Don't Risk It! Podcast

Background checks are more than a hiring or onboarding step—they play an important role in protecting your people, organization, and community.

Joe DeSanzo, Executive Vice President of Growth and Strategy for Cisive, joins Chris Rodgers from VFIS to discuss IntelliCorp, a division of Cisive that provides background checks and identity verification services for employers.

Listen to hear them talk about:

• Why background checks are a critical part of the employee and volunteer selection process
• How IntelliCorp's background screening services help support emergency service organizations
• How VFIS clients can utilize IntelliCorp services at a discounted price

Take less than 19 minutes to learn how IntelliCorp's background screening solutions can support your ESO's hiring and volunteer screening efforts.

Recruiting the next generation of volunteer firefighters has become increasingly challenging. Empire Hose Company 3 of the Merrick Fire Department in New York is taking a creative approach to this issue—and seeing positive results.

In this episode, Jon Loew and Kyle Stibritz from Empire Hose Co. 3 join Chris Rodgers from VFIS to discuss the Empire Games, a competition designed to introduce high school students to firefighting through hands-on training.

Listen to hear them talk about:

• Activities that make up the Empire Games
• Firefighting skills students develop through hands-on training
• Benefits the Empire Games have provided

Interested in bringing a program like this to your department? Reach out to Jon at [email protected] to learn more

Electric vehicles have increased in popularity over the years—but when an EV catches fire, fire departments can face challenges when extinguishing and managing the vehicle.

Deputy Chief Rick Reeg from Aldine Fire & Rescue in Houston, Texas, joins Chris Rodgers from VFIS to discuss the EV Tainer, a specialized piece of equipment his department uses to manage electric vehicle incidents.

Listen to hear them discuss:

• The challenges departments face when responding to electric vehicle fires
• How the EV Tainer works to contain, extinguish, and safely relocate burning vehicles
• The benefits of using an EV Tainer compared to other methods

Learn how Aldine Fire & Rescue uses the EV Tainer to respond to electric vehicle incidents—and how the equipment could help your department manage these challenging calls.

Are you overlooking property hazards that could turn into a major incident at your facility?

Listen to hear some common risks we observe at emergency service organizations relating to:

• Above ground fuel tanks
• Training props
• Facility systems
• And more!

In our latest podcast episode, VFIS Emergency Services Specialists, Chris Rodgers, Blair Tyndall, and Dave Bradley, discuss considerations for your facility inspection and maintenance program, including simple ways you help improve safety at your station.

Steve Rabine, former VFIS Education Specialist and Claims Adjuster, current Public Safety Equipment Specialist with Witmer Public Safety Group, and Fire Chief, joins Chris Rodgers from VFIS to discuss personal protective equipment (PPE) inspection, maintenance, and replacement.

Listen to hear them answer questions such as:

• How often should a department inspect their gear and what should they look for during the process?
• What should be done if turnout gear is found to be torn or damaged during inspections?
• Why is documentation of inspections important?

Take 12 minutes to learn key PPE practices for emergency services—and discover how they can be applied to your organization.

When an emergency call comes in, every second matters—but responding in a privately owned vehicle (POV) can create unique safety risks.

In this podcast episode, Rick Lago, Investigator for Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program with NIOSH, joins Chris Rodgers from VFIS to discuss a tragic incident involving a firefighter driving a POV and the lessons learned through NIOSH's investigation.

Listen to hear them explore:

• The risks of firefighters responding from home versus the firehouse.

• How training can help responders recognize and prepare for elevated risks in the field.

• The importance of communication, route planning, and proper notifications when responding in a POV.

Plus, read the report from this here.

Could the training in your fire department be more structured, consistent, or effective?

In our latest podcast episode, Chris Rodgers from VFIS, and Rodney Foster, Education, Training, and Consulting Specialist from VFIS of Oklahoma and Arkansas, discuss the best strategies to improve training processes in your organization.

Listen to hear them talk about:

• Ways to improve training participation among volunteer firefighters
• How to prepare lesson plans and objectives for training nights
• The importance of training record keeping

Every department can strengthen its training program—and this episode will help you identify where to start.

With 5 generations in the workforce today, learning how to effectively engage with different age groups is more important than ever—especially in emergency service organizations (ESOs).

For this episode, VFIS Emergency Services Specialists Blair Tyndall and Megan Carr, and former VFIS Education Specialist and current Battalion Chief at York Area United Fire and Rescue, Jake Hoover, join Chris Rodgers to discuss:

• Challenges of having multiple generations in ESOs
• Effective communication strategies
• Benefits of voluntary mentor programs

Take less than 16 minutes to learn how your organization can foster better relationships between generations—and ultimately bridge this generational gap.

Social media has become a powerful communication tool for ESOs—but responsible use across both your organization's accounts and members' personal accounts is essential.

In our latest podcast episode, VFIS Emergency Services Specialists, Chris Rodgers, Dave Bradley, and Blair Tyndall, discuss the benefits and challenges of social media use.

Take less than 16 minutes to learn how ESOs can use these platforms effectively, what to include in a social media policy or code of conduct, and how to ensure posts reflect your organization's mission.

Apparatus getting struck by vehicles on divided highways or other high-speed roadways is a leading cause of firefighter injuries—and sometimes even fatalities.

Jake Hoover, former VFIS Education Specialist and current Battalion Chief at York Area United Fire and Rescue, joins Chris Rodgers of VFIS to talk about the best practices for responding to calls on these roads.

Listen to this episode to hear them discuss:

• Safe turnaround approaches
• Acceleration and deceleration on high-speed roadways
• Blocking traffic with vehicles on the scene of an incident

Take less than 14 minutes to learn about safety measures that can help keep your members safe.