There is always a risk for a fire outbreak at some point, the reason why a comprehensive fire warden training critical, not just for firefighters, but even for the public. Statistics paint a very bad picture of fire incidences, especially in Australia. For the period between 2019 and 2020, fire consumed more than 18.6 million hectares, bringing down close to 6,000 homes and claimed the lives of 34 people. Fire preparedness is therefore essential, and no one should be caught flat-footed.
Any building, be it commercial or residential must have someone with some firefighting skills. The pieces of training they undergo prepares them to remain calm and focus on fighting the danger at hand while saving lives and property from being consumed in flames.
Taking a fire warden course also opens job opportunities for those interested in pursuing this as a career. The wardens understand what should be done for better fire safety, can run requisite drills for fire to prevent an outbreak.
A fire warden training, therefore, serves multiple reasons. Top on the list is their ability to prevent a fire outbreak in the first place. Unlike what most people assume, those wardens assigned to buildings do not just sit there waiting to fight the flames.
Their primary duty is to prevent a fire outbreak. Here are some of the reasons why these pieces of training are important.
Acquire Skills In Workplace Fire Safety.
Fire is dangerous. Whether it is in your kitchen or in a burning furnace. It is therefore important that every workplace adheres to the highest standards of workplace fire safety. Fire wardens are trained to promote this, ensuring that every employee or occupant of any building is aware of common fire hazards at the workplace.
Fire can be caused by a small trigger such as an electrical fault or just clutter. To ensures that common mistakes are not committed at the workplace, they instal warning signs in strategic locations, alerting everyone about electrical hazards or combustible materials in the building.
They also induct all staff on fire safety just to ensure that everyone has the requisite information to avoid a possible fire outbreak.
Clear Knowledge Of How To Use Fire Equipment In A Building.
Unless you have been trained, you will not understand the layout of any building and what to do in case there is a fire. As employees and other people panic and run around in confusion, a person who has undertaken rigorous training knows precisely what to do.
They are taught fire warden roles and responsibilities, and one critical duty is to know what to do under such circumstances.
They can direct people towards the emergency exits, communicate with other teams on the ground and make good use of fire equipment available in the building to avoid the spread of fire.
Furthermore, it is the warden’s duty to ensure that fire equipment such as extinguishers are in good working condition all the time. The faulty ones should be replaced in good time.
Running Regular Evacuation Simulations And Fire Drills.
Most employees do not pay much attention to fire drills, possibly because information may leak. As a result, some will ignore it whenever there is a drill. However, a person who has undertaken a comprehensive fire warden course will see to it that drills are as real as possible. Whenever there is an emergency, everyone is likely to be confused.
This should not be the case because the priority during this time should be to take everyone to safety. This cannot be achieved if there is no preparedness. Evacuation and simulation fire drills serve this purpose and have to be executed professionally at all times.
Fire risk management.
Every building is unique. There is no standard operating procedure when it comes to fire fighting and management. It is therefore important that the fire warden is well skilled to come up with programs that can help mitigate the risks of fires in buildings.
Fire hazards have to be recognised in good time and any potential dangers stopped before it is too late. Are there gas leaks? Where is flammable material stored? Are electric cables properly insulated? Are there “no smoking” signs in the risky areas? These are risk management skills that are taught during the course.
Leadership Amidst The Chaos
Remaining calm and composed during a fire is not easy, but with comprehensive online fire warden training, the wardens are taught how to achieve that. Even as you evacuate people from a burning building, how do you ensure that no one is left behind? Some people will want to dash back to the burning building possibly to pick their valuables.
With training, an expert is able to stop such actions that might put lives at risk. There are some people who might have mobility problems and need assistance. The warden is trained on how to manage such situations with ease.
Communication Skills.
Communicating under pressure can be difficult. You might say something that can worsen the situation. You must learn how to carefully choose your words and do the right thing. With everyone panicking, the warden should stand above the rest.
He or she should contact the nearest fire department and emergency response teams such as ambulances and share as much information as possible but accurately.
Must know the exact location and how best these services can make it to the site fast. Must have an idea about the exact source of the fire and advise the team on the best approach to combat it.
How To Enrol For A Fire Training Course.
There are several fire courses that one can undertake to either broaden their fire fighting skills or even become a professional fire warden. The most important thing before you even enrol for an online fire warden training is to understand the purpose. Some people do it for fun, but you must be driven by something deeper. This is a very demanding role that demands that you work under pressure.
Luckily, there are no pre-qualifications for training as a fire warden. Anyone can enrol and learn about the fire warden roles and responsibilities.
The most important thing is to identify a qualified and competent trainer. Many institutions are offering this training, whether offline or virtually, but it is your duty as a person to figure out what makes a good course.
Top on the list should be the competencies of the trainers. A good trainer will not teach theories only. Basic understandings of fires can be read from books. However, that first-hand experience fighting fires creates room for applying real-life experiences in a class setting.
This learning sticks in the minds of the learners, ensuring that they are ready for what the training entails. Read reviews about the nature of the training before making the ultimate decision on what to choose.
Finally, fire wardens are encouraged to undertake refresher courses periodically. Employers should encourage their employees to take fire safety training seriously, and even sponsor the training annually and be part of the induction process of new employees.
You never know when a fire emergency will strike, but when it does, you must be well prepared. Most courses do not take long and therefore duration should not be an excuse.
