Comments for Backstep Firefighter http://backstepfirefighter.com To provide a point of critical thought about certain acts and events in the fire service while incorporating behavioral education and commentary in a referenced format. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:56:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Spaghetti by Firefighter Lee http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/03/spaghetti/comment-page-1/#comment-96868 Firefighter Lee Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:56:57 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10682#comment-96868 I have to say and agree poor training and a lazy engineer makes for a bad lay or stretch and how much hose do they have it look like more then 200ft. I have to say and agree poor training and a lazy engineer makes for a bad lay or stretch and how much hose do they have it look like more then 200ft.

]]> Comment on Spaghetti by Marques Bush http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/03/spaghetti/comment-page-1/#comment-96864 Marques Bush Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:03:50 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10682#comment-96864 Bill I will have to say I love the post that aren't very wordy but pack a punch in meaning and delivery. This was simple and well put. I hope you are well. I hope folks will find this as motivation to get off the couch and train. Bill I will have to say I love the post that aren't very wordy but pack a punch in meaning and delivery. This was simple and well put. I hope you are well. I hope folks will find this as motivation to get off the couch and train.

]]> Comment on Playing the Rescue Card by Bill Carey http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/01/playing-the-rescue-card/comment-page-1/#comment-96851 Bill Carey Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:30:23 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10174#comment-96851 Chris, No need to apologize. It is mostly my error, the difficulty in discussing matters in writing as opposed to voice. Bill Carey Chris,
No need to apologize. It is mostly my error, the difficulty in discussing matters in writing as opposed to voice.
Bill Carey

]]> Comment on Playing the Rescue Card by Chris Huston http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/01/playing-the-rescue-card/comment-page-1/#comment-96841 Chris Huston Fri, 03 Feb 2012 07:52:19 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10174#comment-96841 Bill, I must aplogize. After seeing your response to the comment I left, my writing error is obvious. My comments were NOT directed to your or your post. It was directed towards the statements of others, those statements you referred to. The internet has increased the abilities to see more of what happens on the fireground. However the down side are those who simply critique with no real information. When I made my comment I was simply frustrated at those who continue give their two cents. In fact I agree whole heartedly with your post. You cannot basterdize one while praise the other. Sorry I will do better in the future. I will still be a loyal reader! Thanks...chris Bill, I must aplogize. After seeing your response to the comment I left, my writing error is obvious. My comments were NOT directed to your or your post. It was directed towards the statements of others, those statements you referred to.

The internet has increased the abilities to see more of what happens on the fireground. However the down side are those who simply critique with no real information.

When I made my comment I was simply frustrated at those who continue give their two cents. In fact I agree whole heartedly with your post. You cannot basterdize one while praise the other.

Sorry I will do better in the future. I will still be a loyal reader!

Thanks…chris

]]> Comment on Playing the Rescue Card by Jason Jefferies http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/01/playing-the-rescue-card/comment-page-1/#comment-96826 Jason Jefferies Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:56:52 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10174#comment-96826 Bill, I applaud your efforts to call people out for their misuse of this medium.  At our fingertips are literally thousands of videos that we can use as training tools for size-up and fireground tactics just to name a few.  That only exists in a perfect world, because we all know that these sites become more of a forum for people to get on their soapboxes, throw good sense to the wind, and mindlessly comment. To many, as you have pointed out, the outcome of the incident solely determines their level of either disdain or applause they are willing to heap upon the firefighters they happen to be viewing at the time.  What irks me is that for most, the end always justifies the means.  No matter the danger a person puts themselves in, as long as a life is saved, some are willing to accept and even condone greviously unsafe practices. What also infuriates me is which fire departments seem to get the most blind criticism.  For instance, if a video is posted of a firefighter from Rooster Poot VFD operating in an above average manner without his chinstrap fastened, the keyboard commandos lambast his abilities and his department.  On the other side of the equation, if a video is posted of an ineffective, fumbling, stumbling idiot in FDNY gear, those same people will sing his praises based upon his affiliation with a large organization.  Nobody talks about it but it happens.  I'm not picking on Rooster Poot or the FDNY,  they are just the extreme ends of the spectrum. Thanks for bringing this to light, and keep on keeping on!   I'm a huge fan of "Media brought to you 100% Bullshit Free". Bill, I applaud your efforts to call people out for their misuse of this medium.  At our fingertips are literally thousands of videos that we can use as training tools for size-up and fireground tactics just to name a few.  That only exists in a perfect world, because we all know that these sites become more of a forum for people to get on their soapboxes, throw good sense to the wind, and mindlessly comment.
To many, as you have pointed out, the outcome of the incident solely determines their level of either disdain or applause they are willing to heap upon the firefighters they happen to be viewing at the time.  What irks me is that for most, the end always justifies the means.  No matter the danger a person puts themselves in, as long as a life is saved, some are willing to accept and even condone greviously unsafe practices.
What also infuriates me is which fire departments seem to get the most blind criticism.  For instance, if a video is posted of a firefighter from Rooster Poot VFD operating in an above average manner without his chinstrap fastened, the keyboard commandos lambast his abilities and his department.  On the other side of the equation, if a video is posted of an ineffective, fumbling, stumbling idiot in FDNY gear, those same people will sing his praises based upon his affiliation with a large organization.  Nobody talks about it but it happens.  I'm not picking on Rooster Poot or the FDNY,  they are just the extreme ends of the spectrum.
Thanks for bringing this to light, and keep on keeping on!   I'm a huge fan of "Media brought to you 100% Bullshit Free".

]]> Comment on Playing the Rescue Card by Bill Carey http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/01/playing-the-rescue-card/comment-page-1/#comment-96642 Bill Carey Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:16:45 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10174#comment-96642 <p>Thanks Chris. How much of a full story does one need to notice the contrast in others' thought processes? This isn't so much as questioning acts and judgements but more about questioning what the viewer states as acceptable and not acceptable. Should both chief officers be bottled up and on air? I personally don't believe the Hackensack deputy should. Could both benefit from being 'on air'? Yes. We obviously know which breathable are has less toxins in it. However, is the Hobart chief excused simply because he came out with a child in his arms? This isn't a train for the worse , make the best, scenario, unless the chief had donned his SCBA prior to entry and for some unknown and unexplained reason took it off and left it inside. To apply our own critical thinking we are led, by comments, to believe that in the rescue of a victim, well into the arrival of the department, carrying said victim we don't have to pay regard to the products of combustion and in the event of future possible victims we can abandon a basic compliment of our PPE.</p> <p>Oh, and if there is no victim, then  everyone must be dressed to the nines and penalized if not. We don't have to be either in Lake Station or Hackensack to see this is ignorant.</p> <p>Bill Carey</p> Thanks Chris. How much of a full story does one need to notice the contrast in others' thought processes? This isn't so much as questioning acts and judgements but more about questioning what the viewer states as acceptable and not acceptable. Should both chief officers be bottled up and on air? I personally don't believe the Hackensack deputy should. Could both benefit from being 'on air'? Yes. We obviously know which breathable are has less toxins in it. However, is the Hobart chief excused simply because he came out with a child in his arms? This isn't a train for the worse , make the best, scenario, unless the chief had donned his SCBA prior to entry and for some unknown and unexplained reason took it off and left it inside. To apply our own critical thinking we are led, by comments, to believe that in the rescue of a victim, well into the arrival of the department, carrying said victim we don't have to pay regard to the products of combustion and in the event of future possible victims we can abandon a basic compliment of our PPE.

Oh, and if there is no victim, then  everyone must be dressed to the nines and penalized if not. We don't have to be either in Lake Station or Hackensack to see this is ignorant.

Bill Carey

]]> Comment on Playing the Rescue Card by Chris Huston http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/02/01/playing-the-rescue-card/comment-page-1/#comment-96632 Chris Huston Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:47:31 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10174#comment-96632 Be prepared for the worst, train for all hazards and make the best desicion you can with whats in front of you, thats all we can do. Hoepfully we win more then we lose. Use videos to learn about fire behavior and gain insight to modern fire problems. Keep your monday morning quarterbacking to yourself. You were not there, you dont have the full story. Learn to apply your own critical thinking. Be prepared for the worst, train for all hazards and make the best desicion you can with whats in front of you, thats all we can do. Hoepfully we win more then we lose. Use videos to learn about fire behavior and gain insight to modern fire problems. Keep your monday morning quarterbacking to yourself. You were not there, you dont have the full story. Learn to apply your own critical thinking.

]]> Comment on Why Everyone Goes Home doesn’t always mean “Everyone Goes Home.” by Chris Huston http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/01/28/why-everyone-goes-home-doesnt-always-mean-everyone-goes-home/comment-page-1/#comment-96388 Chris Huston Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:41:06 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10628#comment-96388 Ben thanks for adding to the discussion. You are right on the money when you said "The same chief who tells me I better plug in my regulator and use the SCBA on my back, is the same one that will order me to take my company into the burning home to hunt for the occupants that the neighbor says, "are still inside". We do what has to be done, that is our job. But we do it smart." Let me say, and I am sure that most educated adults already undstand this, I am only able to add from my point of view and what I see and hear. Just as you are one point of view. The continuing theme that I see, and its from multiple places, is the bashing of a program designed to make us better. From comments it sounds more like those that are wanting the change, the change that EGH has taught them, is wrong OR they are using it for the wrong reasons. A comment made on another site talked about how the needs for a large metro FD is different then a small rural, hmmm, and that a National program cannot work. That is a misconception. The 16 LSI are really generic statements, use an initiaitve as a MISSION STATEMENT related to that topic to enhance your department SOP/SOGS.  #3 Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities. Put an real effort into your risk management plan. For a larger department this could mean adding an ISO to each alarm level. For a small rural it means learning ICS. It doesnt however mean we don't go into burning buildings. Dave could you do me a favor? Suggest to your reader they go to Everyone Goes Home website and read each one of the Initiatives, with an open mind. Thanks guys keep it up, this is how we will affect change, even if it takes pissing people off! Just to add, some people feel that the EGH Advocates only talk the talk, please feel free to stop by my website: <a href="http://engineco22.net" rel="nofollow">http://engineco22.net</a> -huston Ben thanks for adding to the discussion. You are right on the money when you said
"The same chief who tells me I better plug in my regulator and use the SCBA on my back, is the same one that will order me to take my company into the burning home to hunt for the occupants that the neighbor says, "are still inside". We do what has to be done, that is our job. But we do it smart."
Let me say, and I am sure that most educated adults already undstand this, I am only able to add from my point of view and what I see and hear. Just as you are one point of view. The continuing theme that I see, and its from multiple places, is the bashing of a program designed to make us better. From comments it sounds more like those that are wanting the change, the change that EGH has taught them, is wrong OR they are using it for the wrong reasons. A comment made on another site talked about how the needs for a large metro FD is different then a small rural, hmmm, and that a National program cannot work. That is a misconception. The 16 LSI are really generic statements, use an initiaitve as a MISSION STATEMENT related to that topic to enhance your department SOP/SOGS. 
#3 Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities.
Put an real effort into your risk management plan. For a larger department this could mean adding an ISO to each alarm level. For a small rural it means learning ICS. It doesnt however mean we don't go into burning buildings.
Dave could you do me a favor? Suggest to your reader they go to Everyone Goes Home website and read each one of the Initiatives, with an open mind.
Thanks guys keep it up, this is how we will affect change, even if it takes pissing people off!
Just to add, some people feel that the EGH Advocates only talk the talk, please feel free to stop by my website: http://engineco22.net
-huston

]]> Comment on Why Everyone Goes Home doesn’t always mean “Everyone Goes Home.” by Ben Fleagle http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/01/28/why-everyone-goes-home-doesnt-always-mean-everyone-goes-home/comment-page-1/#comment-96351 Ben Fleagle Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:12:53 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10628#comment-96351 Chris and Dave, If I remember correctly, EGH started out as a focusing acronym.  "Hey, pay attention!  Do The Right Thing!  The goal is to come home alive!".  At least that's the way I took it.  I never thought it meant that we don't die, or that we are forbidden from being good, aggressive firefighters.  But over the years it has become a "mantra" if you will.  I don't think the first guy to utter "EGH" ever intended that.  I think,.....me personally, ..that it has had the affect of causing us to evaluate what we're doing.   But it is not a law. @Chris, I think where I click with Dave's viewpoint, is that there is far more invovled in using such a statement than seems obvious at first glance.  There are times when those responsible for department welfare, fall back on terms like "EGH" in order to justify a lack of confidence, in whatever form it may be.  There are also times when all of us recognise the sheer lack of common sense applied.  At those times, EGH becomes the mantra that reflects frustration with senseless deaths.  But I think it was only ever intended to say, "Hey, watch out for each other, the goal is that we all go home!" I am fortunate.  The Chief I work for makes it clear.  We will be professional at all times.  That in turn means to the educated officer, "Take risks when you have to, but you had better be able to justify it."  Wild, reckless behavior is not welcome in our department.  But neither is a lack of results.  The same chief who tells me I better plug in my regulator and use the SCBA on my back, is the same one that will order me to take my company into the burning home to hunt for the occupants that the neighbor says, "are still inside".  We do what has to be done, that is our job.  But we do it smart.  I think that is all that is being asked here. Love you all, Brothers! Ben Fleagle FTM-PTB-DTRT and yes, Leather Forever! Chris and Dave,
If I remember correctly, EGH started out as a focusing acronym.  "Hey, pay attention!  Do The Right Thing!  The goal is to come home alive!".  At least that's the way I took it.  I never thought it meant that we don't die, or that we are forbidden from being good, aggressive firefighters.  But over the years it has become a "mantra" if you will.  I don't think the first guy to utter "EGH" ever intended that.  I think,…..me personally, ..that it has had the affect of causing us to evaluate what we're doing.   But it is not a law.
@Chris, I think where I click with Dave's viewpoint, is that there is far more invovled in using such a statement than seems obvious at first glance.  There are times when those responsible for department welfare, fall back on terms like "EGH" in order to justify a lack of confidence, in whatever form it may be.  There are also times when all of us recognise the sheer lack of common sense applied.  At those times, EGH becomes the mantra that reflects frustration with senseless deaths.  But I think it was only ever intended to say, "Hey, watch out for each other, the goal is that we all go home!"
I am fortunate.  The Chief I work for makes it clear.  We will be professional at all times.  That in turn means to the educated officer, "Take risks when you have to, but you had better be able to justify it."  Wild, reckless behavior is not welcome in our department.  But neither is a lack of results.  The same chief who tells me I better plug in my regulator and use the SCBA on my back, is the same one that will order me to take my company into the burning home to hunt for the occupants that the neighbor says, "are still inside".  We do what has to be done, that is our job.  But we do it smart.  I think that is all that is being asked here.
Love you all, Brothers!
Ben Fleagle
FTM-PTB-DTRT and yes, Leather Forever!

]]> Comment on Why Everyone Goes Home doesn’t always mean “Everyone Goes Home.” by Dave LeBlanc http://backstepfirefighter.com/2012/01/28/why-everyone-goes-home-doesnt-always-mean-everyone-goes-home/comment-page-1/#comment-96105 Dave LeBlanc Sun, 29 Jan 2012 17:57:45 +0000 http://backstepfirefighter.com/?p=10628#comment-96105 Chris, thanks for the response and understanding I am not attacking the program.  What bothers me is that there are some, that use EGH as that shield to hide behind.  So it turn EGH and the LSI take a beating. People create ideas to promote their idea of what EGH is.  I think this can lead to the confusion and the reluctance to listen, because some of these ideas are diametrically opposed to what we are supposed to be doing as firemen. At the end of the day, you can only fight your fire the way your resources will allow you to do it.  So you have to be able to take the information you are given and apply it appropriately to your situation. But you have to be prepared to fight that fire, and save those victims, to the best of your abilities and as resources allow.  EGH does not tell us that it is ok that we aren't trained, or are overweight, and therefore don't have to do the job the public expects us to do. Thanks for reading and the input..... Chris, thanks for the response and understanding I am not attacking the program.  What bothers me is that there are some, that use EGH as that shield to hide behind.  So it turn EGH and the LSI take a beating.

People create ideas to promote their idea of what EGH is.  I think this can lead to the confusion and the reluctance to listen, because some of these ideas are diametrically opposed to what we are supposed to be doing as firemen.
At the end of the day, you can only fight your fire the way your resources will allow you to do it.  So you have to be able to take the information you are given and apply it appropriately to your situation.
But you have to be prepared to fight that fire, and save those victims, to the best of your abilities and as resources allow.  EGH does not tell us that it is ok that we aren't trained, or are overweight, and therefore don't have to do the job the public expects us to do.
Thanks for reading and the input…..

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