Here are three Web sites you should bookmark and read often.
1. Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program: www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire
This Web page provides access to NIOSH investigation reports and other firefighter safety resources. Read through some of the reports. Pick a few that look similar, and read the investigation conclusions. The conclusions are often the same, showing that we’re making the same mistakes over and over. Plus, you might see that you (or others in your department) are engaging in activities that have lead to the death of a firefighter.
2. National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System: www.firefighternearmiss.com/home.do
The National Fire Fighter Near-Miss Reporting System is a voluntary, confidential, non-punitive and secure reporting system with the goal of improving firefighter safety. By collecting and analyzing information on near-miss events, improvements can be made in command, education, operations and training. On this Web site, you can submit near-miss reports so others can learn from your mistakes. You can also read reports submitted by other firefighters. I suggest visiting this Web site before each training session, and contributing to it after each training session and call. Nothing ever goes perfect, and it’s good to let others know if you had any type of close call. Also, you can report good things here as well.
3. Emergency Safety Responder Institute: www.respondersafety.com
There’s tons of stuff on this site about operating safely on our roadways! Created as a committee of the Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, the institute serves as an informal advisory panel of public safety leaders committed to reducing deaths and injuries to America’s emergency responders. Members of the institute are personally dedicated to the safety of the men and women who respond to emergencies on or along our nation’s streets, roads and highways.
Check out these Web sites as often as you can to keep safety at the forefront of your mind.