The new name of the Working Group, proposed to EFSCA Board to be modified, in Portugal 2018 – Education and Training for Fire Services / ETFS
Our working group goal is to achieve common and consistent fire-fighters Education and Training standards all around Europe. We acknowledged many differences between EFSCA-member-nations in the education of professional and voluntary firefighters. We came to the decision to collect data from the EFSCA members to aim to make firefighters education and training in Europe comparable and to allow all firefighters to work in other European countries without any problems of competencies achieved by education and training, wherever they are coming in the European area.
The specific character of volunteers as professionals and the different way’s they are organised in several countries all over Europe, leads to specific needs for their selection, education, training etc. This working group is about the exchange and development of knowledge about certification, training, teaching and educational methods and technics, specially for voluntary Firefighters and first responders in Europe. This can o.a be done by research, exchange of experts, exchange of curricula, exchange experiences etc
The working group Innovation, Research &Development has two objectives. 1. To (promote) international exchnage of knowledge for the fire service 2. To (promote) interantional collaboration in research for the fire service.Every year during the general assemblee of EFSCA we updat the common topics of interest. During the year, we organize exchanges of experts on the common topics. We share research results by adding English abstracts to our reports. We have the aim of organising a pan-european network for knowledge exchnage en collabroation for the fire service. We have a varying participation. At the moment Belarus, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia(secretary), Hungary, Latvia, Poland,Catalonia, Lviv (Ukrain), Cherkassy (Ukrain) and The Netherlands (chair) parricipate in this group.
Austrian firefighters testing simulation and virtual reality in Portugal
A group or firefighters from the Austrian Fire Brigade Association visited the Center for Simulation and Virtual Reality (CSVR) of the National Fire Service School in Sintra, Portugal, during the 8th and 9th October. The main goal was to know the technological capabilities of the CSVR and the pedagogical methodology used by the Portuguese trainers, in order to create a similar center in Austria.
The Austrian firefighters traveled to Sintra to gather information about how the Portuguese CSVR operates and also the training programs that are developed there. The Austrian Fire Brigade Association intends to create a similar training center in Austria using simulation and virtual reality, capable of performing exercises using XVR software.
As result of this approach, the National Fire Service School and the Austrian Fire Brigade Association will maintain a regular contact to support the implementation and development of the future training center in Austria and, at the same time, allow the exchange of technical professionals from both institutions, contributing in this way to increase knowledge and practices in different technical areas.
Photo subtitle: The Austrian delegation with the Portuguese trainer, Pedro Cunha
Firefighters from Berlin go for training at ENB in Portugal
The National Fire Service School, located in Sintra, Portugal, hosted a fire officer's team from the Berlin Fire and Rescue Academy (BFRA) to participate on a training program at the Center for Simulation and Virtual Reality (CSVR), between 25th and 28th September. This initiative took place under the "Exchange of Knowledge - European Exchange Program for staff member of city administration bodies".
Eight elements of the Berliner Feuerwehr, name by which the Berlin fire company is known, have learned how to use virtual reality systems in the context of firefighter training. The training sessions held at the CSVR in Sintra allowed them to learn how to organize the typology of exercises and to know the pedagogical methodology used by the National Fire Service School.
On Thursday, October 27th, the members of the Board from the National Fire Service School welcomed the German team. The President of the Board, Mr. José Ferreira, together with the other members of the Board, Mrs. Susana Silva and Mr. Vitor Reis expressed their satisfaction for the exchange carried out over four days and offered the National Fire Service School medal to the German team. The Berlin Fire Brigade offered to the National Fire Service School a protective helmet often used in Germany in rescue operations.
German commander Peter Wagner said this stay in Sintra was a "very good experience" that allowed firefighters "to find highly qualified trainers who showed us the new simulation technologies in order to improve our training and leadership in the brigades." The official was very grateful to the National Fire Service School and expressed his will to continue the cooperation program with the Portuguese firefighters.
Following this European exchange program, in early 2019, a team of Portuguese trainers from the National Fire Service School, with a similar number of elements, will be welcomed by the Berlin Fire and Rescue Academy at the German capital. In order to continue this exchange of knowledge and experience, improving and refining techniques in rescue operations, particularly in hazardous materials.
Photo subtitle: President of the National Fire Service School, Mr. José Ferreira, delivers the medal school to the German commander, Peter Wagner.
