What an exciting 2 Seasons that we've had! Thank you to our loyal listeners for tuning in and to our guests who have shared their knowledge and expertise with firefighter world-wide. We hope you have walked away with a few new tips and lessons on how to make firefighting a little bit safer.

Fire-Dex still have tons of educational resources available for you on our blog and social channels. Make sure to check them out!

Again, thank you so much for listening!

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Navigate the ever-changing world of fire training with Chiefs Shane Bentley and Webster Marshall as they discuss the founding principles of their organization Bearers of the Oath. Tune in as they explore the importance of high-fidelity training and express their commitment to firefighter mental and physical health.

WHAT YOU CAN LEARN

• Prepping Firefighter Recruits
• How Well Firefighters are Educated on PPE
• What Comes Between You and the Danger
• Realistic Training Scenarios Beyond the Textbook
• Comfortability on the Fireground
• Taking Care of Mental Health and Balancing Family

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Shane Bentley is an 18-year veteran of the Georgia Fire Service and is currently serving as the Assistant Fire Chief of Operations at a suburban department in Northeast Georgia. Shane’s passion for training has allowed him to be a part of and serve as a member of multiple fire service organizations including Do Your Part Training, FDIC, MAFFC, North Florida Fire EXPO, Georgia Fire Academy, Forge Fire & Company, Honor the Fallen Fire Conference, Capitol Fire Training, and Build Your Culture. He also serves as one of the founding members of the Bearers of the Oath Training Cadre and enjoys every opportunity he gets to give back to the Fire Service.

Web Marshall has been a firefighter for 21 years and currently serves at the Gwinnett County Fire Department as a Lieutenant and at the Jackson Trail Fire Department as Deputy Chief. Web is also the founder and owner of Command and Control, LLC and has experience as an NPQ Instructor III. His diverse career in the fire industry also includes emergency and non-profit management, technical rescue, command & leadership, and medical & wellness advocacy for the Fire Fighter Cancer Foundation. Most recently, Web has been appointed to serve on the NFPA 1971 and 1851 Technical Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia College and State University focused on Rhetoric and Leadership.

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Join Andy Starnes and Chief Schwalbe as they discuss the best ways to be efficient during fireground search training and how to become a better fire instructor.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN:

• How to be a better fire instructor
• The basics of search & rescue training
• How to utilize data to better your search tactics
• Ways to train at home
• Best practices for efficient tool placement
• Search curriculum

ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Grant Schwalbe is the Division Chief of Operations at Estero Fire Department in Fort Myers, Florida, and has served with the department since 2003. He is also an Instructor for When Things Go Bad, Inc. and has taught at FDIC, The Orlando Fire Conference, Wichita HOT, and Fire Rescue East. He’s had several articles published in Fire Engineering Magazine. Grant is passionate about Search, Engine Company Ops, Firefighter Survival, and RIT. Grant is an FL Instructor 3 and has earned an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.



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• How realistic training is conducted
• Why consistent training is critical to a firefighter's job
• Maintaining a safe work environment
• Tips to conduct in-department trainings and when to outsource
• Family first mentality & growing your support system

Understand how to reduce exposure risks and the importance of doffing PPE correctly. In this episode, Andy Starnes, Dr. Farzaneh Masoud, and Richard Kesler as this trio dives deep into THL & TPP, how to reduce inflammation and the future of gross decon.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN

• Effects of exposure within the body and cancer risks
• How to reduce cross contamination in the fire house
• Why PPE is helpful and not a hinderance
• The importance of proper doffing
• Understand how firefighter PPE works

ABOUT OUR GUESTS

Dr. Farzaneh Masoud, Director of Research at IFSI, has earned her Ph.D. from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign from Department of Molecular Biology. Dr. Masoud has a broad background in Molecular, Cell and Developmental biology as well as mammalian reproductive biology. Her doctoral research focused on identifying factors that underlies cancer metastasis.

Dr. Masoud has joined Illinois Fire Service Institute as the Director of Research in 2019, where she leads numerous research projects concerning the health and safety of firefighters. Prior to joining IFSI, Dr. Masoud was leading large interdisciplinary projects at National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) as a Strategic Research and Proposal Development office and has served as an Interdisciplinary Research Development Officer.

Richard Kesler, Deputy Director of Research Programs, focuses on biomechanics, and physical performance, specifically examining the physiological demands of firefighting activity and the impact of firefighting on the firefighter. Richard serves on the National Fire Protection Association Fundamentals of Fire Control Within a Structure Utilizing Fire Dynamics technical committee. He is also a physical training instructor for the Illinois Fire Service Institute’s Basic Operations Firefighter Academy and teaches in numerous other fire service classes. Richard is a graduate of the University of Illinois with a Master of Science degree in Bioengineering and is currently pursuing his PhD in Kinesiology.


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First responders are expected to be calm and level-headed but the stressors faced by those in the fire service can have a cumulative impact on mental health and well-being. Listen in as Andy Starnes and Dena Ali discuss the stigma associated with firefighters seeking help and how peer support resources can be a solution.

What You Can Expect To Learn

• Biggest misconceptions about mental health in firefighters
• Addressing feelings vs recycling them
• PTSD & peer support resources
• Implementing mental health solutions within the fire house
• The cause of most firefighter suicides
• Individual coping mechanisms

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Dena Ali is a Captain with the Raleigh (NC) Fire Department and previously served as a police officer for five years. She is also the founder and director of North Carolina Peer Support where she helped to develop their statewide curriculum. During her career she earned the NC Office of State Fire Marshal Honor, Courage, and Valor award for her steadfast effort to bring awareness to firefighter mental health. Dena is advocate of awareness, education, and understanding of mental health disorders and suicidality. She speaks on these topics and is a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Instructor. Dena holds a degree from North Carolina State University and an MPA from the University of North Carolina—Pembroke, where her research focused on firefighter suicide.

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Tune in as Season 1 host Retired Battalion Chief Bob Keys passes the reigns to Battalion Chief Andy Starnes of Charlotte Fire Department and Founder of Insight Training. Join us as we bid farewell to Bob and get to know our new Season 2 host as he shares stories about his journey in the fire service and how he hopes to help make firefighting a little bit safer!

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN:

• What Hosting Has Meant to Bob
• Where Bob's Next Adventure in the Fire Service Will Lead Him
• How Andy Was Introduced to the Fire Service & What Organizations He's Currently Involved In
• Future Expectations for the Podcast

ABOUT OUR HOSTS:

Battalion Chief Keys completed a total of 31 years of service, beginning as a firefighter for a high volume station in the Bronx. As a Captain and Lieutenant, he served various municipalities including Midtown Manhattan, until settling into East New York Brooklyn, where he became Battalion Chief. Within his new role he took charge of Research and Development where he learned how new innovations are tested and introduced to the fire service.

Battalion Chief Andy Starnes works for Charlotte Fire Department and is the Founder of Insight Training. He has been involved with the fire service as a volunteer since 1992 and as a career firefighter since 1998. He is a fire service contributor on many topics including thermal imaging, fire behavior, and terminology. Andy is also the founder of Bringing Back Brotherhood, a nonprofit organization designed to guide firefighters in the areas of behavioral health and counseling.

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Learn about the changing culture within the fire service that has led to a better understanding of health and safety needs for firefighters through advancements in PPE in the years since 9/11.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN:

• Conceptualization of today's particulate blocking hoods
• Expectations of gear inspections and cleaning
• Inefficiencies in past PPE technology
• Ergonomic design of modern turnout gear
• Introduction of alternative PPE

ABOUT OUR GUEST :

Jim Reidy was a Lieutenant on Ladder 46 for the San Antonio Texas Fire Department (SAFD) where he was a firefighter for 33 years. He was also an Assistant Safety Officer and was the SAFD Quartermaster in 2018. He was involved in PPE for 30 of his 33 years and served as Co- Chairman of the SAFD/Local 624 Firefighting PPE Committee, as a member of the SAFD Occupational Cancer Committee, Tool and Equipment Committee, and Apparatus Committee.

Jim is a member of the NFPA 1971-1851 Committee representing the Texas State Association of Fire Fighters. He currently serves as Helmet Task Group Chair for the next edition of NFPA 1971. He serves on the Texas Commission on Fire Protection Firefighter Advisory Committee as a member and past Chairman and is a Firefighter Cancer Support Network Rep in South Texas.

He also speaks at a variety of venues and events on Firefighter PPE Risk Assessment, Use, and Selection along with Firefighter Cancer Prevention and is known as a vocal advocate for firefighter health and safety.

ABOUT THE HOST:

Battalion Chief Keys completed a total of 31 years of service, beginning as a firefighter for a high volume station in the Bronx. As a Captain and Lieutenant, he served various municipalities including Midtown Manhattan, until settling into East New York Brooklyn, where he became Battalion Chief. Within his new role he took charge of Research and Development where he learned how new innovations are tested and introduced to the fire service.

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