The Higher Standard?

I read a lot…not necessarily a lot of books or post-edited magazine articles…I like the rawness of online media. The no-holds barred, non-professionally edited, think as you type kind of goodness that bloggers and online media authors publish day in and day out. That is my speed.

That being said, I also pay attention to the guys/gals who have been around the block. Who are nearing the end of their firefighting careers or who have already retired or hung up the turnout gear. Most of them have clung to a niche thought, goal, or $10 word/term that they need to stand behind…to champion…to write about.

higher standardsHere is the thing…if there isn’t money behind it, they will simply be writing about it and possibly change cultures, thoughts, and feelings over time at a snails pace. YET if they have $$$ and companies with products which speak to the cause behind them they might be able to change cultures, thoughts, and feelings even quicker…Did I say might…They WILL be able to. They won’t reach everyone, but they will reach most of them.

Whether you want to take their advice or not is up to you…

The American Fire Service; in some circles, those 4 words might as well be a 4 letter word.

After all, we aren’t European…but can we really compare the two? Sure we can, but who cares if American firefighters don’t understand European firefighters…and vice-versa?

Let me get to why I started writing this completely unedited article that I will likely hit publish once I find a decent image to use with it…

We are told to wear seatbelts but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to slow down, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to not smoke or dip, but some do anyways

We are told to workout, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to stay on air, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to wear PPE when fighting fire, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to eat healthy, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to risk a little to save a little, but we have proof that we risk a lot to save a little sometimes

We are told to wash our hoods, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to rehab, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told to use IMS, but we have proof that we don’t always

We are told many things, but we don’t always do them. Our superiors are told similar things, but they don’t always do them. The proof is on the walls in Emmitsburg and Colorado Springs.

When I talk about improving morale and motivating firefighters, I talk about the change coming from the top and the bottom.

It is as simple as this…If Fire Chiefs won’t stop (or aren’t allowed to stop) allowing practices that harm firefighters, who thinks that firefighters are going to do it on their own?

But it doesn’t stop there…As firefighters, we have to be willing to put an end to unhealthy practices which lead to premature death.

We are talking about two different animals. One you have no control over (unless you are the Chief) and the other you have full control over (at least yourself) and influencing your peers.

And if you have made it this far in reading this post…the answer is YES

YES, you can still be an aggressive firefighter who fights fire from inside the structure and do all of these things above correctly…and you can still consider yourself an AMERICAN FIREFIGHTER.

And Yes…

Yes, you can do all of these things correctly, as best practices have proved…and you may still get injured or killed in the line of duty.

This is about accountability…Who are you accountable to? Your company officer? Your Chief? How about the Brother/Sister beside you? The less senior man or even the Brother or Sister not even hired yet?

How about being accountable to yourself? Isn’t that where being held to a higher standard begins?

Because after all, being a firefighter is dangerous. If we wore ballet shoes and rode unicorns, none of us would do it.

And before you think that I am just some perfect firefighter who does all of these correctly, you are wrong. I am changing…I am doing better…and I have seen change on a broader scope and I like it! See you on the big one!

God Bless and Stay Safe

Rhett Fleitz
– The Fire Critic