Treating our own members

By Ben Thompson

We run medical emergencies all the time, most of which have a successful outcome. Why should it be any different when we treat a fellow firefighter? And how can we be prepared for such incidents?

First, talk about it. Reviewing recent line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) with your crew is one of the best ways to honor the fallen. There are a few good questions you should ask:

• What were the contributing factors?
• Was it heat-related?
• Was it on the scene or after the call?
• How would we have treated it?

Sometimes these discussions can lead to spontaneous training classes, which are often the best kind.