I had the humbling honor last week of attending a planning meeting at the National Fire Academy for the Vision 20/20 and the Everyone Goes Home programs. The goal was to be able to “identify a coalition of actions that will fulfill goals and objectives of both Vision 20/20 and the Everyone Goes Home program by incorporating a greater awareness of fire prevention initiatives to enhance firefighter and civilian fire and life safety.”
As I looked around the table and saw the talent that was around it, I had two thoughts: One, what the heck I am doing here as my experience and credentials pale in comparison to the folks sitting there, and two, how can we not come up with solutions?
There was a ton of thought-provoking discussion and some minor debate ensued. I would not even begin to know where to begin to describe or pass along everything that occurred. Suffice to say it was all good.
The real intent of this article is to lay down a challenge to all chief-level officers, which follows on from one of the lines of discussion from the meeting. What if I told you I had an easy, no cost way to provide cursory online training to all members of your department in the discipline of basic community safety education — also known as preventing the 9-1-1 call.
Well, I do have it! Or, I should say the National Fire Academy has it online for us: Community Safety Educators (Q118) at Nfaonline.dhs.gov.
In a past article, I mentioned that several jurisdictions in the Washington, DC – Metro Area have implemented this in various forms. Fairfax, Va., Frederick, Md., and Montgomery, Md., have introduced this program in their recruit schools. Arlington, Va., took it a step further a year ago and had their recruits take the NFPA Fire Life Safety Educator I course. Fairfax City mandated all members of their department take it!
So here you have a free program that is online, supports the Everyone Goes Home 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives and all you are asking is that maybe the troops take the class while on duty (or off if they are so inclined). A lot of departments made it happen for NIMs training. Of course, there was a mandate and maybe federal grant monies at stake so a no brainer.
I now throw down the gauntlet to all chief officers: I double-dog dare you to mandate this FREE online prevention class for all members of your department!
I would love to hear from any departments who do implement this program so we can rightly sing their praises.