The NFPA 1582 standard offers essential guidance for fire departments aiming to create tailored occupational medical programs that address the unique risks of firefighting. In this episode, members of VFIS Client Risk Solutions talk about the benefits of comprehensive medical assessments and discuss practical alternatives for agencies facing budget constraints.

We just released our 100th episode of the VFIS Don’t Risk It! podcast—and wanted to let you know that we’re truly honored that this platform gives us the opportunity to share meaningful conversations about the fire and EMS industry, safety best practices, industry news and more.

You’ve downloaded 19,000 episodes—and listened to our discussions for over 285,000 hours—and we cannot thank you enough for taking the time to listen, learn and prioritize the safety of your team.

Whether you’re new to our podcast community or already have your notifications for new episodes turned on—we’re so glad you’re here.

Join us for this special edition episode, where we dive into the inspiration, origin, and behind the scenes stories that have shaped the podcast series so far.

From ongoing driver training to fidelity practices, in our 100th episode, the VFIS Client Risk Solutions team shares the 5 most-common recommendations that we make during our on-site risk assessments of emergency service organizations (ESOs).

Join us next week for a very special celebration of our 100th episode anniversary, where we reflect on the journey of the Don’t Risk It! podcast so far.

In this episode we hear from members of VFIS Underwriting regarding the VFIS underwriting process and what they look for in a quality account.

It isn’t easy to get everyone together for training classes on a regular basis. In this episode, Rick Gurba, Director of VFIS Education and Training, gives us an update on enhancements to the VFISu platform, including the new Instructor Portal, which allows agencies to distribute training content effectively without members having to attend the class in person.

Turnarounds, exit ramps, crossovers – when responding to a highway incident, there’s always potential for something to go wrong. In this episode, Jake Hoover from VFIS Education and Training discusses some best practices for responding to scenes on highways with limited access.

Legal action against employers related to Employment Practices Liability (EPL) claims is rising. In this episode, we talk with Wendy Melk from Jackson Lewis regarding our EPLI helpline, provided to educate clients about HR-related legal risks and help prevent claims.

The records you keep, or don’t keep, paint a picture of your Emergency Service organization. In this episode, Mike Baker and Scott Harkins of VFIS Client Risk Solutions discuss the importance of recordkeeping, including what records to save and how to maintain them.

Is your crew in a state of readiness? How long have these individuals been awake and active on the road? In this episode, we talk with Daniel Althaus from Orange Cross Ambulance about the Fatigue Management concept and the steps they’ve taken to develop a proactive approach to managing fatigue.

Aditional fatigue management resouces on ResponderHelp. 

https://www.responderhelp.com/fatigue

The Don't Risk It podcast team is taking a well-deserved break this winter, but we will be back in January with new episodes. In the meantime, we are revisiting a few episodes that focus on critical issues emergency responders face in their day-to-day duties.

In 2020, gunshot wounds were the leading cause of injury and death to children. In this episode, Trauma Prevention Coordinator Shannon DePatto from Penn State Children’s Hospital talks about the hospital’s efforts to reduce pediatric injuries and trauma, and provides guidance on what emergency service providers need to know about safety when caring for and transporting pediatric patients.