SOONER OR LATER IT IS GONNA CATCH UP WITH THEM...THE APPROACH OF "DOING MORE WITH LESS" IN REGARDS TO PUBLIC SAFETY..."LET'S PLAY THE NUMBERS GAME"...SOMEONE IS GONNA HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR THIS APPROACH AND I WILL HATE TO SEE WHO IT IS...
THE REALLY SAD THING IS THAT IT IS ALMOST BECOMING AN ACCEPTED PRACTICE, AND SOME OF THE BLAME LIES ON US...
AFTER 9/11 A LOT OF PEOPLE FORGOT WHAT WE ARE ASKED TO DO ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS, OUR BOSSES BOSS ASKED THEM TO SAVE MONEY AND TRIM THE BUDGETS...ANYWHERE THEY COULD. EVERYONE HAD TO SHARE IN THE CUTS SO THEY SAID. PUBLIC SAFETY WISE, THIS MEANT STAFFING MORE TIMES THAN NOT.
THEY CAME TO US HAT IN HAND TALKING ABOUT "HARD TIMES" AND THINGS WOULD GET BETTER IN THE FUTURE. THEY NEEDED US TO DO JUST ALITTLE BIT MORE, WITH ALITTLE BIT LESS!! OF COURSE WE STOOD UP WITH OUR CHESTS OUT IF THAT IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE, THEN WE WOULD DO IT....WE ARE FIREMEN THAT IS WHAT WE DO!
NOW THE HOLE THAT HAS BEEN DUG HAS ONLY GOTTEN BIGGER AND DEEPER AND I AM NOT SURE IF WE WILL EVER BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF IT...
THIS MEANT THAT CITIES WENT YEARS WITHOUT HIRING, THIS MEANT THAT CITIES WERE REDUCING STAFFING LEVELS ON TRUCKS AND REDUCING STAFFING OVERALL IN DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY. WHAT THIS ALSO MEANS IS THAT THESE CITIES ARE REDUCING FIRE/EMS PROTECTION TO THE CITIZENS....
YOU SEE IT USE TO BE THAT DEPARTMENTS RUNNING 3 PERSON COMPANIES WAS LAUGHED UPONED (THAT IS 1 DRIVER, 1 CAPTAIN, AND 1 FIREFIGHTER). NOW TODAY THAT IS CONSIDERED GOOD STAFFING LEVELS...I KNOW OF DEPARTMENTS RUNNING WITH ONLY 2 FIREFIGHTERS ON ENGINES.
ARE WE LETTING THEM CONVINCE US THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE OK? ARE WE CONTINUING TO ALLOW THEM TO TELL THE CITIZENS WE PROTECT THAT THESE NUMBERS ARE ADEQUATE, WHEN WE ALL KNOW THEY ARE NOT!!!
CITIES ARE GROWING...WATER PARKS ARE OPENING UP, NEW CONSTRUCTION GOES UP EVERYDAY, BUILDINGS ARE BUILT UPWARDS AND NOT OUTWARDS TO SAVE SPACE. THIS LEADS TO MORE AND MORE HIGH RISE STRUCTURES, MORE MULTI-DWELLING STRUCTURES ARE BEING BUILT IN VACATION AREAS...THIS CITY AS WELL AS OTHERS IN GROWING, BUT YET THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE NOT KEEPING UP WITH ITS GROWTH.
THERE IS A SAYING OUT THERE THAT "IT ONLY HAPPENS EVERY SO OFTEN" OR "THOSE EVENTS ARE VERY INFREQUENT"...BUT NOWADAYS, DEPARTMENTS HERE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING LARGE SCALE EVENTS MORE FREQUENTLY DUE TO CITY AND POPULATION GROWTH...HAVING 2 REGULAR ALARMS AT THE SAME TIME PLACES STRAIN ON EVEN LARGE DEPARTMENTS. HAVING A MULTI CAR ACCIDENT CAN TIE UP OVER ONE-THIRD OF A CITY'S AMBULANCES...
YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF THE "POWERS THAT BE" THOUGHT THEIR RESOURCES WOULD BECOME SO "TAXED" AND STRETCHED SO THIN WHEN THEY APPROVED THESE CUTS AND REDUCTIONS...
MAKES YOU WONDER IF THE MULTI MILLION DOLLAR PARK DOWNTOWN IS MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM THAN PUBLIC SAFETY?
MAKES YOU WONDER IF SPENDING MULTI MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON KEEPING A BUSINESS OPEN IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE FIRE AND EMS PROTECTION THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO PROVIDE THEIR CITIZENS?
AGAIN, I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF THE BLAME LIES ON US. WHY? BECAUSE NOBODY KNOW WHAT WE DO...
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE SEE AND DO ON A DAILY BASIS? DOES THE GENERAL
PUBLIC EVEN KNOW OUR WORK SCHEDULE?
DO THEY EVEN KNOW WE RUN EMS? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD "I CALLED FOR AN AMBULANCE NOT A FIRE TRUCK". DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF RESPONSES WE ARE FACED WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS? DO THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LEVELS OF TRAINING YOUR MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN?
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES? SMOKE DETECTORS, INSPECTIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATION...
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW YOUR STAFFING LEVELS? DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOUR RESPONSE TIMES EXPECTATIONS ARE? DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT RUNNING WITH 3 PEOPLE ON A ENGINE REALLY MEANS? HAS SOMEONE SAT THEM DOWN AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST UNIT ARRIVES ON SCENE OF A WORKING FIRE?
ONE FIREFIGHTER DRIVING, ONE OFFICER GIVING THE SIZE UP AND ESTABLISHING COMMAND. THAT LEAVES ONE FIREFIGHTER TO PERFORM FIREGROUND TASKS....NOW EXPLAIN THE "2 IN 2OUT" RULE.
HAS ANYONE EXPLAINED THAT THE 2ND ENGINE STOPS AT THE HYDRANT TO ESTABLISH A WATER SUPPLY. ONE FIREFIGHTER GETS OUT TO HOOK UP. ON SCENE THE DRIVER OF THE 2ND UNIT WILL ASSIST CONNECTING TO THE FIRST ENGINE. THAT LEAVES THE OFFICER ALONE. (WE NOW HAVE 2 AVAILABLE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIGHT AN INTERIOR FIRE)
THE LADDER COMPANY NOW ARRIVES AND COMMAND NEEDS A SEARCH DONE. BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT VENTILATION AND THEY NEED TO GET SOME LADDERS TO THE ROOF. WHICH TASK DO THEY PERFORM FIRST? THE DRIVER OF THE LADDER COMPANY IS NOT FULLY BUNKERED OUT YET. THE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER CAN'T SPLIT UP RIGHT...REMEMBER 2 IN 2 OUT, WE WORK IN PAIRS.
NOW THE CHIEF ARRIVES ON SCENE ALONG WITH A MEDIC UNIT (WHICH SOME ONLY CARRY ONE AIR PACK) AND A SAFETY OFFICER. THERE ARE NOW 13 FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE BUT IN REALITY ONLY 4 AVAILABLE TO GET INSIDE. SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A GOOD OUTCOME HUH?
SO AGAIN, I ASK ARE THE CITIZENS EDUCATED AS TO ALL THE SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES AND EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES? HOW DO YOU EDUCATE THEM? IS THE ONLY TIME THE PUBLIC HEARS FROM YOU IS DURING A FUND DRIVE OR ON A CALL?
DON'T LET EVERY TIME THEY HEAR ABOUT YOU OR FROM YOU BE IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT. CREATE A POSITIVE IMAGE OF YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SEE IT.
GO OUT TO SCHOOLS AND INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS AND CHILDREN. INVITE THE PUBLIC OVER FOR LUNCH AT THE FIRE STATION, GO TO BUSINESSES - NOT TO DO WALK THROUGHS- BUT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, ADOPT A PARK, INVITE THE RESIDENTS FROM YOUR FIRST DUE OVER TO THE FIRE STATION AND ALLOW THEM TO ASK ANY QUESTION THEY MAY HAVE. INFORM THEM OF WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH...
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS DEPARTMENT WIDE PERMISSION, THIS IS JUST TAKING PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO AND EDUCATING THE CITIZENS YOU SWORE TO PROTECT...
BUT IT START WITH YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL!! NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUMP ON BOARD AND THAT IS OK. BUT IF YOU DO NOT GET INVOLVED AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS...
REMEMBER STAFFING MATTERS BUT ONLY TO THOSE THAT ARE EDUCATED ABOUT IT!!!
AGAIN, I WILL SAY THAT A LOT OF THE BLAME LIES ON US. WHY? BECAUSE NOBODY KNOW WHAT WE DO...
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW WHAT WE SEE AND DO ON A DAILY BASIS? DOES THE GENERAL
PUBLIC EVEN KNOW OUR WORK SCHEDULE?
DO THEY EVEN KNOW WE RUN EMS? HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU HEARD "I CALLED FOR AN AMBULANCE NOT A FIRE TRUCK". DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC UNDERSTAND THE TYPES OF RESPONSES WE ARE FACED WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS? DO THEY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THE LEVELS OF TRAINING YOUR MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AND MAINTAIN?
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES? SMOKE DETECTORS, INSPECTIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS, EDUCATION...
DOES THE GENERAL PUBLIC KNOW YOUR STAFFING LEVELS? DO THEY KNOW WHAT YOUR RESPONSE TIMES EXPECTATIONS ARE? DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT RUNNING WITH 3 PEOPLE ON A ENGINE REALLY MEANS? HAS SOMEONE SAT THEM DOWN AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRST UNIT ARRIVES ON SCENE OF A WORKING FIRE?
ONE FIREFIGHTER DRIVING, ONE OFFICER GIVING THE SIZE UP AND ESTABLISHING COMMAND. THAT LEAVES ONE FIREFIGHTER TO PERFORM FIREGROUND TASKS....NOW EXPLAIN THE "2 IN 2OUT" RULE.
HAS ANYONE EXPLAINED THAT THE 2ND ENGINE STOPS AT THE HYDRANT TO ESTABLISH A WATER SUPPLY. ONE FIREFIGHTER GETS OUT TO HOOK UP. ON SCENE THE DRIVER OF THE 2ND UNIT WILL ASSIST CONNECTING TO THE FIRST ENGINE. THAT LEAVES THE OFFICER ALONE. (WE NOW HAVE 2 AVAILABLE FIREFIGHTERS TO FIGHT AN INTERIOR FIRE)
THE LADDER COMPANY NOW ARRIVES AND COMMAND NEEDS A SEARCH DONE. BUT DON'T FORGET ABOUT VENTILATION AND THEY NEED TO GET SOME LADDERS TO THE ROOF. WHICH TASK DO THEY PERFORM FIRST? THE DRIVER OF THE LADDER COMPANY IS NOT FULLY BUNKERED OUT YET. THE OFFICER AND FIREFIGHTER CAN'T SPLIT UP RIGHT...REMEMBER 2 IN 2 OUT, WE WORK IN PAIRS.
NOW THE CHIEF ARRIVES ON SCENE ALONG WITH A MEDIC UNIT (WHICH SOME ONLY CARRY ONE AIR PACK) AND A SAFETY OFFICER. THERE ARE NOW 13 FIREFIGHTERS ON SCENE BUT IN REALITY ONLY 4 AVAILABLE TO GET INSIDE. SEEMS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE FOR A GOOD OUTCOME HUH?
SO AGAIN, I ASK ARE THE CITIZENS EDUCATED AS TO ALL THE SERVICES YOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES AND EXACTLY WHAT IT TAKES TO PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES? HOW DO YOU EDUCATE THEM? IS THE ONLY TIME THE PUBLIC HEARS FROM YOU IS DURING A FUND DRIVE OR ON A CALL?
DON'T LET EVERY TIME THEY HEAR ABOUT YOU OR FROM YOU BE IN A NEGATIVE LIGHT. CREATE A POSITIVE IMAGE OF YOU AND YOUR DEPARTMENT AND MAKE SURE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE SEE IT.
GO OUT TO SCHOOLS AND INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS AND CHILDREN. INVITE THE PUBLIC OVER FOR LUNCH AT THE FIRE STATION, GO TO BUSINESSES - NOT TO DO WALK THROUGHS- BUT TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS, ADOPT A PARK, INVITE THE RESIDENTS FROM YOUR FIRST DUE OVER TO THE FIRE STATION AND ALLOW THEM TO ASK ANY QUESTION THEY MAY HAVE. INFORM THEM OF WHAT YOU DO AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO IT WITH...
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT NEEDS DEPARTMENT WIDE PERMISSION, THIS IS JUST TAKING PRIDE IN WHAT YOU DO AND EDUCATING THE CITIZENS YOU SWORE TO PROTECT...
BUT IT START WITH YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL!! NOT EVERYONE IS GOING TO JUMP ON BOARD AND THAT IS OK. BUT IF YOU DO NOT GET INVOLVED AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC, THEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS WILL FALL ON DEAF EARS...
REMEMBER STAFFING MATTERS BUT ONLY TO THOSE THAT ARE EDUCATED ABOUT IT!!!
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