Initiative 3 – Risk Management

Risk Management is defined as the identification and analysis of exposure to hazards, selection of appropriate risk management techniques to handle exposures, implementation of chosen techniques, and monitoring of results, with respect to the health and safety of members.  There is no question that firefighters are expected to work in dangerous environments but most risks and dangers are well known.  What we have to do is be able to function safely in these environments by implementing risk management controls.  The 3rd Initiative asks us to function safely in high-risk environments by implementing risk management controls wherever they can help reduce injuries and line-of-duty deaths.

After reading the required weekly readings, and reviewing the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives section regarding Risk Management on the website Everyone Goes Home, write a post that achieves the following:

1. Why is risk management an important component of incident management?

2. Please read the Case Study below and answer the following questions:

Case Study:  You respond on Engine 265 to a house on fire and arrive just as the picture windows break out, spreading fire to the front porch.  Your lieutenant tells you to pull the attack line while he completes a 360 of the home.  As you pull the hose line, a neighbor grabs your arm and pleads with you to go get the family that is still inside.

     A. How does risk management factor into this incident?

     B. Is the hose line essential to rescuing the family?

     C. How can the stress of the incident affect your decision making?

Initiative 4 – Empowerment

It is well known that some incidents exceed the capabilities of first arriving units, but safe actions build the foundation for effective actions and, ultimately, a positive incident outcome.  Unfortunately, some aspects of our tradition tend to build the foundation for unsafe practices.  Our goal is to have every member fully engaged during an emergency incident with a focus on doing the work in a proficient manner and looking out for one another to avoid injuries and potential line of duty deaths.  The 4th Initiative states that all firefighters must be empowered to stop unsafe practices.

After reading the required weekly readings, and reviewing the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives section regarding Empowerment on the website Everyone Goes Home, write a post that achieves the following:

1. Explain empowerment and how it relates to the fire ground.
2. Please read the case study below and answer the following questions:

Case Study:  As you advance the attack line from Engine 265 ahead of your lieutenant, you pause at the front steps of the porch to knock down the flames that are venting from the front windows.  Suddenly, boards from the ceiling of the porch drop in front of you.  You stop your forward movement, fearful that the entire porch is beginning to collapse.  Your lieutenant continues to push you forward and yells that you need to make entry into the home.

     A. How do you know if the front porch is going to collapse on you?
     B. Is the lieutenant aware of what just happened?
     C. How would you address your concerns to the lieutenant?

Initial Post:  Your initial post must be a minimum of 300 words and should fully use the materials that have been provided to you in order to support your response.