Fatalities in Fire Fighting Spur

Fatalities in Fire Fighting Spur Greater Safety Initiatives in the Industry

"From 1998 to 2005, 863 fire fighters died in the line of duty;" a number that many fire fighting organizations see simply as unacceptable (Noe et al., 2008, p 10). Unfortunately, too many firefighters are loosing their lives in the line of duty. Some succumb to medical conditions exacerbated in the hostile environment, while others find themselves victims of various traumas, where accidents could have been potentially prevented. After reviewing the clear tragic facts, government agencies have been very active in recommending prevention tips and encouraging additional safety programs to better provide for the health and well being of fire fighters around the country.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a several year investigation of fatalities within the firefighting profession in order to implement more effective prevention and safety programs after funding was appropriated by Congress in 1998. There are over a thousand recommendations made within the context of the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program (FFFIPP), which is the mainstay of the work conducted by NIOSH from the organization's investigation. The report breaks down safety initiatives in categories related to the nature of the possible situation that could lead to fatality in the field. Thus, there are recommendations for preventing fatalities related to medical conditions, trauma, and organizational practices within contemporary firefighting systems here in the United States. From these numerous recommendations have come the development of safety and prevention programs implemented on local and broader contexts.

In such a fierce field with a hostile working environment, firefighters are often subjected to strenuous conditions which test their physical capabilities and health. As a result of such extreme working conditions, many firefighters have medical issues and conditions which arise out of the stress and physical exertion of working in the field as a firefighter. Medical conditions did contribute to some of the numbers of fatalities seen in the initial NIOSH review. A number of firefighters succumbed to chronic heart conditions, suffering heart attacks and other coronary trauma while on the job (Noe et al. 2008). As a response to medical conditions spiraling into dangerous situations for many fire fighters, NIOSH presented the serious need to prevent medical conditions from worsening to the point of creating a life threatening situation in the field. NOISH generated recommendations that would later lead to programs to focus on preventing medical conditions from becoming an issue through more intensive medical screenings and a greater emphasis on the fitness and wellness of all members of fire squads around the country (Noe et al. 2008). The Everyone Goes Home firefighter safety program emphasizes 16 initiatives to help prevent the loss of life in contemporary firefighting. Out of these initiatives, several are based on increasing medical screenings and continuous training to keep firefighters in peak condition (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 2013). The idea of this and similar programs is to keep physical demands high of fire fighters in order to keep them in the best physical health possible. Routine medical checks are required, along with a strenuous exercise routines and expectations. Additionally, there are other support and safety programs that focus on working to increase mental and behavioral health as well as just physical health. These aim to help keep the firefighter's mentally cognizant, and thus better capable of doing their difficult job with less incidents and greater motivation to come out alive and well out of every fire situation. Stronger first responder health care provisions and options allow preventative programs to focus on generating a support system for first responders, including firefighters (Bourgeois 2013). This aims t strengthen fire fighter's mental as well as physical capacities on the job, reducing mistakes and resulting injuries.

In regards to preventing fatalities more trauma based, there are also a number of programs spurred from recommendations made by NIOSH in its 2008 review of the situation. Incidents involving traumas can occur in a wide number of situations. With fire fighters working in such a volatile environment, accidents and incidents can occur at almost any moment. Safety programs reflect a need for higher levels of risk management within the upper tiers of leadership among firefighters (National Fallen Firefighters Foundation 2013). NIOSH recommended a much more advanced and efficient risk management style for leaders, which has been adopted into numerous safety programs across the country.