“The importance of driver training of fire apparatus cannot be overstated,” begins IFSTA Executive Director Mike Wieder. Driving to and from emergency calls is the most dangerous activity a firefighter does on a daily basis, and the implications drawn from this are obvious. All drivers must be trained to the national standards, NFPA 1002 specifically, which offers theoretical and practical recommendations of knowledge needed for each apparatus type. Allowing drivers to operate vehicles they are not specifically trained to drive puts crew members in unnecessary peril and impacts capacity to arrive at a scene to offer life-saving interventions.
“Having drivers that have been properly trained on that apparatus, not just on any apparatus, but on the apparatus that they’re expected to drive, is crucial to ensuring the safety of our firefighters.” – Mike Wieder
Related:
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Lt. Dustin Dunn, Gallatin (TN) Fire Department
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Chief Robert Fling (Ret.), Dix Hills (NY) Fire Department
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Deputy Fire Chief Steve Przibowski, Santa Clara County Fire Department
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Mike Wieder, Executive Director, IFSTA
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Paul Melfi, State Fire Instructor, New York State Office of Prevention & Control
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Fire Chief Shane Ray (Ret.), President, National Fire Sprinkler Association
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Rich Marinucci, Executive Director, Fire Department Safety Officers Association
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Mike Wieder, Executive Director, IFSTA
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Deputy Chief Tim Cowan
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Captain Rich Goddard
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Captain David Harris
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Deputy Chief Matt Tobia
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Chief Trisha Wolford
- Everyone Goes Home® Speak Up – Captain John Dixon
