At its core training firefighters is about mastering tactics but as you grow as an instructor it’s about ensuring every firefighter can hear, understand, and act on critical instructions. With nearly 40% of firefighters experiencing hearing loss, compared to just 15% of the general population, the challenge of clear communication in the classroom, the lecture hall, and on the fireground is far greater than most realize.
In Beyond the Back Row: What Did They Just Say?, Alex Zielinski offers small, intentional changes in instructional delivery that can make a big impact. From coordinating with co-instructors to using subtitles and captions, to simply facing the audience when speaking.
By default, many of us think of accessibility and disability as only the obviously evident. This article shares practical strategies that instructors can adopt today to improve engagement, reduce confusion, and ensure no firefighter is left behind in training. It’s a call to rethink how we present information, making sure every learner—whether in the front row or the back—has equal access.
👉 Read the full article on Firefighter Nation to discover how small changes in delivery can transform training outcomes and strengthen communication across the fire service.