Unavoidable Trends
Last weekend, I delivered a presentation on fire service trends at the Buffalo Trace Regional Fire Academy in Maysville, Ky. More than 400 firefighters — primarily volunteers with ages ranging from 18 to 70 — were signed up for the three-day academy.
Because Kentucky firefighters are required to meet certain hours for state certifications, State Fire Commissioner Ron Davis said the state provides the regional training at no charge. One of the most popular classes at the academy was a two-day basic firefighting course for new firefighters and seasoned firefighters who want to brush up on their skills. Also among the 16 classes being offered were highway crash–site management, occupant protection and an eight-hour firefighter survival course.
The evening before my presentation, I had the opportunity to meet several firefighters at a nearby pub. They shared with me a number of their concerns as volunteer firefighters who are trying to balance work and family, and over the need for more training in the current economy. One training officer explained that the lack of jobs has sent volunteers out of the region, some driving 50 to 60 miles each way to work. “There’s no time to train and even less time to respond to calls,” he said.
Recruiting and retaining members and balancing budgets are universal problems, and managing them can be very stressful. In fact, firefighter stress was one of the trends I identified in my presentation.
Recently I heard a fire chief say that volunteer firefighters are most susceptible to emotional stress because “when they respond to a call, they know the people they are working on in their town.” When I shared that comment with the volunteers, they nodded in agreement.
After my presentaion, a young firefighter came up to me and told me he once had to help cut his brother and a friend out of a car after a bad accident. The brother survived, but the friend was killed. I told him that he had a long career ahead of him and I hoped he would learn how to deal with the stress he would encounter.
Of course, support of family and friends goes a long way to relieving some of that stress. To that end, FIRE CHIEF once again will be gathering names and contact information of firefighters and emergency personnel who either are serving our country overseas or are veterans recovering back home.
If you know firefighter, EMT, paramedic or other first responder who would appreciate receiving a holiday card or package from fire departments or fire families here in the U.S., send his or her contact information to me, and we will post it on our Web site.
It’s time to remember those who are away from home for the holidays and let them know we care.
November 5th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
As a long time volunteer I see these kinds of things all the time. Here in NY I think we have the wrong people developing classes. When a volunteer has a big life commitment and they still want to serve. The state heaps long classes of many our as requirements. I think we need to develop short modules that should be repeated many times over the year so these people can get the training they need. And classes should be developed to teach the basics then more advanced subjects. Classes should also cut out the fluff and should be tailored to the people taking the class. Example, I recently took a class where more than half of the class was about how to manage an incident on limited access highways. About 25% on rurual roads and highways. Of the 20 volunteers in the class not one inch of limited access roadways were in the areas. I believe online and modular training is the only way. We cannot afford to replace all the volunteers with paid staff. So we better start doing something before it is to late.
November 5th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
Ms Wilmoth,
I have read and enjoyed many of your articles. We have dealt with topic in our Combination Fire Protection District (4 of 55 are paid) by having a mandatory meeting after an incident if one of 18 events occurred.
The concept is called Peer Support Consuling developed after a small plane and an commercial air carrier collided over San Diego. Many Fire Service, Police, Ambulance personnel, and other first responders retired within a week prematurely in most cases. When a similar event occurred later and after this program was in place, no one retired.
Basically it is run by a trained fire service (for the Fire Service) personnel asking questions and allowing the people to volunteer in giving their answers. While participation is volunteer, the attendance for this District is mandatory. This takes away the peer presure of being classified as less than a “tough” firefighter.
We invite all people who have participated in the incident, including the police agencies, ambulance, and dispatchers. Make sure you have tissues, even the hardest most grizzled employee may become emotional.
The reason for having the Peer Support Counseler being a trained fire service personnel is they know the langusge being spoken and they have walked the road themselves. The Peer Suppor Counselor is not a Paratherapist. Instead, the Counselor is trained to determine if the affected personnel need more definitive counseling.
These Peer Support Counselors are also trained to recognize such behaviors that are consistant needing more care, including people contemplating suicide or drug abuse and ask the questions to get these people assistance. These activities must be done in such a way as to not invade privacy without permission or compromise the confidentiality of the individual.
Training of the Peer Support Counselor is intense, but it give the Peer Support Counselor a diffetent facet to helping others. I highly recommend this program.
Explanation exixts for easy access for those interested. Internet search for Peer Support Counselor or Cousenseling should bring about a plethera of options. Thank-you for allowing me a venue to air this view.
Respectfully subnitted,
Jay Huyssoon
Fire Chief
Cordelia Fire Protection District
Fairfild, California
The meeting will occur prior to the personnel being released to go home.
November 6th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Hi Janet -
I always enjoy reading about trends as projected by fire service leaders such as yourself. Will your presentation be published or can we otherwise access it?
Thank you
Tom
November 10th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Janet,
It is a nice thing you are doing to support firefighters, their families and friends. We are trying to do the same thing with our ‘With All Due Repsect’ LODD Resource Program.
Our program can be accessed at http://www.lighthouseuniform.com/LODDResourceProgram/
Please take a moment and take a look. If you appreciate its value and would like to help make sure it is available to every firefighter’s family needing it, we could certainly use the help in getting the word out.
Janet, please respond to this note and let me know if I should give you a call.
Best regards,
Steve Cohen, Pres.
Home of the Fallen Fire Fighter Dress Uniform &
‘With All Due Respect’ LODD Resource Programs
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