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Date last updated: Monday, January 8, 18:37 PST
A Look Toward 2005
Another year has come and gone in what seems a wisp of vapor as James so picturesquely illustrates…For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. (James 4:14)
The US Fire Administration’s fatalities figures posted for this past year are, if nothing else, consistent. Once again the fatality number has surpassed the century mark and the primary cause of fatalities is consistently a result of cardiac, stress and/or exertion which hold an unwavering sum of better than 50%. Do you see a trend here? The real test would be if the same statistics were taken of all personnel that develop and/or suffer from cardiac/stress related conditions related to the exertions necessary to perform the job that don’t qualify to be listed because they didn’t succumb while on an active scene, or where the collapse was not directly related to a specific call. What do you think that number might be then? It could conceivably escalate seventy or eighty percent and in the thousands!
Though all departments are generally compared as a lump sum I think we perhaps should consider is their significance on the semi-urban and rural fire departments. Not a surprise to anyone is that the volunteer firefighter poses a unique conundrum in how a department can even hope to establish some kind of an H&W (Health and Wellness) program akin to their full-time paid brother firefighters. Many volunteers are only seen at training night (or day) and responses. The rest of the time is spent with families and job with often little time for anything like an H&W program!
Nothing can be stressed any more than exercise…exercise…exercise. It is absolutely essential to build and maintain stamina and the necessary strength to deal with the great physical demand the job places on the firefighter. The vast majority of large metropolitan and municipal departments have their H&W programs in place but what of the semi-urban and rural providers? How well implemented is your program? If you don’t have one how can you begin one? Here are some points to consider.
There is an increased amount of monies being allotted to the AFG grants to include H&W programs in 2005. If you are planning to apply for an AFG 2005 grant one might take a serious look at including additional funds for H&W monies since the funds are already earmarked. There are also many services and funds available through the each state’s own Fire Marshal offices. These agencies are most often who are delegated to oversee some federal funds designated for H&W.
One can also see about having a local gym assist in setting up a program for your firefighters in a semi-urban area by offering free gym memberships to the firefighters themselves. This is not a place to get greedy requesting that the entire firefighter’s family be given free memberships but if it is explained that family members may join up since the firefighter is already a member is a great selling point. Combination or total VFD’s may also consider setting up a fund-raiser for being able to fund this kind of equipment. When the local citizens are properly educated in the absolute necessity of such equipment to help the firefighters protect their health and wellness, which directly in relation affects them, you might be surprised how willing your local citizens will be to jump on board to help with the donation of either monies, or physical fitness equipment.
If your department is too small for a full-scale H&W program perhaps this is a responsibility which could be delegated to the Training Officer (as if he doesn’t have enough on his plate already). This sounds all well and good but it is often difficult to try and explain to young and active 22 year olds (or even some 50 year olds as well) that they need to initiate their own personal fitness program. After all…didn’t we all feel indestructible at that age?
While speaking of rural provider agencies we must once again refer back to the statistics. The other highly significant cause of firefighter fatalities involved accidents, either in fire apparatus, in POV’s, or being struck by vehicles while either directing traffic or guiding apparatus. Can you guess which of these three is highest? That’s right…the POV!
As a paid shift Engineer/FF on a Combination department when I was off-duty I was considered a volunteer FF and responded accordingly. We were permitted lights on our POV’s but I was also taught that the vast majority of apparatus/POV accidents were the fault of the responder, either due to speed too fast to adapt or react in time to potential accidents or driving beyond the capability of the vehicle, road or weather conditions. Experience was gained by many years following operating all kinds of emergency equipment under many varied circumstances…but the key word is experience. New probies or volunteers have none of this. Add to this the adrenalin rush and excitement of the new responder makes for a volatile combination.
How many of your departments have taken an afternoon to give a driving class for the first responder? Been taught how to “read” a crown or curve? How to calculate high-speed braking or turning capacity/capability? Learning how to adapt to locale-specific weather conditions? How to avoid overcorrecting or dealing with a large shift load as is often seen in older apparatus with less baffling and compartmentalization than today’s modern equipment. Or, were you just given your turnouts, a helmet and told "Be careful when you drive with your lights on." It is certainly something to think about implementing if you don’t have one already in place.
As can be seen there is a continued emphasis in education along with a special emphasis on the smaller departments. So often we hear of extensive H&W programs implemented by large departments but may seem an unachievable concept to the smaller provider. If the difference is to get some equipment for H&W or another couple of sets of PPE the H&W equipment will lose every time…and with complete understanding by all. So this leaves the only recourse which is resourcefulness! How “Heart Smart” is you department and personnel?
A good place to start is with Jason at VolunteerFD (www.volunteerFD.org) when it comes to learning how to work with a small budgets and some real sage advice on fundraising. You’ll find sympathetic and understanding ears there from those that deal with it everyday and some real innovative ways to enhance your fundraising capability. As large as they are I’ll bet you will have no trouble finding a circumstance just like yours!
Let’s work extra hard to find ways to reduce situations which create these fatality scenarios. It’s always easier to exercise with a partner than alone…pair up. Let’s slow down a little out there. If you are in your POV you may not be as visible to another driver as you think you are no matter how many lights you have. If you don’t get there at all that’s one less member the senior officer will have to utilize and can also exponentially place your fellow firefighters at risk of injury or death trying to pick up the slack of less manpower on scene, sometimes a very real problem with the VFD. And, if someone is riding with you, especially a Junior FF (which happened this last year in LA), above all be real careful! Remember that their life is in your hands!
Stay Safe and God Bless
In His service to all
Bud Paine
www.chaplaincorps.org
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