NVFC B.E.S.T. Practices for Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety - Part 2 - Equipment

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The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) Volunteer Firefighter Health and Safety Priorities were developed in 2008 by the NVFC's Health and Safety Committee to continue to protect first responders with their B.E.S.T. Practices. B.E.S.T. stands for Behavior, Equipment, Standards and Training.  Part two of this series focuses on Equipment.

The NVFC wants all volunteer departments to purchase equipment that meets national standards and to require the proper use of full personal protective equipment (PPE) as shown on their poster that asks 'Is Your Department at it's B.E.S.T?'.

"And the poster itself signifies that by, you know, not just putting on an SCBA and air pack but also having that face piece on. Because the toxins are in the air and until the air is monitored and cleared by the officers, they should be wearing their face pieces," explains NVFC Board Member Deputy Chief Kevin Quinn of the Union Fire District in South Kingston, Rhode Island.

Bad habits and departments that are not up to speed on standard operating guidelines and procedures are part of the problem, according to Quinn. He adds, chief officers need to make safety and the use of proper equipment a priority.

Stephen Heydorff, Fire Chief, Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department says, "Everybody wears full PPE for all of our calls."  Capt. Greg Christmas, Paramedic Coordinator for the department continues, "Our department does go out of it's way to make sure that everything is safe." 

Departments also need to take care of and maintain that equipment. "We've made a concerted effort to make sure that everybody knows that's their 'office' so to speak, and keep it as safe as possible," said Christmas.

Training on all equipment is also important so all volunteers are proficient with all the equipment in the station.

"You have to be comfortable with your equipment. Your SCBA and your turnouts, that's your lifeline inside a fire. That's what's going to keep you from getting hurt, burned, killed, you know, keep you from frying your lungs," said Daniel Kitt, a firefighter with Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department on his first day on the job. 

This chief thinks all chiefs should lead by example because often they are the first at the scene. "The first thing I do is I don my PPE, I put my personal protection equipment on fully," said Quinn. He added, ""Sometimes we feel we're invincible in our business." And that's what can get firefighters hurt or killed.

The NVFC encourages all chief officers from volunteer departments to adopt and adhere to their B.E.S.T. Practices to keep their department 'at it's best!"

For more information on the NVFC's B.E.S.T. Practices visit www.nvfc.org/Health_Safety.

Tomorrow, join FDNNTV.com for a  look at the third Priority, Standards and Codes. 
Author:Barbara Brooks - FDNNTV.com