August 2006 EveryoneGoesHome.com Newsletter
Since 1982, a grateful Nation has honored its fallen fire heroes during the annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend held in Emmitsburg, Maryland. This year's Memorial Weekend events will take place October 6-8, 2006.
Cygnus Business Media was awarded the Seal of Excellence Award at Firehouse Expo - Baltimore, at the Opening Ceremony Thursday morning, July 28, 2006.
The production of the second edition of the Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Resource Kits has begun. Distribution of the second edition is expected to begin this month.
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The Take-5 Safety Drills were developed based on safety research and accident data. Please click on link to visit the Western Fire Chiefs Association's website to view: http://wfca.com/default.asp?pageid=401&deptid=1. This is a great resource for firefighter safety information.
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"The serious losses in life and property resulting annually from fires cause me deep concern. I am sure that such unnecessary waste can be reduced. The substantial progress made in the science of fire prevention and fire protection in this country during the past forty years convinces me that the means are available for limiting this unnecessary destruction." There is not a single book about fire prevention and fire administration in America that does not have a similar statement about the fire problem in our country. But while this statement appears to be an accurate depiction of our country's current fire problem, interestingly enough, this statement belongs to 59 years ago, and was a part of President Harry S Truman's address to the 1947 President's Conference on Fire Prevention.
A National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study released today found an estimated 3,675 people died in fires in the United States in 2005 - a person every 143 minutes. Although the number of fires increased 3.3% from the previous year, the overall number of fire deaths decreased by 5.8% in 2005. This was the third lowest fire death toll that NFPA has recorded since it began conducting this annual study in 1977.
Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute (MFRI) and The Center for Firefighter Safety Research and Development today announced the results of a year-long Homeland Security and University of Maryland funded scientific study of over 200 firefighters to determine guidelines for firefighter training safety. The guidelines were established by studying the physiology of firefighters wearing the VivoMetrics LifeShirt and will be presented to fire departments and training academies nationwide this August.
Captain, Clay Fire Territory, South Bend
bpk@clayfd.com Click Here to Find the Advocate for Your Area or Learn How You Can Become an Advocate |
Brian P. Kazmierzak
Advocate, State of Indiana
Brian started in the fire service in 1991 as a cadet with the Portage Twp. Fire Dept. Brian has worked part-time for St. Joseph County Fire Dispatch, North Penn Fire Dept., University of Notre Dame Fire Dept. and Portage Twp. Fire Dept. Brian has been employed by the Clay Fire Territory, in South Bend, IN since 1994 and has served as a dispatcher, firefighter, engineer, lieutenant, and currently holds the rank of Captain and serves as the departments Training / Safety Officer and commands the MABAS Division 201 Tactical Rescue Team.
Brian has completed Associates Degrees from Indiana University South Bend in Emergency Services Administration and from Ivy Tech State College in Fire Science. Brian also has a Bachelors Degree through Southern Illinois University in Fire Science Management and has completed the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program.
Brian also serves as the President of the Michiana FOOLS, a Member of Indiana FEMA USAR Task Force 1 and a Board Member of the Indiana Fire Instructors Association.
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After three months on the job, Fire Chief Heather Burford is getting her - and the fire department's - priorities in order. Changes in safety standards and staffing levels may be the first stamp Chief Burford, who was sworn in on May 8, will leave on her department.
Temple firefighters have another tool to guarantee their safety while inside a burning building, said Capt. Leroy Vargas, training officer for Temple Fire and Rescue. "We want our firefighters to have the benefit of the latest technology to provide the safest working environment," he said.
The NVFC launched the Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program in 2003 as a proactive campaign to reduce the number of firefighter deaths from heart attack through proper nutrition, fitness and health education. Heart attacks continue to be the leading cause of firefighter deaths. As part of the NVFS campaign, the Heart-Healthy Firefighter booth travels to trade shows and conferences nationwide to increase awareness among firefighters and emergency services personnel about the importance of heart-health.
Fire Service Leaders continually stress the need for bringing about cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, among other things and that firefighters need to be empowered to stop unsafe practices. These two initiatives are defined within the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. Grass root local level programs need to be developed to spread the word, implant these two very important messages and initiate the thought process of a firefighter to think about his or her own safety.
Firefighter Life Safety Events
September 11, 2006
Fire Rescue International - Dallas
8-Hour Pre-Conference Workshop
FOR THOSE ATTENDING FIRE RESCUE INTERNATIONAL in Dallas, please note the following pre-conference workshop which will be presented by Chief Richard Marinucci , Farmington Hills (MI), and Cathy Hedrick, Director of Survivor Programs, National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. Instructors who are passionate about the need to have the Courage to Be Safe and the importance of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives in reducing Line of Duty Deaths should attend this program.
Instructors:
Richard Marinucci, Chief, Farmington Hills (MI) Fire Department
Cathy Hedrick, Director of Survivor Programs, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Part 1 - Taking Care of Our Own®
A fire department does not know when it will have a line-of-duty death or serious injury. Does it have a plan in place? Are personnel records current? Does the department know how to make timely and proper notification to the survivors? Fire chiefs and survivors tell us that most fire departments are not prepared for a line-of-duty death. "Taking Care of our Own" provides senior fire officers specific information and valuable insights. This course is designed for senior fire officers, career or volunteer, chief officers and senior deputies of federal and state government, honor guard commanders, chaplains, and officials of national and state fire organizations.
Part 1 - Courage to Be Safe
This provocative and moving presentation is designed to change the culture of accepting the loss of firefighters as a normal occurrence. Building on the untold story of LODD survivors, it reveals how family members must live with the consequences of a firefighter death and provides a focus on the need for firefighters and officers to change fundamental attitudes and behaviors in order to prevent line of duty deaths. The central theme promotes the courage to do the right thing in order to protect yourself and other firefighters and ensure that "Everyone Goes Home" at the end of the day.
Instructors who are passionate about the need to have the Courage to Be Safe and the importance of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives in reducing Line of Duty Deaths should attend this program.
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October 20-21, 2006
Arrive Alive
Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy, Rockville, MD
Arrive Alive is a must attend, national conference for all public safety personnel who operate and are responsible for emergency vehicle responses. The conference will focus on identifying common causes of emergency vehicle collisions and will discuss major areas that affect the way we operate emergency vehicles. Topics covered in this training include:
- Driver Training
- Collision Investigation
- Crew Resource Management
- Driver Supervision and Responsibility/Department Policies and Procedures
This training event is located at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Academy, 9710 Great Seneca Highway, Rockville, MD 20850.
For more information visit www.mcfrs.org/ArriveAlive.
For other Firefighter Life Safety Events in your area visit our events page.
