Volunteer departments can apply for one of 50 training packages
Action Training Systems (ATS) has teamed up with the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) to provide 50 online training packages to all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer departments, for a total of nearly $250,000 worth of training. Through the ATS/NVFC $250K Training Giveaway, eligible departments can apply for a training package that provides 20 department members with free access to Firefighter I and Firefighter II online training for one year.
“Proper training is critical to firefighters and EMS personnel,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “Unfortunately, many volunteer departments struggle to find the funding to provide their members with the training they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. We commend Action Training Systems for recognizing this need and providing 50 departments with essential training for their firefighters.”
The training giveaway coincides with the 2014 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week. The theme of this year’s event is “Train Like You Fight,” which emphasizes safety on the training ground and the importance of receiving adequate training to prepare for safe fireground operations. The fifty winning departments in the ATS/NVFC $250K Training Giveaway will be announced during Safety and Health Week June 15-21.
“At Action Training Systems, we make it a priority to offer fire and EMS organizations with the highest quality training resources,” said George Avila, President/CEO of ATS. “We understand that sufficient funding is not always available to departments to get the training they need. This giveaway program will enable more departments to provide critical training to their volunteers and enhance the safety of their firefighters.”
Each of the 50 winning departments will receive a one-year subscription for 20 learners and one administrator to the Essentials of Firefighting curriculum via the ATS Online Learning Management System. This series contains 33 interactive courses, streaming video, and PowerPoints to teach Firefighter I and II skills and prerequisite knowledge. Essentials of Firefighting teaches to the current NFPA 1001 standards and can be used as a training resource to simplify technical knowledge and reinforce training objectives. The department administrator can track the progress of up to 20 students through the program.
To be eligible to apply for the training giveaway, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be from an all-volunteer or mostly-volunteer (over 50%) fire department
- Be from a fire department that serves a population of 25,000 or less
- Be from a department legally organized within one of the 50 U.S. states