The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Emergency Responder Safety Institute are urging all fire chiefs and officers to immediately issue a safety and survival alert so their crews can obtain valuable training and information this week on operational road safety.
First responders are being struck on our roadways on an almost daily basis, with many tragically losing their lives, and the IAFC is hoping to educate and train others on how to avoid future incidents.
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During an emergency safety and survival alert, personnel are urged to postpone non-emergency tasks to focus on critical safety and survival training, and the Emergency Responder Safety Institute is offering a single portal with an online network for training with the goal of protecting personnel on the roadway.
You can visit www.respondersafety.com to access the ResponderSafety Learning Network, which offers a variety of resources to aid in training firefighters to be prepared for the dangers associated with roadway responses, including online modules and certificates for completion.
The ResponderSafety Learning Network also delivers the Federal Highway Administration National Traffic Incident Management Certificate, and there is no cost for any of the training or materials found on the site.
"Operations on roadways are high-risk, high-frequency events," said Chief Dan Eggleston, IAFC president and chairman of the board. "With distracted driving, drivers under the influence, along with road and weather conditions and related traffic, firefighters are more at risk now than ever before, and unfortunately, numerous recent crashes back that up."
Chiefs are asked this week to have all personnel review and discuss department policies and procedures to minimize the risk to firefighters operating on roadways, and they are also urged to access other resources available to educate personnel about safe operations.
The Federal Highway Administration has developed Traffic Incident Management, which includes a variety of best practices and resources, as well as a Traffic Incident Management Handbook. The FHA also offers the National Traffic Incident Management Responder Training Program.
The 2018 NFPA 1500 Standard also has an updated chapter dedicated to Traffic Incident Management (chapter 9) that requires training related to roadway-incident safety.
"We are losing too many firefighters and other responders to the battleground we call roadways," the IAFC said in a release. "Take a leadership position during this safety and survival alert and protect your people with valuable education and training."
