The December issue offers an opportunity to look to the future to see what awaits those in the fire service. First, I am sure most will say good riddance to 2020 and hope for a much better 2021. Looking ahead to the next year is never easy, but it is even more challenging because of the events of 2020.
It is hard to find too many negatives associated with fire-based EMS, but there are some challenges that need to be addressed, and some changes need to be made.
Technological advances have dramatically changed many things in the fire service.
Knowing the hazards and risks are important and need to be included in any reviews during training.
As the world gets more complex, so does the firefighter’s job. It is easy to sometimes overlook some facets of the job, but due diligence is required. Stay focused and prepared.
As many of these incidents are not frequent events for many departments, there is a need to prepare and understand the challenges.
Using technology to improve performance, efficiency, and reliability is applicable to all aspects of the fire service. This would include the various components that make up fire trucks.
Those who are trusted to make sure water gets to where it needs to be must know what to do when Murphy’s Law presents itself.
Where once there could be great standardization of policies and procedures, the variety of situations presented makes a “one-size-fits-all” approach difficult to maintain.
One of the biggest challenges many fire departments face is the addition of responsibilities to the public’s emergency response expectations.