SA Firefighter

Hi all - just completed the "Drive Vehicles under Operational Conditions" & it was response driving (not 4x4 driving)in mainly city areas. And we were told Respond (Priority 1) lights & sirens that's it! - Proceed (Pri 2) lights no sirens obey all road rules as exemption does not apply. After much heated debate, individuals said they would use their discretion. Interestingly all of the video footage was taken from the cabs of ambulances & appliances going "full noise" in city environments (Sydney). I could attach the policy & training documents for your info, but sadly it would breach the confidentiality conditions attached to those docs
Overall it was a fantastic course & I wish I had done it years ago! Realised that some of the things I did in the past weren't quite right! It is a pity that other states don't adopt the trg package & those who do it already take the 4x4 component out (& put it in a separate course) and do more of the response bit! There was bit of lectures, lots of discussion & lots of practical driving through simulated traffic problems - a real eye openner(refer to comments re: past behaviours )
Anyway I know this was a CFS/SAAS thing, but thought I would throw my 2 cents worth in.
cheers - see you in another 3 months  

Ok no worries - my error for believing in consistency Yes CnD SA is right - as always!

Thanks guys useful info cheers

Interestingly I think this maybe a look into the future. I was asked by my employer for assistance in finding out "what is best practice in first aid?". Apparently a study of recent incidents at our 37 sites indicated that our current practice of using onsite trained employees to deliver FA wasn't delivering the results that were required:- either a)under diagnosing the problem, b) over-reacting & hospitalising everything or c) do nothing (run away & hide). So maybe other employers are doing the same thing & deciding to "out source", I note on their web page the following statement "Our clients enjoy significant reductions in lost time injury (LTI), improved injury management performance, extraordinary dollar savings in direct claims expenditure and a reduction in long term claims through our pro-active on-site and medical management. This would grab any managers attention as reduced premiums/LTI rates is what we get measured on. By the way I would be interested in anyones thoughts on Best practice First aid including things like training, is their a special type of person, should it be out sourced etc. No idea too wild your thoughts would be appreciated.
cheers

Sadly mate, there are these types are around in all walks of life. Usually young & male. They have a narrow view of life, lack maturity & think they are the best. And can't be told anything!
They are found everywhere, even in Leeton there are some in a couple of the emergency services. We call them FIGJAM, normally they don't listen to different points of view & are great at self promotion!
Usually age mellows these individuals, but not always - sadly.
And sometimes these people cause great harm, normally to others in their team (it's always someone else's fault not mine). Knew a fair few in the army, promoted fast but in reality didn't know as much as they thought they did
The good news is that Karma catches up with them & they are forced to eat humble pie Every dog has it's day
Anyway hope you fishing trip goes well - I'm just going to sign off at have another cold Paley - cheers

Here is some information you may be interested in - it is for information only and not a comment on whether or not a brigade should or shouldn't be training for operations that they have not been asked to do by their parent organisation
A major review of current rescue from height & depths & disaster rescue techniques was conducted by "an emergency service" after serious concerns were raised regarding current techniques. I have read the review & its recommendations. If these recommendations are adopted in full, there are some major implications regarding current techniques & equipment. This review includes the use of the following techniques;
• Improvised single point lowering
• 2 point lower
• 4 point lower
• Ladder hinge
• Ladder slide
• “A” Frames
• Tripods
However not vertical rescue, SES types would recognise these techniques from the Heights & depths & disaster rescue techniques. We (NSW) are currently waiting for the re-write of the General rescue package.
Secondly rescue by rope in fast flowing water is swift water rescue, we do the course at the Olympic swift water course at Penrith & its only the basic course! I would be very careful doing any training with an organisation (including an RTO)that does not have this particular course in their scope. Anyway thats all I have on this subject - regards

Thought it was covered - no way of knowing who that is (other than the mandated response service)with the current setup. I agree with the stupidity bit Jaff, but your anger is directed at the wrong people/service. Here is another way to think about it - if there was a fire on the river bank & the closest appropriate service was a SES unit (trained, has the right equipment etc) would it be appropriate to page them first? Would Adelaide fire even know? Answer is obviously no!
So I believe it is something that the government, minister & SAFECOM need to deal with - it may be as simple as identifying suitable CFS resourses in the despatch system for that type of tasking (like the RCR directory), providing some extra training & equipment to the resources which have been identified or even writing a simple instruction that identifies areas of the state not covered by first response SES units so send the closest fire service first. As I said above your frustration is directed at the wrong people - maybe its something that CFS payed staff should be raising through your management structure - I'm sure they will be able to sought it all out for you, one way or another!

Simple answer for you crash - own property in SA (in fact it is still my residential address), car registered in SA, 2 of my kids live in SA, as well as my girl friend, my company owns extensive plants in SA & I pay ESL. I spend one week a month "back home" & have job responsibilities there which include Emergency management. I also have friends who have dedicated over 25 years of their life to the service which some of you like to slander on a regular basis. Finally after doing "one or two" years of service myself (actually a few more than that ) & watching what was once good/great slowly but surely fade away, & knowing what it could be if people really cared I get a bit excited when I see another service which by its own admission (including people on this site) isn't perfect bagging SESSA. So no mate its not stiring - it is putting an alternative view point across! now I'm sorry if you don't appreciate that or can't see my reasons why I make comments on subjects I hold dear (which I think in most cases are fairly reasonable). I'm sure if I was way out of line a stern warning from one of the moderators would be quickly fired my way or I would get kicked off! Anyway thanks for your feed back & I will keep it in mind the next time someone has a shot at a service which I think does a great job. cheers

Excellent response Jaff & pumprescue as per normal - so HQ/Comms know what resources are located at each brigade & those personnel have had adequate training to deal with the response.
Having worked with CFS & MFS crews on major storm damage operations, & being part of the incident management team on at least one, I couldn't find out who had a chainsaw, work at height equipment, training in work at height, storm damage ops etc, without asking each crew individually. Whilst I agree with your sentiments pumprescue, until that information is available to Incident managers (where ever they are located)& state operations centres, then how the filtered are you supposed to know "the closest appropriate resource?". I do know form bitter experience the wide variation of what is carried on fire appliances, including whether or not the chainsaw is a) adequate b) operational. And while we are at it Jaff Why would a certain fire service reject the offer of pumps (including floatation) & boats, then turn around and order more floation pumps & jeez it would be great to have a boat in the same area! So its got filtered all to do with turf protection - more to do with standardisation across the service in both equipment & training. So back to your original point - totally agree with closest appropraite response don't give a filtered about what color it is as long as it is appropriate & you don't know that without intel By the way most people have nil problem with wearing more than one hat if they want to & are able to.
cheers & have a good one

I thought he was one of your vollies first (ran in to him the other day in SA & I agree with Andrew - he certainly kept my "nuts" out of a fire a few times! However there were some who agree with the sentiments some of you have expressed. So what has he done that is so wrong? And I had no time for Chris at all!!!
cheers

I did mention this some time ago Numbers - its a good read & is a practical way of documenting what happens in RFS re:training. Thanks

And thats what one of the P's in PPRR is, prepare & that includes educating the "great unwashed". Maybe the problem is the slogan "Protecting the community" - it gives a feeling of "don't worry the CFS will protect us!
Maybe the slogan should read "Helping the community to prepare & protect itself".
From what I have seen the volunteers in the CFA (in areas directly affected by the fires) feel abandoned, betrayed & neglected by their senior officers. So I'm surprised that some on this forum are happy the chiefs kept their jobs considering the findings have not been released yet. Yes there were numerous issues with members of the public not being prepared etc, but the question needs to be asked Why weren't they & someone still needs to take responsibility for what happened. And before some of you start jumping up & down, remember that when you hold yourself up as the "protector" or "expert" then you need to be held accountable when it all turns to scheiße!
cheers