As I read an email from a colleague the other day, I thought back to when I first came into the fire service. I recalled the equipment and practices I was introduced to and how the fire service has changed since then.

The Fire Department Safety Officers Association (FDSOA) has collaborated with the Public Safety Education Network (PSEN) to deliver an online Incident Safety Officer course. The new online course is based on the second edition of the textbook Fire Department Incident Safety Officer by David Dodson. The new online course will assist the student in preparing for the FDSOA's Incident Safety Officer Certification exam.

"I knew they shouldn't have been in there. I guess I should have spoken up." I recall this statement being made by a surviving firefighter when I was participating in a firefighter line-of-duty death review. I struggled with it and asked myself, "Why didn't you speak up? How could you not?" The reality of it is that I knew the answer already and it was simple. The "c- word," the one that I hate the most: Culture!

Nearly half of all firefighter deaths are attributed to heart attack. It's time to sound the alarm. Firefighters, EMS, police and their spouses are invited to assess their heart health at our 'Lifesaver' Heart Health Screening.

Safety, Health and Survival Week 2011, "Surviving the Fire Ground - Firefighter, Fire Officer & Command Preparedness," will take place June 19-25, 2011.
» Visit: www.iafc.org/safetyweek