Duty-to-Die Syndrome Signs & Recommendations

When it comes to FDTDS, there are some tell-tale signs. And when enough signs are observed, there are some clear steps to change firefighter behavior.

Signs

Cultural and individual signs of FDTDS are prevalent to some degree in almost all fire departments. Having one or more of the following indicators does not point to its existence. However, the syndrome does exist when the overall profile of behavior reflects these characteristics.

• Overly aggressive behavior at routine emergency incidents.
• Taking unnecessary risks and demonstrating hazardous behavior during high-impact emergency incidents.
• Talk of dying on the job.
• Disregard for basic safety applications leading to almost no compliance with major safety precautions.
• Increasingly risky behavior by firefighters who eventually cross their tipping point at emergency scenes.
• High number of injuries that may increase in severity.
• Careless and reckless operation of vehicles when responding to emergency incidents.
• Multiple number of disciplinary actions for unsafe or reckless behavior.
• Delusions of grandeur or hero status.
• High level of risk-seeking off the job.
• Unhealthy lifestyle of diet and exercise and a “work hard, play hard” attitude.
• Increasing drive to be rewarded or recognized for emergency incident performance.

Recommendations

FDTDS and other cultural fixation disorders are social. They are learned and entrenched over time through cognitive rationalization and reinforcement. However, they can be unlearned using the following steps.

• Expose and acknowledge the problem.
• Conduct a comprehensive psychological study of the problem with recommendations for its minimization or elimination.
• Have cognitive education for groups or departments on psychological factors that lead to firefighters making poor decisions.
• Create role model and mentoring programs for young firefighters, and introduce psychological methodology that can instill a culture of firefighter safety and wellness.
• Use individual counseling through Employee Assistance Programs for firefighters who demonstrate an unusually high degree of risky and unsafe behavior.
• Give positive reinforcement for safe practices through classical conditioning.
• Establish zero tolerance or negative consequences for unsafe, unnecessary hazardous behavior.
• Create a safety climate through administrative procedures and peer-driven motivation.
• The odds of tragedy are increased by the syndrome's snowballing effect.”