Introduction
Many of us have experienced the loss
of a firefighter and whether it is duty related or not,
the period is extremely traumatic to all involved. The
intent of this manual is to provide a checklist and
guide so that all parties will be able to organize and
coordinate a ceremony that will be a fitting tribute to
a fallen comrade.
Just as in the everyday operations
of the fire service, when tragedy strikes, we must be
prepared to deal with the conditions that will prevail.
Procedures must be in place to handle the chaos and
emotional burden that a situation of this magnitude
presents. These procedures can also help alleviate the
confusion and miscommunication caused by the time
constraints of the situation. Some of the areas that
need to be addressed are:
-
Good organization and coordination;
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Good communication;
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Maintenance of flexibility;
-
Assurance not to overload one
individual;
-
Moral and emotional support to the
next of kin;
-
Meet the requests and services as
determined by the surviving family members.
It is most important to emphasize
that the AFFI Honor Guard and Union Local personnel
involved, especially the individual charged with the
total coordination effort, understand his/her role.
This role involves delegating
responsibilities to several members and then
coordinating and organizing all efforts to successfully
provide needed services for the surviving family and the
deceased's Local and Department. Outside agencies and
personnel must be also included in the organization and
planning of this event. These personnel may include but
are not limited to the funeral director, cemetery staff,
local police, etc. The AFFI Honor Guard does not assume
the responsibility of any of these individuals. It is
our intent to work with these individuals in order to
accomplish shared goals during this time of loss.
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