Train Like It’s Real

Training that mirrors reality creates muscle memory for performing the same skills

For as long as I can remember, my department’s idea of extrication training has been this: A car is delivered to the fire station. We have fun cutting off the roof, taking off the doors and rolling the dash so the car looks like an orange slice folded inside out. We feel pretty good about the training, doing everything right—like cribbing the car, for starters. But following an actual call for a heavily entrapped patient in a bad crash, we always end up back at the station where we second-guess ourselves and wonder why our training didn’t prepare us to do the job more efficiently.

The reason: We didn’t train for the mission. It goes back to the most basic principles of training: Train like it’s real. Consider how professional athletes train. Have you ever seen NASCAR drivers training on golf carts or NFL athletes playing flag football? No, of course not. They establish muscle memory by training in ways that mimic the real-world scenarios they will face.

So how do we formulate this plan? Well, professional athletes use coaches and trainers. For you, that means finding someone with experience in this particular area who can provide you a sample training scenario and then offer a critique.

Each person must train on what they are responsible for. The most knowledgeable person shouldn’t have a tool in their hand; they should direct the operation.

Find a local junkyard or recycling center; these are great places to train. Build a relationship with the owner or manager first. Explain that they are a pivotal component of your training. Training at their facility is great for us, but usually bad for business, so be conscious to stay out of the way.

The coach or trainer should sequester the crews so they can’t see the scenario ahead of time. You must have a mannequin or someone to act as the victim. If you use a mannequin, place it in the car first and then set up the scenario. If you use an actual person acting as a victim, crush the car, but not so much that they can’t crawl into it wearing full PPE. You’ll find that if you use a live person rather than a mannequin, the car does not need to be crushed as much. They can make themselves entrapped within the car.

Use basic scenarios at first to build the foundation for more complex scenarios. The incident commander needs as much training as the crews. Training will give them a framework to use on a real scene. The officer will be able to evaluate their crew’s strengths and weaknesses during the training exercise. This is paramount on the emergency scene.

For the scenario to have the biggest impact, it should start with the arrival of the apparatus and the size-up. Hooking up the equipment is just as important as any other part of the operation. Every part of the scenario must be practiced to establish the muscle memory necessary for successful operations when it counts.

Training like this has many benefits for all crewmembers. The officer can practice anticipating unforeseen issues. The driver and firefighter(s) can hone the skills that are their responsibilities. The medics can practice assessing the entrapment of the patients and reporting back to the officer.

Finally, training in this type of environment can only improve your knowledge of the tools you’ll use at the scene.

Remember to always have some fire protection available whenever you are training on a vehicle with extrication equipment. Finally, don’t forget: Work smarter, not harder.

Brad Havrilla is a 20-year veteran with Palm Beach County (Fla.) Fire Rescue, where he is currently assigned to the training division. Havrilla is an international extrication judge and the past vice-chairman of the IAFC Transportation Emergency Rescue Committee. He was the recipient of the Harvey Grant Excellence in Rescue Award in 2004.