JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Firefighters across Joint Base San Antonio participated in the NFPA 1006 VEHICLE RESCUE Train-the-Trainer program June 6-8, at Camp Talon on JBSA-Randolph.
Ron Moore, a firefighter in Prosper, Texas, created this course through a company called RESQUE-1 LLC, to pass along his knowledge in vehicle extrication.
“It’s 24-hour duration, over a three-day period, vehicle rescue train-the-trainer class,” said Moore. “What they’re able to do now, with the bases all participating, is standardize the training and allow all the training in vehicle rescue to be consistent and valid because it addresses the national standards.”
The phrase “train-the-trainer” means that a select group of firefighters from each installation were chosen to complete this training, then take that knowledge back to their own installations to train their co-workers.
“The 12 hand-picked individuals were given electronic media and skills training so they can go back to their bases and conduct base-level, department-level or company-level extrication training that meets National Fire Protection Association technical rescue standards 1006,” Moore said.
Besides the train-the-trainer concept, this training was considered special because of the new techniques taught and the course instructor himself.
“Our instructor is probably the foremost expert in auto extrication and fire service in the United Sates,” said Staff Sgt. Zachary Edwards, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter.
Different and newer scenarios, other than the usual textbook taught ones, were provided for the firefighters to simulate. In this specific instance, a fuselage was donated to practice on, which Moore said he personally does not provide for the course.
As vehicles are becoming more and more up to date with technology, there are far more hazards for a firefighter to be aware of when performing vehicle extrication.
“Usually when we do auto extrication, we do a very standard, basic thing; usually with an older car on all tires,” said Edwards. “But with the advances in technology, those cars aren’t what we are probably going to find on the road today. He’s teaching and putting us in scenarios where we basically have to neutralize those hazards in a modern vehicle, while using an older vehicle model.”
The firefighters participating in the class were grateful to have had the chance to receive this training.
“It’s a great class, we are getting to do a lot of hands-on stuff and learning how to use tools differently than we would have used regularly on a job,” said Jacob Mathie, 902nd CES firefighter. “Ron’s a guru, he knows a lot of stuff we did not know and he’s bringing us up to his level.”
Not only were the firefighters glad to have been taught these new techniques, the trainer, Ron Moore, is just as proud to have taught them.
“Now they have the ability to take what I gave them, customize it and bring it back to make it work for them,” Moore said. “It charges your battery when you know that what you’re teaching in a training mode can actually make a difference.”