Fire & EMS Instructor Training Tips
Providing quality Fire and EMS training starts with knowing how to engage students to maximize their learning experience. Here are some fire & EMS instructor training tips to keep in mind for your next session that will keep students engaged and help them learning what they need:
Stay current and updated
The people you’re training likely already feel like expert and so naturally feel reluctant to sit through and engage in another training session. And if you’re showing them the same slides and giving them the same information year after year, then their reluctance is arguably justified. Brush up your slides every session and included current events and updated resources so that trainees can benefit by having the most current and up-to-date training available.
Primers are not the enemy
Too often, trainers neglect to use primers thinking that they take too much effort to make an impact. In fact, primers set the base for the training program and can be a useful jumping off point for discussion and getting into more challenging topics. Assign “homework” about a month ahead of the training session. Something simple like watching a video, listening to a podcast, or doing a short reading will get trainees in the mindset of your training program and will allow you to begin training with immediate discussion. In addition, a primer sets the tone that your training is well organized and should be taken seriously.
Set a high standard
Students will only take the material and training as seriously as you do. Set the standard high when it comes to your training sessions. Don’t allow breaks to stretch out longer than you want them to. Encourage discussion by waiting for students to answer the questions you ask instead of filling in the silence yourself. EMS and Fire safety training is essential to keeping your students safe as well as the people they serve, and setting the right tone during training will go a long way toward your students giving their training the amount of seriousness and care that it deserves.
Action Training Systems has a variety of online resources that are designed to maximize student engagement and keep instructors up to date when it comes to training and safety. Our courses can be applied for every level of training and can easily be done online. For more information on how Action Training Systems can benefit your training program, contact us today.
