Better Every Shift

Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Good. That means you care.

Zam’s borrowing a page from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to make underscore a hard truth about the fireground: Sometimes you only get one shot. There is no rewind on a mayday, no reset button on a rescue and no do-over on a critical command decision. Zam draws parallels between elite athletes training for their Olympic moment and firefighters preparing for the call that will test everything they know. Sharing stories from the sports world and his own experience on the job, Zam urges you to remember this simple fact: Every call deserves your full attention. Every drill should be treated like the one that could define your career.

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You may have seen (or at least heard of) the mid-2000s TV show “Pimp My Ride,” where a car is elaborately customized for its owner. But what about “Pimp My Station”? That’s how Battalion Chief Greg Sawyer jokingly describes a program that turned one of his department’s slower stations into a kind of sabbatical where crews can rotate in for a month — they are still on the clock but given some downtime to get out of zombie mode. Plus, the station is tricked out with all sorts of cool health-focused tech and toys to help members feel human again, and they are offered Whoop health trackers and various health-focused subscriptions to help them focus for their 30 days. Sawyer also shares insights about standing up the program, getting funding (and donations) and achieving buy-in from the crews. But truth be told, buy-in isn’t such a challenge anymore because once members spend a month at the rehab station, they are sold.

Read more about how the Rehab Station at Sawyer’s department.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

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Major events are coming to a city near you — soon! From the Super Bowl and FIFA events to large-scale festivals and the America 250 celebrations, fire departments across the country are being tapped to run command and manage attendee safety. “It’s exciting and terrorizing at the same time,” Chief Bryan Frieders says of the initial assignment, trying to figure out where to begin. Frieders breaks down the fire service role, namely how command authority is established, communicated and exercised before the first unit arrives. He explains where fire command fits alongside law enforcement, EMS and event organizers, and why unclear roles create operational risk long before crowds gather. Tune in to hear from an expert how to anticipate and mitigate risk.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by L3 Harris. L3Harris is a leading supplier of mission-critical communications systems and equipment for local, state and federal firefighter agencies. We have more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications with over 500 systems now in use around the world. Learn more at L3Harris.com. 

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“Document everything.” It’s advice commonly given in legal, medical and workplace settings — and now the fire service. Tracking fireground exposures, traumatic calls, hazmat incidents and even workplace incivility gives firefighters a reliable record to reference if health, insurance or legal questions arise later. Chief John Oates explains how the IPSDI Exposure Tracker allows firefighters to document the full scope of the job, including the calls they may not think matter at the time. Because the tracker is confidential and not connected to department or federal systems, it serves as a personal record you control. After all, you don’t always know which calls will follow you, but having them documented can make all the difference.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Several years ago, a trend emerged on social media: Firefighters working out in their turnout gear under the guise of the “train like you play” philosophy. It’s not a bad idea but, as retired firefighter and human performance researcher Annette Zapp explains, some went beyond functional fitness workouts to include more traditional workouts — something like burpees, hardly enjoyable under normal circumstances, now with the extra weight of PPE. Is it even safe? Zapp is digging into the data. But not to worry, she adds: “I can make you really powerful outside your gear.”

Zapp also talks creatine for firefighters, health monitoring tools and technology, and the importance of taking care of “future you” now, with practical advice for how to do just that.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email [email protected] to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.