Re: Race car burnt at Motor Mile Dragway
Ed, Just because they place you in a fire truck, does not make you a firefighter. Most tracks hire folks that only have an EMT certification. To have an EMT Cert., you must be affiliated with an emergency service ie fire dept, EMS, private amb service, and under the director for that state (normally a doctor). Track operators (most) don't realize that because you're an EMT, that does not mean you are a firefighter. And thus may have no experience with firefighting equitment and/or apparatus. That's why you can't blame a sixteen y/o kid that has got an EMT Certification....but does'nt know the front, from the back of the fire truck. In some jurisdictions FD and EMS are at different locations and different buildings, and are not cross trained. That's why it starts from the top, If the top does'nt have experience in a certian area of race operations (ie emergency operations/safety), he should hire someone to run that portion of the facility. As a program director, you must train subordinates and then monitor their development and/or abilities. Training modules/exercises will provide skills/knowledge and allow the instructor to identify any issues for a focused instruction. Again, several good articles can be found on my site under "racing safety" and "my blog" (click on older posts). When you have an emergency, you need the best and right now!
Wade Mahaffey
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