More than a Memory
This week will see another Sept. 11. The day before will be the 10th and the day after the 12th. However, seven years ago, Sept. 11 became a date seared into the memory of every American.
Everyone remembers where they were on Sept. 11, 2001. For the North American fire service, however, it is more than just a memory. In 2006, Shreveport, La., Fire Chief Brian Crawford described that day as a turning point for the fire service, everything before and after the “B.C. and A.D.”
What has changed in the fire service since that fateful day? We ask this question every year, not just to remember the FDNY firefighters who died trying to save thousands of people, but to look at the changes and progress of a once very traditional fire service.
In FIRE CHIEF’s September issue, Editor Rick Markley asked several of editorial advisory board members about the changes within their departments since 2001. Their answers are proof that 200-plus years of fire service tradition does not impede growth in emergency response.
I’ve seen two areas in particular that have evolved in the aftermath of Sept. 11: agency integration and increased health awareness.
On March 1, 2004, then–DHS Secretary Tom Ridge approved the use of the National Incident Management System. NIMS produced a document of standards and systems developed to integrate emergency response practices into a comprehensive national framework. While there‘s still a long way to go to standardize procedures and protocols across the country — terminology for one thing — a great deal of progress has been made since NIMS was first introduced four years ago.
It was shocking to hear how outdated the federal government‘s inter-communication system really was in late 2001. Federal, state, county and local agencies were compelled to address their lack of interoperability with radios, computers, cell and satellite phones, back-up systems, and even the third-tier use of ham radios.
FEMA recently released their communications strategy plan and a focus on response and recovery programs using the National Response Framework (formerly the National Response Plan) to include non-governmental organizations (Red Cross, Salvation Armies, etc.) Yet, seven years later, many firefighters still cannot communicate with each other on the fireground.
Sept. 11 also heightened awareness of firefighter and rescue workers health issues. According to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, more than 360 Ground Zero workers have died. Of those deaths, 154 had final cause of deaths determinations, 80 of which were deemed cancer.
Research made possible by FIRE Grants is revealing multiple medical issues related to firefighting, including exposure to asbestos and lead. Now there also is acknowledgement and treatment for mental health issues and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The biggest lesson from Sept. 11, 2001, is that anything is possible anywhere. “What if?” has raised fire departments’ awareness of their own preparedness.
Sept. 11. We will never forget.
September 20th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
In the arena of firefighter mental health under the United States Fallen Fire Fighter Foundations “Everyone Goes Home Life Initative” the National Volunteer Fire Council has added the following web address to it’s list of available on line resource and education materaial on stress, mental health issues section 13 of the initiative. Go to the following web address: firefighterveteran.com
and find easy accesable information on firefighter stress post traumatic stress and other related material that will help out. The web site has been running for 20 months and has had 126 thousand hits to date and growing.
Stay Safe
Shannon H. Pennington ptsd firefighterveteran
F.I.R.S.T. S.T.E.P. H.O.P.E.
care for the caregivers
firefighterveteran.com
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