We have talked about the importance of being Mindful on the fireground and in our preparation for the challenges we face. To me, being mindful is the culminating point that allows us to truly engage in Four Dimensional Firefighting. Mindfulness is the ability to bring a state of perpetual calm, a state of Serenity, on when you are actively engaged in combat. Mindfulness can be thought of as a single pointed focus on our fireground mission to improve our operations and increase our ability. We cannot simply jump into a state of mindfulness though. We have to begin by laying a foundation of emotional resiliency and developing a capacity for self awareness.
Self Awareness is a critical skill for our Fire Service Warriors to develop if they are going to thrive. In our trade there are many situations we can be witness to, or a participant in that can cause us to experiance acute stress reactions. The fact of the matter is we often find ourselves picking up the shattered pieces of the lives of our fellow human beings. This can cause the acute stress reaction we discussed before, or it can strike us on a much deeper level and manifest as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
PTSD is a diagnosable condition according the the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). There are multiple critera that must be met to be diagnoised with PTSD. The Department of Veternan's Affairs has a page with information you can review here.
I think it is worth us spending a few minutes thinking about the stressors we experiance and developing a mental and emotion resilincey in light of the recent suicide of Lieutenant John A. Garcia (ret.) of the FDNY. Lt. Garcia was a Company officer at the Deutsche Bank Fire in 2007 where Firefighters Robert Beddia and Joseph Graffagnino died in the line of duty. Lt. Garcia was their officer that day. One can only imagine what emotions and feelings Lieutenant Garcia must have had in the wake of such a terrible day. The New York Times covered the Lieutenant's funeral in a piece published on May 20th.
Suicide is a taboo subject that is rarely discussed in our firehouses. The fact of the matter is it occurs, from large cities to small villages. In 2010 the Phoenix Fire Department had four suicides in seven months. I remember in the late 1990's a firefighter from a neighboring department committed suicide by immolating himself, in the town he worked in, on his shift day. The brothers who responded were the men he worked with every day. They had to treat his burns as he lay dying the the back of the very Ambulance he often worked on. The FDNY, the Chicago Fire Department, and countless other departments have seen suicides of active and retired members. Suicide is not the act of an emotionally healthy and resilient person: it is an act of desperation and hopelessness.
We cannot eliminate our brothers and sisters from being witness to the tragedies of the neighbors protect; our sworn duty requires us to be there. What we must do is help our brothers and sister by offering them strategies to develop resiliency, performing an after action review of our responses to allow for discussion before an issue begins to fester, and watch one another for signs of acute or post traumatic stress and have the moral courage to offer the floundering member a lifeline.
There a many more qualified then I am to develop specific strategies to aid in these matters. However I do believe that one of the core reasons to use the Fire Service Warrior Ethos is that it gives our members a defined set of guideposts that if discussed and reinforced through application MAY help develop mental and emotional resiliency. Also, I cannot say enough that for me a grounding in the Stoic School of philosophy has helped tremendously. Remember the words of Epictetus, "It is not the thing itself, but the view we take of it which disturbs us." We do get to chose if we will be weighed down by the emotionally difficult events we are witness to, but our ability to chose is related to our practice of resiliency skills.
Take care of your brother and sister warriors; offer them your support, encouragement, and the tools you have mastered to cope with the challenges we face. If you think a fellow firefighter might be having trouble dealing with an acute or chronic stress condition GET THEM HELP! Remember, "Fire Service Warriors acknowledge their responsibility to their Brothers and Sisters." They may not like it if you bring it to the attention of the Company Officer, Department Chief, or the Employee Assistance Program that they are short tempered, having trouble sleeping, drinking too much, irritable, or any other symptom that you think indicates they are having trouble coping, but getting them help now just may save their lives.
As an aside I find it appalling that we do not track PTSD related suicides as Line Of Duty Deaths. The United States Fire Administration will classify the death of an 86 year-old Fire Captain from a Heart Attack as being in the line of duty, but the suicide of an active member isn't? Why? Is it because there is a stigma associated with psychological emergencies that we don't attach to medical emergencies? I think that is a likely reason.
I don't know how many people have read Malcom Gladwell's book Tipping Point, but in it he examines the rate of teen suicide in Micronesia. One of the things that he found was that once the first teen suicide occurred and was publicized under a given set of circumstances it set off a wave of teen suicides in the small Pacific Island nation. Is it possible that the Phoenix suicides occurred for similar reasons? It's worth considering.
As long as our patterns for mental toughness are derived from the models of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood we are setting our members up for failure. If you want to hold up a man as an example of what courage and resiliency in the face of terrible adversary is have your members read up on the experiences of Vice Admiral James Stockdale as a POW during the Vietnam war in the essays Stockdale on Stocism I and II.
I also think it is worth sharing again the words William Henley wrote in 1875 in his poem "Invictus"
Out of the night that covers me
Black as the pit from pole to pole
I thank whatever Gods may be
for my unconquerable soul
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade
And Yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid
It matters not how straight the gait
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate
I am the Captain of my soul.
Showing posts with label Ethos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ethos. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
I'm Batman
Growing up I always thought Batman was the coolest superhero around, probably because there was nothing "Super" about him. Batman has no special powers. He was not born on a distant planet and sent to earth as the last living representative of his people. He did not become changed because of the bite of a radioactive spider. Batman is Batman for one reason: he choose to be Batman. We all know the origin story; young boy watches parents shot dead, commits himself to a life of vigilantism in a corrupt and decaying city, fights against common criminals and a series of maddeningly crazy foes. Batman simply used a combination of family wealth and intense personal dedication to training to forge himself into an elite crime fighter with a key sense of critical thinking and a never quit attitude. Oh, and he has all those wonderful toys.
I'm not actually Batman. I do not have a loyal Butler who has stood by my side since I lost my parents as a young boy. I do not have a massive cave beneath my stately manor which houses my crime fighting tools. I do have a nemesis, but he's more of a Frank Burns sort of guy than he is the Joker, even if I think he's crazy. But, could I be Batman? Could you?
Standing in the store the other day, waiting in a line, I overheard a young boy say to his father and brother, "I want to be a superhero!" His father said, "Boy, you ain't got no powers, you can't be a superhero. You can be a fireman, they save people lives." Now, I probably would have let my four year old have the fantasy that he could have been a superhero, after all whimsy plays a big role in creative thought, but I was really struck by the Dad's implication. You may not be able to be a superhero in the sense of having supernatural powers but you can become a hero by saving lives. I loved the fact that the example he gave first was "You can be a fireman." That is what the general public, standing in a Game Stop, waiting to trade in a used video game thinks, "If you want to try and be a superhero, be a firefighter." I didn't have on anything that indicated that I was a firefighter, so it's not even that the man thought "Hey, I'll give that "guy a compliment." His first, primal reaction to trying to tell his young son how to become a hero was, "You can be a fireman."
So, what's it going to be? Are you going to try and be Batman, or are you going to be Frank Burns?
Frank Burns was the Major on M*A*S*H (the TV Series not the movie) who was always trying to foil Trapper and Hawkeye's fun. He was all about sticking to the rules, no matter how stupid they seemed in the middle of a War Zone, not because he believed in the importance of the rules but because he didn't want to get in trouble. Trapper and Hawkeye would do all kinds of crazy things like wearing Hawaiian Shirts and Bathrobes or building a still in their tent, but they would also break the rules and go out in a jeep to save someone when everyone else had given up on them. Most importantly they were the best surgeons in the camp. Whether it was Col Blake or Col Potter running the 4077 Trapper and Hawkeye got away with their hi-jinks because they were the best.
So, are you going to be Frank Burns, making sure that you cover your own rear first and foremost? Nobody ever looked at their kid and said, "You know if you try really hard you could be like that Frank Burns guy."
Or, are you going to do everything in your power to live up to that idea that we are (in the eyes of the public) the closest thing to superheros out there. I'm not a superhero. I am a man who spends a lot of hours committed to learning, physical training, and preparing myself to perform at MY peak on the fireground. There are certainly stronger weightlifters, faster runners, better Truckies, and better writers out there, but I am committed to being better than I was before.
I'm not actually Batman. I do not have a loyal Butler who has stood by my side since I lost my parents as a young boy. I do not have a massive cave beneath my stately manor which houses my crime fighting tools. I do have a nemesis, but he's more of a Frank Burns sort of guy than he is the Joker, even if I think he's crazy. But, could I be Batman? Could you?
Standing in the store the other day, waiting in a line, I overheard a young boy say to his father and brother, "I want to be a superhero!" His father said, "Boy, you ain't got no powers, you can't be a superhero. You can be a fireman, they save people lives." Now, I probably would have let my four year old have the fantasy that he could have been a superhero, after all whimsy plays a big role in creative thought, but I was really struck by the Dad's implication. You may not be able to be a superhero in the sense of having supernatural powers but you can become a hero by saving lives. I loved the fact that the example he gave first was "You can be a fireman." That is what the general public, standing in a Game Stop, waiting to trade in a used video game thinks, "If you want to try and be a superhero, be a firefighter." I didn't have on anything that indicated that I was a firefighter, so it's not even that the man thought "Hey, I'll give that "guy a compliment." His first, primal reaction to trying to tell his young son how to become a hero was, "You can be a fireman."
So, what's it going to be? Are you going to try and be Batman, or are you going to be Frank Burns?
Frank Burns was the Major on M*A*S*H (the TV Series not the movie) who was always trying to foil Trapper and Hawkeye's fun. He was all about sticking to the rules, no matter how stupid they seemed in the middle of a War Zone, not because he believed in the importance of the rules but because he didn't want to get in trouble. Trapper and Hawkeye would do all kinds of crazy things like wearing Hawaiian Shirts and Bathrobes or building a still in their tent, but they would also break the rules and go out in a jeep to save someone when everyone else had given up on them. Most importantly they were the best surgeons in the camp. Whether it was Col Blake or Col Potter running the 4077 Trapper and Hawkeye got away with their hi-jinks because they were the best.
So, are you going to be Frank Burns, making sure that you cover your own rear first and foremost? Nobody ever looked at their kid and said, "You know if you try really hard you could be like that Frank Burns guy."
Or, are you going to do everything in your power to live up to that idea that we are (in the eyes of the public) the closest thing to superheros out there. I'm not a superhero. I am a man who spends a lot of hours committed to learning, physical training, and preparing myself to perform at MY peak on the fireground. There are certainly stronger weightlifters, faster runners, better Truckies, and better writers out there, but I am committed to being better than I was before.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Speaking of Culture Change (AGAIN)....
The May 2011 issue of Accident Analysis and Prevention contains an article titled "Line-of-duty deaths among U.S. firefighters: An analysis of fatality investigations" by Kumar Kundharaju, Todd Smith, and David DeJoy. In their analysis of 189 NIOSH Firefighter Fatality Investigations the authors examined causes of Medical and Trauma related fatalities and partially examined the relevance of culture in the American Fire Service and the impact of culture on the occurrence of firefighter LODD.
The article is an interesting one and it raises several key points and identifies four high order causes of firefighter fatalities.
The article is a good read and provides food for thought. If you don't want to spend the $42.00 to buy the article go to your library and they should be able to get you access. To me it really provides some referenced work about why it is so important that we develop an elite level of fitness, use our PPE, and train our people to a level where they are so proficient that they CANNOT get fundamental fireground skills wrong.
The article is an interesting one and it raises several key points and identifies four high order causes of firefighter fatalities.
- Under Resourcing
- Inadequate Preparation for/Anticipation of adverse events
- Incomplete adoption of ICS
- Sub-optimal Personnel Readiness
The article is a good read and provides food for thought. If you don't want to spend the $42.00 to buy the article go to your library and they should be able to get you access. To me it really provides some referenced work about why it is so important that we develop an elite level of fitness, use our PPE, and train our people to a level where they are so proficient that they CANNOT get fundamental fireground skills wrong.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Using Meditation as a Game Changer,
Monday's video was about the importance of meditation. Today I'm going to explore some meditation techniques, provide some resources, and talk about using your meditation as a game changer to improve your fireground performance. For the Fire Service Warrior we learn to meditate so that we can learn to control the primal survival centers of the brain and to quiet the ego.
The Ego can be a powerful motivator but it is also a powerful distraction. The Ego is that piece of your psyche that says "I want." Sometimes we get confused and think it says "I will," or "I can," it does not. The Ego motivates as well as distracts because of WANT, because of DESIRE, because it COVETS. It will find the easiest way to satisfy it's drives because in addition to being a desirous creature it is also a lazy creature. How many people have you met in life who have said, "I want to exercise more,"? It's a common refrain heard around New Year's each year. How many of those same people establish a habit of excellence and achieve that goal? Very few. Why? Their Ego came in and said, "Come on, we don't have time for this," or "You ran yesterday there is no reason for you to workout today; you are doing better than you did before," or "Well, you are feeling a little achy and tired you should take the rest of the week off." The problem really is that the Ego Desires things (particularly comfort and luxury) but it does not Aspire to anything. Aspiring to become something or to achieve something is a far more powerful motivator that desiring something. I think that's because when we aspire we see the Virtue and Value in or goal and recognize it will improve us. When we desire something it is the next "bright shiny object" and when something comes along that the Ego covets more than the current desire we toss aside the old object for the new.
In order to be able to thrive on the fireground we have to quiet the Ego. If the Ego is about comfort and luxury then it is out of place on the battleground of a working fire. You will have to willingly and with clear focus do things that engage your Sympathetic Nervous System. You will work to the extremes of physical effort. You will likely confront situations that tax your emotional resilience.
Learning to Meditate teaches us to quiet the Ego; it teaches us to be 100% present in the moment. Think about the modern fireground. With the changing nature of fire behavior and it's effects on building construction we have mere seconds to recognize changing conditions before they have developed to the point we cannot control. The inside of a structure fire DEMANDS 100% attention to be given to the firefight if we hope to maintain Situational Awareness, the ability to make relevant and timely decisions, and maintain company integrity. Learning to Meditate can help us train our minds to achieve this goal. Once we become adept at learning to quiet the Ego we can then use the skills of Visualization, Mental Rehearsal, and positive Self-Talk to program our responses for challenges that we anticipate.
Here is how I learned to Meditate.
I find a quiet spot, someplace where there are no distractions (the phone is turned off, the TV and Computer aren't factors, no one is going to come in and ask me to do anything).
I sit down or lie down in a comfortable position.
I close my eyes and begin to breathe slowly and deeply. I use my diaphragm to breathe: my belly fills with air rather than my chest. This allows a deeper more controlled breathing. The belly should expand and "fill" on the in breath and completely collapse to expel the old air on the out breath.
I allow my body to relax; starting at my feet and working my way up to my shoulders I will contract the muscles of my body and then on an exhalation release the muscle. This helps is releasing tension and quieting the aches and pains of the day.
I then begin to count my breaths. Start with a four count breathing. Inhale for a count of four, pause for a count of four, exhale for a count of four, pause for a count of four. By counting your breaths you accomplish two things: 1 - you give the mind something to do (the old "boil water trick") and 2 - you practice Tactical Breathing that can aid in restarting your cognitive processing if you find your SNS gaining primacy. It becomes a true reminder that you must find a calm sense to accomplish your mission.
At times a thought will pop into my mind, "What will I make for dinner," or "Oh, I need to finish that project," I simply think "Noted, I will deal with that later." The key is to become aware of the distracting thoughts, acknowledge it, and then move on. I found when I started learning to meditate I was constantly overwhelmed by extraneous thoughts, now I notice that if I start to have a distracting thought it actually disturbs my breathing. So I refocus on the deep, rhythmic breathing and I can clear the distraction.
I usually set a timer on my phone for the amount of time I want to mediate. Occasionally I will use a guided meditation to work on my visualization or relaxation skills. Other things that can be helpful:
I have mediated for nearly 20 years now. I have changed my meditative practice to now include post work-out meditation (so I develop the ability to find tranquility when I am physically wrung out), mediation and mantra usage during workouts to reduce the noise of my body wanting to stop, and I continue to use mediation during times of quiet reflection to work on mental rehearsal and programing positive actions.
If you can find a workshop or class I think that is an excellent starting point. Whether you take a class or not I would check out the local library to see about finding a book, or some guided meditation CDs. I download the Meditation Society of Australia's podcast through iTunes to use quite often. Their podcasts include a lecture and guided meditation.
Some other resources are:
http://www.how-to-meditate.org/
http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/
http://www.meditationcenter.com/
I don't use these resources but I offer them as suggestions. Like anything use the wonders of Google to find a resource that works for you.
For the more advanced practitioner I would recommend looking into the articles that are available on www.SEALFit.com. If you sign up for their newsletter you get access to a great lecture on the "Unbeatable Mind". It's good stuff.
Good luck in your practice. We will get into visualizations and then mental rehearsals in coming videos and articles. Cheers.
The Ego can be a powerful motivator but it is also a powerful distraction. The Ego is that piece of your psyche that says "I want." Sometimes we get confused and think it says "I will," or "I can," it does not. The Ego motivates as well as distracts because of WANT, because of DESIRE, because it COVETS. It will find the easiest way to satisfy it's drives because in addition to being a desirous creature it is also a lazy creature. How many people have you met in life who have said, "I want to exercise more,"? It's a common refrain heard around New Year's each year. How many of those same people establish a habit of excellence and achieve that goal? Very few. Why? Their Ego came in and said, "Come on, we don't have time for this," or "You ran yesterday there is no reason for you to workout today; you are doing better than you did before," or "Well, you are feeling a little achy and tired you should take the rest of the week off." The problem really is that the Ego Desires things (particularly comfort and luxury) but it does not Aspire to anything. Aspiring to become something or to achieve something is a far more powerful motivator that desiring something. I think that's because when we aspire we see the Virtue and Value in or goal and recognize it will improve us. When we desire something it is the next "bright shiny object" and when something comes along that the Ego covets more than the current desire we toss aside the old object for the new.
In order to be able to thrive on the fireground we have to quiet the Ego. If the Ego is about comfort and luxury then it is out of place on the battleground of a working fire. You will have to willingly and with clear focus do things that engage your Sympathetic Nervous System. You will work to the extremes of physical effort. You will likely confront situations that tax your emotional resilience.
Learning to Meditate teaches us to quiet the Ego; it teaches us to be 100% present in the moment. Think about the modern fireground. With the changing nature of fire behavior and it's effects on building construction we have mere seconds to recognize changing conditions before they have developed to the point we cannot control. The inside of a structure fire DEMANDS 100% attention to be given to the firefight if we hope to maintain Situational Awareness, the ability to make relevant and timely decisions, and maintain company integrity. Learning to Meditate can help us train our minds to achieve this goal. Once we become adept at learning to quiet the Ego we can then use the skills of Visualization, Mental Rehearsal, and positive Self-Talk to program our responses for challenges that we anticipate.
Here is how I learned to Meditate.
I find a quiet spot, someplace where there are no distractions (the phone is turned off, the TV and Computer aren't factors, no one is going to come in and ask me to do anything).
I sit down or lie down in a comfortable position.
I close my eyes and begin to breathe slowly and deeply. I use my diaphragm to breathe: my belly fills with air rather than my chest. This allows a deeper more controlled breathing. The belly should expand and "fill" on the in breath and completely collapse to expel the old air on the out breath.
I allow my body to relax; starting at my feet and working my way up to my shoulders I will contract the muscles of my body and then on an exhalation release the muscle. This helps is releasing tension and quieting the aches and pains of the day.
I then begin to count my breaths. Start with a four count breathing. Inhale for a count of four, pause for a count of four, exhale for a count of four, pause for a count of four. By counting your breaths you accomplish two things: 1 - you give the mind something to do (the old "boil water trick") and 2 - you practice Tactical Breathing that can aid in restarting your cognitive processing if you find your SNS gaining primacy. It becomes a true reminder that you must find a calm sense to accomplish your mission.
At times a thought will pop into my mind, "What will I make for dinner," or "Oh, I need to finish that project," I simply think "Noted, I will deal with that later." The key is to become aware of the distracting thoughts, acknowledge it, and then move on. I found when I started learning to meditate I was constantly overwhelmed by extraneous thoughts, now I notice that if I start to have a distracting thought it actually disturbs my breathing. So I refocus on the deep, rhythmic breathing and I can clear the distraction.
I usually set a timer on my phone for the amount of time I want to mediate. Occasionally I will use a guided meditation to work on my visualization or relaxation skills. Other things that can be helpful:
- Turn on some kind of soft instrumental music.
- Use a candle as a point of focus if you are unable or uncomfortable sitting with your eyes closed.
- Set aside the same time every day to practice meditation.
I have mediated for nearly 20 years now. I have changed my meditative practice to now include post work-out meditation (so I develop the ability to find tranquility when I am physically wrung out), mediation and mantra usage during workouts to reduce the noise of my body wanting to stop, and I continue to use mediation during times of quiet reflection to work on mental rehearsal and programing positive actions.
If you can find a workshop or class I think that is an excellent starting point. Whether you take a class or not I would check out the local library to see about finding a book, or some guided meditation CDs. I download the Meditation Society of Australia's podcast through iTunes to use quite often. Their podcasts include a lecture and guided meditation.
Some other resources are:
http://www.how-to-meditate.org/
http://www.themeditationpodcast.com/
http://www.meditationcenter.com/
I don't use these resources but I offer them as suggestions. Like anything use the wonders of Google to find a resource that works for you.
For the more advanced practitioner I would recommend looking into the articles that are available on www.SEALFit.com. If you sign up for their newsletter you get access to a great lecture on the "Unbeatable Mind". It's good stuff.
Good luck in your practice. We will get into visualizations and then mental rehearsals in coming videos and articles. Cheers.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
If I had a million dollars....
The Barenaked Ladies, a Canadian Music group, wrote a song "If I Had a Million Dollars". It's a fun, poppy song whose lyrics focus on what you could do if you in fact has a million dollars. I think it's an excellent question. If you won ten million dollars... what would you do?
I got this email from Bill Simcox a career Engineer and reader.
I got this email from Bill Simcox a career Engineer and reader.
"Had a thought a few weeks ago, about differentiating the mutts from the Warriors. Most of the "kids" today are putting in applications at any department in the area, and would do our job for free if asked to. A lot of them are volunteers at multiple departments. Young kids, new to the job, have no clue. You know the type. Not enough time on the job to consider them Mutts, but how about Pups? One of them (newly hired on my department) said something to the affect of "That if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow, I would still do this." I got to thinking about that, and learned something in the process that I thought I would share with you, and ask you to do the same, and see the feedback you get.
I honestly thought about that question. What if I hit the lottery for $10 million tomorrow? Would I be at the station the day after, with 20 years on the job? My first thought was HELL NO. But then I really thought about it. I decided yes. Yes I would be. The people of my community depend on me and my brothers to protect them. That is not a responsibility to be taken lightly. They pay taxes, that are my salary, so that I am available on the worst day of their life. I run into burning buildings for them, I let them puke, pee and bleed on me. They hear sirens in the distance, and know that help is on the way. Highly trained, High Performance, problem solvers will be here soon. When the firetruck shows up, they expect, and deserve the best people to solve their problem. Being a union firefighter is obviously not about the money. Some guy throws a football for a living and makes $2 million for 18 GAMES.
What we do is not a game.
If the Dolphins lose, no one dies. If you or I lose, someone may. If we let fear take over, and forget about situational awareness, WE may die. Yet we do that for comparable salary to a school bus driver.
So I started asking "older" guys, firefighters that have been on the job for a while, that very same question. I got a TON of "Hell No's." But I did get a few Yes's!
And then I got to thinking about the careers of the firefighters I asked. Most of the people I asked that answered "NO", knew the SOP's, were waiting for the promotional test, looking for other avenues to stay in the job but not DO the job, inspector, dispatch etc. Booksmart, but didn't spend much time at all thinking about the beast, or how to kill it. Knew their first due area, but kinda of foggy on their second, and no clue on their third due. A general knowledge of fireground basics, and also a general idea of what their immediate superior's job was. Basically, just about how to advance their own careers. Which is understandable, it's a dog eat dog world! Warriors NEED dispatchers and inspectors too! And good ones! I'm NOT putting these people down in the least little bit. Just sharing something I learned.
The firefighters I asked that same question to that answered YES, I would be at the station next shift after winning $10 Million, had peculiar personality similarities. They also knew the SOP's and protocols, some better than others. This group also told me where actual hydrants were located in their first due area. They know sprinkler connections on their SECOND due locations. They know their rig, they know their neighborhood demographics, they know the water supply systems, they know what the FIREMAN in the other seat is expected to do, and if he doesn't, they know how to pick up the slack. The fundamental fireground operations are down pat. Throw a curve ball at them, they also have that covered. Pump failure, pump operator has health issues, whatever. They have THOUGHT about it, and have it covered. They also seem to take great pride in their particular shift/station's response time. To them down time affords an opportunity to train. To the Warrior, you can never know the job good enough, and this group thrives on that fact. This group is on the road, in my opinion, to becoming THE FIRE SERVICE WARRIOR. I can best describe them as highly trained, high performance firemen.
Anyways, didn't mean to get off on a rant, or write an article. THAT'S YOUR job! Just wanted to share what I found out from one simple question."
I'll give you my answer since I posed it to you:
1) I would stick plenty into investments to take care of my kid and my family.
2) I would invest a cool million into my company Spartan Concepts Inc. to fully develop our deliver of programs.
3) I would donate a million dollars to the American Cancer Society to fund research into Chondrosarcomas.
4) I would NOT buy anyone a real green dress... That would be cruel.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Too Long for YouTube!
So I sat down and put together the fourth episode of the Fire Service Warrior Video Blog. Problem is it was 5 minutes too long for YouTube. So it is up on GoDaddy.
Hope you enjoy the discussion of points 3 and 4 in our Ethos Statement.
Make sure you check out Gabriel Angemi's blog for some great photos and discussion about inner-city firefighting.
Also, make sure you get registered for FDIC coming up in March.
Cheers and have a great weekend.
Hope you enjoy the discussion of points 3 and 4 in our Ethos Statement.
Make sure you check out Gabriel Angemi's blog for some great photos and discussion about inner-city firefighting.
Also, make sure you get registered for FDIC coming up in March.
Cheers and have a great weekend.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Achieving Relative Safety
Well, it comes to Friday and time for another video blog. Today I tackle the second point in our ethos statement: Fire Service Warriors acknowledge the dangers of their vocation and do everything possible to minimize those dangers except shirk our duty.
Friday, January 21, 2011
On Duty....
Here is Episode 2 of the Fire Service Warrior Video Blog.
Today is a discussion about Duty. It's focus is on the first point in our Ethos Statement.
Thanks for checking out the video blogs. I hope you're enjoying them. Please keep up the comments and feedback.
Today is a discussion about Duty. It's focus is on the first point in our Ethos Statement.
Thanks for checking out the video blogs. I hope you're enjoying them. Please keep up the comments and feedback.
Monday, January 10, 2011
What Are Your Bad Habits?
So I gave myself a new rule, "No looking at the computer after 10pm." I decided that I didn't need to start reading things 10 minutes before bed that got my brain turning over a problem to the point where I have to get out of bed and go write. I love writing. I love thinking about how to be the best possible Fire Service Warrior. However, I also like getting a full night's sleep. Then this comment was posted at 9:45 tonight in response to Manifestos Seem So Unabomber...
Great posts as always. I'm a little confused about who made the CPAT suggestion as an annual fitness test.
At any rate, I disagree. I think we should set the standards higher.
The CPAT is an absolute joke. No offense. It's a highly political test, set to the lowest possible standard.
I've seen plenty of fat bodies (and small bodies) pass the CPAT, often barely.
If we truly want to embrace the the physical culture of the warrior ethos we must hold our people to a much higher standard. Something along the lines of passing the Combat challenge in full PPE on air (to a single time standard, non gender specific) would be a much better standard to hold ourselves.
Remember, if we want to call ourselves WARRIORS...we must walk the talk, and most importantly respect those who truly ARE warriors and must continually earn the right to maintain that title.
You don't see many lardass SEALS, Rangers, Recon Marines, PJ's, or SF guys out there. They meet the physical performance standards continuously through the training pipeline and into their careers, or they don't make the cut, PERIOD!!! - TravisR.
First the suggestion that the CPAT be an annual exam was mine. I agree with Travis that it is a minimum standard. It is a minimum standard though that two major Fire Service organizations have agreed upon. If we could get it made a minimum requirement for continued operational time riding on an Engine, Truck, Squad, Rescue, or other line company, a requirement for anyone who is going to wear an SCBA, I would venture to guess that we would see a reduction in Line of Duty Deaths because of Heart Attack and Stroke. Having a minimum fitness standard of any sort that we expect people to meet would help us start building a culture of fitness in the Fire Service.
The work of Barbara Ainsworth on Metabolic Work shows us that Firefighters expend metabolic energy at the same level as Navy SEAL Combat Swimmers, and professional boxers. We wrap ourselves up in turnout gear and SCBA and perform a combat mission every time we enter a burning building. While I would love to see everyone of us reach an elite level of fitness, I also think we have to do a reasonable task analysis to define what that level must be at a minimum level. The CPAT has done a reasonable job of setting that standard.
What we need to do is work on eliminating the culture of mediocrity that pervades firehouses.
Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." Are you making a habit of excellence? Are you thinking every day about how to improve yourself as a firefighter? How to help the team? That's what we are talking about when we say someone is a good Brother or Sister. There are far too many people who worry about themselves first in this world, and we have our share of them in the fire service. Folks who will talk long and hard about how they are owed consideration, respect, or deference for a host of reasons: rank, time-in-grade, seniority.
I've noticed an interesting thing in my travels, those folks who make excellence a habit in their lives don't demand respect of others; they don't think they are owed anything. They demand much of them self, but when it comes time to go to work they earn the respect of their co-workers, junior or senior, their leaders, and their subordinates by being great at what they do. So, are you cultivating excellence as a habit? If you haven't, it isn't too late. It's a new year.
Step up to the plate: work out, so you are more likely to go home when your shift is over; drive like a responsible human being and wear your seat belt; wear your SCBA - I speak from the experience of seeing cancer first hand it sucks - we are killing far more Brothers and Sisters from occupational cancer than we are in flashovers and collapses; Train every day.
It's a new year. Make it your resolution to be a Fire Service Warrior. Be Ready.
Great posts as always. I'm a little confused about who made the CPAT suggestion as an annual fitness test.
At any rate, I disagree. I think we should set the standards higher.
The CPAT is an absolute joke. No offense. It's a highly political test, set to the lowest possible standard.
I've seen plenty of fat bodies (and small bodies) pass the CPAT, often barely.
If we truly want to embrace the the physical culture of the warrior ethos we must hold our people to a much higher standard. Something along the lines of passing the Combat challenge in full PPE on air (to a single time standard, non gender specific) would be a much better standard to hold ourselves.
Remember, if we want to call ourselves WARRIORS...we must walk the talk, and most importantly respect those who truly ARE warriors and must continually earn the right to maintain that title.
You don't see many lardass SEALS, Rangers, Recon Marines, PJ's, or SF guys out there. They meet the physical performance standards continuously through the training pipeline and into their careers, or they don't make the cut, PERIOD!!! - TravisR.
First the suggestion that the CPAT be an annual exam was mine. I agree with Travis that it is a minimum standard. It is a minimum standard though that two major Fire Service organizations have agreed upon. If we could get it made a minimum requirement for continued operational time riding on an Engine, Truck, Squad, Rescue, or other line company, a requirement for anyone who is going to wear an SCBA, I would venture to guess that we would see a reduction in Line of Duty Deaths because of Heart Attack and Stroke. Having a minimum fitness standard of any sort that we expect people to meet would help us start building a culture of fitness in the Fire Service.
The work of Barbara Ainsworth on Metabolic Work shows us that Firefighters expend metabolic energy at the same level as Navy SEAL Combat Swimmers, and professional boxers. We wrap ourselves up in turnout gear and SCBA and perform a combat mission every time we enter a burning building. While I would love to see everyone of us reach an elite level of fitness, I also think we have to do a reasonable task analysis to define what that level must be at a minimum level. The CPAT has done a reasonable job of setting that standard.
What we need to do is work on eliminating the culture of mediocrity that pervades firehouses.
Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit." Are you making a habit of excellence? Are you thinking every day about how to improve yourself as a firefighter? How to help the team? That's what we are talking about when we say someone is a good Brother or Sister. There are far too many people who worry about themselves first in this world, and we have our share of them in the fire service. Folks who will talk long and hard about how they are owed consideration, respect, or deference for a host of reasons: rank, time-in-grade, seniority.
I've noticed an interesting thing in my travels, those folks who make excellence a habit in their lives don't demand respect of others; they don't think they are owed anything. They demand much of them self, but when it comes time to go to work they earn the respect of their co-workers, junior or senior, their leaders, and their subordinates by being great at what they do. So, are you cultivating excellence as a habit? If you haven't, it isn't too late. It's a new year.
Step up to the plate: work out, so you are more likely to go home when your shift is over; drive like a responsible human being and wear your seat belt; wear your SCBA - I speak from the experience of seeing cancer first hand it sucks - we are killing far more Brothers and Sisters from occupational cancer than we are in flashovers and collapses; Train every day.
It's a new year. Make it your resolution to be a Fire Service Warrior. Be Ready.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Manifestos Seem So Unabomber....
I don't have much desire to live in a cave or a small hut on the side of a mountain. I like hotels with a nice concierge, free wi-fi, and a bar with real wood paneling and nice 18 year old whiskeys. I say this to make it clear I have not set out to write a manifesto. I think that some folks have felt that I'm trying to keep firefighting rooted in the past without a sense of today's realities. Sorry kids, you've missed the point.
I mentioned earlier today that David S. took some exceptions to my post about Culture. He raised a point, "... I'm not sure why you are opposed to initiatives that have the intent to make firefighting safer for the firefighter." It's a point I want to take the time to answer.
I think that the fire service does need to be proactive in dealing with firefighter deaths, and more importantly fireground injuries. We hurt more firefighters on the fireground in one year than the US Military had wounded-in-action from October 2001 through September 2008. That is a far more sobering statistic than our Line of Duty Death numbers.
If we are going to begin changing a culture trend in the fire service it is the culture of mediocrity that pervades so many firehouses. I've seen it so many times. Firefighters who can only be classified as being "in-shape" if "egg-like" is a shape. Men and women who cannot wait to don a Fire Department T-Shirt, Hat, and Belt-Buckle and walk around hoping people will notice, but are scared s&^#less when they are confronted with a burning building. Officers who hold their rank because of elections (a horrible popularity contest far too many times). All of these factors (and more) contribute to a culture where mediocrity is the accepted standard.
Firefighting is a Combat Position. My feeling is that the points in the 16 Life Safety Initiatives are critical based on the assumption that we have mediocre firefighters. They are vague statements.
6 - "Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform."
That sounds great, but what does it tell you? Nothing. How about this: Firefighters must have the physical capacity to maintain a metabolic work load of 12 METS for 40 minutes without showing signs of cardiac compromise. All firefighters will meet the standards of the Candidate Physical Ability Test annually. Those numbers are based on two things, 1) the studies of the metabolic effort of firefighting and 2) the USFA Rehab guidelines. The CPAT has been acknowledged by the IAFC and the IAFF as a reasonable predictor of the physical capacity to perform the tasks of a firefighter. This information is not some kind of hidden mystery, it's available to anyone who wants to be a student of this trade.
If you don't want to be a mediocre firefighter then you will strive to be a warrior. You will train, you will be fit, and you will do everything possible to excel. You will own this job.
Here is the Ethos I would like to see us adopt.
1) Fire Service Warriors accept the duty to stand between their neighbors and unrestrained fire.
2) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge the dangers of their vocation and do everything possible to minimize those dangers unless it violates #1.
3) Fire Service Warriors believe that all human life has value and will do everything possible to save a human life.
4) Fire Service Warriors know that buildings do not spontaneously combust; if we aren't 100% sure the building is vacant WE SEARCH.
5) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge that to reduce the risk of Cardiac Compromise they will maintain an elite level of fitness.
6) Fire Service Warriors wear seat belts, helmet straps, SCBA, and all PPE.
7) Fire Service Warriors train EVERYDAY.
8) Fire Service Warriors own their responsibility to their Brothers and Sisters.
9) Fire Service Warriors honor our fallen by learning everything possible from their deaths and from the injuries and near misses of our compatriots.
10) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge the reputation of the fire service was earned by those who came before us, often at the cost of their lives, and strive to never tarnish that reputation.
Like the teachings of the Greek and Roman Stoics I don't see these as commandments, fixed forever without change, but as living ideas. I may be the guy who has "coined" there term Fire Service Warrior but this is a living concept.
I mentioned earlier today that David S. took some exceptions to my post about Culture. He raised a point, "... I'm not sure why you are opposed to initiatives that have the intent to make firefighting safer for the firefighter." It's a point I want to take the time to answer.
I think that the fire service does need to be proactive in dealing with firefighter deaths, and more importantly fireground injuries. We hurt more firefighters on the fireground in one year than the US Military had wounded-in-action from October 2001 through September 2008. That is a far more sobering statistic than our Line of Duty Death numbers.
If we are going to begin changing a culture trend in the fire service it is the culture of mediocrity that pervades so many firehouses. I've seen it so many times. Firefighters who can only be classified as being "in-shape" if "egg-like" is a shape. Men and women who cannot wait to don a Fire Department T-Shirt, Hat, and Belt-Buckle and walk around hoping people will notice, but are scared s&^#less when they are confronted with a burning building. Officers who hold their rank because of elections (a horrible popularity contest far too many times). All of these factors (and more) contribute to a culture where mediocrity is the accepted standard.
Firefighting is a Combat Position. My feeling is that the points in the 16 Life Safety Initiatives are critical based on the assumption that we have mediocre firefighters. They are vague statements.
6 - "Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform."
That sounds great, but what does it tell you? Nothing. How about this: Firefighters must have the physical capacity to maintain a metabolic work load of 12 METS for 40 minutes without showing signs of cardiac compromise. All firefighters will meet the standards of the Candidate Physical Ability Test annually. Those numbers are based on two things, 1) the studies of the metabolic effort of firefighting and 2) the USFA Rehab guidelines. The CPAT has been acknowledged by the IAFC and the IAFF as a reasonable predictor of the physical capacity to perform the tasks of a firefighter. This information is not some kind of hidden mystery, it's available to anyone who wants to be a student of this trade.
If you don't want to be a mediocre firefighter then you will strive to be a warrior. You will train, you will be fit, and you will do everything possible to excel. You will own this job.
Here is the Ethos I would like to see us adopt.
1) Fire Service Warriors accept the duty to stand between their neighbors and unrestrained fire.
2) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge the dangers of their vocation and do everything possible to minimize those dangers unless it violates #1.
3) Fire Service Warriors believe that all human life has value and will do everything possible to save a human life.
4) Fire Service Warriors know that buildings do not spontaneously combust; if we aren't 100% sure the building is vacant WE SEARCH.
5) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge that to reduce the risk of Cardiac Compromise they will maintain an elite level of fitness.
6) Fire Service Warriors wear seat belts, helmet straps, SCBA, and all PPE.
7) Fire Service Warriors train EVERYDAY.
8) Fire Service Warriors own their responsibility to their Brothers and Sisters.
9) Fire Service Warriors honor our fallen by learning everything possible from their deaths and from the injuries and near misses of our compatriots.
10) Fire Service Warriors acknowledge the reputation of the fire service was earned by those who came before us, often at the cost of their lives, and strive to never tarnish that reputation.
Like the teachings of the Greek and Roman Stoics I don't see these as commandments, fixed forever without change, but as living ideas. I may be the guy who has "coined" there term Fire Service Warrior but this is a living concept.
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