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“What’s a fire plug?” asked the 4-year veteran.

Fridays are for the four year veterans. 

You know them.  They've been around long enough to know it all. 

They especially love to demonstrate their vast experience by puffing out their chest at a rookie, who probably doesn't know yet how full of stink this tough guy is.  You gotta show these newbies who da boss.  Like we need another boss, right?

Down boy.

These crusty old jakes deserve to be brought back into reality. 

I like to use some good ol' fashioned fire service history.  You know.  The traditions that define who we are and upon which the foundation of the fire service is built. 

 

 

Today, let's chat fire alpina fire plugplugs.

In the 1600’s, water was only available after firefighters dug down through the ground to drill a hole into the nearest water main. As the water poured out into the hole, a well of water formed. Water was scooped out and moved by bucket brigades. When they were done, a wooden (usually redwood) plug was driven into the hole.

Since it was easier to knock out one of these ”plugs” to get water the next time it was needed, firefighters tried to remember where the “plugs” were located and often marked them. Then a firefighter would get his water supply with the swing of an ax, filling the old depression in the ground once again.

Water mains of old were actually made of wood. In this picture, Capt. Bob Adrian, right, and firefighter/paramedic Chris Morrison of the Alpena City Fire Department in Michigan examine a section of wooden pipe that once served as the city’s water system. The log is bored through the center, sheeted in metal and coated with a creosote or tar sealant. Sweet grab, guys!

The four-year veteran just became a four-year student.  Don't be a veteran.  Be a student for your entire career.

 

Stay stoked!

-J

 

 

Posted in In Da House, Just For Fun, Tradition

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Posted by on February 1, 2013 • No comments

WARNING: This video is graphic and depicts a man being rescued from his burning home.

“Warning: This video is graphic and depicts a man being rescued from his burning home.”

That’s the disclaimer shown at the beginning of this video posted on YouTube by NewsWorking out of Pennsylvania.

On NewsWorking’s website, an accompanying article tells of firefighters arriving to a woman telling them her husband went back into their burning home to rescue their dog.

The video shows various emergency responders in action including police officers and firefighters removing the victim from the front door and the eventual arrival of EMS.

Comments?

Stay stoked!

-J

 

 

Click here

 

 

Posted in Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighting Operations, Fires, Patient Management, Rescues, Training, Training & Development, training-fire-rescue-topics, Videos

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Posted by on January 30, 2013 • 4 comments

Got a bad attitude? Do us all a favor and call in sick.

Everyone in the fire service can point to a time in their career where they developed a bad attitude.  Many times, the attitude was the result of something that happened earlier that may or may not have been fair.  It could be argued that the bad attitude was “deserved”.

I’m here to tell you: that is crap.pouting_baby

The moment you put on your job shirt or uniform, you have NO RIGHT to be pissy about anything.  In our brotherhood, there is no room for it- now or ever.

I’m not saying you should never get upset about something that you feel strongly about- that’s to be expected in our high-stress work environment.

Yet there is a time and a place to be  Mr. Negative, and that place is not at work.  Your bad attitude is highly contagious. It has already affected you, and will quickly spread to everyone around you.  Nope, work is the time to show up with your A-game.

Every minute of every day, you owe that A-game to your crew.   That’s the time to show them that –no matter what- their safety is paramount.  They can count on a clear-headed partner when the shit hits the fan.  Everyone Goes Home.  Remember the old cliché “Your crew is only as strong as it’s weakest link?”  Don’t be that weak link.  Don’t ever let your buddies know that you are capable of being the weakest link.

You also owe it to yourself, my friend.  Do you truly take pride in your work?  Not the kind of pride in that you help people and save property- that’s all well and good, but it’s also automatic.  It’s handed to you when you walk in the door. 

I’m talking about the pride you have to earn: The pride in THE WAY YOU OPERATE as a person- especially when you have every right to be pissy. 

Will others say that you are THE GUY they would want to be with on the line inside a job gone bad?  Maybe you’re not quite as good as you want to be yet, but you have the mindset to be focusing on constant improvement.  That’s great.

But if you can’t come to work without leaving your crap attitude at home, we don’t want you here, brother,  Do us all a favor and call in sick and stay home with Mr. Pissy.  Come back when you're not so sick.

Remember how stoked you were when you first found out you were hired?   You have the best damn job on the planet, and you love it!  You wouldn’t trade it for any other job, would you?  So, come to work with that stoked feeling every shift.  That’s the contagiousness we all need these days in the fire service.

That’s the guy we want with us on that line.

Stay stoked!

John Mitchell is a 34-year student of the fire service on volunteer and career departments as both a firefighter officer and paramedic in suburban Chicago. He has served as a training officer and college lead instructor for firefighter and EMS courses.  John is the President of Diamondplate Productions which produces The Daily Fire Fix© and Firefighter Netcast©.  John also responds to national disasters across the country as a member of the FEMA’s Command Staff in External Affairs.

 

Posted in Brotherhood, Firefighter Safety & Health, In Da House, Leadership, NetCast, Staffing, Tradition, Training

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Posted by on January 30, 2013 • No comments

Illinois firefighters stand idle while man drowns (Video)

Here is a news story from Champaign IL.  It is accompanied by a video capturing much of the incident fom the shore. 

 

 

 

Some in the fire service are rightfully be asking "Yeah, but what are the facts?"

While we wait for the "facts" of the incident response, we must remember that the unfortunate reality is that perception often trumps reality.

The perception in Champaign IL is that the fire department didn't do enough to save this man's life as scores of onlookers and emergency personnel watched him die.

As we look at the policy of an ice rescue, it seems as if some time might be spent looking into a clear and engaging public relations policy which might better manage this horrific tragedy.

So as we wait for the "facts" to emerge, one fact is clear:

A man is dead and the public is blaming the first responders.

That's a tough genie to stuff back into it's bottle.

 

Posted in Firefighting Operations, News, Rescues, Special Operations, Technical Rescue, Videos, WTF?

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Posted by on January 5, 2013 • No comments

Personal Situational Awareness – “The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee”

Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to chat with a nationally-known fire service legend.  How fortunate for me to be one of the two guys with over seventy combined years in the fire service– just shooting the shit. 

Eventually, the talk turned from how much our management of the emergency scene has changed over the decades our scene management has come over the years- to the importance of situational awareness in general.

Then he reminded me of a well-known story about what he called “personal situational awareness” and how immensely crucial it is for every firefighter to recognize and understand.  It turns out to be a story I have used at every one of my academy’s graduation ceremonies so that each probie could hear it at the same time as their spouses and families.

You may have heard it before, but I thought I would pass it along in case the newer, younger brothers under your care have yet to have the pleasure.  You would do well to ensure they all hear it.

Check it out….

 

The Mayonnaise Jar and Two Cups of Coffee

When things in your lives seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things–your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions–and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.

The sand is everything else–the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first–the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

 

Stay stoked!

Posted in Firefighter Safety & Health, In Da House

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Posted by on September 27, 2012 • No comments

Should EMT’s and firefighters carry guns on the job?

That’s certainly on of today’s hot topics as first responders continue to face increasing risks associated with performing our duties to an increasingly-violent society.

But would arming first responders improve their safety or lead to other, potentially serious issues?

From an article today in the Dayton (OH) Daily News:

On Sunday, an EMT in Fort Wayne, Ind., was injured after he was struck by bullet fragments when his ambulance was shot 17 times while transporting a stabbing victim, according to news reports.

In June, an ambulance that was responding to a call of a shooting in Houston was shot at least four times by the armed suspect.

In March 2011, a Long Island paramedic was responding to a car crash, when suddenly the motorist pulled out a gun and unloaded on first-responders. Police eventually killed the gunman, but medic crews had to hide behind an ambulance to avoid gunfire.

And there are countless unreported instances in which first responders are put into a situation where the scene is not always safe, or becomes unsafe in the blink of an eye.  Is it fair to ask us to face these potentially fatal scenarios with only our wits?

Some point to an era wherein we are increasingly targeted by vicious gangs, anti-government extremists, unpredictable criminals and intoxicated or infuriated people. Counting on law enforcement may leave us vulnerable to injury, and worse. Carrying a concealed weapon could give us the ability to protect ourselves against potentially fatal attacks.

Others are quick to remind us that police officers are specifically trained to try to bring suspects and attackers under control by using less-lethal force, and they only withdraw their guns as a last resort. So, unless armed first responders go through the same training as police officers, we will have only concealed firearms at our disposal for protection, which could result in deadly mistakes, and of course, increased liability for our employers.

And doesn’t it always come down to money? Whether the argument is who pays to arm us, or who pays the lawsuit settlements, Let’s never forge:t it’s always about the money.

How do you feel? Is it time we should start packing heat next to our halligan?

Posted in NetCast, News

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Posted by on September 14, 2012 • 1 comment

Bla Bla Bla. Parroting Sucks. Our Brothers Deserve Much Better.

Note- Not one “I”, “me”, “my”, “we”, “what I did’s” in this article.

 

 

Parroting is easy.

 

Thoughts and prayers and climbing stairs is simply not enough,

Less of “me” and more of “thee” is what separates the weak from the tough.

Become a hollow mouthpiece, get the sticker, t-shirt, and tattoo if you must,

But me?  I’ll make sure the brave 343 won’t be shaking their heads in disgust.

 

Is anyone else sick of reading all the repulsive crap regarding Never Forget?  People calling attention to themselves with helmet stickers, t-shirts, tattoos, blogs, facebook posts, me, my, we, etc.  It’s a revolting “tribute” to themselves- and most certainly not what the 343 deserve. 

Of all the hundreds of “tributes” of walking billboards and parroting of phrases posted yesterday, only one (ONE) seemed to go beyond and describe how a change in our everyday behavior truly demonstrates an understanding of “Brotherhood”, and of “Never Forgetting.” 

Read yesterday’s “A Firefighters Own Worst Enemy” article entitled “Remembering With Our Actions” from a good friend, DC Jason Hoevelman.  Jason’s words on the way to truly “never forget” were the ONLY ones worth their salt while swimming through the putrid soup yesterday:

 

Don’t just call each other Brother, act like one every day.

Be physically and mentally fit

Be engaged everyday in our profession, don’t just act proud, show your pride by engaging

Learn something about our profession every day no matter how small or large the task

Pass on the lessons of those that taught us, share and give much to those who come after you

Stand up for what is right even when it goes against what’s “popular”

Be excellent at whatever you do; not all firefighters will be officers, but whatever you aspire to, be the best at it–everyday!

Encourage and teach those younger than you, don’t degrade them-they are our future

Be involved–see a problem, be a part of the solution

Leave our fire service better than it was when you entered it

 

Now go be a Brother- and never forget.

 

 

 

Posted in Brotherhood, In the Line of Duty, Line of Duty, Never Forget, Tradition, WTF?

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Posted by on September 12, 2012 • 5 comments