Fire chief sees new programming enhancements

By Troy Bannerman on January 10, 2023.

HERALD FILE PHOTO BY IAN MARTENS Greg Adair speaks to reporters in this Herald file photo.

Greg Adair is coming up on his first year anniversary as the Chief of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services.

Under his care the service has implemented a number of programs that range from additional stress support for the women and men who take care of us during emergencies to additional training to give them the knowledge and skills to keep us and our families safe.

“In 2022, Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services have done a number of programs,” he said during a recent interview with the Herald. “Certainly a number within our mental health program. Some of these programs are called a BOS program. Which is Before-Occupational-Stress. We brought in a program for families and how to deal with mental health and PTSD and those challenges that we are facing. We also brought in a Psychologically Safe Leaders course. And this is a course from a psychological standpoint; ‘How do we create safe leadership within our organisation?'”

A key offering on the year let individuals explore the ins and outs of aerial apparatus.

“We do a significant amount of fire and EMS training throughout the year, that’s an ongoing process. But some of our more significant programs that we rolled out in 2022 was an aerial

operators course. So, aerial apparatus operators course. And one of the significant EM programs that we have rolled out starting last year is the Cardiac Survivability Program. And that is an industry-leading program that we have rolled out here in Lethbridge. So, that’s probably what our highlights of what we rolled out in 2022 are.”

Mental health challenges are mounting for individuals involved in these kinds of professions, and Adair is cognizant the problem needs to be addressed.

“There are certainly a number of successes. When we talk about mental health of our men and women in Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services that is an ongoing piece where any time we can roll out a program and help people face whatever challenge they’re facing, that is certainly a success, and so We’ve seen some positive results from that.”

The service’s Cardiac Survivability Program is helping to save lives in the community.

“One of the big ones that we rolled out is the Cardiac Survivability Program,” said Adair. “And when I talk about an industry leading program, this program we are seeing significantly better results for individuals who have a cardiac arrest and for the return of spontaneous circulation and having these individuals come out of the hospital. So we’re seeing really positive results and we’re leading Canada in those results and the positivity that this program is having.”

In talking about next year’s agenda, Chief Adair said, “Probably one of our bigger programs is a heavy rescue operator program. Now that will just be more training in skills and equipment for heavy type rescue, now, whether that be an 18-wheeler or a train type accident. So, we got that program that’s going to roll out in 2023, and that will probably be the biggest newest one at this time. From there it’ll be continual training on aerial operator course, cardiac survivability, NFPA courses, and all the other training that is ongoing throughout the year. It’s certainly a course that will give them more education, tools, and training to deal with whatever that emergency is that they are facing.”

The holidays are a special time for many families and in the Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services they like to celebrate it, too.

“So, what happens is we don’t get to shut down over Christmas because emergencies happen, you know, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including Christmas Day,” said Adair.

“But what typically happens is the crews themselves will organize a dinner while they are on shift, where they can bring their families into the firehall and have a celebration should they not get called out on a call. So, they try to do that on an annual basis just around Christmas time to help through the Christmas season…it’s a nice opportunity to see the families in and to see what their moms or their dads are doing when they work at Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services. So it’s a really good initiative.”