Firefighter Life Safety Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Initiatives

Make Everyday a Training Day…So that Everyone Goes HomeMake Everyday a Training Day…So that Everyone Goes Home

c. 2006 NFFFc. 2006 NFFF

FirefighterFirefighter Life Safety Resource KitLife Safety Resource Kit

In April of 2004, fire service leaders from across the United States gathered in

Tampa Florida.

At this summit meeting they began to design a new fire service culture.

This new culture will be built on the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives

so that Everyone Goes Home.

Life Safety Initiatives Program Goal

We accept 100 deaths every year as normal

Since 1984, 3175 firefighters have died in the Line of Duty—many thousands more have been injured.

2004

2009Five Years25% Reduction

Ten Years50% Reduction

2014

The Initiatives Address Six Focus Areas

• Training

• Prevention• Structural Firefighting

• Wildland Operation• Health, Wellness & Fitness

• Vehicles

The initiatives Address Six Root Causes for LODDs

• Ineffective Leadership

• Extraordinary & unpredictable circumstances

• Lack of Personal Responsibility (inappropriate behavior)

• Ineffective Decision Making

• Ineffective Policies & Procedures

• Lack of Preparedness

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.

Cultural change has to begin with informal leaders, managers, supervisors. From top to bottom: the culture of the fire service must change. You can change your behavior TODAY.

What Initiative #1 Means

Be part of the “NEW” Fire Service Safety Culture

Examine your attitudes & behaviors regarding safety

Realize that change is not a threat to the organization

Embrace Health & Wellness programs & practice them

Lead by your own example & make the difference—be an agent of change

Initiative # 2

Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service.

Each fire service organization must promote safe practices; each individual must have the tools to be safe and adhere to safe practices at ALL TIMES.

What Initiative #2 Means

Follow SOPs at all times

Train/Learn/Teach everyday

Utilize Incident Command System

Adhere to Vehicle Inspection Schedules

Schedule and stick to equipment checks

“Strap in and Stay In”

Don’t take the environment for granted

Initiative # 3

Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.

Learn the concept of “Risk Management”; Ensure everyone understands the difference between and acceptable risk and an unacceptable risk.

Develop and implement a system to pre-identify unacceptable risks.

What Initiative #3 Means

Risk a lot to save a lot; risk a little to save a little Review every call Develop Command Teams Follow SOPs…Follow SOPs Know the function and status of every firefighter on

the incident scene…Everyone must be accounted for at all times

Initiative # 4

All firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices.

No Helmet & Not using SCBA

Firefighters must be allowed to identify and report unsafe practices. They must be able to stop activities that present imminent harm to themselves or others, without fear of penalty or reprisal.

What Initiative #4 Means

Be aware of safe practices and look for unsafe ones

Take the initiative to develop and implement procedures to enable and empower firefighters to stop unsafe conditions in training, on the fire ground and during routine operations

Never question integrity of those who speak out for safe fire ground operations

Initiative # 5

Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications,

and certification (including regular re-certification) that are equally applicable

to all firefighters based on the duties they are expected to perform.

Fire service departments are recognizing national certification standards as a way to measure the competency of their members. National standards encourage departments to operate at higher levels of effectiveness

What Initiative #5 Means

Seek state and national certifications at all levels of your fire department employment

Support efforts toward mandatory re-certification or refresher training; refreshing teaches new methods and improves skills which are used infrequently

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.

In this profession, health and wellness are non-negotiable. Departments should establish and enforce SOPs which support wellness; individuals must embrace wellness as a strategy for successful fire service careers or seek employment elsewhere.

What Initiative #6 Means

Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, including making healthful food choices and regular exercise

Don’t smoke/Don’t do drugs/Alcohol in moderation

Follow all health and wellness SOPs

Be a Good Example

Understand the impact your death would have on your family, co-workers and community

Initiative # 7

Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relates to the initiatives.

We won’t know if we are living the initiatives if we do not collect data. Data analysis is the key to making any course corrections regarding the Life Safety Initiatives. It will also provide important corollary data.

What Initiative #7 Means

Encourage your department to participate in national data recovery systems such as NFIRS

Support data gathering at the local level

Be vocal with local politicians about where your tax money is spent—urge them to support our national agenda for firefighter safety

Utilize available technology wherever it can help produce higher levels of health and safety

Initiative # 8

It is irresponsible not to use technology when it can improve safety outcomes. Technological solutions should be a leverage and a tool for improving fire ground safety.

What Initiative #8 Means

Attend conferences to keep abreast of new technologies and take this knowledge back to your department

Encourage your department to employ Command and Rescue vehicles on scene which are equipped with technological advance systems which can be integrated into the command system

Become the technology geek of your department

Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.

Initiative # 9

Even if your organization is uncomfortable with sharing information about a fatality, injury, or near-miss incident, it is a moral obligation to do so. Knowing what happened can prevent it from happening again.

What Initiative #9 Means

Implement investigations without delay—learning can begin immediately

Be familiar with NIOSH, FEMA, USFA, CDC, NFPA reports. They can be studied to increase safety

Encourage the collection of “near-miss” data. Near-miss incidents provide excellent learning/training tools

Look for “Fatal Chain of Errors”