Don't Risk It! Podcast

Emergency vehicle drivers have in their care, custody and control most of the major assets possessed by an organization: the vehicle, portable equipment and personnel. With so much, literally riding in their hands, all drivers need to be trained to understand the dynamics associated with operating an emergency vehicle. Additionally, all drivers need to have continuing and on-going refresher training to keep their skills sharp. In this episode, Sr. Risk Control Representative Dave Bradley provides some best practices for driver training programs.

Most volunteer emergency service departments rely heavily on the ability of their members to respond to calls, either to the scene or the station, in their personal vehicles. While this is essential to the organization's ability to react to emergencies in a timely manner, there are also inherent risks. Blair Tyndall, Industry Specialist with VFIS Client Risk Solutions joins the program to identify these risks and some potential solutions to help reduce their impact.

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) works to honor firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty, as well as support their surviving families, communities and crews. We sit down with NFFF's executive director, Chief Ronald Siarnicki to discuss the organization's history, mission and outreach initiatives.

Emergency responders are utilizing social media at a rapid pace. EMS employees' usage, written content, images and videos on social media platforms can create a multitude of problems for them and the entities they work for. Mike McCall joins Don't Risk It! in this two-part program to highlight some of the potential challenges facing ESOs with regard to electronic devices and social media use.

Emergency responders are utilizing social media at a rapid pace. EMS employees' usage, written content, images and videos on social media platforms can create a multitude of problems for them and the entities they work for. Mike McCall joins Don't Risk It! in this two-part program to highlight some of the potential challenges facing ESOs with regard to electronic devices and social media use.

Sr. Vice President of VFIS Client Risk Solutions Scott Harkins joins the program to discuss firefighting foam concerns associated with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS pose a hazard to the environment and to the people that use them. Scott will discuss steps to help mitigate these exposures while helping protect emergency responders and the environment.

Risk Control for Mid-Level Managers is a program developed by John Kottmyer, Director of VFIS Training Programs, and designed to re-introduce the emergency services officer (supervisor, FTO, etc.) to risk control and how it plays an integral part in safety as well as overall operations. We visit with John Kottmyer to review some of the program details including risk management, roles, responsibilities and potential pitfalls.

Fatigue impacts personal health as well as a responder's ability to perform key functions including patient care, incident command and vehicle operations. Efforts to move to shorter shifts continue to face significant resistance while the number of EMS agencies using 24- and 48-hour shifts continues to rise. Dave Bradley details the potential hazards associated with fatigued drivers and provides some potential solutions.

Distracted driving is a significant factor in vehicle accidents and emergency services organizations (ESOs) are not immune to these incidents. Historically, emergency vehicles have had a degree of distraction built in by design with two-way radio traffic, sirens, air horns and flashing lights. Blair Tyndall discusses the origin of the sterile cab concept and how it can potentially reduce distracted driving in emergency response.

Additional resources on this topic can be found at ResponderHelp.com and on our website.

Introducing the Don't Risk It! Podcast

We're excited to announce the launch of VFIS's new podcast, Don't Risk It! Don't Risk It is designed to help emergency service organizations better protect their responders, equipment and clients by covering a range of safety-related topics. Each episode will be available on multiple streaming and podcast platforms – making it a fast, easy way to brush up on your crew's safety IQ.

Every other week, host Chris Rodgers, of VFIS Client Risk Solutions, will speak with industry veterans and risk management experts to discuss what crews can do to help limit common ESO exposures. Don't miss a single episode of Don't Risk It! Subscribe today.