It's Been a Long Time...
Thank all of you for your patience during my absence. I hope that I will be able to keep the site up for all the folks that were regular users. Circulate the word if you will that we are back up and running.
Lots of things have happened in the interim and I thought I would take a look at some of the random thoughts and loose ends so that we can began the rebuilding of the training network we have here at the site.
Since the end of March when I wrote my last column here we have killed approximately 30 firefighters in the United States. We are now around 50 or so depending upon which set of numbers we use. I have begun to get more and more opinionated on firefighter safety issues and I am slowly beginning to gather momentum to the formation of a group that truly believes it and will foster positive safety behaviors. Anybody care to stop talking about it and join me?
To that end I wish that all of you will visit the following website:
Take part in that site, subscribe to mailing lists, and make that part of something you do to learn lessons that may protect you or other members of your department. Chief Bill Goldfeder and company want exactly the same things that I have promoted here...weekly training sharing of SOPs and ideas and a voice for all. Please check it out....there is no cost and no hidden agenda, sort of like it is here.
I still continue to look for commentary about your pet peeves and training ideas that you wish to share with others.
It has occurred to me before, but recent events have caused me to look at the safety problem and culture of the fire service as a bigger picture. The picture is being painted by the training officers and instructors in our various departments, and even to some degree on a national scale. Look for an upcoming commentary on the impact of the fire instructor. I would also like to hear anybody's comments about this in the next couple of weeks so I can include them in the commentary.
Does it bother anyone that the last profession that wore leather helmets and goggles were Kamikazes?
I just returned from the Firehouse Expo in Baltimore and I would have to echo the sentiments of Harry Carter in his last commentary (www.harrycarter.com) when he said that there were more folks at the exhibits than at the conference sessions. I don't care how long you have been on the job...get training! I was able to be a speaker there this year and found that a privilege, but I attended about 8 sessions as a student and instructed at one. I think that is about the right average. I don't care if you are a chief, captain or seasoned instructor....you need to be current in your pursuit of education.
I am considering another series of paltalk online voice conferences so look for that information shortly. We may even take a shot at one next Sunday evening August 17, 2003 at 2000 Hours Eastern Time. Look for an email this week.
Thanks for staying with us, give us your input and make this your site too. Tell us what you have to say.