Formation et Recrutement des Pompiers en Zones Rurales
▶Summary
The objectives of this project were to discover and analyze national rescue and emergency systems in order to find elements of attractiveness for volunteer firefighters. This project was also an o...
▶Objectives
The objectives of this project were to discover and analyze national rescue and emergency systems in order to find elements of attractiveness for volunteer firefighters. This project was also an opportunity to discover the recruitment and training practices of partner structures in order to discuss each other's experiences and good practices. Indeed, the training offered to volunteer firefighters is sometimes heterogeneous between the different training centers. We wanted partners to be able to discover good practices and the systems put in place. These meeting times between participants should also make it possible to discuss innovative solutions improving the attractiveness of volunteering within fire stations. The partners wanted this project to address the causes of recruitment difficulties for volunteer firefighters as well as possible solutions to increase the attractiveness of their roles. One of the transversal goals of this project was also to introduce partner firefighters to the diversity of firefighter statuses within the European Union. Indeed, the profession of firefighter differs from one country to another, and it seemed important that partners were made aware of it.
▶Impact
The mobility allowed the participating firefighters to discover rescue systems other than their own, but also to reflect on the functioning of their own fire stations. Indeed, throughout the mobility, it was discovered that if the partner structures encountered recruitment difficulties, the causes of this are very different from one country to another. These conclusions were born from reflections between the participating firefighters and made it possible to construct the resource document produced at the end of the project. Indeed, thanks to mobility and discussions between participants, the role of firefighters, their functions and their profession, are different from one country to another, which has an impact on recruitment difficulties. Likewise, national systems have an impact on the recruitment and training of volunteer firefighters. Thus, if the partners notice the same purpose: a recruitment difficulty, a single solution for all partner structures would not be suitable. However, these reflections allowed participants to analyze their own rescue and emergency systems. Each partner has therefore analyzed the causes of recruitment difficulties and has suggestions for improvement for its own system.