Preparation for calls

Hi all,

I'm a new Volunteer and I'm just wondering, how do you all prepare for that 2am call? Do you jump in the pov in your boxers or do you keep a "kit" ready for the moment? Share some ideas on being ready to roll!

0 members like this

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lani on February 2, 2010 at 12:14pm

I keep my uniform ready by my bedside to just jump into, boots by the door with the coat, gum and hat in the car...then off I go!

Permalink Reply by CHRIS PUYLARA on February 2, 2010 at 3:34pm

Generally I sleep in a dept. shirt,during the winter I sleep in sweats keep my gear in the truck-being an officer I can go to the scene or to the station. Summer time-- dept shirt...no sweats...but they hang on the bedroom door ready to go I try not to wear shorts under my bunker gear..even in the summer still want maximum protection. TCSS CHRIS

Permalink Reply by Derek R. on February 7, 2010 at 7:55pm

I wear what I was wearing before I went to bed. We don't have dept. uniforms and we keep our gear in our vehicles. In the cold part of winter I bring my gear inside, then just bring it with me to the scene. So basically, it's just a matter of get up and go.

Permalink Reply by Auxman on February 12, 2010 at 10:31pm

I've taken to having my bunker pants/boots set up and ready to go next to the door and I'll wear them while driving to the station. The other stuff is kept in the gear bag.

Permalink Reply by Auxman on February 14, 2010 at 7:04pm

I did recently realize that if I'm going to do this I need to keep another pair of shoes in the car because if the gear gets really funky at the scene I'm not going to want to sit in the car with those pants and boots on when driving home. (sweats under the bunker pants).

Permalink Reply by Gerald Stubbs on February 16, 2010 at 1:24am

We had a call last night, chimney fire, under control in 2 seconds, at 11:50. I just spent over 4 hrs at the station tonight for the training meeting and not a peep. Ever wondered why you never seem to get a call when everyone's in quarters?

PS: Sunday night my wife woke me up to tell me my pager was going off. zzzzzzzzzz

Permalink Reply by Alan McGuigan on April 19, 2010 at 2:45pm

I have evevything laid out and ready to go i always have my keys in the same spot my boots by the door and my vehicle is always parked facing out my drive way ( it actually drives my wife nuts but i always back in to any parking spot just makes things easier

Permalink Reply by Phil on April 21, 2010 at 12:24am

My hats off to everyone here for being a "traditional volunteer". My company doesn't utilize home response; we staff the station at all times. Career county firefighters cover the calls 7AM-3PM, Monday-Friday while most of our members are at work or school and the rest of the time after 3PM as well as all day Saturday and Sunday and federal holidays the calls are handled by our members from the station. We have live-ins and require the other members to sleep-in monthly; when we are at the station we run calls, when we aren't, we don't. I have been a member for almost twelve years and am so used to this system it would kill me to do it the traditional way. Take care and be safe.

Phil Clinard
Laurel VFD
Prince George's County Co 10
Laurel, MD

Permalink Reply by Bekks on July 11, 2010 at 2:51am

I keep clothes next to the bed.
Some of us keep our orange "extracation/wildfire" coveralls in our POV in case we go right to the scene (as in a medical assist call or MVC).

We do things a little different from what I have read here so far...

Our bunker gear lives in an equipment truck at the hall. This is the first truck to roll to any call. If you miss the trucks, your gear will be waiting at the scene for you. Saves room in your POV and no forgetting it in the "other" car (wife's/husband's) or having to move it from car to house to car etc in winter.

The equipment truck also has additional SCBAs, extra bottles, traffic control gear (vests, cones, even those "STOP/SLOW" road crew signs) spare wildfire gear, de-watering pump, chainsaw, etc...

I have seen vol. dept. that have the gear stored in the hall, and ones where the FF keep it in their POV... the "equipment truck" concept we have in use in my area is BRILLIANT (in my humble opinion).

There is nothing "sexy" about the equipment truck... it's a big cube van with flashing lights and siren (the original was an old retired ambulance, but it got too small for our needs). A "man door" on the back with a fold down step (no rollup door). Inside, both sides have a bench and your pants and boots sit under it and your coat and helmet are on hooks above it. Bunker gear is up front, SCBA wall mounts in the middle, spare bottles and equipment in the back, dome lights on the roof. It is so simple but it works great!

Permalink Reply by Ringold15 on July 11, 2010 at 2:16pm

my veiw is be professional come to the scene or staion fully dressed dont wory about not beating everyone there, i wear contacts so i have to put them in befor i go but my clothes are always by the bed and my gears in the house so throw on some pants and a shirt, put some socks on run put my contacts in hope they dont give me fits( they havent yet knock on wood) put my buncker pants on grab the rest and out the door i go

Permalink Reply by Jim Driscoll on July 23, 2010 at 3:22am

I usually wear shorts to bed and when the tones go off I will grab a tee shirt and put on socks and shoes (left untied). Then jump in the truck and roll to the station.

Permalink Reply by David F Jenkins III on July 28, 2010 at 7:03pm