Chris Collier
Brotherhood Instructors, LLC

Reducing firefighter injuries and fatalities is a worthwhile, necessary, and noble cause. I am a very motivated and positive person and enjoy setting high goals and expectations for myself, and the organizations I am associated with, but these goals and expectations must be realistic and attainable. Nothing would make me happier than if the last line-of-duty death (LODD) funeral I went to was the last one ever. Unfortunately, that is not a realistic expectation in our business, at least not if we are going to carry out our sworn duty to protect the lives and property of the people we serve. If you do not accept the fact that some level of personal risk is required to be an effective firefighter then you are in the wrong line of work.

That being said, I do not advocate cowboy tactics or throwing caution to the wind (Initiatives # 2 & 4). Safety is achieved through preparation, training, and attitude. These three factors are not the only things that affect safety but they sure stand out in my mind.

Preparation is unquestionably related to effective firefighting operations, which in turn relates to firefighter safety. I have several friends who are, in addition to being firefighters, members of the Unites States Armed Forces. These friends have told me that the goal of their respective units is to be "mission ready" at all times. Everything they do from training, maintaining equipment, physical fitness, etc., is to ensure their readiness when called upon. Preparation is not something that has a definite beginning or end; it is an ongoing and dynamic process much like size up. This process starts well before the beginning of the shift or the tones of the pager. You must be mentally and physically prepared before you even think about walking into a firehouse. Physical preparation should be somewhat self-explanatory: good shape, good health, and free of substances, both legal and illegal (Initiative #6). Mental preparation is sometimes harder to accomplish. We all know this is a dangerous job and it requires a clear mind that is capable of making split-second life or death decisions. Life does not always go our way and if you have something weighing on your mind you need to take care of it before coming to work or you need to take some time off until you are ready (Initiative #13). You must be mentally prepared to put yourself in a hostile environment in order to save another person. Once you are physically and mentally prepared, you can start preparing in the firehouse by making sure your firefighting gear and equipment is in good working order and in the proper place.

Training is the next component of safety, and my personal favorite. Training is how we learn new skills and hone the ones we already have. Obviously training relates to firefighter safety. If I practice swinging an axe and become very accurate I will be much less likely to hit the firefighter holding the halligan. That is about as basic of an example as I can think of; now let's look at a more in depth example. There is no logical argument to the fact that putting the fire out is the single most effective way of making any fire ground a safer place. A well-trained engine company firefighter that that pulls up to the fire fully geared up and ready, knows which hose line to stretch, where to stretch it to, how to get it there, and how to aggressively push to the seat of the fire and put the fire out, will make everyone safer, firefighters and civilians alike. As stated before, safety is achieved; aggressively putting the fire out is a huge part of achieving safety (Initiative #5).

The attitude of individuals and the organization as a whole also has a huge effect on safety. If the organization embraces a "can do" attitude and believes that with trained and prepared members, they can accomplish the goal of saving lives and property, then they will. I was talking to a friend recently who is a volunteer fire chief. He was so proud to tell me about a recent fire that they had to which he arrived right behind the first in engine company. He was elated that the members got off of the engine prepared with all of their equipment and tools and went to work without being told what to do. They stretched the line and put the fire out. They did this because they were prepared, trained, and had a "can do" attitude. They got this attitude from the chief. It was built through preparation and training (Initiative #1).

Preparation, training, and attitude are just three of the many factors that make a fire ground safer. Even with preparation, training, and the right attitude, firefighters get killed. I grew up in New Jersey (NJ) around the NJ fire service. Two examples of firefighters who were prepared, trained, and had the right attitude come to mind. First, are the three members that died in Gloucester City, NJ, on July 4, 2002. These three firefighters died heroically searching for three trapped children. The second is a young firefighter who arrived to a house fire, attempted the rescue of a trapped elderly woman, and fell through the floor in the process. This young, prepared, well trained, firefighter went in with the attitude that he could save that woman and gave it his best shot. The four courageous and selfless firefighters mentioned above are an inspiration to us all and upheld the greatest tradition of the fire service, our willingness to put ourselves in great danger to save another person.

There are a lot of traditions that are carried on for no reason, especially in the fire service. Some of these traditions even impede progress and safety. The biggest one that comes to mind is firefighters not wanting to wear a mask because they are tough or they didn't need them "back in the day." Fire departments spend a lot of money on tools and equipment. Use them to your advantage. The tradition of firefighters willing to risk life and limb to save others is one tradition that must be maintained forever. This tradition is what makes the fire service so great and why people turn to us when they have nowhere else to turn (Initiatives #4 & 8).

Dedicated to: Fire Marshal John West, Chief James Sylvester, Firefighter Thomas Stewart, and Foreman Kevin Apuzzio.