State-of-the-industry insights
The What Firefighters Want project calls on all active firefighters to share their opinions and insights through FireRescue1’s comprehensive survey that goes beyond statistical exercise to serve as a platform for firefighters to voice their concerns, aspirations and ideas for evolution within the profession. The What Firefighters Want project is supported by the International Public Safety Data Institute (IPSDI) and the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC).
2024 SURVEY FOCUS: FIRE DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP
The What Firefighters Want in 2024 special coverage series explores a pain point from the previous two surveys: poor agency leadership.
What Firefighters Want survey respondents highlighted the need for clear career paths and reimbursement for training
Fire departments can help members by providing comprehensive wellness services
When does the expanded scope of work reach a tipping point, requiring a new staffing model?
Is your IC truly prepared, ready and able to execute on the fireground?
Professional development for the incident commander starts at the firefighter rank and continues up the training ladder
Despite strong scores, there is much work to be done to build effective fireground command skills
During wildfire season and throughout the year, FirstNet ensures communications and connection to critical systems are reliable when they matter most
ICs enjoy the confidence of firefighters during a mayday, but what is the basis for that faith?
Download your copy to unpack the survey results related to incident command training, mayday management, and successes and failures in focus
Survey respondents resoundingly recommend a career in the fire service – a vital stat amid growing recruitment challenges
Given all the research into decision-making under duress, it’s vital that ICs have a command tool at the ready
Unpacking the command-focused survey results and how ICs can level up their skills through training and operations
Now is the time for us to start thinking of command as a multi-person staffed function, just like we staff our other units
Several themes emerged among the thousands of comments from the What Firefighters Want survey respondents
Feedback, active listening and personal connections are critical to crew cohesion
A functioning command post needs a paper or electronic tool to be successful
Training, communication and safety mindsets show mixed results, but simple steps can set crews on the path to greatness
BUILDING STRONG LEADERSHIP
Just like an overgrown rose bush, if your department’s policies, procedures and practices have not been evaluated for efficiency, you will experience a lack of growth in all areas
With the right investment and buy-in, mentorship programs can facilitate skill development, career advancement and improve firefighter retention
Stop by the FireRescue1 booth to say hello
How do we inspire our members to grow and take the reins for the future?
How will the future of fire and EMS be impacted by federal government change, force multiplier technology and a new frontier for trauma patient care
Lessons learned from organizational culture-focused research
2023 SURVEY FOCUS: THE PERFECT STORM OF STRESS
More than 2,100 firefighters speak up about the perfect storm of stress and staffing challenges
The battalion chief addresses a worrying statistic about the impact of stress level on firefighters’ day-to-day work
Highlighting the most eye-opening results from the annual state-of-the-industry survey
For some, the private sector beckons while others may explore career transitions within the trades – but we can stop this exodus
Firefighters get real about one of the biggest issues facing the industry and how to fix it
Survey respondents share their experiences with staffing stressors
Firefighters pinpoint their top stressors and acknowledge the impact of stress on the quality of service provided
Firefighters feel generally positive about the job, but they report high stress, and many have considered leaving their organization
How officers mitigate these stressors for the benefit of themselves, their crew and the department as a whole
Amid stress and staffing challenges, firefighters still love the job – and encourage others to join the ranks
Firefighters speak up about how fire departments can better manage the staffing crisis to reduce stress levels
From family outreach to increased counseling access and more understanding from supervisors, firefighters are looking to leadership to step up in this area
Solutions to navigate the most common family-centric concerns voiced by firefighters
Firefighters are reporting crushing staffing challenges and increased stress
Fire service leaders can take action to increase awareness, access and applicability of these potentially lifesaving programs
It comes down to selecting the right members and training them in two key areas
Understaffed, overworked first responders need robust wellness programs to combat stress
We can all work from the same playbook
The FireRescue1 community considers what is driving high stress and staffing challenges
Volunteers want more mental health services, increased staffing to relieve stress and culture change to eliminate lingering stigma
Unpacking the survey data and identifying solutions to address the perfect storm of stress
Most agencies rely heavily on social media, career fairs and youth programs
While some firefighters are taking proactive steps to minimize the impact of stress, many others are caught in a vicious cycle of harmful behavior
While some departments are reevaluating their fitness and education requirements, among others, most have changed nothing
Fire families often bear an unacknowledged burden of stress rooted in staffing challenges
When does the expanded scope of work reach a tipping point, requiring a new staffing model?
2022 SURVEY FOCUS: FIREGROUND LEADERSHIP
Despite strong scores, there is much work to be done to build effective fireground command skills
Professional development for the incident commander starts at the firefighter rank and continues up the training ladder
ICs enjoy the confidence of firefighters during a mayday, but what is the basis for that faith?
Is your IC truly prepared, ready and able to execute on the fireground?
Several themes emerged among the thousands of comments from the What Firefighters Want survey respondents
Training, communication and safety mindsets show mixed results, but simple steps can set crews on the path to greatness
Now is the time for us to start thinking of command as a multi-person staffed function, just like we staff our other units
Departments that regularly conduct AARs are well-positioned to streamline their performance and increase their margin of safety
A functioning command post needs a paper or electronic tool to be successful
Feedback, active listening and personal connections are critical to crew cohesion
Survey respondents resoundingly recommend a career in the fire service – a vital stat amid growing recruitment challenges
SPECIAL REPORTS
ABOUT THE SPONSOR: FIRSTNET BUILT WITH AT&T
FirstNet is the only nationwide, wireless communications platform built with and for America’s first responders and the extended public safety community. Shaped by the vision of Congress and the first responder community following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, FirstNet is not a commercial network – it stands above. FirstNet was designed and built “from the ground up” specifically for first responders. With this mission in mind, FirstNet is the preeminent communications platform for public safety. Our mission is to provide the dedicated, mission critical solutions, advanced services, applications, and purpose-built devices that modernize public safety – wherever the next call takes you. With FirstNet, you get the reliable, highly-secure, prioritized coverage you need – when you need it – never competing with commercial traffic.
It’s in the face of disaster that we come together as a community
A recently published white paper establishes a path for public safety legislative advocacy
