
Editor’s note: Following feedback from the National Association of EMS Physicians, the Urban Fire Forum rescinded two recently endorsed position papers.
Fire chiefs from Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and the U.S. recently participated in the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) Urban Fire Forum (UFF) and endorsed five important documents that address current and emerging issues having an impact on the future of fire and emergency services worldwide.
The documents, considered official UFF-Metropolitan Fire Chiefs (Metro Chiefs) position papers, take account of a wide-range of topics including the well-being and mental health of firefighters, firefighter reproductive health, improved standards of care and climate change.
Following are the five position papers:
- Position Statement on Climate Change
- Establishing Prehospital Transfusion of Blood Products as Standard of Care for Emergency Medical Services Systems
- Support for Increasing Efforts on Mental Health & Wellbeing
- First-In Responders Providing Neuroprotective (“Heads-Up”) CPR as the Standard of Care for Emergency Medical Services Systems
- Support for Research on Firefighter Reproductive Health
Download the 2023 Urban Fire Forum documents.
“NFPA is proud of its longstanding support of fire departments worldwide through our Metro Chiefs Section and the Urban Fire Forum,” said NFPA president and CEO Jim Pauley. “By bringing these groups together we can help solve today’s fire and life safety challenges. We are able to provide essential guidance and resources to not only the large Metro departments but to those that may not otherwise have the capacity or capability to take such a comprehensive view of the changing fire department.”
Five Important @NFPA Position Papers Just Published:
— Peter Antevy (@HandtevyMD) September 29, 2023
✅ Neuroprotective CPR
✅ Prehospital Blood Transfusion
✅ Position Statement on Climate Change
✅ Mental Health & Wellbeing
✅ Firefighter Reproductive Healthhttps://t.co/jt6IGVkCjt pic.twitter.com/KglWSZGML6
Special guests at the Forum included Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, administrator of the United States Fire Administration (USFA); Peter Holland, chief inspector, Crown Premises Fire Safety: CFO Mark Hardingham, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council; Chief Rob Brown, CEO and Executive Director, International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC); and Commander Marco Antonio Sanchez Guerrero, president of the Asociacion Mexicana de Jefes de Bomberos (Mexican Fire Chiefs Association).
“Amidst the complexities of today’s fire and emergency services landscape, fire service leaders face a multitude of challenges that extend far beyond the boundaries of traditional emergency response,” said Otto Drozd III, executive secretary of the Metro Chiefs and coordinator of the event. “The position statements put forth this year have the potential to exert a profound influence on the future of our fire and emergency services. Collectively, they address critical aspects essential for the well-being of both firefighter behavioral and reproductive health, as well as the overall health outcomes of our communities.”
Drozd also pointed to the far-reaching consequences of climate change and other evolving environmental threats and the proactive measures and collaboration needed to bolster the resilience of fire and rescue departments, calling all fire chiefs around the world to take action.
“To adequately manage these situations,” said Drozd, “NFPA and Metro Chiefs must work with both government and non-government partners. The position papers endorsed by the Urban Fire Forum Chiefs offer invaluable information and resources, equipping us to effectively confront the dynamic challenges currently confronting today’s fire and emergency services.”