This article is intended for every citizen, in every city where fire, ems, and police services are provided for you.
Let's be clear here from the start, the level of service we provide has nothing to do with the amount of resources we have...
Let me explain further..
Right now in this country there is talk all over the fire service about reallocation of resources, brown out, station closures, lay-offs, furloughs, etc. Now the citizens of this nation and in your community can and should still expect (as well as demand) to receive the highest level of care and service.
BUT....
Do not be surprised if that high quality care and service takes a little longer to get to you in your time of need.
The reason is actually quite simple. Fewer resources responding from further away means it just takes longer to get to you. Period...
This is not due to firefighters/paramedics that don't care anymore. We absolutely still care greatly about the public and it's citizens we swore to protect and help. BUT we are being stretched very thin. By who you ask? Keep reading...
If you were to stop by any fire station and sit and talk with the crew that is on shift, you would probably be amazed at what you would find. You would find men/women that are active in the community in which they work. These men and women actually care about the community in which they work. The most amazing thing that you will find out is that most of those men/women do not even live in the community they work in and care so much about.
Our country is in the middle of a financial crisis. We understand that. The fire service has been attempting to do it's part in sharing the burden of this budget crisis with the other public service departments for years now. Public servants will still make calls every time they are toned out and they will deliver the incredible service that our citizens deserve and have come to expect.
But my frustration and anger is not created just because we are having to tighten our belts. Everyone is having to do that. No there are other reasons as well.
This anger and frustration stems from the fact that we are portrayed as villains, and condemned for things we have no control over. Our level of service will never change but the time it takes us to deliver that service may. Does this look bad to the public, absolutely. Do government officials take this as an opportunity to say that we are lazy and over paid and under used, absolutely.
It is always better to hear "You got here quick" then it is to hear "Hell what took you so long".
Now allow me to point out a few things....
Firefighters will not be late to the scene of your emergency because they are dragging ass in getting out of the station when the tones go off. Unlike other businesses, there will be no work slow down when it comes to responding to emergencies. When the tones go off alerting us of your emergency, we will not compromise our oath to you by not quickly getting to the engine or ambulance. To help you in your time of need is our job. We are dedicated and committed to serving our citizens.
But frustrations do rise when government officials, who prey on our commitment and dedication, constantly cut funding, training, personnel, and equipment - yet they expect the same excellent and timely level of service and care without fully supporting it.
We understand that it is extremely difficult for someone not in the fire service to understand the level of commitment and dedication we have. We get that.
In order for us to be in the state of readiness to serve our citizens at a moments notice, in a highly effective manner, most of us train and study on our off days. We are the ones at the gym at 4:00 am preparing for our shift, we are the ones taking notes in the classroom, improving on our weaknesses. We do all of this because we choose to serve our community and it's citizens at the highest level possible.
If you are in the profession long enough you realize that cities are willing to accept the lowest level of preparation when it comes to delivering service to it's citizens. This should not be tolerated by the citizens. Cheap and easy is not what the citizens of a city deserve when their worst nightmare comes to light.
NO ONE can predict when that (their worst nightmare comes to light) will happen, not even government officials. So why do they attempt to control their budget as if they can?? Think about that..
Have you ever heard a government official use anything other then kind words towards firefighters or police officers in public? Me neither. BUT when those chamber doors close, that is something totally different.
People call us Heros. This is flattering, but unnecessary. We are highly committed and dedicated individuals that chose to protect our community and it's citizens. We may not be so called heros, but in the same sentence we are not the villains either.
A city has an obligation to it's citizens to provide the best emergency service it can afford. Not to hide money and deny resources and personnel from its citizens. Longer response times and reduced personnel are attributed to the city and it' officials, not the firefighters.
Of course it is the citizens that make the decisions. If they wish their community to have fewer resources and few responders, so be it. We will provide the absolutely best service and care with what we are given. BUT allow the citizens to make that decision. It should not be made behind close doors.
As rescue professionals we know the difference that minutes can make at a emergency scene. We have had that stomach turning feeling of getting there just a minute too late. If someone tells you that seconds don't matter or that 5 people on a emergency medical call is too many, they are either lying or just don't know.
NOW YOU KNOW...
How quickly do you want your responders to get there when your emergency happens?
How many responders do you want there when your worst nightmare/emergency occurs?
These decisions are yours, and yours alone. You elect the city officials and you tell them how you want your city serviced..
Hopefully you will never need us, but rest assure when you do, we will provide you with the highest level of care and the best service you deserve. And hopefully you will say "Dam you got here fast"
THAT IS UP TO YOU....
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