The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) are co-sponsoring NFPA’s first Fire Service Video contest. Career firefighters, volunteer firefighters, fire department employees and fire service members are invited to submit an informative video which highlights their fire company operationally demonstrating firefighter health and safety.
According to NFPA, there were 73 firefighter deaths in 2010. This same year, 71,875 firefighter injuries occurred, 32,675 of which occurred during fireground operations. Firefighter health and safety are key principles of NFPA, and these educational videos will provide training tips and information that will help promote firefighter safety and well-being.
The contest will utilize the theme of International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week (June 17-23), which is “Rules You Can Live By.” The weeklong observance of safety and health is a joint initiative of NVFC and IAFC which is run in collaboration with more than 20 national and international fire and emergency organizations, including NFPA.
Members of the fire service can submit their company-level videos demonstrating the safe practices of any of the IAFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Survival and Incident Commanders and NVFC’s Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health. While any of the Rules may be used as the subject of each video, the following are a focus for NFPA due to their ability to help in promoting an increased awareness of safety and health. These rules are:
Safety:
- Determine the occupant survival profile
- Maintain continuous awareness of your air supply, situation, location, and fire conditions
- Ensure accurate accountability of every firefighter’s location and status
Health:
- Take steps towards meeting NFPA health standards, such as NFPA 1500
- Set S.M.A.R.T. goals for you health action plan — Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely
- Rehab after all physical activity — stay hydrated
These videos will serve as a resource to the fire service that NFPA will share with fire departments to assist them in reducing fireground injuries as part of local training efforts. NFPA, IAFC and NVFC will select finalists based on the best safety and health video content, as well as the creativity and enthusiasm they show in making the video.
The deadline for video submissions is May 11, 2012. NFPA, IAFC, and NVFA will choose four finalists and voting will be open to the public. The contest winner will be announced on June 12, 2012 during the Fire Service Section Reception at the 2012 NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.
For more information and a list of official rules, visit www.nfpa.org/fireservicecontest.
