Discuss the specific ESF

Firefighting is an important emergency support function. Firefighters help in the
suppression and detection of fires that start in both rural and urban centers. Firefighters help
protect lives and safeguard against the destruction of property (Bator, 2018). Coordinated
response of firefighters is needed to ensure that the lives of both the firefighters and the
receivers. The Occupational Safety and Health Act has laid down some guidelines that aim at
safeguarding the lives of and the health of all firefighters. The Florida Fire Safety and Health
Collaborative (FFSHC) is a program that aims to train firefighters and help fire departments
reduce the number of injuries reported.
Describe how this function is focused on the protection of the first responders or receivers
FFSHC was established in the year 2016 by firefighters who were concerned about their
safety and wellbeing. The aim was to provide education, training, and the best practices that
would empower firefighters and in so doing, minimize risks and exposures. The training is
founded on well-established values, research, and safety trends. The program has partnered with
community leaders to ensure that the level of cancer awareness among firefighters is raised.
Through collaboration with cancer experts, the program has managed to educate firefighters on
cancer exposure and prevention techniques. The program has also come up with a clean cab
initiative. The clean cab initiative encourages the restructuring of firefighting equipment to
minimize the risk of firefighters getting exposed to contaminated gear (Bator, 2018). It also calls
for the creation of a nonporous cab interior to ensure that the cab is easily wiped down after a
fire and in so doing minimize the chances of secondhand cross-contamination. Firefighters are

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also provided with the right health and fitness assistance. Fitness education ensures that
firefighters work towards improving optimal productivity in the workplace. A mental wellness
team also helps in ensuring that the mental wellbeing of firefighters is taken into consideration.
Identify any practices or policies related to first responder safety, the role(s) of the safety
officer, or first responder occupational health
The article describes several practices and policies that are geared towards guaranteeing
the safety of firefighters as first responders. Firefighter cancer prevention is an important practice
that helps raise awareness of cancer among firefighters. The program ensures that firefighters can
take precautions that reduce the risk of getting cancer. The clean cab concept helps in ensuring
that the equipment used by firefighters are not contaminated (Bator, 2018). The program ensures
that the design of firefighting equipment takes into consideration safety concerns. The health and
fitness program works in ensuring that firefighters take fitness, education and conditioning that
can help them undertake their tasks effectively. The mental health of firefighters is also taken
care of through the mental health program.
Explain how this article shows consideration and evidence of how the protection of first
responders or receivers within a community or workplace can be strengthened
The article examines the important safety and occupational concerns of firefighters. It
analyzes the various risks that firefighters are exposed to in their line of duty and comes up with
recommendations that can help mitigate the risk (Bator, 2018). In the development of the clean
cab initiative, the program takes into consideration the risks that firefighters are exposed to as
they use different equipment. The cancer initiative takes into consideration the problem of cancer

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in society and devises a plan that can help raise awareness of cancer and minimize the number of
firefighters contracting cancer.

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Reference

Bator, C. (2018). Collaborating for Firefighter Safety and Health. International Security &
Counter Terrorism Reference Center.