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Firefighter Health and Safety 2018 FIRE SERVICE HEALTH & SAFETY ® REPORT www.firehero.org • www.everyonegoeshome.org WATCH THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL & CANDLELIGHT SERVICES LIVE Honor BELLS ACROSS AMERICA FOR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS Remember& America’s Fallen Firefighters October 6 – 7, 2018 H Emmitsburg, Maryland Every October, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation sponsors the official national tribute to all firefighters who died LIGHT THE NIGHT in the line of duty during the previous year. There are many FOR FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS ways that members of the fire service can honor these heroes and their families in the community. We invite you to join us by organizing a Bells Across America for Fallen Firefighters event or lighting your firehouse for Light the Night for Fallen Firefighthers. The Candlelight and Memorial Services will be streamed lived on our website and Facebook. Learn More on Our Website: weekend.firehero.org CONTENTS Above photo by Ken LaBelle A4: Supporting the Safety, Health A16: Response Policies Cover photo by Seth Lasko & Wellness of Firefighters A18: Focus on Behavioral Health A5: 16 Firefighter Life Safety A20: Fire Service Suicide Prevention Initiatives A22: Wildland Firefighting A6: Everyone Goes Home Advocates A24: Human Performance Optimization A8: Making a Difference: Philadelphia; Santa Clara County, A26: Firefighter & Officer Development CA; and Lisbon, MD, Volunteer A28: First Responder Center for Fire Corporation Excellence: Prepare, A12: Accountability Issues Prevent, Protect A14: Firefighter Physiological A30: Take Time for Your Own Monitoring Technology Health & Safety Funding for the 2018 Fire Service Health & Safety Report was gener- ously provided through DHS/ FEMA’s Grant Program Directorate for Assistance to Firefighters Grant ® Program – Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. September 2018 l Health & Safety Report l Firehouse l A3 Supporting the Safety, Health & Wellness of Firefighters We find ourselves on the cusp of a significant anniversary in the fire service. Next year marks the 15th anniversary of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives (FLSIs). When the 16 FLSIs were published, we weren’t sure how they would be received by the fire service at large. While preparing this year’s Fire Service Health & Safety Report, we couldn’t be more pleased to see how much the fire service has embraced the intent of the 16 FLSIs and how much emphasis has evolved in the discipline of firefighter health and safety. Our generation of firefighters didn’t talk much about physical and psychological health on a large scale. Today’s fire service is not only talking about these things, it is routinely seeking new knowledge and integrating findings from research on these topics into their daily operations. Chief Dennis Compton Just as we are looking back at what the fire service as a whole—including the National Fallen Chairman, Board of Directors Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) and our many partners—has accomplished under the guidance National Fallen Firefighters of the 16 FLSIs, we encourage you to look back over your professional career and evaluate your Foundation knowledge and application of the Initiatives. The tools and resources highlighted in this report will do two things for you: 1) reinforce the value of a progressive, safety-focused culture and 2) help you integrate the 16 FLSIs in your day-to-day responsibilities. This year’s edition of the Health & Safety Report focuses on a broad range of subjects and issues impacting the fire service today. We are committed to focusing on the preeminent issues for firefighters. Health and fitness lead the list again this year. You will find sections highlighting the overall wellness program developed by the Philadelphia Fire Department, as well as other “Making a Difference” segments from both the career and volunteer perspectives. We continue our focus on improving human performance this year with the introduction of a new concept for the fire service—human performance optimization—as well as features on fire- fighter and officer development and the First Responder Center for Excellence. FLSI 2 (Account- Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki ability), 8 (Technology), 11 (Response Policies) and 13 (Behavioral Health) are also featured and Executive Director include new information on work the NFFF is doing to promote these efforts. National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Additionally, you will find a feature on wildland firefighting that is reflective of the NFFF’s new partnership with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF). Forged this year, the NFFF and WFF will work together to reinforce the messages of firefighter risk management, comprehensive health and wellness, reducing preventable firefighter injuries and deaths, and being prepared when the unspeakable occurs. We sincerely hope you will find the Fire Service Health & Safety Report a valuable tool as you work diligently to ensure that Everyone Goes Home. ® A4 l Firehouse l Health & Safety Report l September 2018 16 FIREFIGHTER LIFE SAFETY INITIATIVES Guiding the NFFF’s focus on health and safety CULTURAL CHANGE MEDICAL & RESPONSE POLICIES Define and advocate the PHYSICAL FITNESS National standards for need for a cultural change Develop and implement emergency response policies within the fire service relat- national medical and and procedures should ing to safety; incorporating leadership, physical fitness standards that be developed and championed. management, supervision, account- are equally applicable to all ability and personal responsibility. firefighters, based on the duties VIOLENT INCIDENT they are expected to perform. RESPONSE ACCOUNTABILITY National protocols for Enhance the personal and RESEARCH AGENDA response to violent incidents organizational account- Create a national should be developed and championed. ability for health and research agenda and safety throughout the fire service. data collection system PSYCHOLOGICAL that relates to the initiatives. SUPPORT RISK MANAGEMENT Firefighters and their Focus greater attention on TECHNOLOGY families must have access to the integration of risk man- Utilize available counseling and psychological support. agement with incident man- technology wherever agement at all levels, including strategic, it can produce higher PUBLIC EDUCATION tactical, and planning responsibilities. levels of health and safety. Public education must receive more resources EMPOWERMENT FATALITY, NEAR-MISS and be championed as a All firefighters must INVESTIGATION critical fire and life safety program. be empowered to stop Thoroughly investigate unsafe practices. all firefighter fatalities, CODE ENFORCEMENT injuries, and near misses. & SPRINKLERS TRAINING & Advocacy must be CERTIFICATION GRANT SUPPORT strengthened for the Develop and implement Grant programs should enforcement of codes and the national standards for support the implementation installation of home fire sprinklers. training, qualifications, and certifi- of safe practices and/ cation (including regular recertifica- or mandate safe practices as APPARATUS DESIGN tion) that are equally applicable to an eligibility requirement. & SAFETY all firefighters based on the duties Safety must be a primary they are expected to perform. consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment. For more information on the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, visit everyonegoeshome.com. Photo by Bernie Deyo September 2018 l Health & Safety Report l Firehouse l A5 Working for you in every state he National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) is supported in its mission to prevent line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) by a dedicated group of trainers known as Advocates. This cadre of 137 fire service Tprofessionals form the backbone of the NFFF’s Everyone Goes Home® (EGH) Program. Advocates have committed themselves to representing the NFFF by carrying the banners safety and risk management programs. Advocates go into of safe operations, overall wellness and courageous leadership. departments equipped with a variety of tools developed by the NFFF. These tools can be viewed at the EGH website, Supporting the mission firehero.org, and the Fire Hero Learning Network website, The Advocates serve as the NFFF’s primary points of contact at fireherolearningnetwork.com. the local and state levels. Their primary external responsibility is supporting the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives (FLSIs). Making an impact This responsibility is achieved through attendance and Rick Best, a 20-year veteran of the fire service from the participation in activities, events and programs within their Westerville, OH, Division of Fire, was recently appointed respective geographical area. Advocates are charged with as the Advocate Manager. He has served in a management keeping abreast of new developments and trends in firefighter function of the program for eight years and has seen firsthand safety as well as making recommendations to the EGH the benefits of involving Advocates in your department. He coordinator for program enhancements. Internally, Advocates relates the following examples of what Advocates can do to have an established network where ideas can be exchanged. make a difference. This system allows the group to share best practices and/or exchange information pertinent to the program. Tennessee Advocate Ben West made a cold call to the An Advocate’s value to the fire service community served Nashville Fire Department (NFD). As a result of that call is many fold. Advocates are invited to a wide variety of venues and subsequent interaction, Captain Moses Jefferies, one to further
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