Firefighter Training Fatalities Put into Focus

[JM15 386]

Courtesy of www.firehouse.com

Firefighter Training Fatalities Put into Focus

SUSAN NICOL KYLE

Firehouse.Com News

Each year, a number of firefighters are injured and killed while training to do their jobs.

On Sunday, two Texas firefighters fell to their deaths while participating in a drill that involved a new E-One truck with a platform.

An investigation is underway to determine what happened at Kilgore College. Firefighters trained there because the eight story dormitory building is the highest in town.

Last year, nine firefighters died during training activities across the country, according to a preliminary report issued by the U.S. Fire Administration.

During 2007, 11 firefighters died during practice sessions compared to nine the previous year.

The USFA annual on-duty firefighter death report includes fitness sessions as part of training.

In a study released in 2006, NFPA researchers said 239 firefighters have died during training in the past 29 years.

"Training is a vital part of fire department operations, but it too often results in unnecessary death and injuries," NFPA officials wrote.

NIOSH, the agency responsible for investigating firefighter deaths, released a report card on itself last June following a survey.

The study showed that firefighters are only moderately aware of NIOSH's function. Following an investigation, recommendations are included as part of the report.

While some of those recommendations are shared with crews or posted on bulletin boards, the study found "two fifths of fire departments do not disseminate information from NIOSH to frontline firefighters at all."

[Guest alsfirefighter]

It is all but too true about the NIOSH info getting out. Regardless of whether or not a department gets out the info NIOSH reports when published are open to all to view through their website through the CDC.

Also the majority of instructors are very aware and due their max to keep our students safe while trying to train them to do the job and to advance within it. Are all accidents avoidable. No but you still have to do the best to limit them. All too often the LODD's occur not because of an accident or unavoidable event but preventable things. This is particularly true with the live fire training deaths that have occurred from other then medical reasons. NFPA 1403 is mentioned in every single one that following could have prevented the deaths from occurring.

What we do is dangerous. But I never was directly shot at to prepare for combat.

Look at some of the NIOSH reports. Its sad to see how many recommendations your department is lacking in.

www.cdc.gov/fire/