I'm just back from reading Chris Kaiser's "rant' over on Life Under the Lights. I responded there, but thought it would be good to bring it here, too. I touched on this topic a while back. So, I'm giving you a reading assignment: Go to Chris's blog, read his 'rant', then come back and tell me your thoughts. I've experienced lots of petty crap in my professional life, whether Fire, EMS or Military. There's always some napoleonic little bastard (Roach, I'm looking right at you, pal. You know who you are.) that wants to rule with an iron fist, but lacks the basics of leadership and charisma to motivate people without fear. We all hate those people. Likewise, I'm sure we feel equally as strong about people who want to be in charge just because it strokes their egos, and have little regard for the overall welfare of the organization or the customers we exist to serve in the first place. So, below is the rant I left on Chris's blog. Not that it solves any problems, but at least MY pressure-relief valve has operated for a little bit;
I came out 'here' from California. That means I came from an all-paid, professional (don't even go there, I'm not debating that term here) EMS system with Paramedics on every ambulance on 9-1-1 response. I learned EMS as an EMT, Firefighter and Paramedic, and I learned that if you don't value the patient FIRST, you're not going to be around very long.
That said, 'out here' is the East Coast, Jersey to be exact. I was horrified to learn that a vast majority of this state (the nation's most populous per square mile) is covered by VOLUNTEER EMS. Now, that's not necessarily a bad thing, if properly managed. Volunteers can, and do, provide excellent EMS in many places. I didn't work in one of those places. I worked fire-based EMS on a military installation, surrounded by volunteer EMS squads. All of their little fiefdoms and petty kingdoms fought, both internally and amongst each other. No one went to calls- too many petty arguments over who was senior, who's doing what to whom, which squad is better, whose area a call is in... and many many more BS little things.
We, the full-time, staffed Fire-based EMS crew, sat in the station and listened. We listened as calls for dyspnea, chest pain, unconscious subjects, vehicle accidents with injuries, trauma, and yes, total crap calls too, went unanswered. I distinctly remember listening to the dispatch as this call went out:
"Attention *town first aid, respond to * care center for a person choking"
no response
TWO MINUTES PASS
"Attention *town first aid, respond to * care center for a person choking, second request"
no response
ANOTHER TWO MINUTES PASS
"Attention *town first aid, third request, respond to * care center, CPR in progress, requesting mutual aid"
I didn't hear the outcome of that call, but it's blatantly obvious to those of us in the business. That patient died. Not because there was no ambulance available, not because other calls had taken the volunteers away from their town. Because no one bothered to respond. The petty bullshit ran all the potential responders away long before this call came in, and too many egos were involved. This is a town that has significant tax basis for a full-time, paid EMS division. They get well over a thousand calls a year. There are major roadways going through town, a very large industrial area with numerous high-risk processes, a number of convalescent/care facilities, a very busy rehab hospital... they have the need for staffed EMS. So, why not go paid? Because someone would have to give up control of their little piece of the kingdom, and that means they wouldn't be the "big boss" anymore. That simple. They don't want to let go of control.
I know, I know. Why doesn't the public do something? They don't know, don't care, don't want to bother with it, don't want to pay more taxes, don't think it's necessary because THEY don't need the EMS right then and there. AND, NJ has a law preventing litigation against the volunteers. AND, the state "First Aid Council", an all-volunteer group that... well, I don't really know what they do besides prevent forward-thinking and progressive EMS from coming into NJ. It goes on and on and on... what it boils down to is exactly what your rant is based on- a lack of concern for patient care as the primary reason for existence.
So, all that to say, "I agree with you, I feel your pain, and I hope everything gets better soon." I don't see that happening here in Jersey. Too many people have to keep their little kingdoms, have to exercise power because they can, are afraid of change because it's "change".
Stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job. In that order.
__________________________________________________________
So, there it is. I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the subject. I'm bound by my limited experiences in life, and everyone has a slightly different perspective to offer. That's how we learn and grow, something I would think all of us need to continue doing.
As some friends of mine would say, "Y'all c'mon back now, Y'hear?"
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Why can't we all just get along?
Rodney King asked that question in a press briefing after his videotaped beating at the hands of LAPD and the CHP. (I'd love to post the video, but the owner charges, and I'm cheap)
King had it right...sort of. A united front, working together against a perceived threat, can accomplish much more than divisive actions. Now, before you start thinking I'm taking King's side, let me be perfectly clear. Rodney King had it coming, and he's lucky to be alive. There's A LOT more to that video, and the whole situation, than most people know. And that goes to our own situation in the fire service as well. Let's take the South Fulton, TN scenario for example. I'm sure you're aware of what happened. (If not, you should be. Just Google it, there's a wealth of info, and I don't feel like putting up links. I'm having a lazy day.)
The news reports focused on the fact that firefighters let a home burn to the ground, refusing to take action, because the homeowner hadn't paid a $75.00 annual fee. A black eye for the fire service.
The news of this incident went national, with sound bites and video showing the fire department's refusal to act. Another black eye for the fire service.
The fire service quickly responded, internally, on blogs, forums and chat rooms. Every person with a keyboard seemed to weigh in, either pro or con, taking sides on the very polarizing issue. We proceeded to beat each other up, call each other names, defame the firefighters involved, ridicule the South Fulton Fire Department, and generally act like asses. And I do mean WE. Everyone, save for a tiny few, added to the monumental volume of chatter. A couple of people kept their level headedness (Mick Mayers, for instance) in the fray, but even old friends went at each other over this issue. Dave Statter and Rhett Fleitz had a little feud going on for several days, and in the end I think they just agreed to disagree.
So, what's my point? The public sees all of this... no, not all of it, just the sensationalized snippits the media reports. I am a firm believer in perception.You wouldn't show up to your first day on a new job wearing crappy clothes (unless told to do so), so why would you let the public see your worst side? If we, as a professional service, can't organize and present a unified front, how do we expect to overcome issues like the lack of funding and support in our towns and cities?
It seems to me, in my own humble little opinion, that what the fire service needs right now is for all of us to get along. To look at the bigger picture, to put our best uniform on and go forward to the public as professionals. Screw the arguments about who's professional, to hell with paid vs. volunteer crap, safety vs. aggressive arguments can pound sand. If we, as brothers and sisters in service to our community, can't come together and agree to show the public that we are worthy of their support, then maybe we don't deserve to ride the shiny red trucks any more.
For me, the fire service has never been about being cool. Or about being a social organization. I got into this business twenty-three years ago because I wanted to serve my community. The cool part was an added bonus. The social aspect of my job is also an added bonus. But, twenty-three years later, I still get fired up to go on calls, to aid my fellow human beings, and to make a difference in someones day. That's how I measure my success: Did I do something that made another person's day better, at that moment when they truly needed the help. What about you? Why do you wear that uniform, that pager, carry that radio? If you don't do it for the good of the public, maybe you're doing it for the wrong reasons. And maybe that's what's wrong in the profession. The emphasis on community service, on the greater good, isn't what it was when I was 17. But that's a rant for another post.
So until then, stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job.
In that order.
King had it right...sort of. A united front, working together against a perceived threat, can accomplish much more than divisive actions. Now, before you start thinking I'm taking King's side, let me be perfectly clear. Rodney King had it coming, and he's lucky to be alive. There's A LOT more to that video, and the whole situation, than most people know. And that goes to our own situation in the fire service as well. Let's take the South Fulton, TN scenario for example. I'm sure you're aware of what happened. (If not, you should be. Just Google it, there's a wealth of info, and I don't feel like putting up links. I'm having a lazy day.)
The news reports focused on the fact that firefighters let a home burn to the ground, refusing to take action, because the homeowner hadn't paid a $75.00 annual fee. A black eye for the fire service.
The news of this incident went national, with sound bites and video showing the fire department's refusal to act. Another black eye for the fire service.
The fire service quickly responded, internally, on blogs, forums and chat rooms. Every person with a keyboard seemed to weigh in, either pro or con, taking sides on the very polarizing issue. We proceeded to beat each other up, call each other names, defame the firefighters involved, ridicule the South Fulton Fire Department, and generally act like asses. And I do mean WE. Everyone, save for a tiny few, added to the monumental volume of chatter. A couple of people kept their level headedness (Mick Mayers, for instance) in the fray, but even old friends went at each other over this issue. Dave Statter and Rhett Fleitz had a little feud going on for several days, and in the end I think they just agreed to disagree.
So, what's my point? The public sees all of this... no, not all of it, just the sensationalized snippits the media reports. I am a firm believer in perception.You wouldn't show up to your first day on a new job wearing crappy clothes (unless told to do so), so why would you let the public see your worst side? If we, as a professional service, can't organize and present a unified front, how do we expect to overcome issues like the lack of funding and support in our towns and cities?
It seems to me, in my own humble little opinion, that what the fire service needs right now is for all of us to get along. To look at the bigger picture, to put our best uniform on and go forward to the public as professionals. Screw the arguments about who's professional, to hell with paid vs. volunteer crap, safety vs. aggressive arguments can pound sand. If we, as brothers and sisters in service to our community, can't come together and agree to show the public that we are worthy of their support, then maybe we don't deserve to ride the shiny red trucks any more.
For me, the fire service has never been about being cool. Or about being a social organization. I got into this business twenty-three years ago because I wanted to serve my community. The cool part was an added bonus. The social aspect of my job is also an added bonus. But, twenty-three years later, I still get fired up to go on calls, to aid my fellow human beings, and to make a difference in someones day. That's how I measure my success: Did I do something that made another person's day better, at that moment when they truly needed the help. What about you? Why do you wear that uniform, that pager, carry that radio? If you don't do it for the good of the public, maybe you're doing it for the wrong reasons. And maybe that's what's wrong in the profession. The emphasis on community service, on the greater good, isn't what it was when I was 17. But that's a rant for another post.
So until then, stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job.
In that order.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The cash cow has run out of money-colored milk...
A city near where my children reside with their mother (don't get me started about "her") recently addressed the topic of PPE purchase at their city council meeting. While the majority of those present seem to get it, there were two in attendance who feel the firefighters should have to purchase their own turnout gear. Here's the link to this story over on The Fire Critic. Xenia, for those who aren't familiar, is a medium-sized city in central Ohio, about 20 miles west of Dayton.
This, just as the Oak Brook, IL fiasco recently posted, is a trend we need to be prepared for. Any chief officer, firefighter or purchasing agent who is faced with this sort of situation needs to be exceptionally well-informed and prepared to defend themselves. What we're missing is the comparisons made by the dissenting council members. "Die makers buy their own tools, carpenters buy their own tools..." Neither of those are safety equipment. Instead, why don't they propose the firefighters buy their own hoses, axes, nozzles, hell, even fire apparatus? That's what they just said!!! People who don't understand our profession are making decisions that directly affect our jobs, our safety, our lives. It's up to US to educate them, show them where they're wrong and why. No one else is going to do it, nor are they equipped for the task. I am not going to rely on some 'bean counter' to adequately justify my safety gear, just like I wouldn't try to justify their "Count-O-Matic 3000 Automatic Legume Processor System". Hell, I couldn't begin to explain what the damn thing does, just like they can't explain how turnout gear gets damaged by known carcinogens, or how hydraulic fluid is very bad for the fibers. Or how crawling through a run-down, vacant (is it REALLY vacant?) house searching for the squatter whose campfire spread to the structure, can cause some pretty significant wear-and-tear on bunker gear?
Let's face it. We are no longer the sacred, the untouchable. The "warm and fuzzy" of post-9/11 support has worn off, and municipal administrators are starting to see our budgets as over-inflated cash cows. How many firefighters have been laid off, how many houses closed or 'browned out'? Xenia's chief, at the meeting I mention, says the city has laid off six firefighters. That's two per shift, based on their website. So the department is running with 11 fire suppression personnel to cover 21 square miles, and 24,000+ people. Now, those 11 people have to cover 4,500+ calls annually, 75% being EMS-related. Do you think there's some increased wear-and-tear on the firefighters' turnout gear? Give them a few good fires, and where's that gear at now? Think it'll last the full ten years NFPA allows? How about the recommended five years for replacement? What are the chances several sets will need to be replaced inside that five-year window? At a cost of $1900 each, as quoted in this meeting? I, for one, don't have the liquid assets to just run out and buy new gear... and what about the three months required for delivery? Are the firefighters supposed to 'make due' with damaged gear for those three months while they wait for their new gear, putting themselves at an increased risk? Putting the City at an increased risk of liability? I applaud the Mayor of Xenia for pointing out that the police officers in her town don't pay for their own vests, and she seemed rather incensed at the suggestion her cops had to pay for their vests. The measure of purchasing firefighter's turnout gear passed, with only the two dissenters voting against, but what does it really tell us? This city is not unique. In fact, I hold that it is quite probably the norm in terms of administrative "get-it"ness. The people who make the choices about budget tend to look at the paper side, the numbers, and don't equate the human aspect of their decision. How much would it cost the city if one of their firefighters was burned because of old, shoddy gear? Or if the gear failed because the firefighter purchased cheaper stuff? I can assure you, if we have to pay for our own gear, someone is going to find the absolute cheapest stuff they can, and spend the extra money on something else... like bills, a mortgage payment, anything. There's guys out there who WILL do that. We all know one or two. But, that's a topic for another day.
I know we all get it. The issue here is how do we make the OTHER PEOPLE get it? Education, education, education. We have to be the advocate, we have to speak up loudly, clearly, and concisely in support of our profession. That's the only thing that's going to save our 'cash cow' hides from losing more positions, losing more houses, and putting the public and our Brothers and Sisters at an increased risk. WE have to be the educated ones, so that when we're approached in the supermarket and asked by Joe Citizen why his taxes are going up to pay for our budget, we can do more than just shrug. That's a teachable moment, folks, and we have got to start capitalizing on every one of them if we want our jobs to survive this economy.
Well, enough out of me for now. Thanks for reading, and until next time, don't forget to make the most of every public contact you have.
Stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job.
In that order.
This, just as the Oak Brook, IL fiasco recently posted, is a trend we need to be prepared for. Any chief officer, firefighter or purchasing agent who is faced with this sort of situation needs to be exceptionally well-informed and prepared to defend themselves. What we're missing is the comparisons made by the dissenting council members. "Die makers buy their own tools, carpenters buy their own tools..." Neither of those are safety equipment. Instead, why don't they propose the firefighters buy their own hoses, axes, nozzles, hell, even fire apparatus? That's what they just said!!! People who don't understand our profession are making decisions that directly affect our jobs, our safety, our lives. It's up to US to educate them, show them where they're wrong and why. No one else is going to do it, nor are they equipped for the task. I am not going to rely on some 'bean counter' to adequately justify my safety gear, just like I wouldn't try to justify their "Count-O-Matic 3000 Automatic Legume Processor System". Hell, I couldn't begin to explain what the damn thing does, just like they can't explain how turnout gear gets damaged by known carcinogens, or how hydraulic fluid is very bad for the fibers. Or how crawling through a run-down, vacant (is it REALLY vacant?) house searching for the squatter whose campfire spread to the structure, can cause some pretty significant wear-and-tear on bunker gear?
Let's face it. We are no longer the sacred, the untouchable. The "warm and fuzzy" of post-9/11 support has worn off, and municipal administrators are starting to see our budgets as over-inflated cash cows. How many firefighters have been laid off, how many houses closed or 'browned out'? Xenia's chief, at the meeting I mention, says the city has laid off six firefighters. That's two per shift, based on their website. So the department is running with 11 fire suppression personnel to cover 21 square miles, and 24,000+ people. Now, those 11 people have to cover 4,500+ calls annually, 75% being EMS-related. Do you think there's some increased wear-and-tear on the firefighters' turnout gear? Give them a few good fires, and where's that gear at now? Think it'll last the full ten years NFPA allows? How about the recommended five years for replacement? What are the chances several sets will need to be replaced inside that five-year window? At a cost of $1900 each, as quoted in this meeting? I, for one, don't have the liquid assets to just run out and buy new gear... and what about the three months required for delivery? Are the firefighters supposed to 'make due' with damaged gear for those three months while they wait for their new gear, putting themselves at an increased risk? Putting the City at an increased risk of liability? I applaud the Mayor of Xenia for pointing out that the police officers in her town don't pay for their own vests, and she seemed rather incensed at the suggestion her cops had to pay for their vests. The measure of purchasing firefighter's turnout gear passed, with only the two dissenters voting against, but what does it really tell us? This city is not unique. In fact, I hold that it is quite probably the norm in terms of administrative "get-it"ness. The people who make the choices about budget tend to look at the paper side, the numbers, and don't equate the human aspect of their decision. How much would it cost the city if one of their firefighters was burned because of old, shoddy gear? Or if the gear failed because the firefighter purchased cheaper stuff? I can assure you, if we have to pay for our own gear, someone is going to find the absolute cheapest stuff they can, and spend the extra money on something else... like bills, a mortgage payment, anything. There's guys out there who WILL do that. We all know one or two. But, that's a topic for another day.
I know we all get it. The issue here is how do we make the OTHER PEOPLE get it? Education, education, education. We have to be the advocate, we have to speak up loudly, clearly, and concisely in support of our profession. That's the only thing that's going to save our 'cash cow' hides from losing more positions, losing more houses, and putting the public and our Brothers and Sisters at an increased risk. WE have to be the educated ones, so that when we're approached in the supermarket and asked by Joe Citizen why his taxes are going up to pay for our budget, we can do more than just shrug. That's a teachable moment, folks, and we have got to start capitalizing on every one of them if we want our jobs to survive this economy.
Well, enough out of me for now. Thanks for reading, and until next time, don't forget to make the most of every public contact you have.
Stay safe, take care of each other, and take care of the job.
In that order.
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