Training Division

Location: 3605 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, SC
Phone: (843) 545-3508
Fax: (843) 545-3205
Email: Training Division
Hours: 8:30a.m. – 5:00pm Monday – Friday (except for legal holidays)
Mailing Address: 3605 Highmarket Street, Georgetown, SC 29440
Point of Contact: Terry G. Skidmore, Jr., Training Coordinator

Department Functions:

The functions of the Training Division are to coordinate training for Georgetown County Emergency Services which include County Fire/EMS, Midway Fire Rescue & Emergency Management.

The Training Division must insure that all above named departments are compliant in training with all Federal, State, and local requirements.

The Training Division strives to keep all Emergency Service employees abreast of the latest technology, techniques, and trends.

Department News:

What a dark day in South Carolina. I would like to first say please keep all of the City of Charleston Fire Department Firefighters and their families in your prayers and thoughts. This is a true tragedy that will be on our hearts and minds for years to come. These nine firefighters gave their lives doing what they were trained to do. Life Safety is one of our first objectives when arriving on the scene of an emergency. We train for hours on top of hours. No training can prepare us for this type of tragedy.

Training is the number one goal in our job as Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians. In today‘s society it seems that there is always a new technique on how we do our jobs. Technology has carried the Fire Service to a new level beyond the breaking point of years ago. Turnout gear will withstand higher temperatures; it has padded knees so we do not feel the heat of the floor, our coats are made of fabric that is flexible and offers all of the comfort you could ask for. Our gloves withstand the heat of the fire so our hands can not tell us it is getting to hot. Our self contained breathing apparatus carry more air and are the best that technology can offer; so we can stay in the hazardous atmosphere longer, the flash hood we wear are better they provide the maximal protection for our ears and neck, the tops of your ears can no longer tell you that you are getting to hot. Our radio equipment is the top of technology; we have great hand tools that help us complete our task faster. We have pretty red trucks with bright flashing lights and loud sirens. With all this technology why are we still losing firefighters to the beast that we all fight?

Let’s go back to the beginning to remember when you first walked into the Fire House for the very first time. Some of us will remember that we were very young at the time; others may remember that they were a little older looking for a job. No matter what age you were at the time you had a calling. Something had called you to the profession of being a firefighter/emergency medical technician.

When we take a position of a firefighter, emergency medical technician, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, assistant chief or chief we make a commitment not only to our employer or the community we vow to serve and protect: we join a brotherhood of many years of tradition. We promise to walk side by side of the men and woman of the brotherhood. Along with this commitment we promise to keep our skills sharp by you training, by teaching rookies, leading and supporting our fellow firefighter/emergency medical technicians.

Training is the most important part of our jobs. It is more than taking a class receiving a certificate placing it in a notebook moving on to the next class. We must use the information to help others. A lot of time we get focused on the advanced skills of the job and we forget the basics. Basics are the core of the job the best paramedic in the world can not save a cardiac arrest patient with all of the drugs in their jump bag if they fail to give chest compressions to move the drug though the system. The best fire crew in the world cannot extinguish a room and contents fire in a small residential home if they do not perform the basic skills of firefighting.

We must train on the basics of the job. It seems repetitive doing the basics over and over, time and time again but as we look back the basics are our saver when the heat is on and a split second could be the difference between life and death. Please be safe wear your personnel protective equipment, commit to training, and support your fellow firefighters/emergency medical technicians. Keep the brother/sisterhood of tradition alive.

Now on a positive note by now everyone should know we have received a Grant from Target Safety and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. This is free training, all online at your fingertips. This training covers a lot of topics from back injuries to basic house keeping. Please take the time to look it over and complete a couple of classes when you have a couple of free minutes. The medical classes will count for CEU’s for national registry. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me in my office. 843-545-3508 Keep your eyes on the bulletin boards in your stations for up coming training classes.

Links:

Daily Training Record Form
Training Request Form
Midway Fire Rescue EMS Training Record Form
Midway Fire Rescue Fire Training Record Form
Midway Fire Rescue Rescheduling / Review Form
Midway Fire Rescue Training Request Form

South Carolina Fire Academy - Course Registration Form

Firehouse
National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Domestic Preparedness Campus
South Carolina on Fire
FEMA
Center for Domestic Preparedness
U.S. Fire Administration
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