1. Firefighter Life Safety Resource Kit
Firefighter Life Safety
Initiatives
Make Everyday a Training Day…So that Everyone Goes Home
c. 2006 NFFF

2. In April of 2004, fire service leaders
from across the United States
gathered in Tampa Florida.
At this summit meeting they began to
design a new fire service culture.
This new culture will be built on the
16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives
so that
Everyone Goes Home.

3. Life Safety Initiatives Program Goal
Since 1984, 3175 firefighters have
died in the Line of Duty—many
thousands more have been injured.
We accept 100 deaths every year as normal
Ten Years
2004 50% Reduction
Five Years
25% Reduction 2009
2014

4. The Initiatives Address Six Focus Areas
• Prevention
• Structural Firefighting
• Wildland Operation
• Health, Wellness & Fitness
Vehicles
•
• Training

5. The initiatives Address Six Root Causes for LODDs
• Ineffective Policies & Procedures
• Ineffective Decision Making
• Lack of Preparedness
• Ineffective Leadership
• Lack of Personal Responsibility
(inappropriate behavior)
• Extraordinary & unpredictable circumstances

7. Initiative # 1
Define and advocate the need for a cultural
change within the fire service relating to safety;
incorporating
leadership, management, supervision,
accountability
and personal responsibility.

8. What Initiative #1 Means
Cultural change has to begin with informal leaders,
managers, supervisors. From top to bottom: the
culture of the fire service must change. You can
change your behavior TODAY.
 Be part of the “NEW” Fire Service Safety Culture
 Examine your attitudes & behaviors regarding safety
 Realize that change is not a threat to the organization
 Embrace Health & Wellness programs & practice them
 Lead by your own example & make the difference—be
an agent of change

9. Initiative # 2
Enhance the personal and
organizational
accountability for health
and safety throughout
the fire service.

10. What Initiative #2 Means
Each fire service organization must promote safe practices;
each individual must have the tools to be safe and adhere
to safe practices at ALL TIMES.
 Follow SOPs at all times
 Train/Learn/Teach everyday
 Utilize Incident Command System
 Adhere to Vehicle Inspection Schedules
 Schedule and stick to equipment checks
 “Strap in and Stay In”
 Don’t take the environment for granted

11. Initiative # 3
Focus greater attention on the
integration of risk management
with incident management at all
levels, including strategic,
tactical,
and planning responsibilities.

12. What Initiative #3 Means
Learn the concept of “Risk Management”; Ensure everyone
understands the difference between and acceptable risk
and an unacceptable risk.
Develop and implement a system to pre-identify
unacceptable risks.
 Risk a lot to save a lot; risk a little to save a little
 Review every call
 Develop Command Teams
 Follow SOPs…Follow SOPs
 Know the function and status of every firefighter on
the incident scene…Everyone must be accounted for
at all times

13. Initiative # 4
All firefighters must
be empowered to
stop unsafe
practices.
No Helmet & Not using SCBA

14. What Initiative #4 Means
Firefighters must be allowed to identify and report unsafe
practices. They must be able to stop activities that present
imminent harm to themselves or others, without fear of
penalty or reprisal.
 Be aware of safe practices and look for unsafe ones
 Take the initiative to develop and implement
procedures to enable and empower firefighters to
stop unsafe conditions in training, on the fire ground
and during routine operations
 Never question integrity of those who speak out for
safe fire ground operations

15. Initiative # 5
Develop and implement national
standards for training, qualifications,
and certification (including regular
re-certification) that are equally applicable
to all firefighters based on the duties they
are expected to perform.

16. What Initiative #5 Means
Fire service departments are recognizing national certification
standards as a way to measure the competency of their
members. National standards encourage departments to
operate at higher levels of effectiveness
 Seek state and national certifications at all levels of
your fire department employment
 Support efforts toward mandatory re-certification or
refresher training; refreshing teaches new methods
and improves skills which are used infrequently

17. Initiative # 6
Develop and implement
national medical and
physical fitness standards
that are equally applicable
to all firefighters, based on
the duties they are
expected to perform.

18. What Initiative #6 Means
In this profession, health and wellness are non-negotiable.
Departments should establish and enforce SOPs which support
wellness; individuals must embrace wellness as a strategy for
successful fire service careers or seek employment elsewhere.
 Adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle, including making
healthful food choices and regular exercise
 Don’t smoke/Don’t do drugs/Alcohol in moderation
 Follow all health and wellness SOPs
 Be a Good Example
 Understand the impact your death would have on
your family, co-workers and community

19. Initiative # 7
Create a national research agenda
and data collection system that
relates to the initiatives.

20. What Initiative #7 Means
We won’t know if we are living the initiatives if we do not
collect data. Data analysis is the key to making any course
corrections regarding the Life Safety Initiatives. It will also
provide important corollary data.
 Encourage your department to participate in national
data recovery systems such as NFIRS
 Support data gathering at the local level
 Be vocal with local politicians about where your tax
money is spent—urge them to support our national
agenda for firefighter safety

21. Initiative # 8
Utilize available
technology
wherever it can
help produce
higher levels of
health and safety

22. What Initiative #8 Means
It is irresponsible not to use technology when it can
improve safety outcomes. Technological solutions should
be a leverage and a tool for improving fire ground safety.
 Attend conferences to keep abreast of new
technologies and take this knowledge back to your
department
 Encourage your department to employ Command
and Rescue vehicles on scene which are equipped
with technological advance systems which can be
integrated into the command system
 Become the technology geek of your department

23. Initiative # 9
Thoroughly investigate
all firefighter fatalities,
injuries, and near misses.

24. What Initiative #9 Means
Even if your organization is uncomfortable with sharing
information about a fatality, injury, or near-miss incident, it
is a moral obligation to do so. Knowing what happened can
prevent it from happening again.
 Implement investigations without delay—learning
can begin immediately
 Be familiar with NIOSH, FEMA, USFA, CDC, NFPA
reports. They can be studied to increase safety
 Encourage the collection of “near-miss” data. Near-
miss incidents provide excellent learning/training
tools
 Look for “Fatal Chain of Errors”