Catalog Description

Hours: 54 lecture
Description: Introduces the basic principles and history related to the national firefighter life safety initiatives, focusing on the need for cultural and behavior change throughout the emergency services. (C-ID FIRE 150X) (CSU-with unit limitation)

Course Student Learning Outcomes

  • CSLO #1: Defend the need for cultural and behavioral change within the emergency services relating to safety, incorporating leadership, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility.
  • CSLO #2: Assess the need for enhancements of personal and organizational accountability for health and safety.
  • CSLO #3: Justify the need for annual medical evaluations and the establishment of physical fitness criteria for personnel throughout their careers.
  • CSLO #4: Discuss the importance of investigating all near misses, injuries and fatalities.

Effective Term

Fall 2019

Course Type

Credit - Degree-applicable

Contact Hours

54

Outside of Class Hours

108

Total Student Learning Hours

162

Course Objectives

1. Identify and explain the 16 life safety initiatives;
2. Understand the concepts of risk management and mitigation as it pertains to emergency services;
3. Define and describe the need for cultural and behavioral change within the emergency services relating to safety, incorporating leadership, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility;
4. Explain the need for enhancements of personal and organizational accountability for health and safety;
5. Define how the concepts of risk management affect strategic and tactical decision-making;
6. Describe and evaluate circumstances that might constitute and unsafe act;
7. Explain the concept of empowering all emergency services personnel to stop unsafe acts;
8. Validate the need for national training standards as they correlate to professional development inclusive of qualifications, certifications, and re-certifications;
9. Defend the need for annual medical evaluations and the establishment of physical fitness criteria for emergency services personnel throughout their careers;
10. Explain the vital role of local departments in national research and data collection systems;
11. Illustrate how technological advancements can produce higher levels or emergency services safety and survival;
12. Explain the importance of investigating all near-misses, injuries and fatalities;
13. Discuss how incorporating the lessons learned from investigations can support cultural change throughout the emergency services;
14. Describe how obtaining grants can support safety and survival initiatives;
15. Formulate an awareness of how adopting standardized policies for responding to emergency scenes can minimize near-misses, injuries and deaths;
16. Explain how the increase in violent incidents impacts safety for emergency services personnel when responding to emergency scenes;
17. Recognize the need for counseling and psychological support for emergency services personnel, their families, as well as, identify access to local resources and services;
18. Describe the importance of public education as a critical component of life safety programs;
19. Discuss the importance of fire sprinklers and code enforcement;
20. Explain the importance of safety in the design of apparatus and equipment.

General Education Information

  • Approved College Associate Degree GE Applicability
    • CSU GE Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU approval)
      • Cal-GETC Applicability (Recommended - Requires External Approval)
        • IGETC Applicability (Recommended-requires CSU/UC approval)

          Articulation Information

          • CSU Transferable

          Methods of Evaluation

          • Classroom Discussions
            • Example: Following a lecture on critical incident stress debriefing, the instructor will lead a discussion on the why critical incident stress debriefing is so important. Students are evaluated on participation, their ability to actively engage in the discussion and the correctness of their responses.
          • Objective Examinations
            • Example: Students will take a multiple choice examination on firefighter fatalities. Standard grading. Example questions: How many firefighters die annually in the line-of-duty? What are the three components of the "Safety Triad"?
          • Reports
            • Example: Students will research a firefighter line-of-duty death and write a report on how the firefighter died and what contributed to the death. Reports will be evaluated based upon an instructor provided rubric.

          Repeatable

          No

          Methods of Instruction

          • Lecture/Discussion
          • Distance Learning

          Lecture:

          1. The instructor will lead a discussion of current statistics relating to firefighter injuries and fatalities as reported by FEMA. Specific cases of injuries/fatalities will be examined and any violations of nationally recognized safety standards or orders will be identified and discussed.

          Distance Learning

          1. Following a brief introduction video and reading assignment of how fire departments implement and maintain health and wellness programs, the students will research a fire department of their choice, and describe how that particular agency accomplishes their health and wellness program as part of their term paper.
          2. Following a brief intro video and reading assignment on developing medical and fitness standards; the students shall discuss this subject in a discussion board both with the instructor and other students with in the class.

          Typical Out of Class Assignments

          Reading Assignments

          1. Read the chapter in the textbook on medical fitness and physical fitness and be prepared to discuss in class how proper fitness benefits the individual, the department and the public. 2. Read case histories involving firefighter line of duty injuries (LODI) and line of duty deaths (LODD) and analyze how they could have been prevented.

          Writing, Problem Solving or Performance

          1. Research and fill out a provided grant application form to institute an on duty physical fitness training program for your local fire department. 2. Create a Standard Operational Procedure for responding to a violent incident.

          Other (Term projects, research papers, portfolios, etc.)

          Required Materials

          • Fire Fighter Safety and Survival
            • Author: Don Zimmerman
            • Publisher: Jones and Bartlett Learning
            • Publication Date: 2015
            • Text Edition: 2nd
            • Classic Textbook?:
            • OER Link:
            • OER:

          Other materials and-or supplies required of students that contribute to the cost of the course.