According to U.S. Fire Administration statistics, firefighter deaths were below 100 for the second year in a row. In 2010, firefighter deaths were only 87. Only 87?

One is too many, but 87 seems like a good number because we’ve come to expect 100-plus as the norm. In fact, we not only expect it, we accept it as the norm. We need to change this way of thinking, and create a culture that truly buys into “everyone goes home.” The challenge is that culture is really about people, and while many departments are doing great things to change the cultural environment, e.g., policies and training, we can’t make a significant and lasting change if we don’t embrace the health-and-safety culture at an individual level.

The majority of firefighter fatalities consistently are heart-related (at nearly 50%), followed by traffic-related incidents (17%). These are two areas where we have control as individuals — if we choose to hold ourselves responsible.

We all know that heart-related deaths are being suffered by members of all ranks and that many are related to undiagnosed pre-existing conditions, a physical condition or an age that puts them at high risk when performing the strenuous and highly stressful activities that firefighting requires.

We know that traffic-related deaths driving to and from incidents are occurring when we drive too fast, run red lights, back up without spotters and don’t buckle seatbelts.

Nothing that I have said should be a surprise to anyone. What should surprise us is that we — for the most part — are doing very little as individuals to reduce what I believe are preventable deaths. Our personal culture must be one that takes individual responsibility for both our health and individual actions when responding to and from emergency incidents.

I will start with the second one, as that requires little or no effort: buckle up, drive at a safe speed, stop at all red lights and intersections, and never back a vehicle without a spotter. It sounds simple — it is simple.

Taking responsibility for your health takes a little more effort, but it is not insurmountable.

The first step is easy: get a full medical exam. Provide a copy of NFPA 1582 and see whether your doctor can provide a physical as close to the standard as possible. Doing so will reveal any pre-existing conditions and ensure that you are capable of participating in an emergency incident response.

Physical conditioning and nutrition is more of a challenge, as it may require a lifestyle change. However, if you want to provide for your family and get to see your grandchildren grow up, this should be an easy decision. I’m not suggesting that we all become gym rats, but eating right and doing some type of cardiovascular exercise (brisk walking for example) should not be a stretch for someone doing the job of a firefighter. Professional athletes are expected to stay in shape year round; our job is no less physically strenuous and is more stressful.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that we owe a certain amount of personal responsibility to our profession, the people we work with, the people we are sworn to protect and, more importantly, our families and ourselves. Making a cultural change in the fire and emergency service depends on us. The road to that responsibility is not all that difficult if we choose to step up and hold ourselves accountable.

Stay safe, be proud of what you do, and try to make a difference when you can.

Jack Parow is the president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs. He also is fire chief in Chelmsford, Mass., a 33-year veteran of the fire service.

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