WASHINGTON, D.C. --
Wear your PPE every single time you go out the door, buckle your seat belt, get vaccinated, don't take unnecessary chances.
Those were among the suggestions from various panelists during seminars associated with the annual Congressional Fire Services Institute event underway here.
Fire and rescue officials constantly stressed the theme of the 22nd annual gathering -- Making the Right Decisions.
President Bill Jenaway encouraged the crowd to take advantage of their time in Washington, D.C. to build or nurture relationships. Networking, he said, is very important.
He also lauded staff for preparing an interesting agenda of seminars covering a myriad of issues.
In addition to seminars, attendees were encouraged to visit their representatives on Capitol Hill.
Chief Billy Goldfeder, an official with the IAFC and NFFF, told the crowd he finds it incredible that so little has changed in the way some fire departments are attacking fires these days.
He played a video of a recent van fire in Indiana in which firefighters without SCBA race up close to the vehicle. \"This is 2010. Are you kidding me?\" he said.
The crowd gasped when the fire flashed, and debris struck the firefighter in the face. He suffered eye injuries, and was taken to a local hospital where he was released after treatment.
Goldfeder said he was lucky as things could have been much worse. \"Where was the eye protection?\" he asked.
The deputy chief of Loveland-Symmes Fire Dept. stressed the need for doing the basics -- buckling up, putting on PPE and SCBA, and taking advantage of training opportunities.
\"Do it for the people in your wallet,\" he said. \"Do it for your families.\"
During another session, attendees received tips on making the best of their visits with representatives.
\"Learn to know the staff,\" said Steve Austin, vice-chair of CFSI's National Advisory Committee.
He also said they need to know the issues, and be ready to address both the pros and cons.
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Susan Nicol | News Editor
Susan Nicol is the news editor for Firehouse.com. She is a life member and active with the Brunswick Volunteer Ambulance & Rescue Company, Oxford Fire Company and Brunswick Vol. Fire Co. Susie has been an EMT in Maryland since 1976. Susie is vice-president of the Frederick County Fire/Rescue Museum. She is on the executive committee of Frederick County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association. She also is part of the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) Region II EMS Council. Susie is a board member of the American Trauma Society, Maryland Division. Prior to joining the Firehouse team, she was a staff writer for The Frederick News-Post, covering fire, law enforcement, court and legislative issues.
