April 2018 Blog Posts (12)

There are NO shortcuts to the top or high speed travel lanes to mastery... 

Seriously, what does it take to become the go to guy in your firehouse?  What does it take to step beyond the go to guy and become the "elite" firefighter?  Elite firefighters have invested a tremendous amount of time and effort mastering his or her skill set through thousands of hours of training and life experiences. Looking at experience alone, the elite firefighter has often been provided…

Sometimes, the best advice can come from a Walmart greeter…

A few years ago, a relatively modest looking package arrived at the front desk of the Fire Department’s administrative office. As promised, a friend left a copy of a book entitled, The Richest Man in Town, written by V. J. Smith. Sandwiched within its glossy hard cover was an inscription that read, “Thanks for the great round of golf—Lloyd Torgerson – St. Monica.”

Every once in a…

His best friend’s wife likes to flirt with Sean. His best friend seems to enjoy her flirting….

My day, like so many others, begins in the dark, quietly donning a pair of frumpy sweats, untied sneakers, and a baseball cap to cover what’s left of my hair. With a gentle kiss on my wife’s lips and rub on the dog’s belly – I’m careful not to confuse the two – I begin the journey to locate my…

It's that time of year again! Time to train, learn, laugh, hug, and bask in the brotherhood that is FDIC International! This is my Christmas, New Year's Day, and Easter all rolled into one... and I personally can't wait. 

Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Looking forward to working my butt off for our RIT Combat Challenge students.…

Podcast Download and Listen

This episode discusses the transitioning from an engine or other company to the truck company.  Your panel discusses the differences you can expect when operating on a truck company as…

Click here to read more about this book. 

Here is an excerpt from my newly released book, "Common Valor: True Stories from America's Braves, Volume 1" 

     Mike was working…

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me,” in a response to a schoolyard taunt containing hurtful words many of us have probably used when verbally assaulted by the schoolyard bully. That reasoning is generally untrue as words do hurt and I am sure that you were hurt when the bully made fun of your race, clothing, religion or some other verbal and possibly physical assault against you.

In an era of social media, seemingly insensitive comments…

Standard operating procedures (SOPs), rules and regulations, departmental orders, and other policies and training procedures serve as the basis for operational risk management and the decision-making process that occurs within fire departments. These guidelines are established for events which can be identified in advance, for example, having procedures in place that address when an employee is late for work, identify company response assignments, or to identify the steps to take when…

I'm Doing My Best Not To Slug You Right Now

A little over a decade ago, I was sitting in a college lecture hall flipping through the pages of a text that had just been introduced to the class. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is a tool published by the American Psychiatric Association (AP…

“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. King’s quote seems acutely applicable to our extended fire service families.  It takes a little pain to determine who will stand next you; who will shed a tear with you; who will dig in their pockets for you; who will go to bat for you; or, sometimes, who will hold you…

Continuing this series of reviews of the UL’s Impact of Fire Attack Utilizing Interior and Exterior Streams on Firefighter Safety and Occupant Survival, having previously reviewed the results of Water Mapping (https://ulfirefightersafety.org/docs/DHS2013_Part_I_Water_Mapping.pdf), this installment will cover Air Entrainment (…

 …