Image of handheld radio and pager

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than one million firefighters work in over 30,000 departments in the United States. Nearly 70% are volunteer firefighters; and 94% of volunteers protect communities with fewer than 25,000 people.[1]

It is the responsibility of the department to provide all members with appropriate equipment to safely perform the volunteer firefighter job. This includes personal protective clothing, tools, vehicles, as well as radio communications training.[2]

Radio communications impacts firefighter safety. Failures in radio communication can contribute to the ultimate price: firefighter fatalities. Your ability to effectively operate a radio is a safety issue important not just to the department, but also to your family and loved ones.

Original content contributed by cLEaR Consultants under a Creative Commons Attribution License

[1] Karter, M. J. & Stein, G. P. (2012). U.S. Fire Department Profile Through 2011. [Pdf]. National Fire Protection Association. Quincy, MA Retrieved 12 October 2013 from http://www.nfpa.org/~/media/files/research/nfpa%20reports/fire%20service%20statistics/osfdprofile.pdf

[2] Oral Volunteer Fire Department. (1996). Mutual Aid Agreement.

Image: Radio by Ronda Neugebauer used with Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license