LODD Summit: It’s Time To Commit To Doing Those Things We Already Know Will Save Firefighter Lives

By Ronald E. Kanterman

Some 200 people met in Tampa, Florida, March 10-11, to explore the issues of firefighter line-of-duty deaths and ways to reduce them. About 80 had been expected. Fire service line officers, chiefs, managers; union officials; manufacturers; and members of the media answered the call of Chief Ron Siarnicki, executive director of the National Fallen firefighters Foundation.

Participants sat in a general session the first morning to get the game plan for the next two days. Chief Dennis Compton of Mesa, Arizona, served as the moderator.

Vina Drennan, whose husband John was killed along with Firefighters Christopher Siedenburg, 25, and James Young, 31, in a fire in the SoHo section of New York City in 1994, delivered a passionate account of the ordeal her husband, she, and her family endured during the 40 days before his death, as he struggled to attempt to recover from the severe burns he suffered. She received a standing ovation.

Addressing other firefighters’ survivors present, Siarnicki explained: “We’re doing this for you and to honor your fallen firefighters. We’re making this effort so others won’t have to endure what you have endured.”

Six Topic Areas Established
Participants were broken down into six groups of between 15 and 25, according to the following topics: Structural Fire Fighting; Vehicles-Fire Apparatus and POV; Training and General Research; Health, Wellness and Fitness; Reducing Fires; and Wildland. Group members were charged with developing initiatives to foster firefighter health and safety and suggestions for implementing them. The groups worked for eight hours.

I was a member of the Health, Wellness and Fitness group, which included fire and health professionals, medical doctors, PhD’s, NIOSH personnel, firefighters, and counselors, among them Mal Corrigan of the Fire Department of New York Counseling Unit. Our group broke down further into five subcommittees, which delved into the areas of diet and nutrition, fitness programs, research, counseling, responding to violent incidents, and workplace violence. The level and tones of the conversations at times testified to the sense of urgency and enthusiasm displayed by group members. This truly was an incredible exercise, as was the whole summit.

Day 2
The next morning we were back in “general session mode.” U.S. Fire Administrator Dave Paulison addressed the group and pledged his full support. The U.S. Fire Administration has established the goal of reducing firefighter LODD deaths by 25 percent in five years, and by 50 percent in 10 years.

[Is this a lofty goal? We don’t think so. (I think we can do it way before the five-year mark. It’s up to all of us to effect a change in the way we think. A paradigm shift perhaps.]

Chief Gordon Routley, of Canada, worked late into the night the day before to create a PowerPoint(r) presentation from the notes that came out of the six topic discussions of that day. A facilitator from each of the six groups summarized the group’s proposals in a 15-minute report.

Not very surprisingly, almost none of the material was new. As the facilitator of the first group to report noted: “We know what to do; we just need to do it.” Most, if not all, of it was academic and common sense. Suggested protective strategies included the following: eating a proper diet, engaging in adequate exercise, getting medical check-ups, using seat belts (buckling up), updating fire and building codes, learning about building construction, slowing down on the road when driving, recertifying firefighters in the same way EMTs and medics are, and learning how to protect oneself on the highway.

***

It’s time for the American Fire Service to start taking stock of itself. We need to change the way we think. It’s all about going home after the shift or after the call.
Buckle up. Here’s a simple plan you can start today. Wear you seat belt every time, and drive safely. Explain to the new and younger drivers that the 5,000-gallon water tanker they’re driving doesn’t take corners like the car they drive every day. Just by buckling up, we can save 25 of our own this year.

Post signs that read: “BUCKLE UP EVERY TIME” on the inside of the apparatus bay doors so that they are at eye level when sitting in the cab. Isn’t it insane to devastate your family and friends by not coming back from a call just because you didn’t click on your seat belt?

Chiefs must enforce seat belt and safe driving policies. Departments without such a policy should write one or adapt one from another department. Disciplinary measures should be applied if necessary.

Officers must enforce the policies. Your crews should be buckled up each and every time you leave quarters for calls, inspections, and–yes–even parades.

Volunteer and combination chiefs, tell your volunteer personnel that if they don’t buckle up in the apparatus or if they drive recklessly to a call in their privately owned vehicle (POV) they will face suspension. Get tough. Save a life. Save yourself. Save your families and friends the anguish of losing you in the line of duty.

Begin to write off buildings. Follow the National Fire Academy Risk Management Model: “Risk a lot to save a lot, risk nothing to save nothing.” Trust me when I tell you the bulldozers will be done before you’re lined up on Main Street in Class “As” with your right hand to your hat peak.

Fire prevention. How about the concept, “Fire prevention saves firefighters lives?” What a concept! Save yourself. Do fire prevention inspections. Do public education. Not glamorous, you say? Neither is wrapping an engine around a tree or rolling a tanker over or running your POV into a pole or getting ejected from a jump seat. Neither is squeezing into bunker pants that used to fit but are now three sizes too small.

This (drive for better health and more safety) needs a systematic and holistic approach. “Saving our Own” starts with safely operating private vehicles and fire apparatus and doing all the things listed above-and more. Then, you’ll be in much better shape and have the strength and endurance to do the things you may be called to do if it becomes necessary to save yourself or a brother or sister.

Get on the bandwagon with the NFFF today, right now. Become an ambassador for firefighter safety and survival. Every firefighter in America, career and volunteer, industrial and military, must participate. Getting killed in the line of duty is NOT part of the job. It is unacceptable. It’s time to walk the walk. Honor those who have fallen in the line of duty; that honoring should include also learning from their deaths. No more lip service. No more procrastination. No more bull. No more LODD funerals.

Ron Kanterman is chief of emergency services for Merck & Co. in Rahway, New Jersey, and a volunteer on call member of the Borough of North Plainfield (NJ) Fire Rescue Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science administration and master’s degrees in fire protection management and environmental science and is an adjunct professor of fire science at Middlesex County College. He is a member of the FDIC staff and advisory board and of the Fire Engineering editorial advisory board.

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