Courtesy of the Wichita Fire Department and Sedgwick County Fire Department
 Chief Gary Curmode, Sedgwick County Fire Department and Chief Ronald D. Blackwell, Wichita Fire Department commit to the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives and to creating a "Safety First" attitude within their departments. |
In January of 2008, Wichita was honored to host Chief Ronald Siarnicki, the Director of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Chief Siarnicki addressed select members of the Wichita and Sedgwick County Fire Departments. The topic was the 16 Life Safety Initiatives and their regional implementation. As a committee we discussed our Departments and attempted to identify what is preventing us from having a "safety first" attitude. Soon into the discussion we came to a realization our culture and attitude needed to be addresses. I am sure many departments across the nation have similar issues. Because firefighting is the ultimate team effort we hesitate to hold our team mates accountable. Overlook a seatbelt one day, forget the CO monitoring another, soon the oversight becomes the norm. We realized to really impact our safety we need to change the culture. We also had no illusion that this would be an easy task. Some members would feel resentment, some would feel threatened. A road map with specific steps needed to be identified. As we wrapped up our meeting, Chief Siarnicki challenged us to participate in a demonstration project to improve our safety and improve the safety of firefighters from our region and across the nation. The following became our road map to a "Safety First Culture."
The Wichita and Sedgwick County Fire Departments are committed to the life safety initiatives and in changing the culture to create a "Safety First" attitude. We have jointly identified the need to change our culture. We understand that the implementation of a "Safety First Culture" will need to be managed. The following is a road map to manage that change. That road map includes:
- Directive from the Fire Chiefs in the form of department-wide notifications that the Wichita and Sedgwick County Fire Departments are adopting the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's 16 Life Safety Initiatives and they will figure prominently in our strategic plans and become part of our "safety first" culture. The Everyone Goes Home® Logo would be added to our department's web pages.
- Provide training on the 16 Life Safety Initiatives. Using programs provided by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). Ask every member to sign a "National Safety Pledge" (of which the seat belt pledge is part).* This training would also be made available to regional fire departments.
» Download: National Safety Pledge Form
* While the National Seatbelt Pledge is a nationally recognized program that has been successful is raising awareness. The Wichita and Sedgwick County Fire Departments, as part of the NFFF Demonstration Project, have built on that idea creating a National Safety Pledge. The National Safety Pledge includes all of the components of the seatbelt pledge and adds the further commitment to; Eat Healthier, Exercise More, Get an Annual Physical Exam, Wear ALL of the appropriate PPE, and Set an Example for Safety. As with the National Seat Belt Pledge the National Safety Pledge includes a profile of a firefighter that has died in the line-of-duty. The profile of a line-of-duty death should be from a local department or chosen from a recent line-of-duty death in the U.S. Fire Administration Firefighter Fatalities in the United States. (Ideally this would address a safety concern of your department).
- Request, coordinate and participate in the "Courage to Be Safe SM" Program developed by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). In addition this program would be advertised and offered to regional fire departments.
Firefighters must have the courage to face a multitude of risks in order to save lives and protect their communities. But a different type of courage is required to stay safe in potentially dangerous situations, avoiding needless risks and tragic consequences. That different type of courage is the subject of "The Courage to Be Safe SM - So Everyone Goes Home®" Program. This provocative and moving presentation is designed to change the culture of accepting the loss of our firefighters as a normal occurrence.
The Courage to Be Safe SM was conceived and developed by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program Team, with assistance from Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder of the Loveland-Symmes (OH) Fire Department and FDNY Battalion Chief John Salka in response to a request by Pennsylvania Fire Commissioner Ed Mann to develop a program aimed at Line-of-Duty Death Prevention.
At the heart of "The Courage to Be Safe SM" are the gripping, untold stories of LODD survivors, revealing how family members must live with the consequences of a firefighter death. The program graphically underscores the need for firefighters and officers to change fundamental attitudes and behaviors in order to prevent line of duty deaths, and promotes the courage to do the right thing so that "Everyone Goes Home®" at the end of the day.
- Develop and deliver a joint training cycle on risk analysis. This training would both be lecture and "hands-on" using multimedia and tabletop scenarios.
Ongoing -
- Make the 16 Life Safety Initiatives a part of the Wichita Fire Department Strategic Plan.
- Keep the 16 Life Safety Initiatives and the International Association of Fire Chief's "Rules of Engagement" for Structural Firefighting as a key part of all training and operations.
- Attend and regionally delivery the "Safety Through Leadership" training.
- Take the lead in the South-Central Kansas Region, become an advocate for the "Safety First" culture.
- Provide annual training for all officers and risk analysis.
- Risk analysis and the "Safety First" mentality should become a part of all promotional assessments and officer development training.
We have embarked on the road to a "Safety First Culture." Commitment and leadership will carry us through the pit falls and curves that surely lie ahead. As with any journey, the hardest step is the first, so in many ways the pressure is relieved and improvement is on the way. We are partners and advocates of this initiative and we are proud to support Everyone Goes Home® Program.
Related:
» Download: National Safety Pledge Form