Training & Education
Countryside's Training Division is responsible for ensuring all personnel are adequately trained to serve the District's customers. This training includes things like regular on-duty training drils with shift personnel, monthly continuing education offered in conjunction with the Advocate Condell Medical Center EMS System, weekly training with part-time personnel, short "Morning Drills" at the start of each shift. An annual training needs assessment survey of all personnel helps to determine what training will be conducted for the upcoming year as well as requirements specified by regulatory and standards agencies like the Office of the State Fire Marshall, National Fire Protection Association, Insurance Services Organization, Illinois Department of Public Health, and the EMS System.
The Division also works cooperatively with area departments on combined training drills. Since 2008, the departments of Quad 4 (essentially the southeast corner of Lake County) have rotated hosting monthly drills for all of the Quad 4 departments. These drills have included scenarios involving rural water supply, large commercial area search, and firefighting strategy and tactics. Additionally, the District's special teams personnel participate in regular training sessions with the Lake & McHenry Counties Special Response Team.
In 2008, the Training Division conducted an in-house Firefighter 2 Academy for new paid-on-premise recruits with several of the full-time shift personnel serving as Academy instructors. The Division also coordinates Firefighter 3 training for the District's personnel wishing to achieve that higher certification.
In addition to required certification classes, Countryside values higher education and encourages all of its members to pursue degree opportunities through its Education Assistance Program which the Training Division administers.
| Personnel | |
| Click on bold names to email. | |
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Ken Arnswald Division Chief-Training Serving Since 1975 34 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Department Incident Safety Officer Fire Prevention Officer 1 Side Scan Sonar Technician PADI Divemaster PADI Open Water & Ice Diver Training Program Manager Charter Member, Illinois Fire Apparatus Mechanics Association Member, Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal Ad hoc Committees on Personnel Standards & Education Programs |
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Kevin Wodrich Division Chief-Training Serving Since 1998 18 Years Experience Fire Officer 2/Paramedic Fire Apparatus Engineer Fire Investigator Fire Prevention Officer 1 Hazmat Technician Wildland Firefighter Carseat Technician |