Exciting Speaker Lineup at FDIC: A Must-Attend for Firefighter Instructors
The 2024 Fire Department Instructors International Conference (FDIC) is right around the corner. This conference, which is April 15 – 20 in Indianapolis, provides fire professionals—particularly leaders and instructors—a venue to collaborate and learn.
With a diverse range of speakers covering various critical topics, this conference is tailored to enhance your teaching skills and expand your knowledge.
Public Safety Group is proud to have several affiliated speakers at this year’s event. Let's take a closer look at some of the exceptional speakers who will be sharing their expertise at the event.
Speaker: Raul Angulo, Fire Captain (Ret.), Seattle Fire Department
Session: Drills You’re Not Going to Find in the Books
Session info from FDIC: Saving civilian and firefighter lives on the fireground starts with the company drill. We prepare to save lives one drill at a time. Company officers always ask for new ideas and methods to keep their crews engaged and enthusiastic about training. After Firefighter I and II skill sets, drilling can become repetitive and boring. Company officers need new and creative ideas to keep crews interested and engaged in realistic training. This class contains more than 100 unique, creative, and exciting drills, ideas, and illustrations for engine and ladder companies as well as for the individual firefighter skill sets. Most of the drills are original ideas, based on actual firefighter line-of-duty deaths or close call incidents with the objective of posing the question, What would you do if caught in the same situation today? Other drills are taken from case studies where there was a unique fire situation or substantial property loss—and what specific actions could have been taken to reverse the outcome. Some drills come from training manuals that have been out of print for more than 50 years—information that is not readily available to firefighters. Tricks of the trade come from senior members and retired firefighters. If these trade secrets aren’t shared, they’re lost with each retirement. This class is an opportunity to share that information. Each student gets a complimentary thumb drive containing the entire presentation.
Captain Angulo crafted an interesting article for PSG in 2023 about how instructors can teach firefighting in high-rise buildings. He is also the author of Engine Company Fireground Operations, Fourth Edition.
Speaker: Forest Reeder, Instructor — International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI)
Forest Reeder, an experienced instructor, will conduct two sessions at FDIC. These workshops will focus on instructor development, providing valuable tools and strategies for becoming a more effective educator. Reeder's books, such as "Instructor and Training Officer Graduate School," offer comprehensive guidance for enhancing teaching skills and fostering professional growth.
Session: ISFSI Instructor Development Workshop Igniting Instructor Development
Session Info from FDIC: The instructor development staff of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) will present a 4-hour professional development and continuing education workshop for all levels for fire and emergency services instructors. Instructors for any type of department will benefit from attending and will be given the opportunity to assess their current skills and learn the newest techniques in skill retention, error correction, and performance evaluation. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how to make your training sessions better so your firefighters can do their work safer and faster.
Session: Instructor and Training Officer Graduate School 2024
Session info from FDIC: Students will be challenged to dive deep into their instructor skill sets as well as into the job of training officer. A primary focus will be on small group or company-level training sessions that make it easier for firefighters to retain skills and knowledge and apply them immediately to their work. Small group discussion and problem-solving exercises based on real-case situations will help you elevate yourself as a leader in your organization.
Reeder has authored or co-authored Fire and Emergency Services Instructor: Principles and Practice, Third Edition and Foundations of Instructional Delivery: Fire and Emergency Services Instructor, Third Edition.
Speaker: Joe Nedder, Deputy Chief of Training, Mendon (Mass.) Fire Department
Session: The Volunteer and On-Call Fireground: Reducing and Managing Risks
Session Info from FDIC: Managing risk in the volunteer fire service is one of the most important yet frequently ignored fireground management skills. It is further compounded by a lack of understanding and a lack of training as to why we need it, how it works, and how to use it. How often have we seen firefighters taking risks that are not necessary? Yes, firefighting is a risky and dangerous job, but it should be a calculated risk! Volunteers put a lot on the line every time they respond. This class will discuss what risk is today. Students will be challenged to accept that the risks have never been higher and that we are being injured or dying every year. The focus will be on what risk is and means to us, how to identify the risks we face, and how to reduce or eliminate the risk to firefighters on the fireground or emergency scene. Learn specific actions volunteers must take to reduce and manage the risks we are exposed to in a manner that is easy to understand and use. Discussed are having a competent incident safety officer, rapid intervention team, and quality ongoing training as methods of risk management.
Deputy Chief Nedder is the author of Fire Service Rapid Intervention Crews.
Speakers: Glenn Corbett, Asst. Chief (Ret.) — Waldwick (NJ) Fire Department; Paul Dansbach, Fire Marshal — Rutherford, NJ
Session: Indy Building Construction: Walking the Talk
Session info from FDIC: Back after nearly 30 years, Glenn Corbett and Paul Dansbach revive their original building construction class and walk around at FDIC. In this workshop, attendees will begin with a classroom session reviewing the various types of construction downtown and then move outdoors to study the buildings up close and personal. Particular attention will be paid to the 1992 Athletic Club building fire line-of-duty deaths and the hard-earned lessons that resulted.
Session: Avoiding Warehouse Disasters: A 21st Century Approach
Session info from FDIC: This class will offer both fire prevention and firefighting personnel detailed information about how to avoid warehouse disasters. Recent major incidents involving warehouses have highlighted the need for advanced training in assessing warehouse challenges, most notably the capability of sprinkler systems when pitted against the fuel load in the building as well as the operational role of the fire department, including support of the sprinkler system. Building construction details and firefighting hazards are discussed. Preplanning, including the critical partnership between fire prevention and firefighting personnel working together, will be highlighted.
Assistant Chief Corbett is the co-author of Brannigan's Building Construction for the Fire Service with Navigate Advantage Access, Sixth Edition
Speaker: Becki Rowan White, Battalion Chief, Chanhassen (Minn.) Fire Department
Session: Research-Based CRR at the Company Level
Session info from FDIC: Community risk reduction (CRR) is the hot phrase being used by department leadership, but little direction is being provided to fire companies who are directed to engage with the public and employ risk reduction strategies. CRR training is typically targeted toward prevention staff more than line firefighters and company officers. Due to a lack of resources or updated education, many departments are also still using outdated messaging that can be harmful for the public.
This class will highlight the latest science-based public fire safety messages and resources developed by UL’s Fire Safety Research Institute (FSRI) with the fire service and will make the connection to firefighting knowledge and tactics. Participants will learn how to identify areas of engagement that are authentic, strengthening the ties between the department and the community and making the community a safer place to live and work.
Battalion Chief Rowan White contributed to Fundamentals of Firefighter Skills and Hazardous Materials Response, Fifth Edition.
Speaker: Dena Ali, Battalion Chief, Raleigh (NC) Fire Department
Session: Rethinking First Responder Mental Health: Beyond the Calls
Session info from FDIC: This class is designed to address our understanding of first responder mental health and our responses to trauma. In the past few years, PTSD has become a common phrase in emergency services, yet our understanding of its true manifestation, diagnosis, and treatment is not well known. This class will lean on evidence-based research to explain the origins of trauma and, more importantly, the path toward resiliency and growth. It will describe the importance of understanding our own trauma stories and learning the common routes toward growth. These include meaningful relationships, mindfulness, rest, sleep, psychological safety, leadership, and meaning making. This class will address the impacts of poor leadership and the value of deliberate leadership on the mental wellness of our members.
Battalion Chief Ali spoke to Public Safety Group recently on the topic of mental health in the fire service.
Speaker: Dave Casey, Superintendent (Ret.) — Florida State Fire College
Session: Managing Your Fire Department’s Promotional Process
Session info from FDIC: Review the issues that get fire departments into grievances, legal action, or just mistrust with the test takers. Included are federal requirements, legal decisions, and the actions to take to reduce the chance of errors and miscues. Discussed are internal tests vs. outside providers and what to look for with outside vendors and the development of bid specifications.
Superintendent Casey co-authored Live Fire Training: Principles and Practice, Second Edition.
Speaker: Rommie Duckworth, Captain, Ridgefield (CT) Fire Department
Session: Extrication and EMS: Coordinating Team Delivery of Critical Care
Session info from FDIC: Good vehicle extrication demands a unique collaboration between rescue and emergency medical personnel. Incorporating key victim assessment information in the extrication size-up will improve your strategic and tactical plans. To save a patient (not just chop up a vehicle), rescue and EMS must understand each other’s jobs and work together effectively. This program uses a real-world approach to incorporate EMS care considerations in the extrication strategy. It shows how the most critical trauma encountered in vehicle collisions can be managed quickly and effectively by first responders. This program will help you make better strategic extrication decisions and more safely deliver immediate life-saving treatment, reducing the time from patient contact to patient removal to patient surgery.
Captain Duckworth has authored or contributed to several instructional materials, including: