Tradition vs. Science in the Fire Service
Category: Fire
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. And Today’s Tip deals with keeping up with the latest information on how you fight fires today.
The challenge for everyone in the fire service today is to get informed about these studies and what they are learning.
Let’s face it, the fire service has been putting out fires for hundreds of years. Traditions are a big part of what makes the fire service what it is. Many of those traditions are a huge source of pride for firefighters and their organizations.
But, the fire service has also invested a great deal of time and money recently to partner with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to scientifically find out what is happening in today’s firefighting environment.
The challenge for everyone in the fire service today is to get informed about these studies and what they are learning. There is a ton of very good information that helps explain modern firefighting techniques.
What’s more important is everyone needs to start training and working to implement this information. This includes developing new policies and operating guidelines and then training everyone on the new procedures to win the day on the fire ground.
Get informed about this information online and learn about the new scientific information. A simple Google search will start finding key words like Flowpath, VEIS, and Transitional attack. Attend classes where this new information is taught.
Using scientific information and using the right tactics for the right situation will help put the fire out faster, and keep you and your fellow firefighters safer. It may be better than the “traditional way” of fighting fires.
And that is Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Gordon Graham, signing off.