- One Dead in Wisconsin House Fire -
Jan. 31, 2009 - Teen Still Missing In Pennsylvania
House Fire - Jan. 30, 2009 - Pennsylvania Blaze Claims Two -
Jan. 26, 2009 - Mother, 4 Children Die in South Carolina
Fire - Jan. 25, 2009 - 3rd fire victim still in 'critical' after Friday
blaze that killed 2 Teens - Jan. 23, 2009 - Two Children Die in Ohio House Fire -
Jan. 21, 2009 - Mobile Home Fire Claims Four Children
in Louisiana - Jan. 17, 2009 - Three Children Killed In Georgia Fire
- Jan. 16, 2009 - Four Children Killed in Iowa House Fire - Jan. 14, 2009
- 2 Adults, Child Die in Virginia Mobile
Home Fire - Jan. 12, 2009 - Three Dead in Oklahoma House Fire
- Jan. 5, 2009 - Eight Killed in Upstate New York Fire -
Jan. 5, 2009 - Six Perish in District of Columbia House Fire - Jan. 1, 2009
Forty-four lives lost in January alone and most were children! How did we, the American fire service, let this happen?
While I recognize that we did not set the fires, I can not escape the feeling that we have let our customers down in a huge way. The above startling statistics are proof that we have a great deal of work ahead of us.
Now, I know that most of us did not sign up for this job in hopes of spending our days talking to civic groups or classrooms full of antsy children so please do not crucify me for the following.
In my travels, I always make a point to listen in or spur a conversation about prevention efforts and pubic relations. I like to hear what is, and in many cases, is not happening across our nation in the field of public education. I am always amazed at the big things the little departments are doing and the little things that the big ones are doing. But the fact that something is being done gives me hope that improvement can be made and that February won't be nearly as deadly as January.
In this day and age of economic difficulty, it is imperative that we take every opportunity we can to share our message. I ask you to consider how many times a shift you come in contact with a civilian. I will venture a guess that as a public servant you likely cross paths with on average 10 or more customers per shift.
I offer to you that there are 10 opportunities for public education should you choose to take advantage of them. Do you take the engine to the grocery store? What would it hurt to tell the cashier about smoke detectors or, better yet, someone behind you in line? Do you conduct service calls? What harm is done if while lifting a patient off the floor you happen to mention that practicing exit drills could mean the difference in his or her life? The possibilities are endless and they cost nothing more than a few seconds of your time in most cases.
So, you say that you are not the pub ed type? Well, if I had a dime for every time I heard that! I am willing to bet that you have something that really gets you fired up in our profession. Are you the high angle rescue guru? Are you the trauma hog? What about the extrication god? There is something, no doubt, that you start your day off hoping to encounter during the course of your shift.
Well, what is a message that you can share to better protect our customers? Hey, if you are going rock climbing this weekend, be sure to let someone know where you are going. Hey dirt bike racer, be sure to wear a helmet when you ride. Or my favorite (and this applies to those on our apparatus as well), did you know that wearing a seat belt in an automobile improves your chance of survival by more than 79 percent. It is all too easy for our messages to be reinforced and shared yet we fail to do it every day.
Our profession talks a great big game when it comes to public education and fire prevention. That is a start but only a start. I challenge you to listen to those you work with the next time you are in a store or even at a public display. What is being said? What messages can you or they express to reach that person or those families? And it is vital that whatever the message is that it be right and common amongst our service. We need a united front that is always moving forward taking any opportunity presented to spread the word about safety.
The preceding examples were simple yet effective. Beyond such simple things like those it must be acceptable in your station, in your department, in your region to embrace education and value what it brings to you. Imagine if you will that a person you speak to today is able to prevent a fire tomorrow that could have killed you or a fellow firefighter. That is the reality of it all! Every person we reach is one more ally in our safety oriented quest and to that end is it not better to fight a war with an army instead of a platoon?
So tell me my brethren, how many more of our citizens, our customers, our family members must die for us to realize that we are missing golden opportunities to protect them? And if you can not answer that question, revert back to the title, "Where do we draw the line?"
LEE LEVESQUE is a firefighter and public affairs officer for the Lady's Island St. Helena Fire District in South Carolina. A 20 year veteran of the fire service, both career and volunteer, and is a fire and life safety educator instructor. Lee is a member of the NFA Alumni Association. You can reach Lee by e-mail at: [email protected].
