This research question has surprisingly become a large part of my life in the past year. Ever since I met my boyfriend who is a firefighter, this has been a fascinating aspect of my life and something which interests me to explore due to concerns for his safety and other firefighters. Obviously, firefighting doesn't come off as the safest profession to begin with and there is also a lack of implementation of safest procedures at times. Therefore, it interests me to figure out what possible solutions could be implemented in order to create safer practices both for firefighters and victims. Based off my sources it is clear that not all departments use the procedures they should. I want to argue whether they have the resources to change the procedures and whether stricter punishments or regulations should be enforced for improper safety techniques. On top of this, my mom works at W.L. Gore which has a fabrics department dedicated specifically to dealing with production and improvement of protective firefighter gear. I am qualified to write about this due to my own personal connections, experiences and opinions regarding the topic, but mainly due to my availability of resources to find and construct a valid argument and solution.  

My first source detailed several regulations regarding firefighter protective gear. The main goal was to compare new and rigorous NFPA standards to outdated federal and state regulations regarding safety measures. The authors present examples of the regulations thoroughly in the article as well as providing examples of failures in the outdated state and federal system. There is a significant point regarding the idea that although there is progress being made, these progressions would also be outdated by the time they were actually implemented. The main goal of the article is a call for action and awareness regarding firefighter personal gear safety through newer and stricter regulations similar to those of the NFPA. The authors argue that changes need to be made to prevent mistakes and unaccountability for mistakes in the future. The major value of the authors is the safety of firefighters regarding their unsafe use of gear. The authors are the president and vice president of International Personnel Protection, Inc and are "considered amongst the leading experts in the field of personal protective equipment." This exemplifies extensive knowledge in the topic which they are discussing and allows for them to be a credible source. Their view could be said to be slightly biased as they are heavily involved in personnel protective clothing and since this is their jobs they obviously want innovation and therefore their bias may not necessarily be bad and creates an article conductive of intelligent propositions. They present an argument that change needs to be made and although some may think it is happening, it is not fast and effective enough.

The next article details an investigation into the failures of 36 structure fires which each resulted in deaths of firefighters. The main causes of death, according to the investigation, typically regarded aspects of failure to implement proper risk management techniques. The author attributes this to "the body's reaction to stress, 'helmet fire,' and lack of fireground experience." The main solution explored is extensive and relevant training for firefighters. She believes this is vital in order for them to recall proper techniques in real-life situations which cause stress to the body and create typically undesirable reactions. She also calls for creating confidence in ability in order to promote level-headedness in stress-inducing situations. The author is detailed as a 12 year veteran and lieutenant of the San Antonio Fire Department, having served in "Fire Operations, EMS, and Training Divisions." This supports respect for her credible and experienced opinion and knowledge. The author is concerned about safety of firefighters due to unpredictable factors of situational realities. She is also mainly concerned about accountability regarding mistakes made around safety issues. This source would be strong evidence to argue what procedures could be implemented in order to create a necessary change.

The final article is an example regarding the failure of safe firefighter practices which resulted in the single worst loss of firefighter lives since 9/11 in Charleston, SC. The article details the reported causes of the deaths of the nine firefighters, siting "insufficient training, inadequate staffing, obsolete equipment and outdated tactics." It also goes on to explain that the store itself was not following safe fire procedures which created the avoidable fire. Although it was not anyone in the departments intention to lose a single firefighter, in the end it was their shortcomings in basic safety practices and aggressive tactics which lead to avoidable risk. This article and event is a good example of accountability regarding safety measures  --  it is everyone's job at all times to ensure safety; not simply after the loss of lives. This author is a news reporter and that is how this information is presented. Being a news article, the information is presented in a way which gives the facts and proposes possible causes, but is overall from the other sources as it states the facts in a clear and listed manner. People believe that mistakes just happen, and therefore stricter regulations are not needed, but examples like this go to show that stricter regulations and training would lead to fewer mistakes and losses of life.

This research question is arguable due to the nature of innovation. There are always ways that people in risky jobs can implement safer practices and technologies. Nowadays, fires reach hotter temperatures and burn more rapidly and aggressively than ever before, but the rules and training for firefighters do not directly match up with this change. Firefighters that have been in the company for a long time typically resist change as well and there is a level of pride around practices which involve possibly unsafe measures which resonates unspoken through most companies. Due to my personal involvement with firefighters and a fire company I have the unique ability to speak to these men and women and get a specific set of opinions which are very personal and then take the research more broad and search for more opinions on the web. Many people also believe that this is not an issue or should be something that the fire companies handle themselves while I believe that this is a problem and an outside source needs to make regulations for changes to happen. My sources agree that there are changes that need to be made. My research from here needs to focus on more failures in the system that are specific and global and then similarly focus on more specific and global changes which can be implemented which have been proven to be effective. One argues changes in legislation and regulations for safer measures while also arguing for safer clothing and regulations for apparel. The other source argues for extensive implementation of risk management skills and training which mainly entails extensive training for firefighters in order to ensure proper courses of action in cases of emergency. These articles contributed greatly to my opinion on a solution by instilling a belief that a combination of good solutions is the best solution. 

