The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) hosted a summit that produced 16 initiatives to serve as a blueprint for reducing firefighter deaths and serious injury.

Condensed into bullets, the 16 initiatives follow:

• Define and advocate the need for cultural change in the fire service.
• Enhance personal and organizational accountability.
• Focus attention on risk management.
• Empower firefighters to stop unsafe acts.
• Develop national training/qualification standards.
• Develop national physical fitness standards.
• Create a national research and data system relative to the initiatives.
• Use technology as it relates to health and safety.
• Investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.
• Ensure grant programs of safe practices.
• Develop national response procedures.
• Develop national procedures to violent incidents.
• Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling.
• Provide resources for public education in fire and life safety.
• Advocate residential sprinklers.
• Make safety a design consideration for apparatus.

Expanding on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation's (NFFF) 16 initiatives, this guide provides comprehensive safety tips and best practices for both firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel. These recommendations are designed to enhance safety, reduce risks, and promote a culture of health and safety within fire and EMS services:

1. Foster a Culture of Safety and Health

• Initiative: Define and advocate the need for cultural change in the fire service.
• Encourage a culture that prioritizes safety and health across both firefighting and EMS operations. This involves promoting open communication about safety concerns, continuous learning, and leadership support to implement safety measures effectively. Focus on fostering a mindset where safety is a collective responsibility, and all personnel feel empowered to voice concerns and suggestions.

2. Conduct Comprehensive Risk Assessments

• Initiative: Focus attention on risk management.
• Regularly conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards in various operational environments—whether on the fireground, during EMS responses, or within the fire station. Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies tailored to both fire and EMS scenarios, ensuring all personnel are trained to recognize and respond to potential dangers.

3. Continuous Training and Education

• Initiative: Develop national training and qualification standards.
• Provide ongoing education and training programs for both firefighters and EMS personnel. These programs should cover the latest firefighting tactics, emergency medical protocols, safety technologies, and emergency response techniques. Training should include hands-on exercises, simulations, and theoretical sessions to ensure all personnel are equipped to handle a wide range of emergency situations safely.

4. Strengthen Incident Command Systems (ICS)

• Initiative: Develop national response procedures.
• Reinforce the importance of a well-structured Incident Command System (ICS) to maintain organization, communication, and accountability during both fire and EMS operations. Regularly review ICS protocols and conduct joint training exercises that involve both firefighting and EMS personnel to ensure seamless coordination during multi-agency incidents.

5. Ensure Proper Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Initiative: Make safety a design consideration for apparatus and equipment.
• Ensure that both firefighters and EMS personnel are equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their specific roles. Firefighters should have turnout gear, helmets, gloves, and breathing apparatus, while EMS personnel should have gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns. Regularly inspect and maintain PPE to ensure it provides optimal protection.

6. Promote Physical and Mental Wellness Programs

• Initiatives: Develop national physical fitness standards; Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling.
• Establish comprehensive wellness programs that focus on physical fitness, nutrition, mental health, and stress management for both firefighters and EMS personnel. Encourage regular physical activity, provide access to mental health resources, and promote stress reduction techniques to prevent burnout, PTSD, and other mental health issues.

7. Enhance Rehabilitation Procedures on Scene

• Develop effective rehabilitation protocols for both fire and EMS personnel on scene to prevent overexertion and heat stress. This includes providing hydration, rest, and medical evaluation during prolonged or physically demanding incidents, ensuring that personnel remain in peak condition to perform their duties safely.

8. Use Technology to Improve Safety

• Initiative: Use technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety.
• Leverage advanced technologies such as thermal imaging cameras, drones, GPS tracking, electronic patient care reporting (ePCR) systems, and real-time communication devices to enhance situational awareness and safety during both fire and EMS operations. Continuously evaluate and integrate new technologies that contribute to safety and efficiency.

9. Promote Safe Driving Practices

• Initiative: Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices.
• Enforce strict policies on safe driving practices for all fire and EMS vehicle operators. Provide regular training on defensive driving techniques, vehicle dynamics, and emergency response driving to reduce the risk of accidents during transport to and from incidents.

10. Enhance Scene Safety Protocols

• Initiative: Develop national procedures for responding to violent incidents.
• Establish strict safety protocols for both fireground and EMS operations, including controlled entry and exit points, maintaining awareness of potential hazards, and having clear escape routes. Train all personnel to recognize and manage violent situations and coordinate with law enforcement as necessary to ensure safety.

11. Improve Communication Systems

• Ensure that all communication systems are reliable, interoperable, and effective for both routine and emergency situations. Regularly test and maintain communication equipment and train both fire and EMS personnel on its use to ensure clear, concise, and effective communication during all phases of operations.

12. Develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for High-Risk Situations

• Initiative: Investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses.
• Establish SOPs for high-risk situations such as structure fires, hazardous materials incidents, violent patients, and infectious disease exposures. Regularly review these SOPs, conduct drills, and incorporate lessons learned from past incidents to improve safety practices and reduce risks for both firefighters and EMS personnel.

13. Support Peer Support Programs for Firefighters and EMS Personnel

• Initiative: Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and support.
• Develop peer support programs to offer emotional and psychological support to both firefighters and EMS personnel. Train peer supporters to recognize signs of stress, anxiety, and PTSD and provide access to mental health resources to foster a supportive and resilient workforce.

14. Promote Infection Control Practices

• Initiative: Enhance personal and organizational accountability for health and safety.
• Implement rigorous infection control practices for both firefighters and EMS personnel, including proper hand hygiene, use of PPE, and cleaning and disinfection of equipment and vehicles. Educate all personnel on infection control protocols to prevent the spread of communicable diseases and protect both themselves and their patients.

15. Engage in Public Education and Community Risk Reduction

• Initiative: Provide resources for public education in fire and life safety; Advocate for the use of residential sprinklers.
• Collaborate with community organizations to provide fire and EMS safety education and promote public awareness about fire prevention, emergency medical response, and injury prevention. Educate the community on recognizing medical emergencies, fire risks, and the importance of safety measures like smoke alarms and residential sprinklers.

16. Monitor and Evaluate Safety Programs

• Initiative: Create a national research agenda and data collection system related to the initiatives.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of safety programs for both fire and EMS operations. Use data from incident reports, near-miss events, and safety audits to identify trends and areas for improvement. Continuously update safety protocols and procedures based on research findings and best practices to enhance safety for all personnel.

By incorporating these comprehensive safety tips and aligning them with the NFFF's 16 initiatives, fire departments and EMS agencies can foster a safer working environment and reduce the risk of fatalities and injuries. Emphasizing training, technology, communication, wellness, and community engagement is essential to creating a culture that prioritizes safety and health in all aspects of fire and EMS service operations.