Developing Tomorrow's Firefighters
When most people think of firefighters, they think of courageous men and women rushing into burning buildings to save lives. Although challenges and dangers in this profession are understood, some specifics may not be as well known. On any given
Nowadays, one of the primary responsibilities of most fire departments in the United States is providing Emergency Medical Services to those in need. Fire departments have been responding to accidents and medical emergencies for decades. Yet, some readers may be
Founder of Future Firefighters, Roland Dykes, speaks on Our Ventura TV, about mandated COVID-19 vaccines for the LA County Fire Department. In a number of places around the world, vaccinations against COVID-19 have become a controversial topic. In this 10
The Firefighter Code of Ethics calls individual firefighters to commit to maintaining the highest level of professionalism and behavior. The Firefighter Code of Ethics is supported by local, state and national organizations, as well as prominent fire service leaders. I
Hotshots and smokejumpers are firefighting teams that specialize in suppressing wildland fires. Although “wildland fires” is a somewhat intuitive term, let’s look at three fundamental definitions to ensure we’re on the same page. First of all, “wildland” is a term
There are two general types of fire academies: 1) College Fire Academy for students interested in a career in the fire services. 2) Fire Academy for hired firefighters. Both may cover similar theory and skill-development but a hired firefighter does
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in the United States specifies that post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) “develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.” Their website further states: “Nearly everyone will experience a range
One of the definitions of “turnout” in the American Heritage Dictionary states: “An outfit or array of equipment, especially that worn by a firefighter.” Firefighter turnout gear (also known as bunker gear) represents the personal protective equipment (PPE) used by
Putting out fires may be the most visible and intuitive role of a firefighter, but there are a number of different job titles that pertain to a career in the fire services. Probationary Firefighter The probationary firefighter is at the
Firefighters are essential to their communities. The scope of their work stretches beyond what many people realize. Of course they do fight fires, but they also: Respond to medical emergencies Aid in search and rescue efforts Help with traffic incidents