Firehouse World's Big Room Sessions Provide Insight into Big Incidents

The last article provided a brief summary on pre-conference classes that benefit firefighters looking for educational offerings that provide a comprehensive overview of specific topics. In addition to pre-conference education, Firehouse World features moderated panels and Big Room sessions that provide a different way to learn. The moderated panels feature multiple fire service leaders providing a different viewpoint in a interactive setting on the show floor. Big Room sessions cover recent fireground incidents. Check out the below offerings, only available at Firehouse World

Moderated Panels  

Moderated Panel Discussion on Fire Dynamics and the Modern Fireground: US / International Perspective

Panelists: 

• Steve Kerber, Director, UL-Firefighter Safety Research Institute
• Derek Alkonis, Assistant Fire Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department
• Ed Hartin, Fire Chief, Central Whidbey Island, WA, Fire & Rescue
• Ian Bolten, Firefighter/Program Director, District of North Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services
• Lars Ågerstrand, Battalion Chief, Varnamo Fire & Rescue, Sweden
• Dave Payton, Instructor, West Midlands Fire Service, Birmingham, UK

Big Room Sessions 

Houston’s Darkest Day – The Aftermath of the Southwest Inn Fire  

Houston's Executive Assistant Chief Richard Mann will discuss the May 31, 2013 incident at the Southwest Inn where four Houston Firefighters died tragically in the line of duty following a structural collapse. Topics covered will include the specifics of the incident, lessons learned, and recommendations on guiding a department in the aftermath of a line of duty death.

Civil Unrest: A Real Threat to Public Safety (Baltimore Riots Lessons Learned)

Most would say manmade or natural disasters and terrorism are the greatest threats to public safety.  Training and exercises focused on disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, hazardous materials, and terrorism.  Baltimore assistant fire chiefs Jeffrey Segal and Mark Wagner show why it is time to prepare for the modern and frequently overlooked threat to public safety “Civil Unrest."

Firefighter’s Leading Health Risks on the Modern Fireground

In the summer of 2015, the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) led a trailblazing project with UL’s Firefighter Safety Research Institute and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to study the cardiovascular and chemical exposure risks on the modern fireground. This presentationm with Gavin Horn, director of research, IFSI and Denise Smith, professor for Health and Exercise Science, Skidmore College, will take you through the motivations for this project, describe the detailed data collection procedures and provide an insight into what this information will mean for the fire service moving forward.    

Check out FirehouseWorld.com for the entire educational offerings.