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If you could give one piece of advice to a newbie, what would it be?
I'm still just getting started. Everyone I have met has been wonderful in sharing their knowledge and experiences with me. So I thought, if there was one thing you could pass on to the "new Kid" what would it be?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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do whatever you can to ensure you and ALL of your crew go home safe at the end of every day
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Permalink Reply by Herbie on
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Learn the equipment on your trucks and where it is located. This will save you alot of time when you need to get it in a hurry. Listen to the other members, especially the "ol' timers", they love to tell stories about their experiences. Ask alot of questions and listen to the answers. Good luck.
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Permalink Reply by ee779 on
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WOW, You really picked a great subject!!!!! Almost filled my inbox with reply notices! Just 1 more from me, Keep you're spirts up the firehouse can be a very tough place! meaning as someone already said, the cliques can be the downfall of a very active volunteer company, as hard as it sounds try to stay neutral in certain activities. And always, always question any order that you're not quite comfortable following! Most officers (not all) will give an explanation or give the job to someone else and explain why they wanted it done that way after the call. Stay Safe!
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Permalink Reply by Jeff Betz on
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A real good discussion here! I agree with nearly all of the responses, but I have one different kind of suggestion. Read the book "Pride and Ownership, a Firefighters Love of the Job" by Rick Lasky. His book does a good job of providing a lot of examples of how things should be in a department. It may give you an idea of why we love this job so much. It also tends to motivate people (personally and collectively) IF they have the proper attitude toward this career. Some folks in the industry have taken shots at his ideas for being too much about "loving the job". I feel sorry for those who feel firefighting is just another job; in my book, they just don't "get it". It is their loss, not mine. It might not tell you how to "get along" like these responses have so efficiently provided, but it will give you a more clear picture of fire department culture. Good luck to you, I hope you learn to "love" being a firefighter.
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Permalink Reply by Tiger Schmittendorf on
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Well said Jeff, and I couldn't agree with you more.
I have the book, DVD and I was very fortunate to spend time with Chief Lasky last year in Pittsburgh, sitting around discussing the fire service with about 20 other firefighters from around the country.
Before I even knew him, I had modeled our fire department annual report after the Lewisville FD annual report.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Rick does a GREAT impression of Rodney Dangerfield. I got to know Rick when he was a Lt. under Chief Tom Freeman. Rick was an instructor with the Illinois Fire Service Institute and it was Rick who lost a dear friend to a fire because, they couldn't get him out. Rick help start the Saving Our Own program and I count him as a friend. Rick came to our fire department's 50th anniversary dinner and delivered the keynote address. Many of the retirees still talk about it because Rick paid his respects to them. I have followed his career to Coeur de Leone and from there to Lewisville. I admire the man beyond mere words. He will make any department reach its potential and if he can't convince you that there is more to this job than just getting up and showing up, then no one can.
Art
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Ok, as you see we're all pretty much on the same page, as far as getting as much training as possible! There is 1 thing I found since the "new guys and gals" seem to get younger every year.....Damn, I don't know when exactly I made the transition to one of the ol' guys!? Any way, some of the classes you'll take will seem like they continually repeat what you've already learned. Trust me, there's a reason for that. Partly like I said in one of my last posts, sometimes you have to stop and go back to the basics. When I took the FF1 classes they pretty much went hand- in -hand with what we learned in the Essentials classes with a little more info, history, and hands on training. Don't let the boring classes get you down, the info in them is as important as the more exciting ones!
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Great.
Something else we have in common. Our appreciation for Chief Lasky.
He's definitely one of a kind. How fortunate you are to have known him for so long - and to have him speak at your dinner. Now I remember that he came from Illinois.
We had an intimate conversation with him in Pittsburgh because only 20 guys showed up for his presentation. Their loss. Our gain.
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Permalink Reply by Allen Wahlstrom on
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Wish I had some words of wisdom, but the guys and girls on here have pretty muc hcovered it. as a sidenote I have to add, know the history of the fire service. Know those who came before you, LEARN from them any chance you get. You never know when some little nugget will be the difference between you getting out or not. God it feels weird to be an old guy....it was jsut yesterday when I was the spring pup...yeah right.
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Permalink Reply by FF Schoen on
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Heres something for ya boot (said in the nicest of sincerities) Watch what happens out there, try everything you can get your hands on at least once. Learn by asking questions, but the best way of learning is keeping your mouth shut and listening (didn't mean to be harsh) you will learn from those with the experience. Have a good time out there becuase the day you dont have enjoy it anymore is the day you need to hang up your bunker coat. NEVER FORGET those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others. God Bless the 343 and Charleston 9 and the countless others. Be Safe out there and never stop learning.
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