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By: Stephanie White, Firefighter/Paramedic and Guest Blogger Or at least that’s what my LinkedIn feed is telling me [National Employee Resource Groups Day 2024 was November 17th]. Being in the fire service I’m no stranger to ERGs and the solutions and guidance they provide, but I’m also going to use today to dovetail into a subject that I also know ...

The holiday season is upon us in the U.S. and Canada and that means children will be spending more time at home as many schools take breaks for the Thanksgiving (U.S.) and Christmas holidays. Thus, I’ve updated my original article and am sharing it today in hopes of preventing an unintentional shooting, especially one involving a child or teen.

I write because I want people to think, especially about what they don't know. My aim is to inform, educate, and challenge readers to encourage them to engage with new ideas. In return, I learn from their feedback.

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Today’s Firefighters face unique and intense challenges that can significantly impact their mental health. The nature of their work exposes them to traumatic events, physical danger, and elevated levels of stress. Like many issues facing our society today, the effects of those stressors have been amplified by the increased influence of social media and ...

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer I’m often asked why I continue to write and publish on this blog that I started in 2010. I, myself, sometimes wonder about the same thing because after fourteen years it sometimes becomes difficult to find fresh topics to expound upon. And then I get an email like this: Chief Avsec, I’m a Fire ...

In the bustling world of firefighting and emergency services, there’s a long-lost sister—a quiet advocate working tirelessly behind the scenes. Her name? Fire Service Psychology Association (FSPA). Dr. Kristen Wheldon, Psy.D is the President and Founder of FSPA, and has been championing her cause, but why haven’t the major fire service organizations rushed to embrace FSPA? Let’s explore this intriguing question.

Industrial/organizational psychologists specialize in understanding human behavior within the workplace. They apply psychological principles and research methods to improve various aspects of work environments, including performance, communication, job satisfaction, and safety [1]. Here’s why fire and EMS departments should consider integrating I/O psychologists into their teams.

By: Robert Avsec, Executive Fire Officer Today I learned of the passing of a former friend and colleague from my days with the Chesterfield (Va.) Fire and EMS Department, Lieutenant (Ret.) Bobby “Pop” Knight. To say “Pop” was the last of dying breed would qualify as the understatement of the year. Bobby Knight picked up the sobriquet of “Pop” by ...

I'm also not sure how these five topics address "back to basics." To my mind, this year's Safety Stand Down should be using the five days to address firefighter safety issues that continue to plague the fire service across the board after decades (e.g., lack of seatbelt use, lack of accountability systems, not wear PPE correctly or appropriately). Building the Foundation of a Training Program; Assessing the Needs of the Community and Department; Safety During Training; Physical and Behavioral/Mental Health Considerations; and the 12 Foundations of Fire Department Training.

In doing some research online regarding firefighter safety, I came across this "oldie but goodie" from one of the legends of the fire service in the U.S., the late Ronny Coleman. For firefighters and officers of a certain age, we grew up with Chief Coleman particularly as we read his classic monthly column in the old Fire Chief Magazine (the hard copy), The Chief's Clipboard. For me, reading that column provided my first real taste of officer development as I'd just been promoted to a company officer position in my department, the Chesterfield (Va.) Fire and EMS Department, nee the Chesterfield Fire Department. This was one such column.