Happy New Year This first day of the new year brings with it a new slate, a clean break and a fresh start to all of us and the American Fire Service. As all New Year's maybe we should make some resolutions as a fire service and as individuals. Some of my thoughts as I reflected including the following: I am going to try to enhance my level of training this year. I am going to be sure that I take additional training in areas that I may not be so familiar with, or that I may need brushing up on. I see many of my peers as chief officers that have stopped training and stopped being current. Now I am well aware that all of this takes time, so we should be realistic in our resolution and make sure it is achievable. Maybe try to take four new training classes per year or once per quarter. Trying to stay current in this age of fire service change and technology is truly a daunting task sometimes. The second resolution that we should all make is to do whatever we can do at whatever rank we are, to make sure that our fire department does everything in it's power to make sure that we do not have a line of duty death in our department this year. This sounds really easy on paper but in reality it is pretty difficult and probably might be unpopular. If you are an officer, than do your job and make the difficult decisions that need to be made. Maybe if you are in an all call or volunteer department, this might mean having an older member be less active so that they do not succumb to a heart attack while responding. Maybe it is annual physicals for all personnel so that they can detect a pre-existing heart condition and get it checked for themselves, the department and their families. Maybe you have no control over anything and you can just take care of yourself by getting a physical and making sure you stay in shape for yourself. The third resolution we can make is to remember our proud traditions of the fire service and make sure all that we do reflects positively on this great profession. Next to our armed services and our police brothers in blue, the fire service represents the best America has to offer. Let us be sure that each hour we are on duty, or each meeting we attend or emergency we respond to, we are truly giving 100% and giving our best so we honor all of those firefighters that have come before us, or have lost their lives in the line of duty. It is an easy resolution and we owe it to them and to ourselves. Have a safe, productive, training filled New Year from our house to yours! Send your comments, thoughts or items you would like to see published here to info@petelamb.com. or pete@petelamb.com Your opinion matters! (To us anyway) |
