Everyone Goes Home - Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program

Congratulations are in order for Louisiana Advocate Jeff Pardue for putting together the state's first Courage to Be Safe(SM) Train-the-Trainer Program held on June 13, 2008, at the Louisiana State University (LSU) campus in Baton Rouge. Advocate Jeff Pardue dedicated the class to Firefighters Eric Speed and Riley Terrebonne; both Louisiana firefighters who were killed on March 29 and April 21, 2008, respectively.

Seventy firefighters and instructors from around the State attended the eight hour program taught by Texas Advocates Rob Franklin and Danny Kistner. Cathy Hedrick commanded the attention of all with her survivor story and gave powerful testimony to the need for a culture change within the fire service. Opening remarks to the group were provided by Louisiana State University Fire and Emergency Training Institute Director D. Jeffrey Gleason and Louisiana State Fire Marshal H. "Butch" Browning, Jr.

In addition to attending the class, all students signed the National Fire Service Seat Belt Pledge and were challenged to gain compliance within their own departments. Advocate Jeff Pardue took the day one step further and called for ideas on developing a State close call and "Mayday" review program (Life Safety Initiative # 9). A second Courage to Be Safe(SM) Train-the-Trainer is being considered for the Shreveport area later in the year.

A Letter from the St. Tammany Parish Fire District #4
Regional Training Institute

Mr. Pardue, attached is a list of officers who attended the first of the "Courage to be safe programs" in our department and in St.Tammany Parish. The program made an impact on many of the new and older officers about their roles as company officers. Because of this program a new day has begun within this department.

At present the chief officers are looking to up minimum manning, increase staffing per unit, and a big push to hire an additional 21 -24 new firefighters over the next two years. Seatbelt awareness has increased to an even greater level from what it was last month. Captains are making everyone aware of its mandate for usage within our department.

Thank you and LSU for hosting this event, and we look forward to increasing the numbers of officers we can make delivery to and to ultimately decrease the number of injuries and line of duty deaths in this state. This has definitely made a difference to me personally as well as on the training officer level.