Brooks Martin
Everyone Goes Home® Region 8 Advocate
The Everyone Goes Home® program can be looked at as a risk management program. If departments and individuals are willing to adopt the "16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives," job risks can be significantly reduced. We will never take all of the risk out of the fire service. We will still have the need to put our lives on the line for SAVABLE LIVES. With the adoption of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives we can reduce needless firefighter injuries and line-of-duty deaths.
Let's look at some of the numbers from the "2009 Provisional Report of On-Duty Firefighter Fatalities." Fifty-two firefighters died from stress and overexertion (heart attacks and stroke). Following Initiative #6 - Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform; can help reduce line-of-duty deaths in this area. Let's put it in firefighters' terms GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR, NO EXCUSSES!! Go and do it now! Most of us have some kind of health insurance from your primary job. If your department cannot afford to pay for your physical, go see one on your insurance policy. Make sure you are fit enough to do this job.
Sixteen firefighters died from incidents involving vehicle collisions. Adopting the following initiatives can reduce line-of-duty deaths in this area:
Initiative #1 - Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety; incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility.
Initiative # 2 - Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service.
Initiative #4 - All firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices.
Initiative #11 - National standards for emergency response policies and procedures should be developed and championed. And,
Initiative #16 - Safety must be a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.
Let's put this in firefighter talk - SLOW DOWN. BUCKLE UP. STOP AT RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. This leaves us with 22 line-of-duty deaths - seven from falls, four were struck by cars; three were caught/trapped; two from collapse; two were lost; one had contact with fire; and three were listed as other causes. Line-of-duty deaths can be reduced by following some of the previous initiatives and also Initiative #3 - Focus greater attention on the integration of Risk Management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.
Remember the risk model:
We should begin our response with the assumption that we can save lives and/or property.
We MAY risk our lives a lot in a calculated manner within a structured plan - to protect savable lives.
We MAY risk our lives a little in a calculated manner within a structured plan- to protect savable property.
We WILL NOT risk our lives at all to save what is already lost.
The 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives can and are reducing needless firefighter injuries and line-of-duty deaths across the county. Remember firefighter safety is not about you, "the firefighter." It's about the people in your wallet and on the inside of your locker. Look into the eyes of your loved ones the next time you go home. Can you imagine how the loss of you would impact their lives? Family is what matters most. Without you, a void will be left that will never be able to be filled again.
Life is about choices. Eat less. Walk more. Buckle up. Slow down. Drive safely. Set a positive example concerning safety and train like your life and others depend on it - because it does!