Jacob Stangl: OSFA Public Education Committee Report

The Public Education Committee remains committed to primarily focusing on reducing fire injuries and deaths within our state.

But as we know all too well, these types of incidents are a small portion of the emergency calls our firefighters run on.

Our annual summit has focused on a number of other topics over the years to try and reduce all preventable injuries and deaths.

One topic in particular has become increasingly relevant in the summer months.

It seems not more than a few days go by without hearing a news story about a drowning in our state. Sadly, Oklahoma ranks in the top 10 in drowning per capita.

According to the CDC, Oklahoma’s rate of 1.75 deaths per 100,00 ranks 8/50.

It may surprise some to know that drowning is the #1 cause of death for children ages 1-4 and the second leading cause of death for children ages 5-14 (CDC).

As we think about the future of the fire

I was recently asked by Oklahoma Fire Chiefs Association Past President Chief James Heap to take part in a work group to identify a minimum standard that would qualify a person for the position of Fire Chief in the State of Oklahoma.

I have also had discussions with the officers of the Fire Marshals Association of Oklahoma about establishing such a standard to qualify someone to serve as a Fire Marshal in the state. I believe that both initiatives are worthwhile and necessary.

But it also asks the bigger questions of is it time to adopt consistent standards for all firefighters in Oklahoma and should all firefighters be required to be certified to these standards.

For many years, nationally recognized standards for fire service certification have existed. I believe that most fire departments in the state use these standards at a minimum as a template for training and certification with many departments formally adopting them.

Obviously, the training entities in the state such as OSU Fire Service Training and the Technology Centers adopt these standards which are accredited by either IFSAC or Pro Board.

However, we still have a gap in firefighter training and certification in that not all departments in Oklahoma adopt and adhere to the same standards, and some follow no standards at all.

Too many times when firefighters are injured or killed in Oklahoma, it is discovered that it was the result of little or no formal training, as well as deviance from recognized practices and procedures.

It is unacceptable that we allow people to participate in this hazardous work without a minimum level of standardized training and certification. Many states in the U.S. have not only adopted required minimum standards for all firefighters in the state but have also put them into law.

Is it time for the Fire Service in Oklahoma to move in this direction? I certainly believe it is time for all Oklahoma Fire Service Organizations in Oklahoma to come together and start the discussion.

service and strategize how to reduce overall injuries and deaths in our state, we hope to see a mindset shift to not only discuss fire safety, but to include all the risks that are most likely to kill and injure those in our communities.

Drowning education and prevention is just one of many ways we can adapt as the fire service to better serve our communities. We look forward to discussing this within the committee and brainstorming ways to reduce these tragedies in our great state.

I want to thank those Oklahoma firefighters who attended the IFSJLM Research Symposium in Tulsa on July 8.

I hope you found the Symposium to be valuable. There are a few things I want to share with you from the Symposium.

1. The National Firefighter Registry is now open to all firefighters in the United States. The goal of the Registry is to better understand the link between workplace exposures and cancer among firefighters. The only cost is your time. The information gained from the registry will save the lives of current and future firefighters. Search “National Firefighter Registry” for the link to register.

2. U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell discussed the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS) for the American fire and emergency services.

This system will replace NFIRS. Dr. Moore-Merrell stressed that NERIS will be a phased rollout and asked for patience as the system is released. Details on the system and timelines can be found on the USFA webpage.

3. “Science to the Station” was presented by Dr. Sara A. Jahnke. Dr. Jahnke is the Director and Senior Scientist for the Center for Fire, Rescue & EMS Health Research. Science to the Station is a free email subscription that shares the latest scientific findings that have practical implications and help for the fire and emergency services. I encourage you to sign up for the updates to keep you and your department informed with the latest best practices. The Research Symposium is a free event that brings to best and brightest in fire service research to Oklahoma. I hope will take advantage of this opportunity.

The 2024 IFSJLM Research Symposium will be on July 13, 2024. I hope to see you there.

Until next time, be safe, be well, be well trained.

Attendees at RS 23, including new OSFA 3VP Tom Marcum (in white).