BY JERRY HOLT
We’ve got to change the way we do things. It’s a simple statement, but a challenging task. We have heard the cry for cultural change in the fire service for years, but sometimes it feels as if things never change. We know that some of the things firefighters do increase the likelihood of death or injury, but we continue to act in a highly predictable manner and are shocked at the consequences.
Many educational initiatives designed to address the culture of the fire service are underway. Many experts and classes tout the need to change the fire service’s culture to significantly reduce death and injury rates; most of the classes include a component that addresses culture. The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Frontline Safety course is one of the many resources available to improve firefighter health and safety. It does an excellent job of addressing some of the key issues that are often at the heart of firefighter deaths and injuries, exploring the fire service’s safety culture and how our firefighter values might not always match our actions. As a student in the IAFF’s Frontline Safety two-day course, I was happy to see more than a few “ah ha” moments among attendees.
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