Safe Firefighting

534 Words3 Pages
Black helmets and burned ears, these things are unavoidable sometimes in our profession, firefighting. Consequently, we, as a department have a culture of young firefighters that put themselves at increased risk to try and earn these badges of courage. Badges of courage, this is the problem, this mentality is what needs to change. An intact and non-heat-damaged helmet should be the goal. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department has to develop a culture of safe firefighting. There are three specific areas that our department needs to focus on; safe is braver than burned; only go deep enough to hit the fire, and get to a corner and pull hose. Enacting these principals will save lives. First, braver is better than burned. The senior firefighters must demonstrate this principle. New firefighters look up to the senior guys/girls for guidance and encouragement. Yes, the captain is their leader and supervisor, but the actions of our young employees are shaped more by their senior counterparts. Reminding senior employees about their responsibility to the younger generation plays a vital role in reshaping our culture; reshaping from mistaking a burned helmet as a badge of courage to achieving the goal in the safest way possible. Talking about it is not enough, we have to give them tools to prevent themselves from being burned.…show more content…
Hose streams reach over 100 feet, still, we, as a department, have an inherent need to be in the burning room to extinguish the fire. Consequently, firefighters are burning their personal protective equipment, which is completely avoidable. I understand that an interior attack on a fire is the most effective means of extinguishment. However, we can use the reach of the hose stream to keep us at a safer distance. Only the nozzle person opens the bale, but fire attack is a team

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