Editor’s Note: The standard for excellence in public safety is changing. Lexipol is your partner in understanding how your agency measures up and setting a course to achieve performance excellence. Schedule a consultation with our team today to learn about our holistic approach built on Gordon Graham’s 5 Pillars of Organizational Success.
Gordon Graham here with Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Today’s Tip is for my friends in the fire service.
The phrase “For Whom the Bell Tolls” might bring Ernest Hemingway’s famous 1940 novel to mind. Heavy metal fans may think of Metallica’s classic song inspired by the book. Either way, you’re probably thinking, “Gordon, what do either of those have to do with the fire service?”
I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase “complacency kills.” In the fire service, we’ve seen countless situations where a crew became too comfortable and missed a critical piece of information, with tragic consequences.
This brings us to the question of ringing alarms. You all answer these calls. It’s the apartment complex down the road, the assisted living facility across town, or the school on the hill. The alarm is transmitted and you answer the call because that’s your job.
But there’s never an actual emergency, and pretty soon, you’re just going through the motions. Maybe you don’t put on all your gear. Maybe you don’t follow proper elevator protocols. Maybe you don’t grab all the tools you would for a “real” fire. All of these “maybes” scream complacency.
What happens when the “always false” alarm turns out to be the real thing? Will you be prepared? If you don’t treat every call like a “real” call, chances are you won’t be ready to do your job. Complacency can lead to inefficient operations at best. And at worst, tragic consequences for the public and your fellow firefighters.
If you’re not familiar with Hemingway, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” refers to a church bell that announces someone’s death. The next time you answer a call for a ringing alarm, treat it like the real thing. You don’t want that bell to toll for you because you grew complacent.
And that’s Today’s Tip from Lexipol. Until next time, Gordon Graham signing off.
