The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Age and The Ability to Perform
Should a persons age be a facture in determining if they can or cannot perform certain tasks for the fire department? What about a persons weight? Or should it be if you can perform your task performances in the allotted time no matter how old you are or how much you weigh? I have been reading a discussion (and participating in it) where if you are older you are more stubborn, and over confident in your abilities. What about those who are younger fresh out of school and academy should that same comment apply to them?
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Patti Walz on
-
If my station took only a select few who can and would do it all we would have nothing. So for my little place it works to know who can do what for the maximum benefit of the community. By the time paid are able to arrive on scene in my area the place will have burnt to the ground and someone could have lost their life. Yes we have some who can do it all, but it helps to have others who can do the grunt work so that someone who is more experienced can handle the more complicated situations.
Why are you so angry with volunteer fire departments? We are not a social club, we are out their working just as hard as the paid staff to accomplish the same thing.
-
-
I like training. When I was going through academy I felt disconnected between the classroom portion and the practical portion. It really helped to put everything into perspective to have the hand on training and it gave me a deeper appreciation and respect for the job.
-
-
Is this for both volunteer and paid?
-
Permalink Reply by Fabulous Heather Days of Summer on
-
"Age and THE Ability to Perform" - come on, there has to be a viagra joke in there somewhere...
-
Permalink Reply by Norm Tindell on
-
I hope you'll agree that everyone's situation is different. Many firefighters can continue to contribute as they grow older. By the same token some younger firefighters take longer to mature. Each individual should be evaluated on their own merits.
-
-
You're crackin' me up!
-
Permalink Reply by John Crabbe on
-
Capcity is a FF in Washington DC.....they don't have volunteers there.
-
-
Patti,
It isn't about being anti-volunteer, but the issue about social club mentalities and dismissing standards because you take what you can get. Jack and I have commented numerous times on this subject on many different threads and what he is doing is surmising many such issues together. The issue is with a "take what you can get" mentality. When you have people doing exclusive jobs like "exterior only" or only a driver operator, you truly limit what you can provide as a service. As such when taking such a "take what you can get approach", the question does become what is the motivation? If one wants to do exterior operations only, then why are they on the fire dept? If you can't perform all jobs asked, then who are you really helping?
Another point Jack makes is about physicals and standards. When you have a "take what you can get" approach, it is easy to dismiss physical limitations for the sake of a body on the fireground. Unfortunately when not performing annual physicals or abiding to NFPA standards, that is what you really may end up with, a body on the fireground.
Now, I can understand many challenges facing volunteers, but standards shouldn't be dismissed because one wants a body to fill a spot. Standards should still be focused on, not dismissed, minors should NOT be utilized as FF's, regardless of it "works for us". Now age and physical ability does come into play, but overall, instead of focusing on just having a body, the person should be able to perform all fireground duties, not worrying who is able to do what etc. That is the point Jack was making, not saying that is what is occurring in your dept, but in general.
As for the question at hand, I agree with Bz, if you can't do the job, you have no business being on the fireground.
-
-
Yes sir, you are welcome!
-
-
Thank you Norm for saying this.
-
-
Thank you. I don't think standards are dismissed with our department. The big question is what role do you want to assume for our department since it is 85% volunteer based.
Looks can be deceiving. I was shocked to find out that one of our guys who looks way out of shape posts the best PAT scores well above the younger more agile guys.
-
Permalink Reply by Jack/dt on
-
"The big question is what role do you want to assume for our department since it is 85% volunteer based."
This is exactly the problem I have with VFD's: 'come in, we'll find something that fits you.'
Shouldn't the role being filled be that of FIREFIGHTER? I mean, if you are a fire department you should be looking for/to train firefighters. If someone comes in and wants to pick and choose from a cafeteria menu of "options" then that's not a fire department, it's a social club (or, an organized mob with access to water).
My point being, NFPA 1001 clearly outlines the standards and qualifications for being a firefighter. If a person can't complete it then they aren't qualified. If they CAN complete it why then would you allow someone to decide they don't do roofs, only drive, maybe they'll just do exterior work...those aren't firefighters, they're hobbyists.
Paid and volunteer may do the same job but they don't do the job the same way. One shows up with people that can perform any job as needed, the other shows up and it becomes a check off, "Hmmm, Frank doesn't do ladders, so he goes interior, Mary freaks out wearing a face piece so I'll have her do exterior vent, Ellen and Mike won't work the same job together to make sure if one gets hurt or killed the other is around to take care of the kids, so this time I'll put Ellen on hose line and Mike can do accountability, uh oh yeah Billy and Tom can't seem to work together so I have to keep them split up, Edgar will be here but at 83 there's not a lot he can do so I'll have him do traffic control."
And Patti, no I'm not angry about anything, just amazed that people don't get it.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
