Firehouse Expo – Baltimore, MD July 24, 2010

1. How to Excel at Promotional Exams: The Emergency Simulation Firehouse Expo – Baltimore, MD July 24, 2010 Steve Prziborowski – Battalion Chief Santa Clara County Fire Department

2. Objectives: • Identify the top 25 pitfalls of poor performers during simulations • Identify what to expect in an emergency simulation • Determine the typical dimensions being evaluated during the emergency simulation • Develop a plan to best prepare for your next simulation

3. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: • Did not prepare for the position • Focused too much on being a “check-the-box” IC • Lack of building construction knowledge • Lack of fire behavior knowledge • Lack of strategy & tactics knowledge

4. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: • Inability to appropriately use ICS • Lack of time management skills • Lack of organizational skills • Lack of planning skills • Inadequate communication skills • Lack of command presence • Inability to make a decision

5. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: • Lack of understanding of “how to run an incident” • Lack of knowledge of SOP/SOGs, policies, standard/accepted practices, etc. • Lack of preparation • Inability to think “long-term” and/or “big picture”

6. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: 17. Inadequate or inappropriate requesting of resources and/or personnel 18. Inability to prioritize assignments 19. Inability to anticipate and then handle “issues” they may be faced with: - Firefighter down, trapped, missing - Multiple patients - In your face bystanders - General problems that may arise

7. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: 20. They let nervousness get the best of them……and it shows! 21. Inability to defend actions or non-actions • Inability to be flexible • Unsafe / unorthodox practices • Demonstrating a “first-due without a clue” mentality

8. Top 25 Pitfalls Of Poor Performers: 25. Inability to demonstrate to the raters that they can hit the ground running – and not just be a safe beginner!

9. What Should I Expect During The Emergency Simulation Of The Assessment Center?

10. Basic Items To Expect On An Emergency Simulation: • 30 to 60 minutes • One or more events • You may be the first arriving unit • You may be a later arriving unit • Two to four evaluators • One proctor from own department • Will be stressful

11. Basic Items To Expect On An Emergency Simulation: • Paperwork (before, during, after) • ICS Form 201 • Tactical worksheets • Easel / conference pads • Questions (before, during, after) • Dynamic or static simulation

12. Basic Items To Expect On An Emergency Simulation: • Immediate-need challenges: • Firefighter down, missing, trapped, etc. • Patients (multiple) • Media folks in your face • City folks in your face • Department folks in your face • Exposure problems

13. Dimensions You Will Be Graded On During The Simulation: (See p. 3 of the handout for a sample scoring sheet) • Command presence (See p. 10 of the handout for command presence tips) • Leadership ability • Oral communications • Problem analysis • Decision making • Organization • Planning • Stress tolerance

14. Dimensions You Will Be Graded On During The Simulation: • Strategy/Tactics • Flexibility • Risk management/situational awareness • Interpersonal skills • ICS • Safety/safe practices • Knowledge of: • Department SOPs, SOGs, Policies • Local, state, federal laws and regulations

15. How To Best Prepare For The Simulation

16. How To Best Prepare – In Advance: • Prepare for the position – not the test • Talk to others who have taken the test, evaluated the test, or have created the tests in the past • Think and act like the position you are testing for, every day

17. How To Best Prepare – In Advance: 4. Prepare for ANY type of event: • Fires (residential, commercial, multiple story, multiple occupancy, wildland, structure, etc.) • Haz Mat incidents • EMS incidents (multiple patients – may or may not also include a fire or haz mat event) • Anything that may be location specific or unique to your department or area

18. How To Best Prepare – In Advance: • Create templates for: • Radio reports (See p. 11 of the handout for radio report tips) • Managing the incident from before it happens to after it is under control (See p. 13 of the handout for tips on A to Z) • Size-up • Crew / Personnel assignments • Managing the immediate need situations • Transfer of command

19. How To Best Prepare – Game Day: • Be the position you are testing for • Read the instructions carefully • Demonstrate confidence to all, remember you’re being watched • Take a second to evaluate what you see before talking • Relax, this is what you’ve prepared for!

20. Pulling Up To Any Of The Following Incidents Should Not Be Stressful

26. Regardless of Which Incident You Pull Up To: • Having a standardized plan or template to handle any situation will help…. • Put you (and your personnel) at ease • Instill confidence in your abilities to successfully manage an incident • You organize what could be a chaotic situation

27. Four Phases Of An Incident: • Pre-Incident • Enroute to arrival • Arrival to under control • Under control to post incident

28. #1: Pre-Incident: • Pre-planning • Area familiarization • Training • Personnel expectations • Personnel, apparatus & equipment readiness

29. #2: Enroute to Incident • Map pages / pre-plans • Hydrants / FDC locations • PPE • Crew direction • Size-up • WALLACE WAS HOT (see next slide)

30. Water Supply Area Life Safety Location / Extent of Fire Apparatus responding Construction / Collapse Potential Exposures Weather Auxiliary Appliances Special Matters Height Occupancy Time of Day #2: Enroute to Incident

31. Size-up / 360 lap Radio report (initial) Command Mode Strategic Mode Incident Priorities Strategic / Incident Objectives Incident Action Plan Radio report (follow-up) Strategic Priorities Rescue Exposures Confinement Extinguishment Overhaul Ventilation Salvage #3: Arrival to Under Control

32. #3: Arrival to Under Control • Apparatus Placement • Hoseline selection & placement • Sufficient units and personnel • Notifications • Logistical support for personnel • Incident benchmarks • Transfer of command briefing

33. #4: Under Control to Post Incident • Overhaul plan with company officers and investigator • Determine cause and origin • Demobilization plan • Responder/Occupant wellness • Notifications • Transfer of command briefing

34. #4: Under Control to Post Incident • Tailboard session • Reports / Paperwork / Email blurb • PIA / Lessons learned

35. Sample Simulations

48. Remember….Every Day Is An Assessment Center!Kendall Pearson

49. Any questions?????- Thank you very much!- Good luck on your next promotional exam! Contact Information: • Steve Prziborowski • (408) 205-9006 (cellular phone) • sprziborowski@aol.com (email) • www.code3firetraining.com (website) • www.chabotfire.com (website)