Firefighters - the new paradigm

Abstract

In Portugal, organizing the provision of assistance to people still relies on the volunteer firemen’s associations /brigades. This volunteering model has some weaknesses, both in the associative component, especially in terms of management and in the operational component. Here, although significant progress has been made both in terms of initial and continuous training and in terms of a culture of individual and collective safety, much still remains to be done.
As the irreplaceable value of volunteering, the warmth and friendliness communities have for their firefighters are not in question, this means a substantial improvement is needed in instruction and training, especially at the top of the hierarchy, where failings are most evident. Obviously, instruction and training are crucial to effective and high-quality assistance and the response of the National School of Firefighters [ENB], the authority responsible for training firefighters, is essential at this time of change.
This is a new paradigm, a challenge that will inevitably involve the State and the institutions that provide assistance in Portugal, but it is essentially a challenge that involves changing mentalities and requires the courage to embark on a new course as far as assistance is concerned.