Skip to content

Archives for ems-topics

See all posts in the network tagged with ems-topics

Happy St. Patricks Day

No comments

I hope everyone is getting to enjoy the holiday. Unfortunately for me I’m at work again tonight. I work for a correctional facility as a “Medic”, so tonight is sure to be interesting to say the least. I’ve been fairly fortunate in the past in having St. Patty’s off, unfortunately due to needing off next weekend to go to New York, I had to work this one.

A buddy of mine is going with me up to NYC next week. His cousin works for the FDNY, so we’re going to visit him and hopefully get to hang out and talk with those Brothers for a while. He’s been planning the majority of the trip since he’s been up there before (this will be my first ever trip to New York), so I’m not exactly sure what sites I’m going to be getting to see. I’m excited to say the least!!

The fire house has been busy the last few weeks with both calls and paperwork. I’m in the process of trying to identify and plan for my Training budget request for 2012-2013. So far it’s been a mess. I’m trying to involve the members in process by getting them to talk to me about what kind of training they need or want in the next year as well as what kind of fire ground/training experiences they have. Out of 25 active members, I’ve only heard from 3. As a member and an officer, I’ve grown tired of aimless, BS, last minute training that was not effective. I’m attempting to do better than that, but I’m having trouble due to the fact that I can’t get the members motivated to help themselves. If anyone has any suggestions on how to help motivate members when it comes to training, I’m all ears.

Recruitment for our department has gone to the way side in the last year or so due to a variety of reasons. We’re currently in the process of getting our department website back up and running and updated on a regular basis, as well as planning on going to local colleges and high schools to try to recruit from there. Something that I’ve been interested in trying to get going for a while now is a Live-In program. I’ve noticed other departments have had great success with such programs, and want to try to see if such a program could take off here as well. If any one has any first hand knowledge, or has SOPs about such programs, I’d love to talk to you about it.

Everyone enjoy what’s left of the evening. Have a drink for me, but don’t drive!

Posted by on March 17, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Funding & Staffing, Training, Training & Development, Uncategorized

Individual Responsibility of an Officer

No comments

Fire officers have a wide variety of responsibilities. They range from in house duties to on scence duties. Everything from making sure that the reports get completed, to crew training and cleaning to making sure that a crew stretches the appropriate attack line properly as ordered, to commanding the scene just to name a few. Most officers, especially in a volunteer system, have other responsibilities such as meetings and committees that fall on days other than their duty. If an officer fails to attend one of these meetings they miss out on the opportunity to gain insight to new happenings, potential changes in SOPs or protocols, or they miss out on training that they can’t get another way. I very recently had a subordinate officer make a remark on a social networking site about the lack of a reminder for a meeting he was supposed to be in attendence for. When did the fire service begin being a hand-holding service?

My parents raised me to be responsible for my activities.  Track, Cross Country, working part time, Firefighter and EMT classes…. all were activities that I took part in while in high school. I was responsible to know where I was supposed to be and when. If I missed something, or there was a conflict – I had to be responsible for making the appropriate notifications to my boss, coach or instructor that I couldn’t be present and explain why. Now that I’m a “boss” I’m responsible for being on time for meetings, duty, training classes and committee meetings. If I can’t be present I HAVE to make other arrangements, whether that means getting someone else to cover for me, or rescheduling.

Are there any others having issues with officers not being responsible for themselves and their time? Does anyone have any advice on how to approach this issue? Because my parents taught me, I’m at a loss at how to approach this. What I’m afraid of is that this attitude of “Oh well” will begin to permeate through the ranks of the members and then there will be problems of no one taking responsibility for anything.

Posted by on March 15, 2012 • Filed under: Administration & Leadership, Command & Leadership, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Fire Prevention & Education, Fire Rescue Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Firefighting Operations, Funding & Staffing, Training, Training & Development, Uncategorized