Last weekend I attended the Everyone Goes Home
Summit at the National Fire Academy. First let me
say that it was my first trip there and it was very
impressive. If any of you ever get the opportunity,
take advantage of this resource and take in the
experience and knowledge offered there, along
with the great history of the area.
Now, on to the Summit and what I have been
pondering since I got back. The purpose of the
Summit can be summarized as an opportunity to
learn, teach and implement the Everyone Goes
Home initiative. This is the fifth year for this
program and there is still a generalized feeling of
the group that enough is not changing in regards to
firefighter injuries and LODD.
We met for the entire weekend and some
really great presenters gave their thoughts and
ideas and we were able to meet together and forge
our own thoughts and ideas. Discussion quickly led
back to “why” were things not changing? The word
for the weekend became “culture.” It was
unofficially decided, in my opinion, that culture
plays the largest role in how we go about our
business everyday, in every aspect.
When we speak of culture, we are not speaking
of ethnic culture, but instead the culture of our
organization. Culture can be defined as how an
organization acts, believes and operates in relation
to others and how we develop. So, all of what we
do is our culture. Do we train or do we not? Do we
have a great P.R. program or do we not? Do we
make our people wear seat belts and hoods? If we
do, do we tell someone to do it if they are not
meeting our expectations? If not, that is a part of
our culture.
So, how does this culture “thing” translate into
a safer, friendly firefighting organization? It is
simple; we cannot allow unsafe practices to exist.
If we see someone not wearing a seatbelt, we have
an obligation to speak up. If we something that
to speak up. This positive culture not only
encourages speaking up, but the organizational
leadership will back it up and lead by example. It
takes real leaders to cultivate and nurture a safety
culture.
We have to get away from pinning someone
down for doing something right that wasn’t popular
or seems “unmacho.” For the sake of our people
and ourselves, we have to hang our egos at the
softball fields, bowling alleys, fishing boats or
wherever you are competitive. The fire service has
killed many a firefighter because ego and wanting
to be “one of the guys” has prevailed at the wrong
time and the wrong place.
We all have a responsibility to make the right
choices. But, so many times the officers in charge
don’t do enough to make a difference. Let’s face it,
if an alarm sounding comes out and the captain tells
the young, new firefighter to not worry about
bunking out, then that new firefighter is likely not
going to argue about it and will not put it on. He
will certainly not pull his captain aside and say, “Hey
cap’ we are really supposed to wear our gear on
those calls.” It just isn’t going to happen.
Officers have to set the example and must
“lead” and not just show up and write the reports.
Be the example and promote doing the right thing.
Officers must take the initiative to pass on the
safety attitude and to allow it to grow in the
firehouse.
Take time to read the “16 Initiatives” and
think about what they mean to you and the
organization. Think safety and keep you and those
around you safer this year. Ask yourself, “What
am I doing to stay as safe as I can today?” Your
family and friends will appreciate it.