Firefighter Safety

The importance of safety in the Fire Service

Fire safety is very important in the field of fire fighting. Safety needs to be respected by everyone who works together or else something can go wrong. Firefighter safety is an essential part of the job. Some of the safety precautions used by departments are intended to prevent firefighters from injuring themselves and to protect their lives. In this essay I will talk about the importance of using SCBA and the importance of maintaining team integrity when fighting fire or any other incident firefighters are faced with. I will also mention the importance of maintaining a good health to be able to perform your job safely.

One of the most important equipment issued to firefighters is there self contain breathing apparatus. This equipment protects the respiratory system from inhalation burns as well as
inhalation of toxic chemicals. The poisons that a firefighter encounters in smoke include carbon monoxide, benzene, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, and sulfur dioxide, sulphuric acid and polycyclic hydrocarbons. All which are very toxic to the respiratory system, but one of the most toxic gases phase by firefighters is carbon monoxide. This incomplete product of combustion will bind with hemoglobin and keep excluding oxygen causing asphyxia Due to all these toxic gases that fire fighters may encounter during a fire, it is extremely important for fire fighters to use and maintain their self contain breathing apparatus.
The protective clothing is also very important when fighting fires. This equipment is important to maintain because it will protect the firefighters from heat or sharp object that firefighters may step on a fire scene. It is extremely important that we maintain all our gear in good shape and those we inspect them properly because it will save our lives.

Firefighting is a physically demanding occupation because they have to perform heavy physical labor under extreme environmental conditions. Unlike manual jobs where most of the effort has been engineered out of manual handling tasks, firefighters must respond to an ever-changing set of environmental conditions for extended periods. Staying in a good physical shape will help you perform this demanding duties that are required of a firefighter. It doesn’t only help you perform your job to the maximum capacity but it’s a good way to reduce the stress.

Team integrity is also a very important safety measure that firefighters should consider.
We have been taught that a firefighter should not enter a hazardous atmosphere by themselves working as team not only makes the job easier but is a good way to keep on eye on each other. If you become injured you have someone their too help you out. Being alert of your surrounding is a also away to stay safe when working in the fire department because your are surrounded by danger situations. Firefighters should maintain situational awareness because it will help you make the right decision that may safe your life. Risk management is important to consider when dealing with safety. It is important to evaluate the situation you are getting into to make the right decision if it’s worth the risk the you are going to take. As a new firefighter you might be to excited and urging to make a difference that you might not realize the risk you are getting into. It’s important for you safety to listen and take advice from veteran firefighter because they have the experience to do the right
thing.

Safety is one of the top most priorities of the fire department it is essential that we as new aspiring firefighter be aware of this. It’s important that we learn about personal safety like maintaining our selves in good physical condition to be able to perform the job of a firefighter. It’s also vital for us a as firefighter trainees to learn how are gear work and what are the limitations of it. Understanding the importance of team integrity is essential because we don’t want to find our selves in a situation that we are in trouble and we are by our selves. This job can be very dangerous at time an it is significant that safety should be our primary concern, because at the end we all want to go home.