presented an Internet Fire Talks presentation challenging us to “Do It Different.” The YouTube video has reached more than 250 people who provided positive feedback and a request for more. From this feedback, the SCFA has developed a five-hour Open Enrollment Academy online course: Improving Tactical Decision Making. Several fire officers from across the state recently completed the course and offered the following comments:

“This information has the potential to dramatically change how we fight fires moving forward and if we can get this out to the masses, there is no doubt it will save firefighter lives.” – Lt. Tony Carneavale, Burton Fire District
“I think this class opens your eyes as to an ever-growing concern of how we as a fire service must adapt to an ever-changing fire environment. Through technology and dedicated research, problems are being identified that have been killing firefighters for years. It’s great to have this type of class out there so that we can continue to educate our folks.” –Lt. Reyn Watson, Horry County Fire Rescue
“I feel that the class has great potential for volunteer firefighters and fire officers who may not be exposed to this information as often as career firefighters. Being able to be on both sides of the issue as a volunteer fire chief and a career fire officer hopefully allowed me to see this from both sides.” –Chief Nic Finley, Fire Chief, Walker McElmoyle Fire Station 16, Anderson County and Fire Specialist, Greenville City Fire Department
“This was a great class that takes several currently available presentations and combines them in an easy-to-view format. The information presented is essential to all company officers and I certainly hope that fire departments disseminate this information to all levels in their organization. Any officer worth one’s salt would watch, share, discuss and incorporate as much of the information as possible and adapt tactics to his or her department type.” –Captain Brian McGarrahan, Horry County Fire Rescue

This class does not require a S.C. Fire Academy registration. However, to take the class, please visit the Online Learning Community (http://scfaonlinetraining.org) and create an account. The link for the class is on the front page. The class has three presentations developed in partnership with UL, as well as required feedback activities for each module. After class completion, a certificate will be e-mailed. If you are a member of the South Carolina emergency response community, once you complete the class you may apply for credit. We encourage all South Carolina responders to apply for credit, as this strengthens our partnership with S.C. OSHA. A credit link is provided at the end of the online class. For more information, contact our online training staff at 803-896-9078 or [email protected]. Be sure to follow them on Twitter @SCFAOLC