Everyone Goes Home - Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives Program

By G. Crawford Weistling, Minnesota State Advocate

The Everyone Goes Home® program relies on many partner organizations to help implement the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives. These partners offer unique expertise. The Emergency Responder Safety Institute (ERSI) is one of those partner organizations.

ERSI is sponsored by the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association and was created some 10 years ago after a firefighter was struck and killed while working an incident on an interstate highway in Maryland.

The fire services face a serious problem with the number of firefighters and first responders who are injured or killed while working roadside incidents. A number of nationally recognized experts came together specifically to develop policies and programs to help the emergency services deal with this grave issue.

Today ERSI offers a cutting edge web-site: ResponderSafety.Com. This site is a great resource for free information and training materials related to roadway safety issues involving firefighters, EMS, fire police and others that respond to incidents on our nation's roadways.

ERSI has adopted an effective slogan: "On the Roadway We've Got Your Back." The institute has also developed an outstanding Emergency Responder Roadway Operations Training Program entitled "Managing Roadway Incidents."

ERSI is a member of the National Traffic Incident Management Coalition, (NTIMC ) which is made up of 16 major stakeholders including: The International Association of Fire Chiefs', National Volunteer Fire Council, National Association of State Emergency Medical Services Officials and the International Fire Service Training Association. NTIMC has developed a national program identified as the "National Unified Goal", for managing incidents on our nation's roadways. The "National Unified Goal" specifies three key elements:

Responder Safety

Recommends Practices for Responder Safety.
Move Over/ Slow Down Laws.
Driver Training and Awareness.

Safe, Quick Clearance

Multidisciplinary Traffic Incident Management Procedures.
Response and Clearance Time Goals.
24/7 Service Availability.

Prompt, Reliable Communications

Multidisciplinary Communications.
Prompt, Reliable Responder Notification.
Interoperable Voice and Data Networks.
Broadband Emergency Communications Systems.
Prompt, Reliable Traveler Information.
Partnerships with Media and News Providers.

ERSI has a number of instructors who travel the country and present very comprehensive training programs in "Managing Roadway Incident" and the "National Unified Goal", often free of charge to departments or agencies, depending upon funding.

A number of states are using responder safety training programs as part of the continuing Courage to be Safe(SM) program.

Virginia is one example where responder safety training is being presented by the state advocate during the Virginia State Chiefs' Conference.

In Minnesota the MTIMC - NUG program, which included full table top exercises, was used to help implement several of the Life Safety Initiatives. These were supportive of a stand alone program on roadway safety issues developed by a Minnesota Fire Chief and a MDOT Traffic Incident Management Specialist. Programs on responder safety training are also being presented in other parts of the country.

The key issue is the fact that the "Managing Roadway Incidents" training can provide valuable information to our firefighters and EMS personnel on how to protect themselves while working on our nations' roadways. All of the "Best Practices" presented by ERSI go a long way towards helping reduce firefighter deaths and injuries.

The Roles of ERSI in Implementation

The training ERSI can provide will enable the implementation of several of the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives (FLSI). They include the following:

Life Safety Initiative No. 1 - The responder safety program teaches the cultural changes needed to address firefighter safety and the courage to think about themselves when working on roadway incidents. The training stresses the need for accountability and personal responsibility to help prevent being struck while helping others.

Life Safety Initiative No. 8 - The training introduces new technologies and safety initiatives that can produce higher levels of personal safety.

Life Safety Initiative No. 11 - The program educates firefighters on the latest best practices and initiatives that are designed to help keep them safe. Items such as the new national standard and federal rule requiring high visibility vests to be worn while working on any federally funded highways that goes into effect November 24, 2008 is presented in detail. The new requirements of NFPA 1901 regarding chevron markings, lighting and equipment requirements are discussed. Key issues of apparatus blocking and safety zone distances are included in "Best Practices."

Fire Service Leaders should consider asking the Responder Safety Team to get involved in their state programs. A number of states have already initiated responder safety training in their annual conferences.

The unique expertise of the ERSI organization coupled educational resources available through the Everyone Goes Home® program can bring very positive information and messages to your area. Reach out to these organizations and the Everyone Goes Home® Program Advocates to see what they can do to help you promote the Everyone Goes Home® program.

Getting in touch with the Emergency Responder Safety Institute is easy, just go to www.ResponderSafety.com and see what the Responder Safety Educational Team can provide to the state and regional advocates' efforts.

You can contact your State Advocate by visiting: http://everyonegoeshome.com/partners/advocates.html.