Mental Health First Aid® is a public education national certification course. Participants learn to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of an emerging mental health problem or crisis, to identify community resources, and to link individuals in need of support to appropriate care. This skills-based course includes a 5¬-step action plan which can be used in various types of crisis and non-crisis situations.

MHFA for Fire/EMS focuses on the unique experiences and needs of firefighters and EMS personnel. Participants learn about the importance of early intervention and how, as first responders, they can intervene in the field and provide direct assistance to someone who is experiencing a mental health challenge or crisis.

The 5 Step Action Plan, ALGEE, includes:

Assess for risk of suicide or harm

Listen non-judgmentally

Give reassurance and information

Encourage appropriate professional help

Encourage self-help and other support strategies

From instructing recruits to company level training there are only so many hours allotted so every drill has to count. This class will discuss how to build drill cycles so that the participants get the most out of each drill. We will break down a number of my favorite training drills and discuss how the building blocks of a “Crawl-Walk-Run” format is essential for success.

The focus of this class is to illustrate the importance of a commander’s expectation on emergency scenes. This class is a work in progress and has been updated every year to reflect my continuing education on the fireground. The main purpose of the intent is to provide a framework for Company Officers to act. Fire companies are the linchpins to a successful emergency scene operation. The importance of synchronized small unit tactics following the commander’s intent is critical to a successful mission on an emergency scene. Every emergency operation outcome is the result of many small unit outcomes. The key is for each small tactical unit (engine & truck companies) to perform in a predictable way. If one small unit fails to perform their task the whole operation could have a negative end result and change the strategy of the commander. The application of this information is to provide proven basics for fire officers to be successful during emergency operations through interactive discussions and video demonstration.

360° Leadership is a core class for Officer, aspiring Officer, and Member professional development. This course explores and explains the essentials of well-rounded organizational leadership and the obligations of all ranks and levels of membership. Accurate assessment of operational and administrative variables is an acquired skill that provides knowledge of which elements can be controlled or influenced. Participants in this interactive class will engage in scenario-based discussions and presentations to discover practical tools and techniques for building their leadership skills.

his class will teach First Responders how to use a meter properly and understand the readings
they see and the implications of such on an emergency response. It is estimated that 90% of first responders can
turn a meter on but have no idea what the readings mean when it alarms, nor the knowledge of the changing
situation as a meter begins to register readings putting them at significant risk.
This class will be a self-contained course which will include meters, reference materials, and chemicals. Attendees will learn why they need a meter, and how to use it!