The microphone is now open and we want your comments.
The hot topic for today is what is the best thing your first officer taught you in the fire service?
Everyone of us has had an officer (good or bad) that gave us the great words of wisdom to you, the new firefighter (we were all one once).
What was it? Let us know by responding in the comments below:
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
When taking orders from IC remember “nothing is impossiable for the guy that doesn’t have to do it”.
Here’s one for the medic in all of us….
One of the first doctors who taught me as a basic EMT said, ” when you go into a stressful situation and you aren’t sure what to do, go up to the patient….introduce yourself….and take their radial pulse. If there is no pulse then you know what to do! If there is a pulse, then act like you are intently asessing their vital sign while in your mind you are figuring out your next move!”
It works very well on medical calls, not so well during council meetings.
While treating patients in the EMS world; the psychological condition of the patient is huge! Always treat this by reassuring, confident and professional.
In firefighting, rescue is the primary benchmark. Sometimes, gaining control of the fire quickly may save more lives. Use personnel wisely!
The Best thing I Ever learned from my First Chief was
Dont Let anyone ever tell you that you have enough education in
the fire service you can always be learning something no matter how
small it might be you never know when you might use something NEVER
pass up the opportunity for Training
And coincidentaly one week before he was slated to retire he went to a
extrication class with us
From a series of collective mentors, including Craig Miller (above):
GETTING THERE: “If you don’t know how to get to the call, you can’t help anyone. If you are in the officer’s seat, keep the mapbook open on your lap. You need to know your current location and be ready to find an alternate. Look up streets/addresses on every call, even if you are stuck at the station. They may call you for something addtional and its just a good idea to be familiar with the location.” From the Pre CAD days.
EXTINGUISHMENT: “Pressure doesn’t put out fire, water does.” I’m old and was trained by a lot of booster lines/Bean gun guys, so when my first fire science instructor said this, it really stuck. I still like to deliver water rapidly, but GPM’s beat up BTU’s pretty effectively. Just think, if this wasn’t true, we could use pressure washers. Today we call it “go big or go home.”
Some great comments by all
John I think that is easily summed up as IC overload some times and a great lesson learned for bosses
Craig, how true
Don, gotta love the vent, enter, search, concept
Phil, always need to learn thats why this site is partially here to help keep us on our toes. It sure is crazy how fast the fireservice is changing
Mike, I think I have heard those before, but I just can’t place where
I guess the question to is have you passed these truths on as your own now?
When I was a new fire fighter (yes I know that was long ago) on my first interior fire attack the officer said you NEVER leave your hose line. Very basic but still good advice today.
Train, Train, Train…there should never be a day when you sit back and say “there is nothing new I can learn on_______” (fill in blank with fire attack, rescue, patient care, extrication).
As the world around us changes on a daily basis, we should be looking at new ways to combat that change.
One of the best officer statments I have heard is “On scene is not time for OJT”. Know your equipment, your department tactics and your own level of training before the tones drop.
Remember, train like your life depends on it…because some day it will
My first firefighting skills were learned in the Coast Guard. Donning and doffing was the most practiced exercise, because the OBA’s were less reliable, so the first lesson was Wear your gear. Second and best lesson was stay near the bulkhead and when you can’t, put something solid & sturdy between you and the overhead. Upon responding to my first fire as RTFD firefighter, my captain also had served in the USCG and reminded me that “we have to go out, but we dont have to come back. Listen to your officer and pay attention.”