Where firefighters come to talk training
Are we changing for the better?
I attended the International Association of Fire Chiefs conference in Dallas last week. I truly enjoy the presentations, the peer fellowship, and certainly the exhibition of products and services. I can truthfully say that I am as excited about being in the fire service now as I was 32 years ago when I joined a fire rescue explorer post at my county fire department. I am afraid, though, that I may be turning into one of those so-called "old dogs" that does not care for all of the new tricks.
I am aware of changes that continue to find their way into the NFPA standards, especially equipment standards. It really comes to life at the conference exhibits. Chevron markings on the back of trucks are interesting. I have been on highway calls hundreds of times in my career. I never had anyone run into one of our trucks. Is there enough data to support that we need to require that? How about seat belt lights to warn the driver that someone hasn't buckled? Why don't we just make sure officers are providing leadership in that cab as well as at the emergency scene? That might be more effective and cost less! Lets face it, if fire fighters don't like it, they will find a way to work around it. And what has happened to SCBAs? $6000 to $8000 per unit? I think we were doing a really good and safe job with the $2000 ones.
Then I went to some lectures where the speakers are suggesting over and over that we need to really reconsider whether or not we offensively attack some of the same fires we used to. This is because of building construction and contents, not because of manpower issues. Well, if I don't belong in the buildings anymore, maybe I don't need $8000 SCBAs!
All of this is interesting, but we still lose about the same number of fire fighters a year as we have for a long time (except for 9/11) and for the same reasons. If we would attack medical fitness and driving standards as agressively as we keep running up the cost of products and services, we might make a real change in the things that much of the fire service claims to value - the fire fighters.
Maybe it is time an organization other than NFPA be in the business of establishing national standards for fire service issues. Just a thought.
Be safe.
I am aware of changes that continue to find their way into the NFPA standards, especially equipment standards. It really comes to life at the conference exhibits. Chevron markings on the back of trucks are interesting. I have been on highway calls hundreds of times in my career. I never had anyone run into one of our trucks. Is there enough data to support that we need to require that? How about seat belt lights to warn the driver that someone hasn't buckled? Why don't we just make sure officers are providing leadership in that cab as well as at the emergency scene? That might be more effective and cost less! Lets face it, if fire fighters don't like it, they will find a way to work around it. And what has happened to SCBAs? $6000 to $8000 per unit? I think we were doing a really good and safe job with the $2000 ones.
Then I went to some lectures where the speakers are suggesting over and over that we need to really reconsider whether or not we offensively attack some of the same fires we used to. This is because of building construction and contents, not because of manpower issues. Well, if I don't belong in the buildings anymore, maybe I don't need $8000 SCBAs!
All of this is interesting, but we still lose about the same number of fire fighters a year as we have for a long time (except for 9/11) and for the same reasons. If we would attack medical fitness and driving standards as agressively as we keep running up the cost of products and services, we might make a real change in the things that much of the fire service claims to value - the fire fighters.
Maybe it is time an organization other than NFPA be in the business of establishing national standards for fire service issues. Just a thought.
Be safe.
Add a Comment
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Comment by Jason Hoevelmann on September 15, 2009 at 7:50am - I get what you're saying and agree. I go back to one of my mentors from when I was a green paramedic; "Treat the patient, not the gadgets."
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Comment by Charles Moye on September 14, 2009 at 11:10am -
Jason, Thanks for responding. I probably should have taken more time to craft my thoughts into words, but I guess this is part of what blogs are for! This whole discussion needs alot more time and space. Anyhow, I actually love technology and research and how it can advance our cause, both in fire prevention as well as fire suppression. My overall concerns are around the fact that I am not sure we are always investing in technology that is actually making the fire service safer, more efficient, more effective, etc. Technology can make us better, but it cannot replace leadership. We should continue to explore and develop better procedures, better tools, better anything that makes emergency services safer for the provider and saves lives and property. Ultimately, we exist to change outcomes and if all of this extra cost doesn't help us get there, I think we have to challenge that. Most (not all certainly) of what I have seen in "improved technology" for fire departments isn't really addressing how most fire fighters die or are injured nor is it saving more property.
Thanks again for sharing. As always, be safe. CM
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Comment by Jason Hoevelmann on September 14, 2009 at 7:24am
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I appreciate yout thoughts, there has to be a combination of both standards and common sense involved when dealing with the issues that you list. The standards in some instances can be difficult at best to meet, but somewhere down the road of the past, there are reasons that these standards were developed. I think we need to be very careful with the "it hasn't happen to me yet" thinking because that is when "it" gets you.
Technology in the fire service can be cumbersome and scary. But, I can tell you, that for the most part it works. I, like you, long for the throttel cable on a pump panel, but, those days are over and just as in organizational change and how it relates to management and so called progression, we as fire service leaders must also lead and appropriately set the example and utilize new technologies standards to keep our people and ourselves safe. Afterall, we really don't want our people wearing pull-up boots and canvas coats anymore, do we?
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