Australia has been using door control and flow path for roughly a decade longer than we have — and it's still wrestling with the same recruitment, burnout and mental health problems you are. After separate trips there, Zam and Fire Chief Jason Caughey compare what they saw: state-level purchasing that puts the same PPE and apparatus in downtown Sydney and rural towns, decon taught from the first day of the academy, and turnout gear swapped out after every fire. They’re just as candid about what doesn't work, from academies that don’t fail anyone to focusing more on performance-based training. Caughey and Zam come back with practical ideas worth borrowing, whether you run a rural department or a busy urban company.

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“Meet me at the bench.” That’s it. No explanation required. Retired Orlando firefighters Chris DeMaagd and Joseph McCluan created The Bench 988 as a safe place for firefighters who want to connect with someone — ideally starting a conversation before they hit a crisis point. The Bench 988 started as an idea to memorialize two Orlando firefighters lost to suicide but quickly grew into something much bigger: weekly walks, peer support and a way to keep retirees connected with active members. DeMaagd calls it “putting tennis shoes on the kitchen table” — taking the camaraderie firefighters miss after retirement and adding movement, sunlight and meaningful connection. Joe and Chris share how they chose the bench location, why attaching 988 matters and what departments should consider before creating their own. But the bigger takeaway isn’t really about a single bench. It’s about making it easier to ask for help and creating what they describe as proactive peer support — catching someone farther upstream, before the crisis.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

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Community risk reduction doesn’t have to start with smoke alarms, fall prevention or another familiar program. Sometimes it starts with a firefighter asking, “What does our community actually need?” Cherry Grove (Michigan) Fire and Rescue Chiefs Noah Knauf and Aaron Sogge have taken that approach with Dad 101, a class created by dads for dads that tackles everything from infant care and choking to what parents can expect when they call 911. But the bigger story is how one idea opened the door to more: safe-sleep education, car-seat checks, bike safety, autism-focused training and programs aimed at the next generation of firefighters and EMTs. Knauf and Sogge also make the case for giving members room to act on what they see in homes every day. The takeaway for leaders: Stop treating CRR like a checklist. Listen to your people, find the right partners and give good ideas room to run.

This episode of the Better Every Shift Podcast is sponsored by TheFireStore. Learn more about getting the gear you need at prices you can afford by visiting TheFireStore.

Email bettereveryshift@firerescue1.com to share your feedback.