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Fire Service Cultural Competency Certificate Program – Washington, D.C.

October 2 @ 8:00 am October 5 @ 5:00 pm America/New York

SPECIAL NOTE: FSPA and the DC Fire & EMS Department are conducting this training program in conjunction with FSPA’s 7th Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. Attendance at the conference is not a prerequisite for enrolling in this training program for psychologists and masters-level mental health clinicians.

Use this coupon code FIRECERT202475 for the Culturally Competent Clinician program to receive a 75% discount on the registration fee (You pay $425) Use this code when you reach the payment portion of the Registration Page.

This code is good for the first 10 registrations. After that, the discount becomes 50% (You pay $775).

Schedule

Day #1 is October 2nd, the day before the conference starts.
Day #2 is October 5th, following the conference conclusion on October 4th.

DAY 1, October 2nd: Fire Operations 101

Location: DC Fire and EMS Training Facility
Time: 0800-1600 hrs. EDT

FireOps 101 class is designed to simulate some of the emergency operations Firefighters and EMS personnel face daily. The primary learning objective is for participants to experience the real-life dangers of firefighting and EMS work in an immersive scenario-based format.  Before performing the scenarios, participants are fitted with firefighter turnout gear and learn how to don/doff SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus, learn how to use a halligan tool and axe to force entry through a door and practice chest compressions, and how to deliver hi-flow oxygen effectively. The morning practice will prepare participants for the immersive afternoon scenarios.  

  1. FIRE BEHAVIOR
    This scenario will offer a live fire experience! Participants will be able to feel the heat, see how firefighters work together as a crew, understand the stages of fire, and learn how to properly and safely extinguish the fire.
  2. SEARCH AND RESCUE
    Saving lives is the primary mission of firefighters and EMS personnel. Often, firefighters must perform search and rescue before the fire is extinguished, making this one of the most dangerous situations we face.  During the search, you will learn about the important tools and equipment we use that make a difference in the life and death of residents and firefighters.
  3. AERIAL LADDER OPERATIONS
    Fire scenes are very complex, and it is important for aerial trucks and fire engines to work together to help make the scene as safe as possible. Rescue, ventilation, forcible entry, overhaul, and aerial operations must be coordinated. You will have the opportunity to climb an aerial ladder, watch our crews operate on a roof, and understand the importance of proper ventilation in a fire building.
  4. CPR AND POSSIBLE OVERDOSE
    The prescription opioid and heroin overdose epidemic affects individuals nationwide, from big cities to rural communities. In this scenario, you will experience a routine overdose call that quickly turns into a cardiac arrest. Overdoses and cardiac arrest are among the most time-critical emergencies our members respond to daily.

Tentative Fire Ops Schedule for DC Fire & EMS – 

  • 0800-0845: Warm up, Stretching, and Light physical exercise  
  • 0900-0930:  Welcome from the Chief of Department, brief history of DCFEMS
  • 0930-1000  Turnout Gear fitting followed by donning and doffing practice.
  • 1000-1200  Rotations in teams( 4 per team) through manipulative stations:
    • SCBA
    • CPR skills
    • Forcible Entry
    • Climb aerial 
  • 1200-1300  Lunch-TBD
  • 1300-1500  Live fire rotations
    • Search & Rescue
    • Aerial Ladder Op
    • Fire Behavior
    • Mega code
  • 1500-1600  Group diffusing with BHU 

DAY 2, October 5th: Understanding Fire Service Culture

Location: DC Fire and EMS Training Facility
Time: 0800-1600 hrs. EDT

The Understanding Fire Service Culture course provides a broad overview of the fire service and its psychological components. After successful completion of this classroom session, the participant will earn one hour of continuing education per hour of training (sponsored by the American Psychological Association).

Learning Objectives:

  1. Identify cultural components of the fire service, including performance standards, jargon, shift work, and barriers to treatment.
  2. Describe the complexities of firefighting and emergency service, including trauma exposures.
  3. Identify unique challenges to interpersonal relationships.
  4. Explain organizational demands inherent in the firefighting profession based on the paramilitary organization.
  5. Explain current trends in peer support and psychological services offered to fire departments and barriers to treatment.

Special Features or Requirements

The program is open to all psychologist and masters-level mental health clinicians!

Before the start of the program, participants will be required to sign an acknowledgment of the dress code, any relevant policies, and liability forms. 

Dress code policies:

Please wear simple and comfortable work-out clothes (leggings or sweats).

Registration Notes

  • The registration for this program is limited. If we receive your application after registration is full, we will offer priority access in the next open training program.
  • There are registration exceptions for departments who have limited participation to local clinicians. In the event your preferred class dates or location are within this designation, you will receive priority registration access for the next offering without the resident requirement.
  • We value inclusion and access for all participants and are pleased to provide reasonable accommodations for the classroom training. Please email info@firepsychology.org to make a reasonable accommodation request. Requests must be submitted by 9/05/2024.

After You Get Home

After completing the two day with DC Fire & EMS, participants receive a copy of FSPA’s CLINICIAN FIRE DEPARTMENT ORIENTATION PROGRAM that includes a Task Book to be completed by the Clinician and signed by a Fire Officer as each task is completed during their forty hours of ride-alongs (shadowing firefighters and paramedics as they go about their daily activity). The forty hours of documented ride-alongs must be completed within three months of completing the two-day in-person session.

During their ride-along period, program participants will complete three consultation hours with a FSPA member psychologist (virtual via Zoom).

Once FSPA receives a participant’s completed Task Book, a FSPA member psychologist will provide two case examples, and the participant will demonstrate proficiency of cultural competency (reviewed by a Fire Service Psychologist to ensure the participant meets the standard.) This will be in a test format.

The Finish Line!

Once all the above requirements have been successfully met, the clinician will receive a Basic Fire Service Psychology Cultural Competency Certificate!