Here are a few musings, lessons learned, observations, and things I have been accustomed to since joining the fire service…Enjoy!
There is plenty to learn, listen to, and experience day in and day out at the firehouse. We all draw different things from experiences we have. We relate much of our firehouse life to the way we live. I believe that most firefighter’s lives at the firehouse parallels our lives at home.
Feel free to add your musings in the comments! I could probably go on for days writing this stuff, these are just some of the ones that came to mind while writing it!
- You have to be part of the team! We all know there are planty of “selves” in the fire department.
- I now eat baked beans
- I have learned how to end my shower ubruptly for a call…even if I have to rinse the suds off and dry off in a matter of seconds.
- I now eat bologna sandwiches, however I will not cook them…I cook better than that!
I have learned how to cook for different peoples tastes.- I have learned that most firefighters will appreciate a great meal, but not a great exotic meal!
- NO matter how many times I explain to my wife that if someone works for me I HAVE to work for them…she will never understand!
- You will not get along with everyone
- Everyone will not get along with you
- If I ever get promoted higher than where I stand, I have a duty to remember where I came from!
- Don’t let others define yourself…define yourself for others!
- I now eat potato salad
- Treat your feet right! Buy a pair of leather boots!
- If your department doesn’t supply you with leather boots, decent gloves, a leather (or at least traditional helmet), essential tools, or a self rescue rope…Purchase it yourself!
- Treat your customers and patients as you would treat your family!
- If someone does a good job…tell them!
- If someone screws up…teach them!
- Learn, apply, then learn again…and teach when possible!
- Being a firefighter is about who you are, why you serve, how you act, and how much you care.
- I now eat cole slaw
- I have aqcuired a taste for bland food cooked by other firefighters who don’t even appreciate salt and pepper when they cook!
- It can take years to recover from a bad first impression.
- You cannot control what everyone says about you.
- Take initiative
- Tell your stories and listen to others
- Have fun!
Brother, I did not realize you were such a picky eater prior to being on the job!
Yes I was! Now…I am still a picky eater…I like REALLY good food. That is why I cook a lot at the firehouse! I eat most anything, as long as it is cooked properly and tastes good!
Brother and Brotherhood are very powerful words, do not use them loosely.
One of the first thing you have to learn to cook is biscuits and gravy, and never let it scorch.
Never eat more than your mask can hold.
Why the “leather/traditional” helmet? Not critical of it, just want to hear the advantage.
Maybe there isn’t a huge “advantage” on the fireground…but I don’t see any disadvantage. The reason why it is on the list is that I think the traditional style helmets look better and are “traditional” and I like it!
What I don’t like are the L.A. style helmets or the even smaller firefighting helmets that look like rescue helmets. The salad bowl plain helmets are bad enough!
Agreed on all points. We have traditional composite helmets (1010). Definitely would love leather, but happy that we at least changed from the LA style a few years ago. Thanks. Always look forward to reading your posts.
If I could offer you one piece of advice, wear sunscreen!
Never stop building up your “muscle memory” by training and practicing. The stronger it is the more it will be there for you when the adrenaline and fire scene complications try to mess with your mind.