Online Course Helps Firefighters Strengthen Safety Defenses While Balancing Operational Effectiveness
Developed by IL OSHA and IFSI, the “Defenses for Firefighters” course delivers tactical, real-world strategies to reduce injuries and fatalities in emergency response.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jul 17, 2025
The Illinois Department of Labor’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (IL OSHA), in partnership with the Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI), has launched an on-demand training course designed to help firefighters improve personal safety without compromising operational effectiveness.
Titled “Defenses for Firefighters,” the free online course is available through the IFSI training platform and takes just 15 minutes to complete. It offers actionable guidance rooted in real-world incident data, providing both recruits and seasoned officers with the mindset and tactics needed to assess risk, prevent injuries, and make informed decisions under pressure.
“The entire course takes only fifteen minutes,” said IL OSHA Chief Erik Kambarian. “I would encourage all fire departments in Illinois to put their staff through it and then continually reinforce the principles. The goal is clear: ensure every firefighter can walk away from a bad day.”
The course covers essential defensive principles, including:
- Always buckle up—seat belts save lives
- Stay visible and alert at traffic scenes
- Never enter a structure fire without a working radio
- Operate as a team: enter together, stay together, exit together
- Recognize collapse risks in structures
- Use your gear—know it, trust it
- Speak up when something feels wrong
Participants are encouraged to adopt a disciplined, risk-aware mindset: assess conditions, follow SOPs, recognize limitations, and stay focused beyond task-level execution.
IL OSHA enforces occupational safety and health standards for state and local government employers, while federal OSHA oversees private sector workplaces across Illinois.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.