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WSESI December 2025 News
- WSESI
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
Oshkosh Firefighter Dies in Line-of-Duty Travel Crash
(From Firerescue1.com) Oshkosh Firefighter/Paramedic Tom Diener, who also served as a lieutenant with the Town of Sheboygan Fire Department, died following a vehicle crash on an Indiana highway on December 11.
Diener was traveling for work related to public safety and emergency warning systems at the time of the incident, along with two other firefighters, Carter Haen and Robbie Betts.
The Oshkosh Fire Department confirmed the incident in a public statement. Details regarding the extent of injuries to Haen and Betts were not released.
A donation page has been established through the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Charitable Foundation to honor Tom Diener’s memory and support the injured firefighters.
Racine fire fighters help save newborn
(From IAFF) Racine Fire Station Four recently responded to its first Safe Haven Baby Box activation after a newborn girl was anonymously placed in the box. Firefighters immediately assessed the baby’s condition, confirmed she was healthy, and transported her to Ascension All Saints Hospital for further evaluation.
The Safe Haven Baby Box program is part of Wisconsin’s Safe Haven law, passed in 2023, which allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender newborns at staffed fire stations, hospitals, or law enforcement facilities without fear of criminal charges. Racine’s box, installed in December 2024, is one of several now operating statewide.
Officials later confirmed the child is healthy and that adoption proceedings are already underway. Firefighters and union leadership emphasized the importance of the program in protecting both infants and parents during times of crisis and expressed pride in their role supporting the law’s intent.
Driver Cited After Striking Ambulance at Blocked Intersection
(Wisconsin State Journal) A Madison driver was cited after illegally driving around a fire truck that was blocking a University Avenue intersection to protect an ambulance transporting a patient to the hospital.
The incident occurred on November 15 at approximately 10:10 p.m., with emergency lights activated on the fire apparatus at the scene.
The driver went around the fire truck and struck the ambulance. No injuries were reported, and a second ambulance was dispatched to complete the patient transport.
The driver was cited for failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, operating without insurance, and not having a valid driver’s license.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about roadway safety for emergency responders and reinforces the importance of public awareness and enforcement of Move Over and Slow Down laws.
🗓️ Don’t Forget – Upcoming WSESI Conference
📌 65th Annual WSESI Conference
Feb 20–22, 2026 @ FVTC Public Safety Training Center! Mark your calendar now and secure your spot. Sessions, networking, professional growth and vendor showcases all in one place.
Spots are filling up fast for the NFA ISO & PICO Courses.
The Live Fire Course will now have access to a home structure to enhance the course and show what it takes to prep, plan, and develop 1403 scenarios.
Don't miss this great opportunity. Reserve your ticket today.
Membership Renewal Reminder
This is your friendly no excuses reminder:
👉 If your WSESI membership is due for renewal in early 2026, do it now so you stay connected to legislative updates, training resources, and conference pricing perks.
Stay in the loop and keep your credentials current—that’s how we raise the bar together.
Becoming a Better Instructor – Fresh Tools + Techniques
🎮 Gamification: Make Learning Stick
Gamification isn’t just a buzzword—when done right, it increases engagement, retention, and learner accountability.
Use scenario badges for competencies (e.g., Cardiac Arrest Champion, Trauma Triage Master).
Introduce leaderboards during skills labs to drive friendly competition.
Try quick case challenges that earn points toward real-world benefits (e.g., teaching privileges, shared resources).
Learners will tell you: engagement beats drudgery every time.
🤖 AI for Instructors: Expand Your Bandwidth
AI isn’t here to replace you—it’s here to amplify your impact.
Instant quiz creation: Give ChatGPT a topic (e.g., pediatric assessment) and get a ready-to-use question bank.
Scenario branching scripts: Use AI to draft multi-path clinical scenarios for simulation labs.
Feedback boosters: AI can help generate structured student feedback templates that are specific, actionable, and consistent.
Start small. Try one AI-assisted tool this quarter and iteratively improve.
As we close out the year and look toward January/February planning, there’s real momentum statewide for emergency services training, workforce support, and instructor development.
Let’s start the new year by jumping into the latest updates that directly impact you, our instructors, educators, and mentors across Wisconsin.
Drop us a line and let us know how we can help!
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