The WFC recently sent a letter to the Washington Congressional delegation outlining concerns regarding chlorine gas evacuation.  Please click to see the full letter.

In an Aug. 2 letter to Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and other senators, Washington Fire Chiefs Executive Director Wayne Senter argues that chemical and railroad industries are pushing the new assessment approach -- developed in conjunction with the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Defense (DOD) -- that downplays risks from potential disasters by dramatically reducing the distance toxic gases are projected to travel.

“The industry-initiated but federal agency-enabled and Congressionally-funded effort . . . has all along explicitly aimed at significantly modifying in a risk-minimizing direction the downwind toxic cloud estimates in all of the major national emergency response guidance documents, including . . . chemical facility submissions to the US EPA's Risk Management Program,” Senter writes....

Lynden Fire Department

We respond to save lives. When we can’t, we render a different kind of care to our patient’s survivors.

In my experience, the following components make a successful firefighter wellness program: 

A Strong Foundation 
• Focus on taking care of the customer (developing and applying compassion) 
• Focus on taking care of self and others (training in  stress resistance, resilience, and recovery) 

Behavioral-Health Program Development 
• Peer team and outside resource development 
• Operational guidelines 

Continuing Behavioral-Health Education Classes 
• How to have difficult conversations 
• Maintaining successful relationships 
• Dealing with change