Halloween Tales
Once again, October has proved to be a busy month. My notebook is filled with interesting information and quotes from a wide range of sources across the country, some from group discussions and therefore unattributed. Here are my tricks and treats to think about this Halloween weekend:
Ergonomics. “We’re seeing Kevlar belts being worn with suspenders to help take the weight off of the shoulders,” said Ken Busch of Scott/Honeywell, during a turnout gear presentation.
Story-telling. “To be successful in the environment we are in, you have to be able to tell our story. The mantra we deal with over and over is efficiency, efficiency, efficiency,” Chief Adam Thiel, Alexandria (Va.) Fire Rescue, said.
Prescreening. “Why is the concept of mental health not in our curriculum at the entry level of our fire academies?” asked Deputy Chief Pat Kenny of the Western Springs (Ill.) Fire Department.
Safety. “Why don’t [manufacturers] build something to tell when gear is about to exceed the capacity to protect a firefighter?” asked Chief Alan Brunacini (Ret.).
Global outlook. “If we want to look for apparatus models that really work … look at the rest of the world and how they are doing it,” Thiel continued.
Common sense. “You can’t change without trust,” said one chief during a discussion about changing cultures, unions and consolidations.
Staffing. “Are city managers decreasing their personnel, too?” asked a cash-strapped chief.
Attention deficit. “You’re lucky if you have even five minutes of attendees attention,” quipped one chief.
Change. “When you have a downturn in the economy, it forces us to think differently — whether we like it or not — and it creates a lot of anxiety.”
CCR. “What kind of CPR are they going to do on you if [EMTs] do that on the public?” asked Deputy Chief Chuck Montgomery of the Glendale (Ariz.) Fire Department while explaining the increased benefits of cardio cerebral resuscitation over CPR.
Going the distance. “Why is it OK in a rural area to respond in 10 minutes, but it’s not OK in a suburban area?”
Opposites. “When things are going good, the authority having jurisdiction goes up, and when things are going bad, it goes down.”
Firefighting? “Nothing in the laws says we have to put it out.”
Volunteerism. “How do you cut a volunteer fire department? Citizens Emergency Response Training is filling the gap for police and fire….”
Agreement. “The classic answer to all public service officials’ questions about cutting budget or service is the same: ‘it all depends ….’”
Vision. “There’s a difference between a growth and a survival mode.”
Mind’s eye. “Mental health is a key component of overall firefighter safety,” Kenny continued.
Volunteer stress. “Mental wellness is critical for firefighters, and it’s worse for volunteer departments because they know the local people.”
Superheroes. “Take the cape off before it chokes you.”
Five keys to success. “Vision: Do you know where you want to go? Values: Will your values take you there? Will you be satisfied when you get there? Action: Do you act to insure success and eliminate failure? Attitude: Do you reject psychological blocks from the past or imposed by others? Connections: Can you establish strong ties and relationships with people?” By Dr. Joseph Mancusi
Reminder. Change your clock and change your batteries.
