Better Every Shift

What’s your bold vision? Chief Dan Munsey talks innovation

How can we be the best 2030 fire department, today? That’s Fire Chief Dan Munsey’s goal for the San Bernardino County (Calif.) Fire Protection District, which has become one of the most progressive agencies in the country in recent years. Chief Munsey details some of the initiatives underway at SBCFPD and urges fire service leaders to prioritize technology and innovation that better serves both the community and the membership. Considering the current pace of change, Munsey underscores that “what got us here won’t get us there” — and our members, particularly newer members, desperately want innovative leaders who have not only a bold vision for the future of the department but also a clear plan to make it happen. Munsey addresses some of the fire service lies we tell ourselves that hinder change, and offers his insights for how to embrace a growth mindset.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

If Gordon Graham ran the country ...

The man, the myth, the legend Gordon Graham returns to Better Every Shift to deliver several new doses of commonsense wisdom, including three things he would do if he ran the country. Gordon spotlights Lexipol’s upcoming First Responder Wellness Week, shares the 10 Fs of a long and fulfilling career, and asks key questions to help you get back on track.

Learn more about First Responder Wellness Week, March 23-27, and register for the FRWW daily webinars.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Is firefighter stress really different? Captain Marc Wysocki weighs in

Mental health shouldn’t be treated as a crisis — it should be part of our operational readiness. That’s the charge from Captain Marc Wysocki, who joins Zam for a discussion on the cultural changes needed to address mental health, the implications of assigning your job as your identity, and how to do a “personnel 360” to for your crew. Plus, Wysocki shares the personal experiences and research findings behind his article, “Behind the mask: Uncovering the root causes of mental health challenges in the fire service,” which won top honors in Darley’s annual essay contest.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

The 24/72 push: James Geering urges shift schedule reform

“If you build it, they will come” — a fourth shift with a 24/72 schedule, that is. Behind the Shield podcaster James Geering details the power of a shift schedule that not only allows firefighters to perform at their best but also attracts new members to the profession. He spotlights the departments that have made the switch and offers a simple formula that can make it work.

• Behind the Shield podcast
• 24/72 information

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

How’s your leadership pipeline?

Promotion is not preparation. Firefighters need training to step into the company officer role, just as company officers need guidance for advancing in their careers. Sarasota County (Florida) Battalion Chief Jesse Schilling shares resources that can ease the transition and strengthen company officers’ leadership skills, including the soft skills that can make all the difference with crews. Schilling also digs into some of the biggest challenges and opportunities related to firefighter recruitment, and offers tips for ramping up grassroots strategies.

More from Chief Schilling: Back to baseline: Resetting recruitment fundamentals

Leadership resources: Company Officers Section

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Training for the big moment — sometimes you only get one shot

Palms sweaty? Knees weak? Arms heavy? Good. That means you care.

Zam’s borrowing a page from Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” to underscore a hard truth about the fireground: Sometimes you only get one shot. There is no rewind on a mayday, no reset button on a rescue and no do-over on a critical command decision. Zam draws parallels between elite athletes training for their Olympic moment and firefighters preparing for the call that will test everything they know. Sharing stories from the sports world and his own experience on the job, Zam urges you to remember this simple fact: Every call deserves your full attention. Every drill should be treated like the one that could define your career.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.

Rehab stations: Your sabbatical from zombie mode

You may have seen (or at least heard of) the mid-2000s TV show “Pimp My Ride,” where a car is elaborately customized for its owner. But what about “Pimp My Station”? That’s how Battalion Chief Greg Sawyer jokingly describes a program that turned one of his department’s slower stations into a kind of sabbatical where crews can rotate in for a month — they are still on the clock but given some downtime to get out of zombie mode. Plus, the station is tricked out with all sorts of cool health-focused tech and toys to help members feel human again, and they are offered Whoop health trackers and various health-focused subscriptions to help them focus for their 30 days. Sawyer also shares insights about standing up the program, getting funding (and donations) and achieving buy-in from the crews. But truth be told, buy-in isn’t such a challenge anymore because once members spend a month at the rehab station, they are sold.

Read more about how the Rehab Station at Sawyer’s department.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

What could go wrong? Game out fire command for major events

Major events are coming to a city near you — soon! From the Super Bowl and FIFA events to large-scale festivals and the America 250 celebrations, fire departments across the country are being tapped to run command and manage attendee safety. “It’s exciting and terrorizing at the same time,” Chief Bryan Frieders says of the initial assignment, trying to figure out where to begin. Frieders breaks down the fire service role, namely how command authority is established, communicated and exercised before the first unit arrives. He explains where fire command fits alongside law enforcement, EMS and event organizers, and why unclear roles create operational risk long before crowds gather. Tune in to hear from an expert how to anticipate and mitigate risk.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by L3 Harris. L3Harris is a leading supplier of mission-critical communications systems and equipment for local, state and federal firefighter agencies. We have more than 80 years of experience in public safety and professional communications with over 500 systems now in use around the world. Learn more at L3Harris.com. 

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for a future episode. 

It’s time to track your incidents. Chief Oates explains how and why

“Document everything.” It’s advice commonly given in legal, medical and workplace settings — and now the fire service. Tracking fireground exposures, traumatic calls, hazmat incidents and even workplace incivility gives firefighters a reliable record to reference if health, insurance or legal questions arise later. Chief John Oates explains how the IPSDI Exposure Tracker allows firefighters to document the full scope of the job, including the calls they may not think matter at the time. Because the tracker is confidential and not connected to department or federal systems, it serves as a personal record you control. After all, you don’t always know which calls will follow you, but having them documented can make all the difference.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.

Should firefighters work out in their gear? Annette Zapp breaks it down

Several years ago, a trend emerged on social media: Firefighters working out in their turnout gear under the guise of the “train like you play” philosophy. It’s not a bad idea but, as retired firefighter and human performance researcher Annette Zapp explains, some went beyond functional fitness workouts to include more traditional workouts — something like burpees, hardly enjoyable under normal circumstances, now with the extra weight of PPE. Is it even safe? Zapp is digging into the data. But not to worry, she adds: “I can make you really powerful outside your gear.”

Zapp also talks creatine for firefighters, health monitoring tools and technology, and the importance of taking care of “future you” now, with practical advice for how to do just that.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Enjoying the show? Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share feedback or suggest guests for future episodes.