Many years ago, one of my old battalion chiefs used to say, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” I always liked that phrase, and over the last 25 years of my career in the fire service, I have tried to stay in the front of that equation, specifically in the area of Fire Department Specialized Operations.
So when I was asked to join FireRescue1 as the rescue columnist and directed to write about “what fire rescue personnel should know,” how could I possibly say no?
There’s a lot to know, and much more to think about and plan for today than when I started in the business. That said, in its most basic form, rescue hasn’t changed; it still comes down to people, training and tools.
The key to any good rescue is the people, and the bottom line with people is that it’s all about the attitude. I’ve found that the perfect blend of attitude seems to be found in individuals who are humble, respectful, professional and dedicated, with moments of brilliance and a touch of craziness.
The line between hero and zero is pretty thin, and the people who walk that line realize that to save a life, you may need to put yourself in a position where you could lose your own.
I’m a meat and potatoes guy when it comes to training, and my favorite classes have been the ones in which I got dirty and drilled on the basics until those skills became instinctual.
I’m a firm believer that before you can run, you need to walk, and that training should be more like a staircase than a racetrack. Certificates are great, but if you haven’t mastered the knowledge, skills and abilities, you might as well use them to paper your bathroom.
I’ve found that the most important tool a good rescuer has is between his or her shoulder blades. I believe that rescue is a thinking game; it may be part guts and glory as well, but success relies on careful thought that prompts focused action.
Over the years, I have learned a great deal by working with some of the best in the business at incidents such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the World Trade Center collapse, the Space Shuttle Columbia recovery, and Hurricane Katrina.
Mostly what I have learned is how invaluable well trained and equipped rescue personnel can truly be in the face of chaos and catastrophe if they are allowed to do what they do best, and managed by someone who “gets it.”
Therein lies the challenge! In the high-risk, low-frequency world of rescue, the opportunity to do what you do best doesn’t come along everyday, and staying on top of your game in a world where priorities, people, funding, attitudes and focus are all changing can be tough.
Even tougher can be finding those people who truly do “get it.” I’ve seen some good and well-equipped rescue teams get sidetracked by managers who had no business giving directions, let alone being in charge of a dynamic rescue scene. Over the years, many of the classes I’ve taught or attended were mostly filled with firefighters and captains, and very few chief officers.
In the months ahead, I look forward to expanding this dialogue with you on issues such as leadership, equipment, politics, funding, attitudes, standards, standardization, and trends in the rescue discipline.
There’s quite a bit to discuss and even more to think about, and I hope we can all learn from each other, because every day is a school day in our business.