Nothing pisses me off more than ego trips that could potential kill firefighters, and Civilians. I have been reading lately about Fire Service Administrators ( Not Leaders ) there is a significant difference that like to play the ignorance card when it comes to putting the best foot forward when it comes to providing emergency service to the public. It is not a secret and it is not frowned upon to use any of the three componets listed in our title. I can hear the older firefighters now we had firefighters back in our day. We fought fire with four guys and we got it done. Well hats off to you sir and glad you made it this far, but this is not your old fires. I will not bore you with the rambling of how many people it effectively takes to get the job done and still save a little something for the next alarm, but I will say to every Administrator ( City Mangers, Chiefs, and other politicans ) I do hope that the public starts to sue the hell out of you for your ignorance. In fact if a firefighter or civilian dies I hope you get jail time for your neglect. Ignorance is not an acceptable excuse. Firefighters it is time to stand up for yourselves and stop allowing your lives to be put in jeporadry for someones ego. All of the above are not new ideas and its about damn time someone else brings the subject to light.
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Not Attending FDIC? If not tell us what your doing this week
While sitting at home feeling sorry for myself about not being at FDIC with all of the other 30,000 brothers and sisters there; A good friend reminded me it is not what they are doing at FDIC, but what are you doing at home to keep yourself sharp.
So I ask you the same. Not attending FDIC? What will you do this week to ensure you are Combat Ready?
Posted in Thoughts, training-fire-rescue-topics
Ahhh Yes! The Annual firefighter recharge FDIC !
This year Firefighter Basics will not be in attendance at FDIC,but our Blog Brothers, and Sisters will. From the Brotherhood Instructors to The Fire Critic. Please stop by the Firefighternation, Fire Ems Blogs Booth while you are out in Indy and say hello. Also please Attend the Meet up that is scheduled for Friday Night at O’Reily’s Pub and Restaurant on Penn St from 8pm to 11pm and connect with your favorite bloggers and even have a cold one or ten and tale some tales.
I hope everyone enjoys there time at FDIC and remembers that learning and acquiring knowledge mean nothing if you refuse to share it with your Brothers and Sisters. Most of the crew will be sitting home watching the coverage or teaching. God Bless enjoy and maybe we will see ya in Baltimore.
Also please check FDIC website for some great classroom presentations by Jason Hoevelmann, Nick Morgan, Rhett Fleitz just to name a few. Get to these classrooms early they will fill up quick. Just great hard working firefighters like you and I who are trying to share some knowledge.
We hope everyone has a great time and we look forward to hearing the stories
Posted in news
Aggressive or Stupid
While having a conversation at one of the fire services most infamous training rooms the firehouse kitchen, a discussion was started on apparatus response. Now I personally take what I call the Ricky Bobby approach ” If you ain’t first your last ” , but after the conversation I started to examine my thoughts. If everyone is trying to be first are they really focusing on the task that will need to be performed? Is it essential to always be first or should you learn to embrace the other roles that need to be played on the fire ground? My point being is, if your always first or racing to be first how many times have you blown the second due assignment when you weren’t first? Are firefighters getting the benefit of learning the role the second line plays on the fire ground, or the benefit of truly learning what the RIT company is suppose to do? If you are the officer are you really helping or hurting your company? Are firefighters now trying to operate at a pace that they do not have the experience for? The reality is we are not doing ourselves any favors in rushing to the scene, in my opinion. Does that mean I don’t want to arrive first? NO, but it means are we getting there and performing the task we need to perform and performing them correctly? Just some thoughts to ponder.
Am I My Brothers Keeper?
I’ve been spending some time training the probie lately. What a good time. Where does that motivation go? What should I teach him? At what point does my “teaching” become “storytelling”? How long before he becomes the next whining lump on the couch?
My goal: Prevent him from becoming a couch creature, ever.
Here’s what I’m telling him;
- You are going to hear a lot of different things from different people. Don’t argue, just agree with them and do it their way for that day. You will find your own methods, you just aren’t allowed to right now.
- If someone doesn’t answer your questions adequately go to your officer or me. I’ll have time for you; I’ll get you the best answer according to our SOP’s.
- Until you prove yourself and/or you are off probation your priorities are as follows; getting here early, checking your personal gear, checking/washing the truck, then house duties, finally you will be the last one to leave at the end of shift, sorry.
- When we do drills ask questions after the evolutions, not during. Then ask for clarification if needed, get it done right during training. Also during training is when we have time for mistakes and redo’s, not during incidents.
- Stay away from the coffee table until you know the first and last names of everyone there, and then sit there quietly until invited into discussion.
- Listen to the war stories, but try to find the truth in them. Try to figure out what was done incorrectly to end up in that situation. Ask you officer if you have questions, don’t ask the storyteller.
- I know you want to learn tech rescue, we’ll get there. Learn the pump and medical protocols first. We will get to the rest later.
- Make your own opinion about other people and other companies. Worry about doing YOUR job correctly first.
- No naps, don’t park/wash your car in the firehouse, keep your butt in the radio room.
10. These guys are not going to be around when you are 80 years old sitting in a rest home. Hopefully your family will. Be Safe, always remember your family when you are at work.
11. Wear your equipment. Let the “salty dogs” get caught with their pants down, they will have some excuse that makes it someone else’s fault that they weren’t ready, you have none.
12. Always have promotion in the back of your mind. Find an officer to emulate. Study, study, study there is a lot to this job and plenty of nationwide opportunities for knowledgeable and motivated personnel.
I’m not a mean guy and there are exceptions to everything, but I think if he follows this general outline he’ll be just fine. Even if he does make some mistakes I think he’ll be better off then the probie on another group who asked the officer to move his car out of the firehouse so the probie could wash his own car.
Good luck all you new guys. This is the greatest job.
Be Safe.
Posted in Thoughts, training-fire-rescue-topics
Leadership problem
All to often I hear of firefighters today wanting to be babysat when it comes to doing their job. Some, but not all, want you to tell them to drill ; When to drill and how to drill. My question is when the decision is made to be, or not to be, a professional, who’s job is it to take corrective action?
Does it always have to be formal corrective action or can the Senior Firefighters within our companies handle it?
Real Advice to Probies
I’ve been spending some time training the probie lately. What a good time. Where does that motivation go? What should I teach him? At what point does my “teaching” become “storytelling”? How long before he becomes the next whining lump on the couch?
My goal: Prevent him from becoming a couch creature, ever.
Here’s what I’m telling him;
- Until you prove yourself and/or you are off probation your priorities are as follows; get here early, check your personal gear, check/wash the truck, then house duties, finally you will be the last one to leave at the end of shift, sorry.
- Wear your equipment. Let the “salty dogs” get caught with their pants down, they will have some excuse that makes it someone else’s fault that they weren’t ready, you have none.
- Stay away from the coffee table until you know the first and last names of everyone there, and then sit there quietly until invited into discussion.
- No naps, don’t park/wash your car in the firehouse, keep your butt in the radio room.
- When we do drills ask questions after the evolutions, not during. Then ask for clarification if needed,we will get it done right during training. Also, during training is when we have time for mistakes and redo’s, not during incidents.
- Listen to the war stories, but try to find the truth in them. Try to figure out what was done incorrectly to end up in that situation. Ask you officer if you have questions, don’t ask the storyteller.
- If someone doesn’t answer your questions adequately go to your officer or me. I’ll have time for you; I’ll get you the best answer according to our SOP’s.
- You are going to hear a lot of different things from different people. Don’t argue, just agree with them and do it their way for that day. You will find your own methods, you just aren’t allowed to right now.
- Make your own opinion about other people and other companies. And put that off as long as possible, worry about doing YOUR job correctly first.
- I know you want to learn tech rescue, we’ll get there. Learn the pump and medical protocols first. We will get to the rest later.
- These guys are not going to be around when you are 80 years old sitting in a rest home. Hopefully your family will. Be Safe, always remember your family when you are at work.
- Always have promotion in the back of your mind. Find an officer to emulate. Study, study, study there is a lot to this job and plenty of nationwide opportunities for knowledgeable and motivated personnel.
I’m not a mean guy and there are exceptions to everything, but I think if he follows this general outline he’ll be just fine. Even if he does make some mistakes I think he’ll be better off then the probie on another group who asked the officer to move his car out of the firehouse so the probie could wash his own car.
Good luck all you new guys. This is the greatest job.
Be Safe.
Posted in command-leadership, training-development
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