How can we call ourselves a professional fire service when members won’t even wear PPE?

A reader states: “We can’t even get our members to wear their PPE, SCBA or even seatbelts? I see pictures online of guys in jeans with coats wide open.”

September 13, 2021 02:35 PM •

In this episode of “What’s YOUR Problem?,” Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder tackles this reader question: “How can we call ourselves a professional fire service if we can’t even get our members to wear their PPE, SCBA or even seatbelts? I see pictures online of guys in jeans with coats wide open – not at my department but other places.”

Check out Goldfeder’s response.

Do you have a question for Chief Goldfeder? Email editor@firerescue1.com or submit a question here.

Watch more What’s YOUR Problem? videos here.

Billy Goldfeder

Chief Billy Goldfeder, EFO, a firefighter since 1973, serves as deputy fire chief of the Loveland-Symmes (Ohio) Fire Department. He also serves as Lexipol’s senior fire advisor and is a member of the Fire Chief/FireRescue1 Editorial Advisory Board. Goldfeder is a member of the Board of Directors for several organizations: the IAFC, the September 11th Families Association and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF). He also provides expert review assistance to the CDC NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. Goldfeder is the recipient of numerous operational and administrative awards, appointments and recognitions. He has served on several NFPA and IAFC committees, has authored numerous articles and books, and presented several sessions at industry events. Chief Goldfeder co-hosts the website www.FireFighterCloseCalls.com.