Risk Management Class #3

1. Risk Management Class #3 • Forward page xi • NFPA stats/study on f/f fatalities since 1977 • Through 2000 2800 fatalities • Over time fatalities have declined in number with credit given to • Vehicles, PPE, training, equipment, and ICS

2. Engineered vs. Attitude Solutions • Most credit give to engineered solutions • We continue to see high death rates in areas in which change in Behavior is required • ATTITUDE

3. Significant Improvements • Wide use of SCBA • 12 deaths in 1977 no SCBA • Today not a consideration • Apparatus improvements • Falls from apparatus not a consideration • Seat belts, better brakes, more lights, etc

4. Fatalities Have Decreased • 151 in late 70s • 127 in the 80s • 97 in 1990 • Just over 100 in most recent years

5. Persistent Problems • Heart Attacks • More that two fifths each year • Two thirds are over 40yo • 80% had existing problems • Motor vehicle related • One fifth of deaths past 20 yrs

6. Persistent Problem Not Recognized? • Structure fire fatalities • Dropped by about one half since 1977 • During the same time fires have dropped about one half • What's going on? • Are structure fire fatalities in reality on the decline? Fig 1-1 1-2 1-3, 1-4,1-5 pg 4,5&6

7. Persistent Problem Not Recognized • Structure fire fatalities at the same rate as 20 years ago, WHY? • Over reliance on modern PPE and equipment • Less experience • Not following proper command procedures

8. Persistent Problem Not Recognized • Training not improving enough • Not consistent with modern PPE in relation to its capability and proper use • Not consistent enough with modern construction • Not consistent with changing fire loads and their fire spread and heat characteristics

9. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • Traumatic injuries and fatalities happen when • F/Fs become lost inside a structure • F/Fs are overtaken by fires that rapidly spread, flash over or backdraft • NIOSH is one of the best sources of complete fatality analysis and recommendation for prevention

10. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • 87 F/Fs killed since 1990 by smoke in structure fires • 29 lost and ran out of air • 23 caught by heavy fire • 18 in structural collapse • 10 of the above in floor collapses • What's more dangerous fire above or fire below? • 69 of the above 70 wearing SCBA

11. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • 31 F/Fs killed by burns since 1990 • 12 killed in structural collapse • 14 caught in or trapped by • Rapid fire spread • Flash over • backdraft

12. Why Structure Fire Fatalities Happen • Statistics like these raise Questions • Are F/Fs taking more risk? • Lack of understanding of PPE and equipment capabilities or ignoring their limitations? • Construction changes have what effect? • Burning characteristics have what effect? • These questions need answers

13. What Can Be Done NOW • Good accountability that is practical • Partner up no free-lancing • Good RIT and procedures, on deck crews • Everyone has a radio • Good ICS • Good Situational awareness by everyone • Recognition of danger and quick action

14. What Can Be Done NOW • Comply with NFPA standards • Improve training • Building construction • Fire behavior • Coordinated tactics (working as a team) • Find ways of closing the experience gap • Statement about NFPA standards pg 8

15. Deaths by Type of Duty • Large proportion of fatalities happen on the fireground • In 2001 38% on fireground • Most in residential • However fires in non residential structure pose a greater hazard when looking at deaths per 100K fires fig 1-8 pg. 9

16. Cause of Death • Heart attacks a major cause • 40 fatalities in 2001 via Heart Attacks • 10 already had heart problems • 11 had heard disease • 3 were diabetic • No medical documentation on the other 16

17. Cause of Death • NFPA finding over 25 years • About 50% of heart attack victims had previous MIs or by-pass surgery • About 30% had severe arteriosclerosis disease • About 12% had high BP or diabetes • Older F/Fs at greater risk for MI • Review NFPA 1582

18. Cause of Death • Vehicle related • Too fast • No seatbelts • POVs • Training • Standards for drivers

19. Conclusion of Chapter One • See statement on pg. 15 and fig 1-13 • Case studies • Read incident • Think of suggested prevention actions • Describe to class

20. Chapter 2 Firefighter Injuries • Firefighter injuries have decreased • 130K in 1991 to 84K in 2000 • See fig. 2-2 pg 22 for type of duty • In 2000 NFPA estimated that • Over 11K exposures to Infectious diseases • Or 0.9 exposures per 1K EMS runs

21. Firefighter Injuries • Four major types of injuries • Strains and sprains • Wounds • Burns • Smoke or gas inhalation • Cause of firefighter injury • Overexertion, strain, falls, slips, and jumps

22. Firefighter Injuries • About 1% or 15K per year are vehicle related • In 2000 there were over 20.5 mil incidents responded to and collision represent only one tenth of 1% • Review • Tbl. 2-1 pg. 22 • Tbl. 2-2 pg. 23 • Fig. 2-3 pg. 24 • Tbl. 2-3 pg. 25

23. Firefighter Injuries • Are injuries really down? • Are we seeing the same problem persistent problem described in chapter one • Injuries per 1K fires are virtually at the same rate over the past 25years

24. Firefighter Injuries • Injuries by population and region • we are in the North Central region • The Northeast has more injuries, Why? • Population relates to number of fire and fires relate to number of injuries • Review • Tbls 2-4, 2-5 and 2-6 pg. 267 to 28

25. Improving Safety • Can all injuries be eliminated • Good risk management can greatly reduce injury which relates to various costs. • Case studies • Read incident • Think of suggested prevention actions