Two In, Two Out

In recent years, safety has been pushed like never before. With this came new phrases that serve as the foundations of what we pass along to others in the fire service. Over and over again, you will hear fire service mantras such as have the "courage to stay safe," "everybody goes home," and "we risk a lot to save a lot; we risk little to save little." 

This constant push towards a safer work environment is a positive thing. I have no doubt that lives have been, and will continue to be, saved as a result. It is important to recognize that each of these campaigns towards a safer work environment were started because of a catastrophic loss.
Fellow brothers and sisters have paid dearly over the years because of unsafe practices. It is our duty to honor those individuals by learning from not only LODDs, but injuries as well. This means jumping on board with the steps that are being taken to enhance safety, rather than pushing back against them.


Although each of the previously mentioned phrases deserves recognition, the one phrase I want to focus on is "two in, two out." In essence, this means that for every two people in harm's way, two are standing by to help, should it be needed. Initially, OSHA established this standard. It was further adopted by the NFPA, as a route for improving accountability and communications; it also provided a means of immediate rescue. The presence of RIT in today's fire service is a direct consequence of the positive impact this standard has had on our profession.

Unfortunately, the concept of “two out” is not truly satisfied by simply having two people outside of the IDLH. At a moment’s notice, those two people must be as equally-equipped as those inside, and able to intervene. It is the actions performed by the "two out" that impact the outcome of those in harm’s way. 

We all want think that if something were to go wrong, our brothers and sisters will be right there to get us out. In many cases, they will be. But, ask yourself, do I know for sure that the person outside has done all that they could to prepare for this scenario? Some are blessed and able to answer that question with an overwhelming "Yes!" Others may not be so lucky. 

The tendency is to write off the individuals who we feel are under-performing. Rather than offering the patience and effort required to bring that person up to speed, we push them to other shifts/stations or pray that they stay out of suppression related activities. 

Instead, commit to making yourself available to those in need of help. Genuine effort will chip away at shortfalls. Be a mentor. Initiate training. Discuss what-if scenarios. These are the people that you are relying on to be by your side, and, potentially, save your life! That alone should be reason enough to change your perspective on the value these firefighters bring. 

Likewise, this goal of always having reliable, fully-capable firefighters who are ready to jump in at a moment's notice is not achievable solely by expecting more from those around you. It is also your responsibility to be equipped for the same task. This means being both mentally and physically capable of rising to the occasion. 

When is the last time you ran a RIT drill in full gear? How many times have you thrown a ladder this month? What radio traffic are you responsible for transmitting in a true Mayday (recognize that none at all may be the answer if it does not positively impact the rescue)? Let the answers to these, and similar, questions be a benchmark for how you might perform should you be called on to be that person outside of the IDLH.

It is time to fortify both the "two in" and the "two out." We need solid firefighters in all aspects of the incident scene, whether inside or outside. What have you done today to impact both?