Send us a text

This episode features Josh Blum and John Vance.

For free command and leadership support, check out bshifter.com

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip

Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com

All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

John Vance and Josh Blum deliver the Blue Card Rundown for May 2025, covering educational opportunities and system enhancements for Blue Card users and instructors. They highlight new training initiatives, conference information, and tools designed to improve command effectiveness and firefighter safety.

• Big Box Workshop successes featuring Shane Ray from the National Fire Sprinkler Association
• Mayday Workshop focusing on prevention rather than just management
• Hazard Zone Conference details for September 30-October 3 at the Sharonville Convention Center in Ohio.
• New Blue Card Command Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) Train-the-Trainer program launching in June
• After Action Reporting system gaining traction as a tool for targeted improvement
• New data export feature for instructors to easily track student certification status
• Silverback Leadership Series adding new modules connecting firehouse culture to fireground success
• Multiple Train-the-Trainer opportunities available through the end of 2025

Visit bshifter.com to register for the Hazard Zone Conference, workshops, and to access all the new Blue Card resources.

Send us a text

This episode is hosted by Nick Brunacini, Chris Stewart, and John Vance.

We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5_ZwoCZo0

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip

Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com

All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This episode was recorded on May 7, 2025.

Strategy creates safety by aligning tactics with actual conditions, ensuring crews don't operate in unsuitably dangerous environments while maximizing effectiveness against the fire.

• Strategic decisions have the greatest effect on everyone working at the incident scene
• Stating the strategy three times forces conscious evaluation of conditions and clear communication of intent
• Strategy dictates positioning—offensive inside hazard zone, defensive outside hazard zone
• Near-miss story demonstrates how proper strategy recognition saved five firefighters' lives
• Incident commanders must validate strategy with 360-degree size-ups and adjust as conditions change
• The command system distinguishes between offensive and defensive conditions which should never be mixed
• Communication "tickets" prioritize radio traffic and reduce unnecessary transmissions
• 37% of initial Mayday calls are missed, making efficient communication critical
• Regular command training (quarterly 4-hour sessions) prevents reversion to bad habits
• The incident commander outranks everyone on scene regardless of formal rank structure

If you have questions for the B Shifter podcast team, send us an email (addresses in show notes) or click the fan mail option on our Buzzsprout platform to send us a direct message.

Send us a text

The B Shifter Podcast examines how bad training practices can create dangerous operational habits in the fire service that are difficult to break and potentially dangerous.

This episode is hosted by Josh Blum, and John Vance.

We want your helmet (for the AVB CTC)! Check this out to find out more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg5_ZwoCZo0

Sign up for the B Shifter Buckslip, our free weekly newsletter here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/fmgs92N/Buckslip

Shop B Shifter here: https://bshifter.myshopify.com

All of our links here: https://linktr.ee/BShifter

Please subscribe and share. Thank you for listening!

This episode was recorded on April 30, 2025.

Line-of-Duty Death Report Available
B Shifter now has the NIOSH report available for download regarding the tragic loss of Firefighter James Michael Muller of the Irmo Fire District. On May 26, 2023, Firefighter Muller was killed in the line of duty while operating at a structure fire in an apartment building. There were many heroic acts at this incident and also many lessons to be shared and learned.
Download the full report and honor Firefighter Muller’s sacrifice by learning from this critical event: https://bshifter.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/NIOSH-FINAL-REPORT-202307.pdf

• Training scars are ingrained behaviors taught during training that don't reflect best practices on the fireground
• Dan Madrzykowski describes how teaching firefighters to "pencil" water creates dangerous muscle memory
• Emergency activation button training creates hesitation in real emergencies when the button should be used
• Chris Stewart emphasizes focusing on higher performers rather than the vocal minority resistant to change
• Pat Dale discusses how poor leadership behaviors become learned and perpetuated through generations
• Keith Stakes highlights how training facilities don't resemble real structures where firefighters operate
• Nick Brunicini explains how rapid intervention teams operated for decades before effectiveness was evaluated
• Terry Garrison stresses spending valuable training time on meaningful skills not arbitrary traditions
• Training must align with operational realities and provide realistic context for skills development
• Effective training allows firefighters to make mistakes in a supportive environment without career consequences

Join us at the Blue Card Hazard Zone Conference in Cincinnati September/October 2024. Register now at BShifter.com to secure early bird pricing and discounted hotel accommodations