Have ya noticed all my blogs are titled inline with a song?
This blog is entitled "Back In The Saddle" because literally, tomorrow I get to be back on the job. The job I love, what I've been trained to do. Who I am.
The job I love hurt me. I've been off work for just over a month. Well, let me explain.
This job ALWAYS hurts anyone that signs up for it. It's the nature of the beast. A child injured by a car running a stop sign. An elderly person not able to live alone anymore. A teenager heading down the wrong path and overdosing. A family living in a hotel because their house caught on fire. A middle aged father sent to a wheelchair because of a car wreck he didn't cause. Pulling the remains of someone that was alive yesterday out of a fire in front of his family today. Knowing I am the LAST person you will see and talk to on this earth. Literally watching the soul leaving the person in my arms.
I have done ALL of the above. This job HURTS.
About a month ago, The Job literally hurt me. It was a "stupid" injury. But the doctors and the MRI explained that The Job has been causing this since day 1. I haven't been able to go back to it. To be who I am, what I do, what WE do, what I am trained for. According to the Doctors, the MRI, and X-Rays, I wasn't ALLOWED to got back to work. But tomorrow my friends, I AM!
There is an undying spirit among us, YOUR FIREFIGHTERS. It truly is a calling, a need to help those in need.
I truly hope, that I sit there and do NOTHING tomorrow. That means that no one under my care needs help, and I'm OK with that.
But if you need me, US, I'll come running with bells and whistles! It's who I AM.
It's not something we do, IT'S WHO WE ARE.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Pulp Fiction
"The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children.
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers! And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you!"
Ezekiel 25:17
We do not make $12.6 Million per year because we're good at football, a game.
We do not make $8.2 Million per year because we're good at basketball, a game.
We do not make $6.3 Million per year because we're good at baseball, a game.
We do not belong to the NFL, the NBA, or the MLB, all of which have striked in the past because of what they felt were unfair terms to their contracts.
We DO belong to the IAFF. The International Association of Fire Fighters. We have never been on strike. We are ALWAYS there when you need us.
We DO make $40,000 per year because we're good at coming up with last minute desperate solutions to impossible problems that are caused by other people. We're good at being a firefighters. We do not do a fancy end zone touch down dance. There are no video cameras on us when we're warming up on the "sidelines." There are definitely no cameras on us when we're at work, because there are no camera men brave enough to follow us.
What we do IS NOT a game!
We truly do find lost children. And ANY Firefighter will tell you
"I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER."
If you live in Ohio, PLEASE VOTE NO ON ISSUE 2!
And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers! And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you!"
Ezekiel 25:17
We do not make $12.6 Million per year because we're good at football, a game.
We do not make $8.2 Million per year because we're good at basketball, a game.
We do not make $6.3 Million per year because we're good at baseball, a game.
We do not belong to the NFL, the NBA, or the MLB, all of which have striked in the past because of what they felt were unfair terms to their contracts.
We DO belong to the IAFF. The International Association of Fire Fighters. We have never been on strike. We are ALWAYS there when you need us.
We DO make $40,000 per year because we're good at coming up with last minute desperate solutions to impossible problems that are caused by other people. We're good at being a firefighters. We do not do a fancy end zone touch down dance. There are no video cameras on us when we're warming up on the "sidelines." There are definitely no cameras on us when we're at work, because there are no camera men brave enough to follow us.
What we do IS NOT a game!
We truly do find lost children. And ANY Firefighter will tell you
"I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER."
If you live in Ohio, PLEASE VOTE NO ON ISSUE 2!
Monday, October 3, 2011
KORN "Wake Up!"
Actually the title of the song is "Wake The Fu*K Up."
So much going on with YOUR governor right now, so much with training and little issues on our, and probably your, department right now. WHAT A CONFUSING TIME!!!
So what does The Warrior do?
HE WAKE'S THE FUCK UP! That's what The Warrior does!
We have a governor putting the screws to us, we have State, County, and Local budgets putting the screws to us. But we still get on the rig, and do what we do. There is NOTHING that can keep us from that, no matter how fair or not. We are what we are. When off duty, we hold doors for strangers, we rush in to help at the little league baseball game when someone else's kid is hurt, we don't park in handicapped spaces, we always think of others FIRST, it's not a thought, it's who we are. We fly the flag to honor the true heroes. You call us heroes, but not one of us thinks that way, we're just "Doing what WE do!" We KNOW who the true heroes are!
We're not looking for a handout. We're not looking for money from the State. What we are looking for is a well deserved pension. Gov Kasich compares us to the private sector employees. When was the last time a private employee was sleeping, woke up at 02:17 AM, put on 80 lbs of extra equipment, showed up in 2 minutes, and had Grandma on oxygen within 4 minutes of the time she called 911? Do Gov Kasich's private employees do that? If so, I was unaware.
My whole problem with Gov Kasich being a manipulative liar, deliberately confusing tax payers by changing SB5 to issue 2, rearranging committee members to force his bill to pass, and MANY other things, is that those same actions would get you and I fired from our job, our job to protect the citizens of Ohio from unknown perils.
That IS our job! To protect unknown citizens from unknown perils. I "thought" that's why we hired a governor? To protect us, the tax paying citizens of Ohio from unknown perils.
I guess not!
The MOST HATED GOV IN THE USA belongs to you! The citizen of Ohio! Congrats!
Now on to the purpose of this blog. I have literally 3 pages of mathematical equations for friction loss in nozzles, a bailout class planned, SCBA consumption drills planned, and a host of other things planned to be one step ahead when my, OUR, citizens need us. You deserve the best, and if it was up to me, you shall get the best! And trust me, you will get THE BEST. No Governor will take that from a Warrior, EVER!
But I can't be concerned about that "trivial" stuff right now, because I'm focused on Issue 2, and making sure MY citizens know the truth about it. Do you want the highly trained professionals thinking about YOU, or politics and the Governor?
Is Gov Kasich gonna show up and pull your kid out of the fire? NO! Not only is he trying to get his way, to benefit his corporate cronies, this whole SB5 has a trickle down effect, and is keeping the professionals from training how to save you. YOU, the average citizen. I hope you never call us, but we are just "911" away. Too bad your Governor doesn't see it that way.
In the meantime my brothers and sisters, lets not forget about training! Let's go do what we do!!!!
I would like to get back to the purpose of this blog, TRAINING. But for now, I can't.
Let's keep Ohio safe from the ground up!
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 2!!!
So much going on with YOUR governor right now, so much with training and little issues on our, and probably your, department right now. WHAT A CONFUSING TIME!!!
So what does The Warrior do?
HE WAKE'S THE FUCK UP! That's what The Warrior does!
We have a governor putting the screws to us, we have State, County, and Local budgets putting the screws to us. But we still get on the rig, and do what we do. There is NOTHING that can keep us from that, no matter how fair or not. We are what we are. When off duty, we hold doors for strangers, we rush in to help at the little league baseball game when someone else's kid is hurt, we don't park in handicapped spaces, we always think of others FIRST, it's not a thought, it's who we are. We fly the flag to honor the true heroes. You call us heroes, but not one of us thinks that way, we're just "Doing what WE do!" We KNOW who the true heroes are!
We're not looking for a handout. We're not looking for money from the State. What we are looking for is a well deserved pension. Gov Kasich compares us to the private sector employees. When was the last time a private employee was sleeping, woke up at 02:17 AM, put on 80 lbs of extra equipment, showed up in 2 minutes, and had Grandma on oxygen within 4 minutes of the time she called 911? Do Gov Kasich's private employees do that? If so, I was unaware.
My whole problem with Gov Kasich being a manipulative liar, deliberately confusing tax payers by changing SB5 to issue 2, rearranging committee members to force his bill to pass, and MANY other things, is that those same actions would get you and I fired from our job, our job to protect the citizens of Ohio from unknown perils.
That IS our job! To protect unknown citizens from unknown perils. I "thought" that's why we hired a governor? To protect us, the tax paying citizens of Ohio from unknown perils.
I guess not!
The MOST HATED GOV IN THE USA belongs to you! The citizen of Ohio! Congrats!
Now on to the purpose of this blog. I have literally 3 pages of mathematical equations for friction loss in nozzles, a bailout class planned, SCBA consumption drills planned, and a host of other things planned to be one step ahead when my, OUR, citizens need us. You deserve the best, and if it was up to me, you shall get the best! And trust me, you will get THE BEST. No Governor will take that from a Warrior, EVER!
But I can't be concerned about that "trivial" stuff right now, because I'm focused on Issue 2, and making sure MY citizens know the truth about it. Do you want the highly trained professionals thinking about YOU, or politics and the Governor?
Is Gov Kasich gonna show up and pull your kid out of the fire? NO! Not only is he trying to get his way, to benefit his corporate cronies, this whole SB5 has a trickle down effect, and is keeping the professionals from training how to save you. YOU, the average citizen. I hope you never call us, but we are just "911" away. Too bad your Governor doesn't see it that way.
In the meantime my brothers and sisters, lets not forget about training! Let's go do what we do!!!!
I would like to get back to the purpose of this blog, TRAINING. But for now, I can't.
Let's keep Ohio safe from the ground up!
VOTE NO ON ISSUE 2!!!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Duty, Pride, Tradition
We WILL get back to the pump operations, SOON! But this one has been bugging me, so here it is.
Well what more is there to say about it than the title? DUTY. PRIDE. TRADITION. That's what we do, right? Funny how 10 years can make a difference. Sept 12 2001, I could do nothing wrong. I was a hero in my public's eye. I didn't do anything that any Warrior wouldn't have. Just doing my job. Working on Sept 12 2011, 10 years down the road, and I have "my" governor calling me a greedy bastard for wasting the tax payer's money. I have citizens asking me "What took you so long to get here?" I have citizens calling 911 for an ambulance because they have a blister. That takes my ambulance away from the heart attack coming in 10 min from now. So when the heart attack shows up, I have citizens asking me "Where is my ambulance? I called the paramedics, not the firemen!" Just because you have an EBT card, doesn't mean you no longer have to be a responsible member of society. You still have to think about the other guy.
But, firefighters haven't changed. Not even a little. We still do what we did back in the 1800's. Nothing has changed there. What HAS changed is the way we do what we do. New technology, new ideas, better training. We are the best problem solvers available, PERIOD. Have a problem you don't know how to fix, that needs fixed in a hurry? Call 911! Who shows up?
Not to sound corny or cliche, but Donald Sutherland said it best in the movie "Backdraft."
"The funny thing about firemen is, night and day, they are always firemen"
Here's my take on it.
DUTY
Volunteer or Paid, I don't care. You signed a blank check payable up to and including YOUR LIFE to protect the citizens of your community. It is your DUTY to provide the citizens with the best care that you can give them. 95% is not acceptable! 100% all the time, every time. I don't want to hear you're tired, bored, untrained, or lazy. Get away from me and The Warriors, this job isn't for you! End of discussion.
PRIDE
You are a highly trained professional, so act like it! Shine your boots, polish your badge. Look like a professional when you show up on scene. Know your job, know what to do. You ARE the last line of defense! That citizen called you because they didn't know what else to do. You are supposed to show up as a HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL and fix the problem! If you can't, who the hell are you gonna call? BE the part, ACT the part, LOOK the part! If you've earned a few bugles, wear them with pride! Learn how to be a leader, that's what those bugles mean. If you haven't earned any bugles yet, LEARN HOW TO! Know your first dues inside outside upside down.
TRADITION
The fire service started with the birth of our country. Benjamin Franklin is called the first Fire Chief. The first paid firefighters went to work in Cincinnati in 1853. You think this is new? It's not, there have been MANY brothers before you.
The Maltese Cross was first adopted by the Fire Department of New York in 1865, according to author Gary Urbanowicz in his book "Badges of the Bravest." The symbol of the Knights of Malta was chosen because of a legend involving a battle between the knights and Saracen forces during the invasion of the Holy Land. During this battle, Saracen forces began using naphtha, a highly flammable liquid, to ignite the knights in a wave of flame. The knights who escaped the blaze quickly rushed to the aid of their brethren, and extinguished the flames. This story became a representation of the courage of firefighters in the U.S.
I said up in the "Duty" section that you signed a blank check. You did. That check is also payable to the brothers that have been here before us. I, YOU, WE, OWE it to them to learn everything we can about this job, and do the absolute best we can each and every time. A lot of them cashed in that check with their lives. And you get to live on the coat tails of those that came before us.
It's your responsibility to take that tradition and leave some long coat tails for the next generation to stand on.
Done with my rant.
Stay safe gang! It's a jungle out there!
Well what more is there to say about it than the title? DUTY. PRIDE. TRADITION. That's what we do, right? Funny how 10 years can make a difference. Sept 12 2001, I could do nothing wrong. I was a hero in my public's eye. I didn't do anything that any Warrior wouldn't have. Just doing my job. Working on Sept 12 2011, 10 years down the road, and I have "my" governor calling me a greedy bastard for wasting the tax payer's money. I have citizens asking me "What took you so long to get here?" I have citizens calling 911 for an ambulance because they have a blister. That takes my ambulance away from the heart attack coming in 10 min from now. So when the heart attack shows up, I have citizens asking me "Where is my ambulance? I called the paramedics, not the firemen!" Just because you have an EBT card, doesn't mean you no longer have to be a responsible member of society. You still have to think about the other guy.
But, firefighters haven't changed. Not even a little. We still do what we did back in the 1800's. Nothing has changed there. What HAS changed is the way we do what we do. New technology, new ideas, better training. We are the best problem solvers available, PERIOD. Have a problem you don't know how to fix, that needs fixed in a hurry? Call 911! Who shows up?
Not to sound corny or cliche, but Donald Sutherland said it best in the movie "Backdraft."
"The funny thing about firemen is, night and day, they are always firemen"
Here's my take on it.
DUTY
Volunteer or Paid, I don't care. You signed a blank check payable up to and including YOUR LIFE to protect the citizens of your community. It is your DUTY to provide the citizens with the best care that you can give them. 95% is not acceptable! 100% all the time, every time. I don't want to hear you're tired, bored, untrained, or lazy. Get away from me and The Warriors, this job isn't for you! End of discussion.
PRIDE
You are a highly trained professional, so act like it! Shine your boots, polish your badge. Look like a professional when you show up on scene. Know your job, know what to do. You ARE the last line of defense! That citizen called you because they didn't know what else to do. You are supposed to show up as a HIGHLY TRAINED PROFESSIONAL and fix the problem! If you can't, who the hell are you gonna call? BE the part, ACT the part, LOOK the part! If you've earned a few bugles, wear them with pride! Learn how to be a leader, that's what those bugles mean. If you haven't earned any bugles yet, LEARN HOW TO! Know your first dues inside outside upside down.
TRADITION
The fire service started with the birth of our country. Benjamin Franklin is called the first Fire Chief. The first paid firefighters went to work in Cincinnati in 1853. You think this is new? It's not, there have been MANY brothers before you.
The Maltese Cross was first adopted by the Fire Department of New York in 1865, according to author Gary Urbanowicz in his book "Badges of the Bravest." The symbol of the Knights of Malta was chosen because of a legend involving a battle between the knights and Saracen forces during the invasion of the Holy Land. During this battle, Saracen forces began using naphtha, a highly flammable liquid, to ignite the knights in a wave of flame. The knights who escaped the blaze quickly rushed to the aid of their brethren, and extinguished the flames. This story became a representation of the courage of firefighters in the U.S.
I said up in the "Duty" section that you signed a blank check. You did. That check is also payable to the brothers that have been here before us. I, YOU, WE, OWE it to them to learn everything we can about this job, and do the absolute best we can each and every time. A lot of them cashed in that check with their lives. And you get to live on the coat tails of those that came before us.
It's your responsibility to take that tradition and leave some long coat tails for the next generation to stand on.
Done with my rant.
Stay safe gang! It's a jungle out there!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
PDP, FL. NP, GPM. You ARE the engineer, figure it out!
This blog is directed at the engineers. Do you know what those initials above mean? You should. Do you know what nozzles your department utilizes? Automatic? Manual? You should. Do you know what PDP you, as the engineer, should be supplying on each of those lines? You should!
I did a TON of math last shift. Although it gave me a headache, it was also like a cool breeze in the face. Because of our new Chief, I'm not afraid to propose this kind of stuff anymore. Yes, I'm still a little gun shy. Had the "I'm the god damn Fire Chief!" mentality for 21 years, so it's understandable. But halfway through it, Chief Mudryk was "YES YES YES!!! Go with it!" So, I did! And my research results surprised me!
Do you know what your crew is flowing at the end of the line that you are in control of? I bet you think you do, and I'd double the odds that you really don't know. Nothing personal. But you're probably wrong. If you got it right, I apologize! But, I'm here to tell you that my FD has been doing it WRONG as long as I can remember.
This blog is just an introductory. We'll get into the math, algebra, and physics later. And I hope a discussion! This is important stuff. For example, I discovered that even though my FD has our nozzles set at 125 GPM, we were flowing MUCH less. Like in the 92 GPM range! There have been times when we were down in the 45 GPM range! My friggin garden hose will flow 20 GPM! Think about that for a second.
Watering my flowers is NOT the same as protecting my crew when things go south. What the hell are you gonna do in a flashover, a SPLIT SECOND DECISION, with 45 GPM?
You're gonna die, and take your crew with you, that's what your gonna do.
We're gonna get in to GPM vs BTU in the next blog, and all kinds of other cool hydraulics. But it all boils down to doing the best we can do, taking your crew to Hell to do what they're trained to do, then bringing them home!
I'm excited about this one, look for the next blog later this week!
Stay safe out there gang, it's a jungle!
PDP - Pump Discharge Pressure
FL - Friction Loss
NP - Nozzle Pressure
GPM - Gallons Per Minute
I did a TON of math last shift. Although it gave me a headache, it was also like a cool breeze in the face. Because of our new Chief, I'm not afraid to propose this kind of stuff anymore. Yes, I'm still a little gun shy. Had the "I'm the god damn Fire Chief!" mentality for 21 years, so it's understandable. But halfway through it, Chief Mudryk was "YES YES YES!!! Go with it!" So, I did! And my research results surprised me!
Do you know what your crew is flowing at the end of the line that you are in control of? I bet you think you do, and I'd double the odds that you really don't know. Nothing personal. But you're probably wrong. If you got it right, I apologize! But, I'm here to tell you that my FD has been doing it WRONG as long as I can remember.
This blog is just an introductory. We'll get into the math, algebra, and physics later. And I hope a discussion! This is important stuff. For example, I discovered that even though my FD has our nozzles set at 125 GPM, we were flowing MUCH less. Like in the 92 GPM range! There have been times when we were down in the 45 GPM range! My friggin garden hose will flow 20 GPM! Think about that for a second.
Watering my flowers is NOT the same as protecting my crew when things go south. What the hell are you gonna do in a flashover, a SPLIT SECOND DECISION, with 45 GPM?
You're gonna die, and take your crew with you, that's what your gonna do.
We're gonna get in to GPM vs BTU in the next blog, and all kinds of other cool hydraulics. But it all boils down to doing the best we can do, taking your crew to Hell to do what they're trained to do, then bringing them home!
I'm excited about this one, look for the next blog later this week!
Stay safe out there gang, it's a jungle!
PDP - Pump Discharge Pressure
FL - Friction Loss
NP - Nozzle Pressure
GPM - Gallons Per Minute
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Give them the best chance!
I read an article the other day written by Brian Brush. Never met the man, he's in Colorado, I'm in Ohio. But I was fortunate enough to talk to him via Fire Engineering's webcast radio show a few months ago. Super nice guy, and he's a Warrior.
I guess the best way to go about blogging what's on my mind right now is to share the article first. It's short and sweet.
Go read this:
Fire Engineering, Brian Brush
OK. Welcome back! Kinda harsh reading, but it hits home don't it? I posted earlier in this blog about most of the time our citizens only call 911 once in their lives. Don't we owe it to them to give them the best chance? I think we do.
The big TONKA truck you ride on, your salary (if you get one), all the cool tools you get to play with, the fuel in the rig, the station itself, all of it. That costs a bundle! Where does the money come from? That person calling 911, for the first time of their life, at 03:00 in the morning. They pay for all of that shit.
And all they ask in return, is the best chance at getting out of their particular problem.
I've found myself in a sort of a funk lately. Getting up in the middle of the night because someone else has a problem, and bitching about it the whole way there. I know how to fix the problem (training!) why don't you? Why are you calling 911 because you smell something funny? Why are you calling 911 because your wife has "poop cramps"? Why are you calling 911 because you got really drunk and did something stupid? Then we get there, and find and fix the problem, and our citizen is overjoyed, and thanking us. Then I fell like a piece of shit for bitching on the way there. NOT cool!
The answer is simple. Because they don't know what else to do but call us, the problem solvers! And we owe it to them to show up and solve the problem. No matter how small or trivial it may seem to us. To them, it's HUGE, that's why they called 911! Not saying they are stupid, or substandard citizens, but saying we have more training and better tools. They have thought of absolutely everything they could have, and as a last resort they call us to fix the problem.
How friggin cool is that? That's an honor that shouldn't be taken lightly. Like I've been doing. Like Brian Brush was doing. Yes, the mutts get you down, and the job becomes a job. But we all need to take a step back sometimes and think about what it is we're doing, and why we're at the fire station instead of at home with our families.
We're there because we're Warriors. And we're the best chance they have.
Write that down!
I guess the best way to go about blogging what's on my mind right now is to share the article first. It's short and sweet.
Go read this:
Fire Engineering, Brian Brush
OK. Welcome back! Kinda harsh reading, but it hits home don't it? I posted earlier in this blog about most of the time our citizens only call 911 once in their lives. Don't we owe it to them to give them the best chance? I think we do.
The big TONKA truck you ride on, your salary (if you get one), all the cool tools you get to play with, the fuel in the rig, the station itself, all of it. That costs a bundle! Where does the money come from? That person calling 911, for the first time of their life, at 03:00 in the morning. They pay for all of that shit.
And all they ask in return, is the best chance at getting out of their particular problem.
I've found myself in a sort of a funk lately. Getting up in the middle of the night because someone else has a problem, and bitching about it the whole way there. I know how to fix the problem (training!) why don't you? Why are you calling 911 because you smell something funny? Why are you calling 911 because your wife has "poop cramps"? Why are you calling 911 because you got really drunk and did something stupid? Then we get there, and find and fix the problem, and our citizen is overjoyed, and thanking us. Then I fell like a piece of shit for bitching on the way there. NOT cool!
The answer is simple. Because they don't know what else to do but call us, the problem solvers! And we owe it to them to show up and solve the problem. No matter how small or trivial it may seem to us. To them, it's HUGE, that's why they called 911! Not saying they are stupid, or substandard citizens, but saying we have more training and better tools. They have thought of absolutely everything they could have, and as a last resort they call us to fix the problem.
How friggin cool is that? That's an honor that shouldn't be taken lightly. Like I've been doing. Like Brian Brush was doing. Yes, the mutts get you down, and the job becomes a job. But we all need to take a step back sometimes and think about what it is we're doing, and why we're at the fire station instead of at home with our families.
We're there because we're Warriors. And we're the best chance they have.
Write that down!
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Bittersweet Symphony
Well, what to say on this one?
I didn't get the Chief's job. Oh well, tear, sadface, I got a sad, get over it! Stuff happens for a reason gang.
BIG thing here is that our new Chief is doing an AWESOME job so far! And we're all learning how to deal with someone new in charge, someone that has spent 13 years on the rig. He's got some fantastic ideas, and I gotta tell ya, it's refreshing to sit in the day room with the Chief and talk about FIRE STUFF! I can't wait to get to work, and it's been a long time since I could say that! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY JOB, but.....
First dues, hydrant locations, sprinkler hook ups, cross streets, building construction, pump operations, SOP's, map drills, talking with THE CHIEF? Yeah, it's NICE!
But, man is City Hall is "Giving him the business" already! WTF??? That COULD have been me! But no, I still get to drag hose and kick in doors!
The second thing that I thought of, is I honestly believe I'm SUPPOSED to be on the rig! Trying not to sound cocky here, but I'm damn good at what I do. Well, it's not so much what I do, it's who I am. This is what I'm passionate about, and it's who I am. Not sure what's coming, but with all the training we do, I hope I'm prepared for it. You NEVER know what's coming. BUT, if it's something I know about, my citizens ARE COVERED! And THAT is an AWESOME feeling! I got your back, all 12,500 of ya!
Stay tuned gang, we're in for a HELL OF A RIDE, and I'm taking all of you with us!
Not gonna lie to ya, being Chief would have been cool, and honestly my destiny. Spent a lot of time dwelling on the fact that I didn't get it. It was a rough patch for me. Now, it's all about fulfilling my commitment to my citizens as the first due engine company officer,
And being the BEST thing they have seen on the WORST day of their lives! Oh yeah, it's ON!
BE THE ONE, THE WARRIOR!
I didn't get the Chief's job. Oh well, tear, sadface, I got a sad, get over it! Stuff happens for a reason gang.
BIG thing here is that our new Chief is doing an AWESOME job so far! And we're all learning how to deal with someone new in charge, someone that has spent 13 years on the rig. He's got some fantastic ideas, and I gotta tell ya, it's refreshing to sit in the day room with the Chief and talk about FIRE STUFF! I can't wait to get to work, and it's been a long time since I could say that! Don't get me wrong, I LOVE MY JOB, but.....
First dues, hydrant locations, sprinkler hook ups, cross streets, building construction, pump operations, SOP's, map drills, talking with THE CHIEF? Yeah, it's NICE!
But, man is City Hall is "Giving him the business" already! WTF??? That COULD have been me! But no, I still get to drag hose and kick in doors!
The second thing that I thought of, is I honestly believe I'm SUPPOSED to be on the rig! Trying not to sound cocky here, but I'm damn good at what I do. Well, it's not so much what I do, it's who I am. This is what I'm passionate about, and it's who I am. Not sure what's coming, but with all the training we do, I hope I'm prepared for it. You NEVER know what's coming. BUT, if it's something I know about, my citizens ARE COVERED! And THAT is an AWESOME feeling! I got your back, all 12,500 of ya!
Stay tuned gang, we're in for a HELL OF A RIDE, and I'm taking all of you with us!
Not gonna lie to ya, being Chief would have been cool, and honestly my destiny. Spent a lot of time dwelling on the fact that I didn't get it. It was a rough patch for me. Now, it's all about fulfilling my commitment to my citizens as the first due engine company officer,
And being the BEST thing they have seen on the WORST day of their lives! Oh yeah, it's ON!
BE THE ONE, THE WARRIOR!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Cage the Elephant
"...Blanket of silence makes me wanna sink my teeth in deep,
burn all the evidence of your fabricated disbelief.."
burn all the evidence of your fabricated disbelief.."
You don't have to be in front to be a leader!
I don't even know where to begin this one. A LOT of things have happened the past month.
At first I thought they were bad, but now that I find myself running through the normal processes, I think I'm in the acceptance stage. And I honestly believe that's a good thing.
Nutshell version: Chief's test came up recently, and EVERYONE ASSUMED I was "it." Myself included. When the test scores came in, I was 2nd. Shocker! But, everything happens for a reason. I made it a personal agenda to know where I was in the stages of grief. Yep, it was a grief thing. I had plans in place, I had ideas, I assumed it was gonna happen. I was wrong. I did not finish first on the test. At first I was in denial, then anger.... Who knows what's next.
But I have to tell you the new Chief is gonna be awesome! He has a lot to learn, as we all do! And he knows that. This is a good thing, and I'm excited! He has a great outlook, knows he has to grow up a bit, and knows all of us have to grow up a bit to follow him. He has the plans in place to make our department an awesome place to work, learn, teach, expand, and grow. He is going to afford us the opportunity to grow as a department. That is never a bad thing.
He knows the value of "TRUST & RESPECT." Trust & Respect, write that down. Without that, there is nothing.
I got beat on the Chief's test. Plain and simple. I have NEVER "lost" anything I've wanted. And I WANTED the Chief's job! This time, I got beat. That was a hard hit to my soul. It took some time, and a lot of thinking, but eventually I accepted it. The reason being, I am a Warrior. Period. I would be lost not dragging hose and being on that engine. It's who I am, not just what I do. I am a firefighter. I strive to better myself every day, I follow the 16 initiatives of "Everyone Goes Home." I am an avid follower and believer of the Ethos of The Fire Service Warrior. I don't know if I may or may not be the best guy for the Chief's job. What I do know is that I AM the best guy for the WARRIOR job.
I wish the best of luck to our new Chief. I am excited about the prospects that a new Chief brings to our future. I'm excited about what a new Chief means to my position in our fire department. I'm looking forward to being a productive part of our department.
I did not get his job. But I learned a lot. His job is to lead us as a department. But "You don't have to be in front, to be a leader!" Our new Chief will lead us in a new direction that we are all excited about.
What I mean in the title of this blog is simple:
I will strive to be better each day.
I will support my Chief, and my brothers.
I will continue to teach, learn, and grow as a firefighter.
I will promise to put my life above that of a complete stranger if need be.
I am a highly trained paid professional, and will act accordingly.
I am constantly training to better myself in order to do a better job for citizens of my community.
I AM A WARRIOR!
At first I thought they were bad, but now that I find myself running through the normal processes, I think I'm in the acceptance stage. And I honestly believe that's a good thing.
Nutshell version: Chief's test came up recently, and EVERYONE ASSUMED I was "it." Myself included. When the test scores came in, I was 2nd. Shocker! But, everything happens for a reason. I made it a personal agenda to know where I was in the stages of grief. Yep, it was a grief thing. I had plans in place, I had ideas, I assumed it was gonna happen. I was wrong. I did not finish first on the test. At first I was in denial, then anger.... Who knows what's next.
But I have to tell you the new Chief is gonna be awesome! He has a lot to learn, as we all do! And he knows that. This is a good thing, and I'm excited! He has a great outlook, knows he has to grow up a bit, and knows all of us have to grow up a bit to follow him. He has the plans in place to make our department an awesome place to work, learn, teach, expand, and grow. He is going to afford us the opportunity to grow as a department. That is never a bad thing.
He knows the value of "TRUST & RESPECT." Trust & Respect, write that down. Without that, there is nothing.
I got beat on the Chief's test. Plain and simple. I have NEVER "lost" anything I've wanted. And I WANTED the Chief's job! This time, I got beat. That was a hard hit to my soul. It took some time, and a lot of thinking, but eventually I accepted it. The reason being, I am a Warrior. Period. I would be lost not dragging hose and being on that engine. It's who I am, not just what I do. I am a firefighter. I strive to better myself every day, I follow the 16 initiatives of "Everyone Goes Home." I am an avid follower and believer of the Ethos of The Fire Service Warrior. I don't know if I may or may not be the best guy for the Chief's job. What I do know is that I AM the best guy for the WARRIOR job.
I wish the best of luck to our new Chief. I am excited about the prospects that a new Chief brings to our future. I'm excited about what a new Chief means to my position in our fire department. I'm looking forward to being a productive part of our department.
I did not get his job. But I learned a lot. His job is to lead us as a department. But "You don't have to be in front, to be a leader!" Our new Chief will lead us in a new direction that we are all excited about.
What I mean in the title of this blog is simple:
I will strive to be better each day.
I will support my Chief, and my brothers.
I will continue to teach, learn, and grow as a firefighter.
I will promise to put my life above that of a complete stranger if need be.
I am a highly trained paid professional, and will act accordingly.
I am constantly training to better myself in order to do a better job for citizens of my community.
I AM A WARRIOR!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Why do we train so much? Take 2
Had a friend of mine that reads this blog suggest adding something to my "Why do we train so much?" blog. For the record, I hate the term "blog", but oh well, it is what it is, and here I am "blogging."
Anyways, My "article" on why we train so much could better have been entitled "Tacit Knowledge", because that's where I was focused, and didn't delve into the many other aspects of why we train so much. So a Brutha pipes up about an experience he had recently. He was called on to perform a task he hasn't actually done on a fire scene in years. But, because of his training, not only did he perform the task, he was also able to teach a FNG about what he was doing. He said it was because of Muscle Memory, a VERY valid point. I say it happened because of his training, which muscle memory is the direct result of.
Muscle memory is defined by Wikipedia as:
Muscle memory, also known as motor learning, is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, playing a melody or phrase on a musical instrument, playing video games,[1] or even solving a puzzle cube.
In a nut shell, your muscles also have a sort of Tacit Knowledge. The more tasks you perform over and over again, the more your physical self "remembers" how to do that particular task. Much the same way your brain remembers everything you've ever seen and done, your muscles and nerves become accustomed to doing a task that is repeated. Muscle memory is a very important part of Situational Awareness for a number of reasons, that contradict one another. Let me explain.
On one hand, when muscle memory kicks in, and you don't have to actually THINK about the task at hand, that frees up some brain power to focus on Perceive/Comprehend/Predict, the three acts of Situational Awareness. Great news! You know how that nozzle is going to react when you open it, you've done it a zillion times. Your body automatically adjusts it's position to make itself ready for the nozzle reaction. You know to shut the nozzle off slowly, and you automatically do it without a conscious thought, it just happens. Muscle memory! What a fantastic thing!
However, the fact that you aren't consciously thinking about the task at hand detracts from your SA. That task is a huge part of your 360* "bubble" and you have to be consciously aware of what's going on. If you rely on your muscle memory to the point that you aren't thinking about the task at all, well then your bubble gets popped, and your SA is deteriorating. But that goes with every aspect of SA, let one of them go, the bubble pops, and SA starts deteriorating, and it takes all the other aspects of your bubble with it. Blow up a balloon, your 360* SA, and add one pinhole, and what happens? It ALL goes away.
Muscle memory is a fantastic thing, and I rely on it all the time, without even thinking about it. Mainly because that's what it is, it let's you perform tasks without thinking about them! Frees up some brain power to build your bubble, and P/C/P!
I'm just asking that when you're not thinking about that task, at least pay attention to it! Write that down.
Stay safe gang, It's a jungle out there!
Anyways, My "article" on why we train so much could better have been entitled "Tacit Knowledge", because that's where I was focused, and didn't delve into the many other aspects of why we train so much. So a Brutha pipes up about an experience he had recently. He was called on to perform a task he hasn't actually done on a fire scene in years. But, because of his training, not only did he perform the task, he was also able to teach a FNG about what he was doing. He said it was because of Muscle Memory, a VERY valid point. I say it happened because of his training, which muscle memory is the direct result of.
Muscle memory is defined by Wikipedia as:
Muscle memory, also known as motor learning, is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, playing a melody or phrase on a musical instrument, playing video games,[1] or even solving a puzzle cube.
In a nut shell, your muscles also have a sort of Tacit Knowledge. The more tasks you perform over and over again, the more your physical self "remembers" how to do that particular task. Much the same way your brain remembers everything you've ever seen and done, your muscles and nerves become accustomed to doing a task that is repeated. Muscle memory is a very important part of Situational Awareness for a number of reasons, that contradict one another. Let me explain.
On one hand, when muscle memory kicks in, and you don't have to actually THINK about the task at hand, that frees up some brain power to focus on Perceive/Comprehend/Predict, the three acts of Situational Awareness. Great news! You know how that nozzle is going to react when you open it, you've done it a zillion times. Your body automatically adjusts it's position to make itself ready for the nozzle reaction. You know to shut the nozzle off slowly, and you automatically do it without a conscious thought, it just happens. Muscle memory! What a fantastic thing!
However, the fact that you aren't consciously thinking about the task at hand detracts from your SA. That task is a huge part of your 360* "bubble" and you have to be consciously aware of what's going on. If you rely on your muscle memory to the point that you aren't thinking about the task at all, well then your bubble gets popped, and your SA is deteriorating. But that goes with every aspect of SA, let one of them go, the bubble pops, and SA starts deteriorating, and it takes all the other aspects of your bubble with it. Blow up a balloon, your 360* SA, and add one pinhole, and what happens? It ALL goes away.
Muscle memory is a fantastic thing, and I rely on it all the time, without even thinking about it. Mainly because that's what it is, it let's you perform tasks without thinking about them! Frees up some brain power to build your bubble, and P/C/P!
I'm just asking that when you're not thinking about that task, at least pay attention to it! Write that down.
Stay safe gang, It's a jungle out there!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Mutts as teachers
Short one this time gang. Can't and don't really want to get into much detail, but I wanted to share something I learned yesterday.
Worked another 32 hour shift yesterday. Started at 23:00 Sunday, left work at 07:20 this morning. Quiet night on Sunday. However, IMMEDIATELY Monday morning the mutts started getting me down, and I let them. Snide little comments really get under my skin. Started getting myself into a really piss poor mood, which doesn't do anyone any good. Went outside to blow off a little steam, and be alone for a few minutes, and got to thinking. Instead of today being a dog pile on Lucky day, like the Mutts wanted to do, I turned it into a learning session. A learning session for ME.
For the rest of the shift, I looked at things a little differently. Instead of listening to people bitch at me and blame me for things I have no control over, and other things that happened months ago, I started thinking like a Warrior and used it to learn what NOT to do, when and if, I'm in their position.
Ya know what? It worked! I was in a much better mood. Even when I was getting yelled at, I pictured myself in "This is what NOT to do when you lead these guys later in life, school." It was a HUGE lesson, one I will never forget. I know how I felt being berated, and that is so not the way to motivate, lead, or influence others. I heard what was being said, but I wasn't listening, and I couldn't care less about the topic, BECAUSE of the way it was being dealt to me. So, I added to my "What NOT to do" list, cuz it for damn sure wasn't working on me. Once I'm on the other side of that conversation, I'll remember that, and will not treat my guys that way.
Yeah, the Mutts can and will get you down. That's what they do, their sole purpose in life is to make us miserable. Little joke in the aviation world about the FAA's slogan being "WE'RE not happy until YOU'RE not happy" can be applied here. But when they do start, remember there IS something you can learn from them. It's all perception. Twist it around to the positive Warrior way of thinking, and you're in a much better mood, and ya may have just learned something in the process.
Stay safe out there gang! It's a jungle!
Worked another 32 hour shift yesterday. Started at 23:00 Sunday, left work at 07:20 this morning. Quiet night on Sunday. However, IMMEDIATELY Monday morning the mutts started getting me down, and I let them. Snide little comments really get under my skin. Started getting myself into a really piss poor mood, which doesn't do anyone any good. Went outside to blow off a little steam, and be alone for a few minutes, and got to thinking. Instead of today being a dog pile on Lucky day, like the Mutts wanted to do, I turned it into a learning session. A learning session for ME.
For the rest of the shift, I looked at things a little differently. Instead of listening to people bitch at me and blame me for things I have no control over, and other things that happened months ago, I started thinking like a Warrior and used it to learn what NOT to do, when and if, I'm in their position.
Ya know what? It worked! I was in a much better mood. Even when I was getting yelled at, I pictured myself in "This is what NOT to do when you lead these guys later in life, school." It was a HUGE lesson, one I will never forget. I know how I felt being berated, and that is so not the way to motivate, lead, or influence others. I heard what was being said, but I wasn't listening, and I couldn't care less about the topic, BECAUSE of the way it was being dealt to me. So, I added to my "What NOT to do" list, cuz it for damn sure wasn't working on me. Once I'm on the other side of that conversation, I'll remember that, and will not treat my guys that way.
Yeah, the Mutts can and will get you down. That's what they do, their sole purpose in life is to make us miserable. Little joke in the aviation world about the FAA's slogan being "WE'RE not happy until YOU'RE not happy" can be applied here. But when they do start, remember there IS something you can learn from them. It's all perception. Twist it around to the positive Warrior way of thinking, and you're in a much better mood, and ya may have just learned something in the process.
Stay safe out there gang! It's a jungle!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Why do we train so much?
I honestly thought about deleting this whole blog, I didn't think people would want to read about what was on MY mind, so why bother. Then I read one of my own rules. Awesome is, as awesome does! On other non-firefighting websites, I've been told I'm a great story teller. In other venues of my life, I've been told I'm a great leader. So why delete this blog? If one person learns something from it, it's worth it. It's out there on the internet with millions of people that have access to it, but I write it for YOU. Yeah, I'm talking to YOU. I don't think about large crowds when I write, I try to connect to the reader. YOU!
So I sat down today to take an online course to help me along with my pilot's license. Holy cow, what a ton of information to absorb. So I figured the best way to understand that information is training, and I signed up and took the course. Passed the test with a 100%, thank you! Then I got to thinking about the process.
Train, train, train. Read, DO, read, listen to others, DO, read, train, train, learn.
Write that down! Does that sound familiar?
Sounds a lot like what we do in the fire service! Down time affords opportunity to train and hone skills!
If you want to be a Warrior, like I do, then you need to read and follow Chris' site, www.fireservicewarrior.com. I'm not gonna repeat what he says, just hopefully add to it. I honestly believe, accept, and live this way of thinking about my duty as a professional fireman. I can call myself a "fireman", but I do not consider myself a Warrior yet. YET. Read his blogs, you'll understand. But, if you want to be a Warrior, or at least a fireman, then the answer is TRAINING. I keep thinking about the Blackfoot song "TRAIN, TRAIN!", but in a different light.
So, why DO we train so much? There is no way in hell I'm going to remember all the things I've learned about in training over 20 years. I think of my brain as a hard drive on a computer, once it's full, I have to "forget" something in order to learn something new. I hope I never forget where I live, or something important!
The answer is super simple, but complicated at the same time. Your brain stores EVERYTHING you have ever seen and done! From the time you were born, to the time you started reading this blog, it's all stored in YOUR brain! How cool is that?!?!!! Not so fast....
Unfortunately your brain stores this information into areas that are not necessarily accessible on a moments notice. Did you ever "know" something, but not know WHY you knew it? Answering that double Jeopardy! question comes to mind! That's called Tacit Knowledge. And it's basically your brain recalling something you've seen or learned in the past, but your brain has stored it in an area that your conscious thoughts can't access, so you get a "gut" feeling about the correct answer. Ever taken a test in school, and discovered that your first "gut feeling" was right, but you changed the answer and got it wrong? Tacit Knowledge.
Let me explain this into a little more detail, an article I read in Fire Engineering is the best way to put it, so I'm quoting the author Richard Gasaway here. And guess what folks, this ALL falls into SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Write that down.
"Your judgement system becomes more intuitive when you are under stress. When you are under stress and making intuitive decisions, your brain (at the subconscious level) is scanning all the images you have stored there. Those images represent the connection of your life's experiences stored in your brain. Your brain searches these images, looking for a similar experience it can draw on to help you know what to do. If you have had this experience before (or one similar to it), your brain will identify a pattern match to the previous event, and you will either become consciously aware of what to do (recall), or you will get a gut feeling (intuition) that tells you what to do in ways that you may not be able to explain how you knew it-you just knew it."
THAT my friends, is Tacit Knowledge! Have you ever had your life "flash before your eyes"? That is your brain searching all the images you have stored over the years, looking for a similar situation to give you the answer! If your brain finds a pattern match, it automatically puts it into your conscious brain, and you have the answer. If it can't find a match, you think about Grandma's 3rd wedding, and a visual of that is put into your conscious brain.
SO, why do we train so much? This is the simple part! Your brain doesn't know the difference between real life experiences, and training scenarios!
Anything, and everything you see, learn, and do in training is ALSO stored in your brain! Filed away for future use. The more times you train on a certain subject, the more pattern matches on that subject your brain has an opportunity to match with when it really counts. Tired of ladder drills? So am I. But when it gets right down to it with a citizens life on the line, don't you want to know everything you can about that ladder? Yup! So do I!
Like I said before, Situational Awareness is paramount. This blog falls into that theory, but maybe put a thought or two in your head that gets you over to our way of thinking. I could go on for days about this, but this is a blog, not a cable TV show. Think about it, and go train! Tie some knots, put your SCBA on, know that thing inside-outside-upside down. Look at the nozzle settings, read your pump manual. It's ALL good!
STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY BRUTHAS! It's a jungle!
So I sat down today to take an online course to help me along with my pilot's license. Holy cow, what a ton of information to absorb. So I figured the best way to understand that information is training, and I signed up and took the course. Passed the test with a 100%, thank you! Then I got to thinking about the process.
Train, train, train. Read, DO, read, listen to others, DO, read, train, train, learn.
Write that down! Does that sound familiar?
Sounds a lot like what we do in the fire service! Down time affords opportunity to train and hone skills!
If you want to be a Warrior, like I do, then you need to read and follow Chris' site, www.fireservicewarrior.com. I'm not gonna repeat what he says, just hopefully add to it. I honestly believe, accept, and live this way of thinking about my duty as a professional fireman. I can call myself a "fireman", but I do not consider myself a Warrior yet. YET. Read his blogs, you'll understand. But, if you want to be a Warrior, or at least a fireman, then the answer is TRAINING. I keep thinking about the Blackfoot song "TRAIN, TRAIN!", but in a different light.
So, why DO we train so much? There is no way in hell I'm going to remember all the things I've learned about in training over 20 years. I think of my brain as a hard drive on a computer, once it's full, I have to "forget" something in order to learn something new. I hope I never forget where I live, or something important!
The answer is super simple, but complicated at the same time. Your brain stores EVERYTHING you have ever seen and done! From the time you were born, to the time you started reading this blog, it's all stored in YOUR brain! How cool is that?!?!!! Not so fast....
Unfortunately your brain stores this information into areas that are not necessarily accessible on a moments notice. Did you ever "know" something, but not know WHY you knew it? Answering that double Jeopardy! question comes to mind! That's called Tacit Knowledge. And it's basically your brain recalling something you've seen or learned in the past, but your brain has stored it in an area that your conscious thoughts can't access, so you get a "gut" feeling about the correct answer. Ever taken a test in school, and discovered that your first "gut feeling" was right, but you changed the answer and got it wrong? Tacit Knowledge.
Let me explain this into a little more detail, an article I read in Fire Engineering is the best way to put it, so I'm quoting the author Richard Gasaway here. And guess what folks, this ALL falls into SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. Write that down.
"Your judgement system becomes more intuitive when you are under stress. When you are under stress and making intuitive decisions, your brain (at the subconscious level) is scanning all the images you have stored there. Those images represent the connection of your life's experiences stored in your brain. Your brain searches these images, looking for a similar experience it can draw on to help you know what to do. If you have had this experience before (or one similar to it), your brain will identify a pattern match to the previous event, and you will either become consciously aware of what to do (recall), or you will get a gut feeling (intuition) that tells you what to do in ways that you may not be able to explain how you knew it-you just knew it."
THAT my friends, is Tacit Knowledge! Have you ever had your life "flash before your eyes"? That is your brain searching all the images you have stored over the years, looking for a similar situation to give you the answer! If your brain finds a pattern match, it automatically puts it into your conscious brain, and you have the answer. If it can't find a match, you think about Grandma's 3rd wedding, and a visual of that is put into your conscious brain.
SO, why do we train so much? This is the simple part! Your brain doesn't know the difference between real life experiences, and training scenarios!
Anything, and everything you see, learn, and do in training is ALSO stored in your brain! Filed away for future use. The more times you train on a certain subject, the more pattern matches on that subject your brain has an opportunity to match with when it really counts. Tired of ladder drills? So am I. But when it gets right down to it with a citizens life on the line, don't you want to know everything you can about that ladder? Yup! So do I!
Like I said before, Situational Awareness is paramount. This blog falls into that theory, but maybe put a thought or two in your head that gets you over to our way of thinking. I could go on for days about this, but this is a blog, not a cable TV show. Think about it, and go train! Tie some knots, put your SCBA on, know that thing inside-outside-upside down. Look at the nozzle settings, read your pump manual. It's ALL good!
STAY SAFE OUT THERE MY BRUTHAS! It's a jungle!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Bad day gone GOOD!
Long story short, today I spent an extra 8 hours at the station, not my shift.
I got a text about 16 hrs into my shift that I "MIGHT" have to work over time tomorrow. Tomorrow rolls around, noone from A turn shows up. My C turn partner lets me leave for 10 minutes to get my kids to school, and get my shyt together for Monday. Haven't seen my wife/kids in over 24 hours, but that's OK. My partner has to be at work at his part time job. It's all good, we've done this before!
Here's the kicker! I SHOULD have been upset, pissed off, mad at the world! 32 hours instead of 24.
NOPE! Took PRIDE in my job instead! Went and got fuel, washed the rig, did weekly stuff like is expected, even though I just did it last week!
This 8 hrs FLEW past! Because of a good mood, a mood that motivates my whole station.
What a GREAT DAY at the FD!
I want you to remember 2 things for now.
#1 GIDDY UP! All that means is that when someone who has NEVER called 911 before in their life, chose to do so today. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGH PERFORMANCE people are on the way. Your job is to GIDDY UP, and be there for them!
#2 AWESOME! YOU chose this profession, YOU chose to BE that person they rely on for help. YOU are supposed to have, and expected to have, ALL the answers! "Do something AWESOME today!"
If you THINK awesome, and TRAIN awesome, what the hell ya think is gonna happen when they have NO idea what to do, except call YOU? You're gonna show up, and BE awesome!
"Awesome is as awesome does!" Write that down too!
I got a text about 16 hrs into my shift that I "MIGHT" have to work over time tomorrow. Tomorrow rolls around, noone from A turn shows up. My C turn partner lets me leave for 10 minutes to get my kids to school, and get my shyt together for Monday. Haven't seen my wife/kids in over 24 hours, but that's OK. My partner has to be at work at his part time job. It's all good, we've done this before!
Here's the kicker! I SHOULD have been upset, pissed off, mad at the world! 32 hours instead of 24.
NOPE! Took PRIDE in my job instead! Went and got fuel, washed the rig, did weekly stuff like is expected, even though I just did it last week!
This 8 hrs FLEW past! Because of a good mood, a mood that motivates my whole station.
What a GREAT DAY at the FD!
I want you to remember 2 things for now.
#1 GIDDY UP! All that means is that when someone who has NEVER called 911 before in their life, chose to do so today. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that HIGHLY TRAINED, HIGH PERFORMANCE people are on the way. Your job is to GIDDY UP, and be there for them!
#2 AWESOME! YOU chose this profession, YOU chose to BE that person they rely on for help. YOU are supposed to have, and expected to have, ALL the answers! "Do something AWESOME today!"
If you THINK awesome, and TRAIN awesome, what the hell ya think is gonna happen when they have NO idea what to do, except call YOU? You're gonna show up, and BE awesome!
"Awesome is as awesome does!" Write that down too!
Second Blog
We'll get into this SOOO much further, but I wanted you all to know who I am, and where I'm coming from.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS is HUGE with me, and being THERE is different from being "there." You know what I mean? Here's an excerpt from an email I sent to Chris. He felt is was good enough to post on his site, so what a better way to start our site off? Notice I said "OUR" site! I'm the one writing, but what I have in mind is way bigger than myself.
SITUATIONAL AWARENESS is HUGE with me, and being THERE is different from being "there." You know what I mean? Here's an excerpt from an email I sent to Chris. He felt is was good enough to post on his site, so what a better way to start our site off? Notice I said "OUR" site! I'm the one writing, but what I have in mind is way bigger than myself.
"Had a thought a few weeks ago, about differentiating the mutts from the Warriors. Most of the "kids" today are putting in applications at any department in the area, and would do our job for free if asked to. A lot of them are volunteers at multiple departments. Young kids, new to the job, have no clue. You know the type. Not enough time on the job to consider them Mutts, but how about Pups? One of them (newly hired on my department) said something to the affect of "That if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow, I would still do this." I got to thinking about that, and learned something in the process that I thought I would share with you, and ask you to do the same, and see the feedback you get.
I honestly thought about that question. What if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow? Would I be at the station the day after, with 20 years on the job? My first thought was HELL NO. But then I really thought about it. I decided yes. Yes I would be. The people of my community depend on me and my brothers to protect them. That is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. They pay taxes, that are my salary, so that I am available on the worst day of their life. I run into burning buildings for them, I let them puke, pee and bleed on me. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that help is on the way. Highly trained, High Performance, problem solvers will be here soon. When the firetruck shows up, they expect, and deserve the best people to solve their problem. Being a union firefighter is obviously not about the money. Some guy throws a football for a living and makes $2 million for 18 GAMES.
What we do is not a game.
If the Dolphins lose, no one dies. If you or I lose, someone may. If we let fear take over, and forget about situational awareness, WE may die. Yet we do that for comparable salary to a school bus driver.
So I started asking "older" guys, firefighters that have been on the job for a while, that very same question. I got a TON of "Hell No's." But I did get a few Yes's!
And then I got to thinking about the careers of the firefighters I asked. Most of the people I asked that answered "NO", knew the SOP's, were waiting for the promotional test, looking for other avenues to stay in the job but not DO the job, inspector, dispatch etc. Booksmart, but didn't spend much time at all thinking about the beast, or how to kill it. Knew their first due area, but kinda of foggy on their second, and no clue on their third due. A general knowledge of fireground basics, and also a general idea of what their immediate superior's job was. Basically, just about how to advance their own careers. Which is understandable, it's a dog eat dog world! Warriors NEED dispatchers and inspectors too! And good ones! I'm NOT putting these people down in the least little bit. Just sharing something I learned.
The firefighters I asked that same question to that answered YES, I would be at the station next shift after winning $10 Million, had peculiar personality similarities. They also knew the SOP's and protocols, some better than others. This group also told me where actual hydrants were located in their first due area. They know sprinkler connections on their SECOND due locations. They know their rig, they know their neighborhood demographics, they know the water supply systems, they know what the FIREMAN in the other seat is expected to do, and if he doesn't, they know how to pick up the slack. The fundamental fireground operations are down pat. Throw a curve ball at them, they also have that covered. Pump failure, pump operator has health issues, whatever. They have THOUGHT about it, and have it covered. They also seem to take great pride in their particular shift/station's response time. To them down time affords an opportunity to train. To the Warrior, you can never know the job good enough, and this group thrives on that fact. This group is on the road, in my opinion, to becoming THE FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR. I can best describe them as highly trained, high performance firemen.
First Blog
Just so you all know, this is my first blog. OBVIOUS from the title. You'll get to know me here if you follow us. But if this is your first trip here (DUH! It's my first blog, so why wouldn't it be your first trip?) You obviously know me! Some of you better than others. I said "US" on purpose, write that down!
What you can hopefully expect from this blog is my own personal incite into firefighting. Adding my brothers incites, my past experiences, and my thoughts and views on the way the fire service is headed.
A little bit of background on me first. You won't want to read this if you have no idea who I am.
First and foremost, I am a 41 year old that has been an IAFF member for 20 years. Been doing this literally half of my life. I have also been married for half of my life! She is a B-E-A-UTIFUL blonde girl, about a foot shorter than me, intelligent like you wouldn't believe! But DO NOT make her mad! She's a pistol! And I am SO in love with her!
Basically, I'm following in line with a friend of mine that has the FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR website.
http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/
Chris runs that site, he's a brilliant person, a LOT to be learned from him.
20 years into a VERY interesting and diversified, sometimes confusing career. I've been asked about what got me to the position I'm in, and I'm willing to share, if you're willing to follow!
Climb on board! It's gonna be a fun ride! Stories from the past, predictions to the future! But rest assured, it's all about me, "LUCKY" and FIREFIGHTING!
What you can hopefully expect from this blog is my own personal incite into firefighting. Adding my brothers incites, my past experiences, and my thoughts and views on the way the fire service is headed.
A little bit of background on me first. You won't want to read this if you have no idea who I am.
First and foremost, I am a 41 year old that has been an IAFF member for 20 years. Been doing this literally half of my life. I have also been married for half of my life! She is a B-E-A-UTIFUL blonde girl, about a foot shorter than me, intelligent like you wouldn't believe! But DO NOT make her mad! She's a pistol! And I am SO in love with her!
Basically, I'm following in line with a friend of mine that has the FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR website.
http://www.fireservicewarrior.com/
Chris runs that site, he's a brilliant person, a LOT to be learned from him.
20 years into a VERY interesting and diversified, sometimes confusing career. I've been asked about what got me to the position I'm in, and I'm willing to share, if you're willing to follow!
Climb on board! It's gonna be a fun ride! Stories from the past, predictions to the future! But rest assured, it's all about me, "LUCKY" and FIREFIGHTING!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)