Thermal Imaging
The Case for Thermal Imaging Training
In researching and training in the area of thermal imaging we continue to see firefighters failing to either deploy or use their thermal Andy Starnes imaging camera (TIC) on the fireground, and/or they are not trained on how to properly use it. According to NIOSH, in 38 percent of Line of Duty Deaths studied, the thermal imaging camera remained on the charger in the fire truck. And in a recent study in 2020, regarding thermal imaging usage conducted in partnership with Firehouse Magazine, firefighters stated they left the thermal imaging camera on the truck as much as 50 percent of the time on Non-EMS related calls. Many fire departments across the United States lack the financial capabilities to keep up with every consensus standard change. And in some cases, these standards are not considering those departments when they are approved. In a court of law however, Curt Varone shares some important expertise on this subject:
10 Spring • 2021
“In fact, lawsuits arising out of firefighter LODDs and injuries reference National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards on a regular basis. Most competent attorneys today seek to use industry standards as evidence of the applicable standard of care regardless of the type of industry. When it comes to the fire service, NFPA standards are the definitive standards that knowledgeable attorneys will default to. NFPA standards are evidence of what the reasonably prudent fire department would have done under the circumstances.” (Curt Varone) In 2015, NFPA introduced NFPA 1408 Standard for Training Fire Service Personnel in the Operation, Care, Use, and Maintenance of Thermal Imagers. This standard outlines the requirements for departments regarding training, policies, use and more. However, many fire departments fail to acknowledge it or are even aware of its existence. Thermal imaging is not a new subject or area for the fire service. However, since its introduction to the fire service it has lacked a very important fundamental asset that has
Photo Courtesy Curt Varone been continually overlooked.This is the area of training and education. Originally, when fire service thermal imaging cameras were introduced to the fire service a portion of the purchase price went to pay for the education and training on the device. Unfortunately, as time went by, this practice did not continue. And much to the fire services dismay, often the smallest budgetary line item is the one that is the most important to providing service to the citizen.This item is known as the training budget.This has led to a massive educational gap in proper interpretation and usage of this life saving device.This is evident by teaching internationally, the majority of the students have never had a formal thermal imaging training and education program.This was also recently confirmed by a nation-wide survey that we assisted in developing through
www.carolinafirejournal.com
Firehouse Magazine.The results may have been shocking to some but they were not surprising to those who are working to educate firefighters in the area of thermal imaging. Here are a few of the results from the survey:
Carolina Fire Rescue EMS Journal
