Now I'm relatively new to the service, but I know a little about how the system works. People in our communities pay us through taxes to deliver first class service to them in emergencies. That means we need to constantly improve ourselves and our department. We owe it to them. Now there are really only a few ways to do that. Experience on actual calls, training for calls and preparing for the day's calls through maintenance and a daily routine.
Like I mentioned before, I'm a new guy to the fire service but I've recieved advise from guys that have been on the job longer than I've been alive. They all seem to say the same things; When you're not running calls, maintain a strong routine that revolves around training and a good work ethic. Here's some ideas;
-Come to work at least ten minutes before you shift starts. Like the old saying goes, "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on time, you're late."
-Place your PPE in the truck bays where it can be easily donned. There's nothing more frustrating than a guy that has to go to the gear room before we can leave for a call. If you had a big call on your last shift, take the time in the morning to make sure your gear isn't damaged. Also, bring ALL of your PPE to the truck bays. The guy roaming around a fire scene looking for a spare glove or missing a hood doesn't look real prepared.
-Check YOUR assigned SCBA. Make sure the tank is full. Straps should be ready. Your mask should be clean and working. Be sure to test your PASS device to make sure it is operational. Remember, SCBA's can and will keep you alive. Nobody will be more motivated to make sure it works than you.
-Go over assigned apparatus or jobs for the day. Knowing what your duty is, whether that's medic or driver or officer can help keep you in a good mindset. This will also help with truck checks. If you're driving the engine, you may want to check the pump. If you're the medic, you may want to be the one checking equipment.
-Start truck checks and chores early and do them as a shift if you can. If you put it off, it will bite you in the ass. At my jobs, we have specific detailed apparatus of the day that gets checked thoroughly, equipment gets operated and then the units are washed inside and out. These are the vehicles you take out into your community. The people you run on OWN this equipment, not you, so take good care of it or they will find someone else who will.
-Clean the station according to your SOG's and do it with pride. From the bay floors, to the bunkroom, I don't want to spend a third of my life working in a shithole. Do you? If you think you can improve your station, speak up and try to make it happen. Find a way to get new recliners. Renovate an office or kitchen. Have the guys band together and get a better TV. The people who pay us own our services and our equipment but we can take ownership of our station.
-Work out and stay in shape. We have a job riddled with line of duty deaths with preventable causes. These guys aren't trapped in burning buildings trying to save orphans. They are overweight, or heavy smokers or just underactive guys that end up keeling over and dying from stress-induced heart attacks after carrying hose on a routine job. Not to mention that if you're out of shape, your cancer risk goes up and we're already much more likely to catch the big C than the regular population.
-Maybe most importantly, train your ass off. You can never get enough training for a job that can kill you. The hunger for learning and improvement is the only thing that keeps this job progressive and relevant in today's economy.
With that said, there's days where you can't get everything in. There's calls to run, errands to take care of for brass, etc. I think the point is about the big picture, but it starts in the details.
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