About Sums Things Up

[papacheese]

This from Chief Goldfeder's website http://www.firefighterclosecall.com:

"THINK ABOUT WHAT RISKS WE DO HAVE TO TAKE AS FIREFIGHTERS....
...AND THE ONES WE DO NOT HAVE TO TAKE" !



So....at the risk of over-simplifying the FIREFIGHTER SURVIVAL issue...
...here are 12 thoughts that might just work:

1-If we recruit, hire and promote the best possible people with strict and tough hiring standards and very tough and certifiable training...
2-If we operate and train to proven standards and modern firefighting practices...
3-If we wear all our PPE without excuse...head to toe with no exposed skin and no longer breathe crap...
4-If we send the correct amount of Firefighters on the 1st alarm (based on pre-plans and what's reported)..
5-If we promote Fire Officers that are highly motivated, gung-ho, educated as well as highly trained, skilled and understand that they must enforce the SOP's as supervisors...
6-If we train on and understand building construction and fire behavior...
7-If we use ICS with strict and respected command, control and accountability on the FG...
8-If we drive smart, always wear seat belts and never blow red traffic lights or stop signs w/o stopping first...
9-If we pull the right size hose lines w/the needed water and control the fire as quick as possible...
10-If we understand when it is worth risking our Firefighters lives and when it is not...(risk vs benefit)...
11-If we develop strict fire safe building codes and mandatory fire sprinkler systems...
12...and if we especially understand the issues related to firefighter health, diet, wellness and fitness........
...we can probably reduce firefighter line of duty deaths by 75% or so....if we want to and when we are ready to change our culture and related behaviors.

And although all the national programs are excellent tools-until the Fire Chiefs in the Department, the Officer in the front seat and the Firefighters riding backwards want this to change at THEIR FD, on their apparatus and on their FG,
...not much else will matter-or change.


THE CHIEF HAS A WAY OF SUMMING THINGS UP QUITE NICELY....NOW IF ONLY EVERYONE BOUGHT INTO THIS!

[walshy15]

Great points chief
Also: people should not be sent into buildings that will be knocked down or take unnecessary risks A great example would be Charleston, SC

[chief3102]

[

papacheese said:

color=Orange]THE CHIEF HAS A WAY OF SUMMING THINGS UP QUITE NICELY....NOW IF ONLY EVERYONE BOUGHT INTO THIS!

[/color][/quote]


Amen Chief, AMEN !!!

[firstin312]

Sounds Great Chief, but how quick do you think someone will find a problem with those ideas?

[voyager9]

The only one I have issue with is #10. Seems a great oversimplification of all the issues that must be factored in for Size up... as if the officer should have an epiphany when they step from the truck.

[papacheese]

voyager9 said:

The only one I have issue with is #10. Seems a great oversimplification of all the issues that must be factored in for Size up... as if the officer should have an epiphany when they step from the truck.

I agree voyager..it is an oversimplification; to me size-up is a multi-step, thinking and observing process that takes time IF you want to do it right.

I think what he's advocating in #10 is just that: taking the time and thought necessary to make an educated judgment, not just mindlessly run through the front door, which all of us know happens in more places and circumstances than we'd care to admit. The other thing is to make a conscious decision that we will never compromise our firefighters safety for an empty building or a family pet.

[papacheese]

firstin312 said:

Sounds Great Chief, but how quick do you think someone will find a problem with those ideas?

Unfortunately it will take awhile; how many years has the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation been drumming "Everyone Goes Home" into our collective heads and sponsoring National Safety Stand Downs, yet the LODD rate has actually INCREASED since their campaign began?

Being a naturally cynical person, as well as a devoted fan of history, I beleive it will take at least one generational time period to see a substantial change in cultural philosophy. No matter how much they "mouth" the right words, the older set is still usually humming the same tune....old habits simply die too hard.

The truth is it will finally and permanently change with you and the other "youngsters" out there who are just now entering the service. If we do our jobs well, your frame of operational reference will be much different than the one we learned far too many years ago.

[canman]

papa i think your right with the generation comment. look at R.I.T. and its concepts have been around since early 90's and we still don't have that nailed down!

[papacheese]

canman said:

papa i think your right with the generation comment. look at R.I.T. and its concepts have been around since early 90's and we still don't have that nailed down!

I know how pessemistic my comment sounds, but unfortunately if the past is any indicator, we will bemoan senseless LODD's for a few more years until the "kids" of today begin filling supervisory positions. That's not to say everyone over forty or fifty doesn't get it, but they are (IMHO) in the minority, not the majority.

I look around the county today and see a crop of chief officers and future chief officers who read, research, think, war game, practice, and maintain a healthy sense of skepticism about the threats we continually face....as I mentioned in another post, our jobs are slowly evolving from ones solely consisting of brute force to careful thought and decision-making. Consider that the topic of building construction wasn't even thought of or taught as little as twenty years ago, yet has become a vital knowledge component that everyone has to acquire, not just officers.

Blame the government, blame the fire dinosaurs, blame sue-hungry people, or blame anyone you care to...THIS is our new reality we must deal with.

[voyager9]

papacheese said:

Unfortunately it will take awhile; how many years has the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation been drumming "Everyone Goes Home" into our collective heads and sponsoring National Safety Stand Downs, yet the LODD rate has actually INCREASED since their campaign began?

One other consideration is that the game has changed significantly since the campaign began. I don't think its fair to hang the LODD rate purely on the unsafe practices of the firefighters. There are other factors that contribute, increased use of plastics (and the affect on fuel load), almost complete dependence on truss and lightweight construction, as well as an ongoing weight/health problems throughout our society.

Granted, it could be summed up by saying that we haven't done a good job adapting to the changing conditions and certainly these changes underscore the importance of safe practices.

It is hard enough to change a culture and overcome "tradition", it is even harder to chase a moving target.

[papacheese]

"It is hard enough to change a culture and overcome "tradition", it is even harder to chase a moving target."

Strange quote from a guy with your avatar, wouldn't you say? LOL

[voyager9]

papacheese said:

"It is hard enough to change a culture and overcome "tradition", it is even harder to chase a moving target."

Strange quote from a guy with your avatar, wouldn't you say? LOL

We don't chase, we Intercept. And usually its what we're aiming for...

[papacheese]

The operative word being "usually"...... right?

[shader101]

amazes me that people (JQ public) will spend xxxx $ on sprinklering there grass & shrubs in a new developement and not even consider a residential system to protect their house & life, guess the bushes are a higher priority