The 2021 Winter Business Meeting that is scheduled for 24 January, 2021 at Dublin Volunteer Fire Department has been changed to a ZOOM meeting. This was changed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Members should have received a link to this meeting by email. If you did not receive the link to the meeting please contact the Secretary and request a link.
2020 Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association Competition Results
No Contest Due To Convention Cancellation Due TO COVID-19
The Barren Springs Volunteer Fire Department will be hosting its annual Fish Fry on 13 September, 2020.
At this event they will be drawing for the items for the 2020 Annual Raffle.
The items for the raffle this year are:
1st Prize: Savage 110 tactical 6.5 Creedmore
2nd Prize: Ruger American Ranch 300 blackout
3rd Prize: Handmade knife by Michael Erwin (Model SK-1) value at $250
Raffle tickets are $5.00 each, See any Barren Springs Firefighter or contact Chief Joshua Stitt at 540-239-8464 with questions or for tickets.
(Do not have to be present to win)
The Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association had a booth setup at the 2020 Virginia Fire Rescue Conference in Virginia Beach.
7 June, 2020
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the last Board and Convention Committee meetings we discussed meeting on June 21st for our spring meeting. As you are aware that due to the current pandemic and the restrictions imposed by our wonderful Governor, this meeting had to be cancelled as well as the 2020 convention.
Now that the state is in Phase 2 we will be able to have a business meeting and move forward with the normal business of the association. The association has scheduled the 2020 Summer Business Meeting for 19 July, 2020 to be held at Riner Volunteer Fire Department beginning at 1300 hours. At this meeting we will conduct the business of the association that would normally be taken care of at the annual convention.
This will include the election of officers, election of the Board of Directors and the setting of the meeting schedule for the 2020-2021 year.
If your department would like to host one of the quarterly business meetings please notify the upcoming President or the Secretary. Instead of the Fall Business Meeting being held in September the date has been moved to 18 October, 2020 with the location to be determined at the summer meeting. After that we plan on getting back to the normal rotation of meeting for January and April.
Thank you for your patients and understanding during this unique time,
David Akers
Board of Director Member
Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association
The Southwest Virginia Firefighters Association has always been a forward-thinking organization and we are looking to lead by example to help ensure the health and welfare of our members and guests during the current COVID-19 public health emergency.
With that being said, your leadership has made the unprecedented decision to cancel the 2020 convention in Kingsport, TN.
We hope to see you at the 2021 convention in Kingsport.
Most people are aware of the physical demands that first response activities place on firefighters and EMS providers. But it is important to also realize the impact that fighting fires and responding to emergencies has on the mental wellbeing of emergency personnel. Firefighters and EMS providers face the risk of many behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction among others.
The resources in this section can assist individuals seeking help for a behavioral health issue as well as departments looking to implement or enhance a behavioral health program.
National Volunteer Fire Council – Share the Load Support Program
Most people are aware of the physical demands that first response activities place on firefighters and EMS providers. But it is important to also realize the impact that fighting fires and responding to emergencies has on the mental wellbeing of emergency personnel. Firefighters and EMS providers face the risk of many behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction among others.
Taking care of your mental health is as important as managing your physical health. The NVFC’s Share the Load™ program provides access to critical resources and information to help first responders and their families manage and overcome personal and work-related problems. This includes the Directory of Behavioral Health Professionals as a resource to find local assistance for behavioral health issues.
The resources in this section can assist individuals seeking help for a behavioral health issue as well as departments looking to implement or enhance a behavioral health program.
If you are a firefighter looking for tips to improve your overall health and fitness, or a fire department leader developing or enhancing a wellness-fitness program, these resources can help.
We lose the right to be out of shape the day we take the oath. It’s not personal; it’s professional.
The foundation of a prepared firefighter is fitness. Firefighting is a physically demanding job that requires us to show up fit. That leads to the question: why are there so many out-of-shape firefighters?
It has been reported that more than 70 percent of U.S. firefighters are overweight or obese, exceeding the national average for adults and presenting a major threat to their health, wellness, and credibility. It ultimately raises concerns about their survival and that of the people they serve.
In a job built on the qualities of honor, integrity, and discipline, how have so many allowed their fitness to slip? Before I answer the question, let’s define fitness and what that looks like for a firefighter.
Our job is time-dependent. There is a clock ticking on the lives of the people trapped inside, so our work capacity is the most critical aspect of our fitness because work capacity is how much work we can get done in a given period of time. Thus, firefighter fitness comes down to work capacity, which is determined by our skill set, mindset, strength, speed, endurance, power, and ability to recover and do it again.
Our physical performance will make the difference between life and death for others, so our ability to do the most effective work in the least amount of time is at the heart of firefighter fitness and gives our citizens the greatest chance of survival. Notice I didn’t say anything about physical appearance because training for physical appearance will not guarantee physical performance. Still, I assure you if we train for performance, the appearance will follow, meaning your body composition will be able to meet the job’s demands.
John Spera, Fire Engineering Magazine
Firefighter Cancer Support Network
FCSN is a 501(c)(3) organization established by Los Angeles County Firefighter Paramedic Michael Dubron, a survivor of stage IV colon cancer. Today, FCSN’s key supporters and partners include the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), Firefighter Close Calls (FFCC), and the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), among many other respected fire-service organizations. FCSN is a founding member of the Fire Service Occupational Cancer Alliance. We also work with the American Cancer Society and the Live Strong Foundation.
Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance
The mission of Firefighter Behavioral Health Alliance is to collaborate, develop and implement behavioral health awareness, prevention, intervention, and post crisis strategies to provide firefighters with an easily accessible and confidential source of information.
If you are a firefighter looking for tips to improve your overall health and fitness, or a fire department leader developing or enhancing a wellness-fitness program, these resources can help.
The Firehouse.com Health & Fitness product category is a collection of information, product listings and resources for researching various firefighter health and fitness equipment, including physical training, exercise equipment, firefighter health, nutrition options.
IT TAKES A PERSON WITH HEART TO DO YOUR JOB.
KEEP IT STRONG.
The NVFC Heart-Healthy Firefighter Program is the only national program dedicated to saving America’s firefighters and EMS personnel from their leading cause of on-duty death: heart disease. We invite firefighters, EMS personnel, and their families to explore the site to find out how easy, fun, and rewarding it is to get healthy. It takes a person with heart to do their job. Let’s help keep them healthy.
The health and wellness topic covers fitness, nutrition and physical preparation for firefighting. On this page, you’ll find tips on exercising around the firehouse, eating right and dealing with the stress. Learn to do proper fire rehab and stay informed about firefighter health to avoid the injuries and illnesses, like heart disease, that are common killers in the fire service.
PROTECTING OUR RESPONDERS: THE IMPORTANCE OF A DEPARTMENT HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM
Most people are aware of the physical demands that first response activities place on firefighters and EMS providers. But it is important to also realize the impact that fighting fires and responding to emergencies has on the mental wellbeing of emergency personnel. Firefighters and EMS providers face the risk of many behavioral health concerns such as anxiety, depression, burnout, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction among others.
Click the link above to learn more
