Michael Vatter

In the last five years, the United States has been averaging 23 weather disasters per year, each costing at or above a billion dollars in damages. Severe weather brings severe environmental conditions that place fire and EMS professionals at risk. Up to 75% of firefighters report symptoms of a heat-related illness at some point, and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics averages about 3 worker deaths per year for professionals working outdoors in cold weather. To combat these statistics and protect emergency responders, they need to be aware of the risks, causes, signs, and symptoms of cold injuries and heat-related illnesses and how to treat them. To support that effort, this course bases its information on guidelines from OSHA, NFPA 1550, NFPA 1580, and NFPA 1584.

Most of us know that falls can account for injuries such as wounds, sprains, fractures, and dislocations, but did you know that these injuries can also account for up to 74% of all non-emergency workplace accidents among fire and EMS responders? Employees have a responsibility to be aware of potential hazards around the workplace and report unsafe conditions. Employers have a responsibility to protect employees and ensure comprehensive training around these hazards. OSHA 1910 Subpart D covers fall protection and safety surrounding walking-working surfaces and forms the basis of this course.

According to the NFPA, 63,175 firefighters were injured in the line of duty, and according to the CDC, 16,900 EMS professionals sustained work injuries. This total does not include illnesses resulting from hazardous work environments. Workplace injuries and illnesses are fairly commonplace for first responders. Therefore, injury and illness documentation should also be fairly familiar to department personnel. This course delves into the purpose, implementation, and penalties surrounding OSHA 1904 work-related injury and illness documentation and reporting.

According to the CDC, approximately 21% of on-the-job injuries and illnesses experienced by EMS workers involve the lower back. Statistics point to firefighters suffering back injuries even more often. First responders suffer countless dangers, but back injuries should not be one of them when they are avoidable. This course empowers first responders to reduce injuries and enhance operational performance through functional fitness, ergonomic practices, and mental health resilience. With proven, real-world strategies, learn how to prevent back pain and musculoskeletal injuries, manage job stress, and improve longevity in the field.

When’s the last time you had to work on your apparatus or emergency vehicle, repaint a section of the wall, or even just clean something at work? What if I told you that you were being exposed to toxic and potentially deadly chemicals? Unfortunately, as first responders attend different kinds of calls on various emergency scenes, you may not know what toxic hazards you’re walking into. Being aware of some of the most common chemical exposures, their health impacts, and ways to mitigate the hazard may be your best bet at protecting yourself, your crew, and even your family – as you make sure not to bring contamination home with you.