A preparedness guide for firefighters and their families
(Web-Based Document)

"July 2019."

Available online.

A Preparedness Guide for Firefighters and Their Families provides honest information, resources, and conversation starters to give you, the firefighter, tools that will be helpful in preparing yourself and your family for realities of a career in wildland firefighting. This guide does not set any standards or mandates; rather, it is intended to provide you with helpful information to bridge the gap between "all is well" and managing the unexpected. This Guide will help firefighters and their families prepare for and respond to a realm of planned and unplanned situations in the world of wildland firefighting. The content, designed to help make informed decisions throughout a firefighting career, will cover: 1) hazards and risks associated with wildland firefighting; 2) discussing your wildland firefighter job with family and friends; 3) resources for peer support, individual counsel, planning, and response to death and serious injury; and 4) organizations that support wildland firefighters and their families. Preparing yourself and your family for this exciting and, at times, dangerous work can be both challenging and rewarding. You will need to engage in honest discussions and make difficult decisions with your family. This task will be rewarding in that it will provide an opportunity to help your family better understand the work that you do.