This course reviews best practices for creating a robust training program in a volunteer fire department. You will learn how to ensure your training program produces positive outcomes, accomplishes training goals, and prepares members to run safe and effective operations.

This class will concentrate on operational fundamentals such as proper hose stretching techniques, efficiently laying out your attack line, developing a proper pre-entry checklist, and reading the building. Attendees will also train on standpipe operations, loss of water, rope stretches, flow path hazards, moving the big line effectively and multiple room fire attack. Join us for an extremely informative, skill sharpening session.

This class will teach the basics of FF Survival. In this 4-hour Hands-on class, participants will learn, discuss, and practice various RIT Drills to effectively locate, package, and remove a down firefighter to safety. Through the use of various techniques including Ladder work and window bailouts the instructors will provide a wide array of both self-rescue as well as RIT team rescue operations. This class REQUIRES PPE and Signed Waiver Forms. 

This course will dive into firefighter cancer statistics and causes and will bring achievable, practical applications to the attendee, that will go a long way in the reduction of those statistics.

This class will be taught by various OSFM staff. The Office of the State Fire Marshal performs primary origin and cause investigations in 16 of the 23 Counties.

As individuals, we carry the weight of everyday stresses around each day: work, family, financial status, having more time to enjoy life. Couple that with the mental stresses of emergency response: witness to life and property loss, sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and we are equal to a ticking time bomb. Come learn how to identify the signs of stress and how to combat stress in order to maintain mental wellness.

Engine Operator Hydraulics 101 will cover the fundamental basics of fire ground hydraulics and help attendees understand the importance of them.

This workshop will help fire service personnel learn how to better relate to hard-to-reach populations to increase empathy, deliver effective education, build community collaborations, and positively affect change within their community to reduce life safety risks. Attendees will gain an understanding of why barriers exist and how to reach these vulnerable populations to create a culture of safety. This keynote will not only inspire attendees to embrace change but will also offer the steps to create personal and organizational change.

The CIREN process combines prospective data collection with professional multidisciplinary analysis of medical and engineering evidence to determine injury causation in every crash investigation conducted.

This presentation will discuss the challenges that remote communities pose and how to overcome them.

According to 2017 Natation Fire Protection Association statistics, fires in one- and two-family homes accounted for 53 percent of all structure fires. Often, these fires occur in dwellings that contain occupiable half-stories constructed with knee walls, which present tremendous challenges to responding firefighters and have resulted in numerous Maydays. Building construction containing knee walls can be found in most every community from urban to rural, in older legacy homes, as well as in modern pre-manufactured truss homes. Knee walls can conceal tremendous amounts of combustible gases that are waiting for the proper mixture to ignite. Members can easily be on the fire floor with no smoke and little to no heat conditions. As soon as members open up the knee walls, extreme fire conditions can erupt with little to no warning. Students will learn the severe hazards that knee walls present, how to recognize them early, and how to safely mitigate incidents involving the

Intoxicated Leadership takes the distinctive approach of helping students understand the role our emotions play in either aiding or undermining leadership efforts both in emergencies and back at the station.

The presentation will cover the importance of wearing a bike helmet correctly on every ride. Head injuries are the leading cause of injury and death to bicycles, and helmets are a proven safety measure.

Fire and EMS personnel sometimes transport children in vehicles other than ambulances. What are the essential things to know and do to keep children safe? What new restraints, features on car seats, or products are available, and what makes them helpful for certain situations? This workshop will combine Power Point lecture, video, and hands-on activities with car seats, training dolls, and a vehicle seat simulator. Resources on CPS will be shared with attendees. If you have not read a car seat manual or seen a training video in the last couple years then your information and skills in child passenger safety may be out of date, and this workshop is for you! THIS CLASS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS BY MIEMSS.

Presented by: OC FOOLS OC FOOLS with instruction by Keith Niemann, Captain; Wichita FD To be held at Ocean City Commercial Harbor This class will go through Apparatus and Design Features, equipment and flows, pumping operations to include getting the most out of hydrants and drafting, hose bed layout and setup for maximum versatility, and […]

Habits involve repeating a behavior and getting rewarded for it, so that it is repeated over and over, without conscious thought.

The good the bad and the ugly of the fire service. Interactive discussion into all subjects of the fire service from nozzles to mental health and the stigmas attached to them. No subject will be left out there is nothing we won't discuss. So, bring your opinions and ideas. This class is an open forum for general fire service discussions, history of the fire department, deep traditions of the fire service.

This class will teach the basics of FF Survival. In this 4-hour Hands-on class, participants will learn, discuss, and practice various RIT Drills to effectively locate, package, and remove a down firefighter to safety. Through the use of various techniques including Ladder work and window bailouts the instructors will provide a wide array of both self-rescue as well as RIT team rescue operations. This class REQUIRES PPE and Signed Waiver Forms. 

Identity Theft is the fastest growing crime in the world. It now accounts to losses of several millions dollars to the citizens of the United States, annually. Identity Theft is when someone "pretends to be someone else" by assuming the person's identity, typically in order to access resources or obtain credit and other benefits in that person's name and typically occurs when someone uses another's personally identifying information, like their name, social security number, or credit card number, without their permission, to commit fraud or other related crimes. . This class will discuss what it is, how it can happen to each of us, new prevention techniques, and actions to take after your identity has been stolen from you! The class will address both personal and commercial loss.

By combining a new way of approaching recruitment and retention with educational programs that are readily available to all, the volunteer fire service can take advantage of fire service training courses, free online college courses, and grant-funded College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams to offer benefits to its members that rival the Montgomery GI Bill.

It is estimated that > 90% of drownings are preventable. When water is aspirated into the airways, a cascade pf physiological events occur effecting ventilation and perfusion with long term effects and death. THIS CLASS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS BY MIEMSS.

Times have changed and with that so have the fire service. The way we learn, the way we teach and the way we fight fires have all been affected. From the senior man to the rookie, we will look at the influences, history, generations and current events that affect the way we do business.

We plan on setting up several stations for the students to work through with heavy extrication. This will include car underride of a trailer. A dump truck or another large truck overturned on a vehicle and discuss chains, slings, hydrofusion struts, and various stabilization options. An additional station to show how to lift a heavy truck, showing the differences in weight ratings between standard vehicles to see how important the effects have on your equipment for these challenging incidents. The last scenario will challenge the students from the information they learned that day to include lifting a heavy truck, winching operations, stabilizing a heavy object such as concrete etc. One station will include a guardrail intrusion scenario through a car pinning a pt. requiring extrication.

This session covers what human trafficking is, what it looks like, what we as EMS providers should look for, and what we should do if we think someone is being trafficked. This class will provide 2 hours of medical continuing education.

This course will have the students rotate between three stations. The stations will give the students different challenging evolutions to test their thinking.

In this program, students will learn how to navigate through CANVAS to find and use common course materials.   They will also: create/send/receive email via canvas, create/administer a classroom assignment, create a group assignment, create/administer a quiz, utilize speed grader, utilize quiz statistics, create a zoom meeting in canvas,  upload/download files, create a discussion board. This is an in-person class.   All students must bring a laptop or tablet. REGISTRANTS MUST REGISTER ON THE MFRI WEBSITE FOR THESE PDI'S

The purpose of this class is to provide and demonstrate practical drills that members of an engine company can perform to be proficient at one of the most important jobs on the fire scene: Extinguish the Fire! To practice and perform engine company work regularly using fire ground proven methods. To learn the duties of an engine company correctly and efficiently- "Take Time to Make Time"

In this session, we will discuss the difference between risk assessment and managing risk. We will also cover the methods and benefits of critical decision-making on the fire ground and the problems associated with delayed or poor choices.

Today’s volunteer emergency services leaders are challenged with meeting the financial demands of sustaining current operations and funding the high costs of equipment and apparatus replacement.

The seminar will present the results of a FEMA-funded study conducted by the Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) and the Department of Fire Protection Engineering at the University of Maryland (UMD).

This lecture will discuss ladder operations for minimum manning departments. How to successfully use your manpower wisely. We have all been in the situation of needing to throw ladders and perform multiple operations when we do not have the proper staffing. This class will teach you several ways and techniques to assist you with performing job functions with limited personnel. We will also discuss: Two ladder Operations, Courtyard carry, assortment of tools you might need to take with you. How you can use multiple ladders for window rescues and vertical ventilation. Finally, what ladders do you carry on your apparatus and how will they best be utilized?

Over the last several years, there has been a push to discontinue the practice of interior fire attack or operating in the “offensive” mode on the fire ground.

This presentation is created to provide and understanding of the line of duty death definitions and criteria from four national fire service organizations.

This session reintroduces the participant to risk control with emphasis on identifying, managing, and controlling risk as well as potential risk pitfalls in ESOs.

"The fire service is not the same as it was 25 years ago. Tailboard riding is out, bunker gear is in and YES, fires are burning hotter than ever before. Our aggressive nature is good but we must be educated in today’s pitfalls to attain positive results. This program is designed to discuss these issues and how today's fire officer and senior firefighter can mold a company / department of “Street-Smart Firefighters”. Emphasis will be on the role of the company officer.

The presentation will take a look at the importance of our two families. The one at home and the one at the station and how to make sure we never lose it and what we can do to bring it back. Discussion will include lessons learned along with sharing ideas to help build strong families.

This program will present tactical risks and key considerations for the first due company, company officer, and commander affecting and influencing operational risk management, command and tactical safety, and tactical protocols based upon occupancy risks, reading the building and adaptive management principles.

Application of the precepts of resiliency for the firefighter and development of "code" as a reminder for self-care.

Necrotizing Fasciitis is a rare life-threatening bacterial infection characterized by a rapidly spreading inflammation resulting in necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue and superficial fascia. THIS CLASS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS BY MIEMSS.

Quality leadership is essential for the fire and emergency services to accomplish the mission and improve your department. This course examines leadership styles, qualities, ethics, and best practices to help your department function at a high level and avoid fire and emergency services leadership pitfalls. New retention research will also be discussed to help leaders understand retention concerns and identify solutions.

Presented by: OC FOOLS with instruction by Tai Rondeau, FF/PM, Milwaukee Fire Dept Room 205  

A complete shift in attitude was the catalyst to personal and professional success but more importantly allowed me the privilege to help others succeed as well. We have created 12 simple rules to succeed at home and in the firehouse.

Aggressive basic techniques for ladders operations. Course will cover ladder operations for those either assigned or not to a truck company and will show multiple ways to perform raises, operations, and tactics for correct placement of ladders. The course is designed to show successful ladder operations even with minimum staffing. To be held at OCFD 15th Street, Ocean City.

This is a highly specialized skill set and caring for victims/patients entrapped in machinery requires providers to be trained in specific treatment modalities and the possible complications that may arise. Tool selection, patient stabilization techniques, and crush injury syndrome will be discussed as well as several actual case studies.

This session will discuss environmental emergencies, including heat and cold, as well as what insects and other wildlife we should be aware of. This class will provide 2 hours of trauma continuing education

*REGISTRANTS MUST REGISTER ON THE MFRI WEBSITE FOR THESE PDI'S. This class is for EMT Instructors.  It will consist of 3 areas. Preparing students for practical exams, new equipment will be introduced, and a n orientation to all of the resources available for instructors and students including books, workbooks, active learning exercises and canvas resources that are available. 

Presented by: Chaplain Richard “Chappy” Bower Room 201 In this training block, Fire Chiefs, Officers and Presidents will be able to explain why a Chaplain is a “Force Multiplier” to the Fire/EMS companies by: • Stating the increased difficulties of fire Officers due to new building techniques and materials • Explaining the increased responsibilities upon […]

The NVFC published the textbook Volunteer Fire Service Culture – Essential Strategies for Success as a guide to fire service leaders who desire to change their department’s culture and attitude towards personal health and safety. This training delves into key points from the guide to reinforce the need for change and provide a roadmap for implementation of change to improve the health and safety of volunteer fire and EMS responders.

If you aspire to be the next generation of leader to reach the summit, it is critical to have key leadership skills to engage and motivate your teams to higher performance.

How the fire service needs to be knowledgeable, engaged, prepared (informed/educated) in today’s political arena.

Pediatric Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (POHCA) occur in Maryland almost daily and the survival rate is low. Survival is directly impacted by the response of everyone in the Chain of Survival. THIS CLASS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS BY MIEMSS.

Instructor will focus on the in-station preventative maintenance, expectations of pump operators, station duties,
driving responsibilities and expectations of the apparatus operators from others responding to scene. This class
will focus on the day to day operations of a pump operator and what information they need to know in order to
operate successfully at a fireground or emergency incident that they would be responding too. This class is not
designed to be a pumps training class but rather all the operations that a driver/operator is expected to complete
in a normal shift.

This program would focus on what the apparatus committee should expect in preparing for the preconstruction conference, change order approval process, review and sign off on production materials.

The “Know Your Gear- Overview” program reviews how and why firefighters need to maintain PPE and select the proper PPE. Continually, the program reviews the fire departments' required risk assessment and standard operating guidelines for the maintenance and selection of PPE.

If you haven't had personal experience with Mental Health Issues, what are you looking for and how do you refer persons that present with undiagnosed mental health issues

Many of us have experience teaching at the company level but when it comes time to teach new recruits, or take over a recruit training program the responsibilities are quite a bit different. This Lecture goes over how to organize the recruit training program, teaching methodology to get the most out of the new people, and a ton of drills and exercises to make sure they get to where you need them skills wise.

Presenting insights on building construction for today’s fire service, the primary objective of this program is to increase awareness and understandings and promote new skillsets in the fundamentals of building construction, architecture, engineering and design, that directly impact firefighting and command operations at structure fires

Utilizing facilitated conversation and a series of interactive exercises, this presentation outlines the three major phases of the “Volunteer Life Cycle”: Recruitment, Onboarding and Retention to offer a framework for sizing up the health and wellness of your organization’s culture and processes.

This class will teach First Responders how to use a meter properly and understand the readings they see and the implications of such on emergency response.

Being educated in trauma-informed care strategies has numerous benefits. Knowledge in this area helps us with our day-to-day interactions with our loved ones, friends, and even strangers.

Fire/EMS companies pay for insurance just in case something happens. When “just in case” shows up at your station, are you really covered?

Presented by: Dr. Gamaliel Baer, EdD, MSM, CTO; First Responder Center for Excellence Room 215 First responders are faced with a myriad of stressors that go beyond what the general population may experience. The effects of first responder stress events can factor into behavioral health issues, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse and depression. […]

Sudden unexpected infant death (SUID) is a term used to describe the sudden and unexpected death of a baby less than 1-year old in which the cause was not obvious before investigation. THIS CLASS HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS BY MIEMSS.