Training? Why do we have to do that?

So many times I hear "Why do we have to train?" or "Why is it so important?". When I hear these comments I can't help but get upset and mad. But I have had to remind myself numerous times that when I hear things like this it is my job to change those "Attitudes". We must do "Whatever it takes" to make sure we are ready to answer the call when the bells go off. Training is what keeps us as firefighters safe and ready to do our jobs better and more effectively. Yes there is always that chance of dying or being injured but training reduces those chances. We have an obligation to the people we serve to be at our very best and trust me sitting around on your butts at the firehouse watching Jerry Springer isn't helping you do that, we can't fight fires with Ninja stars! Everyday should be a training day. You should strive each day to learn something, it doesn't matter if it is new or if it's something you already know and you are just making it better. If we don't learn something everyday we are not doing our job as a firefighter and you won't be just letting the people you protect down but you will also be letting yourself down. We teach that the number one priority on the fireground is our-self but if we don't train then we may not learn something that is critical for us to use on the next box call that could save our life. The quote below is something I try to live by and share with the students or rookies I come across.

"Let no man's ghost return to say that his training failed him."

If you are to give the ultimate sacrifice, I want your loved ones to be told it was because you chose to give your life not because you had no idea what you were doing or that you failed to do your job and train. So many times we hear that injuries and deaths in the fire service can be traced back to a lack of training. There is no excuse for that! Get off your butts because yourself, your family and those you serve are counting on you!