In this series, Fire Engineering Senior Editor Mary Jane Dittmar looks at the things that motivated and inspired instructors to present on their topics at FDIC International 2016. Segments will be posted on a regular basis up to and through the conference, April 18-23.
Devon Wells
Chief
Hood River (OR) Fire & EMS
Rural Fire Safety: Do it the Same Way, “Differently”!
Wednesday, April 20, 1:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m.
Lookouts, Communications, Escape Routes, and Safety Zones: The four main causes of firefighter injuries and death when they are NOT considered. I take these four simple words and apply them to all-hazards emergencies. We know how to be safe in the fire service, an inherently dangerous industry. Our members get good safety training that is well received when they go through basic training and recruit schools. However, if the message never changes, complacency in training can occur, leading to complacency on the fireground.
The simple four words above, developed for the wildland fire service, are applicable to all-hazards emergencies. Firefighters and fire officers have to think summarily of only four safety topics before engaging hazard zone operation.
With this class, I hope that firefighters will take a few moments before engaging in a hazardous activity to consider these four simple-to-remember points. With this training, fire instructors can take this “different way” of looking at safety the same way back to their agencies and train others on the principles. This will ultimately increase safety on emergency scenes–hopefully saving a life or preventing an injury
