NFPA

NFPA takes on new name, continues focus on safety 

As I settle in for my term as president of NFPA, I can honestly say I have an exciting and dynamic board of directors to work with. As I reflect on the past achievements of NFPA and the dedicated individuals who have contributed to the many successful projects, I feel confident that this board is up for the challenge. My initial thought for this article was to discuss individual contributions to the association, but the list is much too long, and these achievements have been sadly overshadowed by the tragic loss of 28 dedicated colleagues, professionals, clinicians, friends, family, and loved ones in crashes this year.

Every year NFPA, along with our sister organizations, continues to struggle to find a solution to this mounting problem in the air medical community. This year, as in past years, safety was the talk at AMTC. Many meetings were held attempting to address the causes and come up with solutions. The same meetings and conversations were held at last year's AMTC and at the Air Medical Leadership Congress in 2003. It seems no matter how much we talk about safety and hold meetings focusing on safety, we continue to see with increasing frequency blackened Web sites with memorials. Our safety record over the past few years is by far the biggest threat to our industry.

Therefore, I'm compelled once again to stress the importance of safety.

NFPA is dedicated to continuing its work on safety. This year at AMTC we kicked off a new campaign focused on safety. We believe that safety within our programs must begin with us as individual crewmembers. It is our individual responsibility to grow the safety culture within our programs from the ground up. Let's face it: we are the ones—pilots, nurses, and paramedics—who are dying in these crashes. Therefore, it is our individual responsibility to make sure that safety is the most important part of doing our jobs every day.

The NFPA Safety Oath reads:

I am empowered to make safety decisions for my team, my patient, and myself.

I will think of myself first in respect to safety, for if I don't, it won't matter to my team or my patient.

I will make an effort to encourage others to reduce risk and act as a resource to improve safety.

I will make a difference.

NFPA challenges all flight crewmembers to make a difference within their programs. We owe it to our wives, husbands, sons, daughters, and loved ones.

Although the issue of safety has dominated this article, I do need to unveil a major transformation that the association has embarked on. As of January 2005, NFPA will be known as the International Association of Flight Paramedics (IAFP). Our new name and logo will embrace a tag line, “Revolutionizing Critical Care Transport,” so look for them shortly. The association board decided to change the name after an increased number of international flight programs expressed interest in our organization. Many of these international members serve as delegates representing their regions to the board. Other international members have completed the FP-C examination and are looking to offer it in their countries.

Looking into the future, we see the need to address the interests and concerns of critical care ground transport paramedics because they are an integral part of our community.

This year is shaping up to be quite busy. With the FP-C exam well on its way, we still need to secure additional funding to pay for the $80,000 test validation process. Expansion into the international and critical care ground arena will keep the IAFP busy for at least the next few years.

Please fly safe and make a personal decision to make a difference!