Where firefighters come to talk training
OUR OWN WORST ENEMY!
Brothers and Sisters, I believe we all can agree, we can be our own worst enemy. I try to remind myself of this everyday. Lets talk about this together, as adults, so we can learn from each other to better help ourselves and our depts. Lets try to answer Brother Ray Mc's ransom note. for the good of our Fire Service.
After all, this is Pandora's Box!
Jeff
After all, this is Pandora's Box!
Jeff
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bryan Lafleur on -
Ransom note? What am I missing??
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on -
Ray posted on the main page a ransom note to the Fire Service concerning safety, its there might have to look Bro.
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Permalink Reply by Wayne Benner Jr (Casper) on -
A Ransom Note To The American Fire Service
IF yoU CoMplY witH theSE
S A F E T Y
DeMAndS wE will LowER The NUMber of LODDss
S SEAT BELTS WEAR EM
A ACCIDENTS AVOID EM
F FITNESS GET IT
E ERRORS END EM
T TRAIN EVERYDAY
Y YOU MAKE IT WORK
tHe CloCk has StaRtED
tHE NeXt MovE is yoUrs
we wiLL be WATCHing!
THIS IS THE RANSOM NOTE...........
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Permalink Reply by Dave LeBlanc on -
As soon as we can collectively get out of the "recliner mentality" we will be on the right foot. The "we are too busy for that" excuse needs to be the next and last LODD.
Go to work - Focus.
Train at work - Focus.
Be aware - Focus
Crew Integrity - Focus.
There are things beyond our control, things we may never change. There are also things we can change. You have to want to do it.......
It has to be important.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Wadsworth on -
Dave,
I like your comments and think that you have said it all. The "recliner mentality" is what is killing us. Unfortunately in my department we are not busy enough and that breeds a whole lot of finger pointing and complaining with no action (from the recliner by the way). There needs to be more people who are willing to get out of the recliner and take action to affect change even if it is only within the company...got to start somewhere. I am still at a loss on how to motivate those who seem unreachable. I guess starting with your own positive and consistent actions is a start and hope that others will catch on or follow. Seems like " The Ransom Note" and your comments should be simple things we can do everyday to keep us from becoming another statistic. We are our own worst enemy and somehow can't seem to follow our own rules sometimes. Jeff...a good reminder about what our priorities should be, thanks.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on
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Dave and Mark, great observations, just goes to show it doesn't matter where in this country we work, the same mentalities, it would seem are taking over the Fire Service of today.Dave, FOCUS we need to be 100% focused on our work, every minute we are in the house, on a shift or tour, regardless of our rank. We all know Fire Duty is down, but the LODD aren't. I'm, hopefully, looking at this question, for us! The Brothers and Sisters, who place a high value on our profession and take the time on the community to brainsorm this thing to death to maybe just maybe, give each other ideas, possibly invent new ones, to protect not only ourselves, but our recliner, finger pointers, like you said Mark! Dave, you are correct, some things we can't change! For the things we can, we owe it to ourselves to TRY!
Stay Safe Brothers!
Jeff
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Permalink Reply by Chris Sterricker on -
Can't agree more with Dave. For once, I don't really have anything else to add.
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Permalink Reply by Todd Trudeau on -
Amen Dave!! I never accept the "we're to busy" attitude. if we're busy, we're practicing our skills, we're learning new methods, we're adding experience to our careers, etc.... I always chuckle to myself when I hear our own (in my dept at least) say we can't train because we MIGHT be busy later. Uh...WTF?
Just don't get it.
Keeping the Faith though....one small step at a time
Todd
Dave LeBlanc said:As soon as we can collectively get out of the "recliner mentality" we will be on the right foot. The "we are too busy for that" excuse needs to be the next and last LODD.
Go to work - Focus.
Train at work - Focus.
Be aware - Focus
Crew Integrity - Focus.
There are things beyond our control, things we may never change. There are also things we can change. You have to want to do it.......
It has to be important.
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Permalink Reply by Nick Morgan on -
Hey Jeff, I couldn't agree with you more!! I have a favorite prayer called "The Serenity Prayer", which goes "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I CANNOT CHANGE, the COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, and the WISDOM to know the difference." Like Dave said, some things we can't change, and some things we can. My attitude toward training and fire ground tactics has always been like this; since there are many things we don't have control of at the fire scene, ie. location and origin of fire, material burning, burn time, etc., then WE BETTER CONTROL WHAT WE CAN! such as size and number of lines, ladder placement, ventilation, use of PPE, etc. A significant percentage of our annual LODD's are the result of complacency in tactics and mediocrity in training, education, and maintenance of basic firefighing skills.
Stay safe and KTF!!
Nick
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on
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I know that prayer well Nick, trust me! We have to look at our training, look at our basics. When was the last time we pulled a line, jiffy or big line? Let's do it! This time of the year is beautiful for "putting on boots on the ground" and to quote Dave FOCUS! on our job, ourselves, and our companies! IMHO
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Permalink Reply by Michael Bricault on -
-Really? Do we need to talk about this?
-It shocks me that this is something we still need to talk about. But apparently the need is still valid because there are many who just don't get it. Will they ever?
-These principles are valid, important and crucial to the safety and survival of the fire service and yet there are still far too many of out peers that do not understand or practice these precepts.
-My advice is to Keep the Faith, practice what you preach and regardless of ridicule point out the error of those when you see it. Point out these errors when you see them in an effort of correcting problems, changing behavior and in a manner that is consistent with being a mentor. If all else fails, "Hey!! WTF are you doing?!?!", usually works too.
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Schwering on
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Shocks me too Brick, but from coast to coast we are seeing the need, to beat this horse again. I like your ending Brother, but I can't pull that one off, in the world we live in today!
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