Off Duty Network
Congratulations and welcome to the American Fire Service!
For all you new Probies out there
1)-Don't wait to be told to get things done around the station. If your day slows down and your officer is preoccupied, there's a long list of station maintenance always available to you. Wash blue rags, change roll towels, organize what's disorganized, clean what's dirty.
2)-Along the same lines, if you see something in the station that is obviously wrong, fix it. Something that needs to be put away, or picked up, or repaired. Don't wait for someone else to do it, or wait for an officer to tell you to do it. Take pride in making the buck stop with you.
3)-You will have many questions during your first year. A good habit to get into when you have a question is follow the chain of command-starting with yourself. Do the research yourself first, then ask a senior firefighter, then your driver, and only then, your officer. Don't get me wrong-most folks are happy to answer questions, but this is a good habit to get into.
4)-If you have thin skin, thicken it. Sarcasm is the breakfast of champions in the firehouse.
5)-If you can't cook, learn.
6)-Even if you see other firefighters doing otherwise, address officers by rank and last name until they personally instruct you to do otherwise. Even then, remember that addressing an officer by last name and rank is a sign of respect…need I say more?
7)-When the rig is backing up, only the officer and driver should be on board. Only one firefighter should be in contact with the driver as the rig backs up, but the second and third firefighters can act as another set of eyes.
8)-If you can't find your sheets and pillow-case in the morning, look in the freezer. You forgot to take them off the bed your last shift and they're frozen into a bucket of water.
9)-Every interaction you have with the public, no matter how small, is a chance for public education and relations. To a little kid, you are practically a movie star. Know where stickers and handouts are on your rig-or carry some with you on inspections or grocery trips.
10)-Always leave things the way you found them. (Does not include, broken or dirty) Locked, Closed, Ready to use, for example.
11)-When you go the city garage for fuel, don't sit on the rig and wait. Get out and be ready with the nozzle in the fuel tank as the driver gets out.
12)-All of the above may have you wondering about all this info…! This brings me to a theory I've developed. There are unfortunately only two types of probies in the eyes of many senior firefighters: "Suck-up/Brown-nosers" or "Cocky Mouth-offs." It may sound like you lose either way in this situation, however, here's my take on it. It's very bad form get too comfortable in your attitude and start mouthing off. On the other hand, if you are consistent in treating everyone with respect, you will be labeled a suck up. This is just a test to find out what you're about. The difference between a suck-up and a good probationary firefighter is motive.
13)-A probie knows when to be first and when to be last. Times to be first: Answering the kitchen phone, and as you settle in to the place, any phone. Answering to door bell. Doing dishes after a meal. Helping out in any way. Times to be last: Serving yourself at a communal meal or ice cream. Voicing your opinion.
14)-Arrive a half an hour early to work everyday. You'll be getting moved around from station to station, and this takes more time. The person you're relieving can't go home until you are in service.
15)-Ask your officer's permission before washing your car or doing personal projects at work. Using stand-by time for personal projects is a privilege, not a given.
16)-Never stop learning. Each night, the T.V. lounge will tempt you. You always have the choice to veg out or develop your skills as a firefighter: read, tie knots, practice skills, go over equipment. It is a choice. Although a majority of citizens respect the profession, there are those that see firefighters as overfed slugs that watch TV and sleep on the taxpayers tab. Prove them wrong.
17)-Some of you may be coming to the job with previous fire service experience. Some volunteer, some paid-on-call, and some may have been on other union/professional departments. On these departments, you may have years of experience, and even been ranking officers or drivers. Well, I've got bad news for you, and this is just the way the fire service is: even your experience as a Battalion Chief means very little with the members of your new department. As Captain Bob says, "You must leave your rank and experience hanging in the locker of your old department." (www.eatstress.com) Don't let this confuse or anger you-your officer would much rather have a probie who has proven herself/himself on the fire ground, rather than worry if you are going to soil yourself the first time he drags you into a working fire. But be warned-resist the temptation to talk about your experiences while on probation. You will appear to be tooting your own horn, sounding cocky and over confident, and you will, with lightning speed, develop a reputation all over the department as a big mouthed know-it-all. Remember that actions speak louder than words.
-(Footnote to the above: Here's a challenge for you, and it's hard to practice: If your officer is teaching a new skill, or a senior firefighter wants to show you something, and you already know everything about it, don't say anything. If you keep quiet, you may learn a new way to do something, or see a point of view you never considered. Even if you know more about the subject than anyone in the room, keep your lip zipped and it will be a good review for you. Obviously, if you know some fancy-pants rescue knot in an emergency and your officer is looking for ideas, now would be an appropriate time to speak up.
16)-This next point has been given to me by several Appleton officers and senior firefighters. Your probation-all 18 months of it-is a golden opportunity to make an impression on your coworkers. Because this opportunity lasts over a period of months, its effects will last for the duration of your career. If you work your butt off, are respectful, and listen more than you speak, you will develop an image as a darn good firefighter. On the contrary, for the rest of your career, your will never work hard enough to shake a reputation as a slacker or bigmouth.
17)-Find one aspect of the job that is particularly interesting to you, and research the hell out of it. If you like it and you become knowledgeable, you become an asset to your crew in that area. Some guys love extrication, and have become informal experts because of their interest. Rope rescue, haz-mat, EMS, anything. No sympathy is available for bored probies.
18)-In the beginning of your probation, your crew takes you on and knows nothing about you. You will make mistakes, believe me. All of this advice is not intended to make you terrified of screwing up. But it is my opinion that I (as a rookie) am a liability to my crew. Sure, it is their responsibility to look out for you-but you have the opportunity to return the favor by thinking of ways to make your presence a blessing not a burden. Any lughead can bring in ice cream, but how about the previous point-- How can I be an asset to my crew? Know your equipment, know the way your officer likes to operate. All this takes time, by the way.
19)-Firefighters can be a gossipy bunch. You will inevitably be told things about the business of others, but just remember that the business of others is none of your business. Resist judging people you may or may not know based on this sort of low-quality information. This is a hard one for a new guy because joining in on talking smack seems like a shortcut to being buddy-buddy with your crew, but it will lead to bad things. Remember, "Speak only well of others and you need never whisper."
20)-The same goes for racist and sexist comments & jokes-just because it happens, doesn't make it acceptable. There's no need for you to express disapproval, but don't join in. It's the 21st century, and there's no place for that anymore. As public service pros, we can set a positive example even in the firehouse, out of earshot of the public. Chief Alan Brunacini says "What we practice on the inside, we deliver on the outside." Choose to practice respect.
21)-Get to know your driver and what makes him/her happy. If the driver isn't happy ain't nobody happy. Offer to help them if there's nothing else to do. The driver is responsible for the rig AND every last piece of equipment on it. If you're back from a call and the officer is back in bed, but your driver is getting your rig back in service, help out.
22)-Don't swear or talk smack in front of a Battalion Chief. If I need to explain this, you're in the wrong profession.
23)-Don't complain. Give me a break-you are getting paid over sixteen dollars an hour to do a job you already love-you should be smiling all the time. If your officer assigns you to pick up dog poop, clean the underside of the rig, or you go a few shifts without calls, suck it up. You can take it-you're a tough firefighter, remember?
24)-Let me re-iterate the last point: DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT CHORES for crying out loud!
I'm shocked by this when I hear this coming from the mouth of a new firefighter. I actually heard a 4 month firefighter complaining that he had to clean the dish of a 15 year fire veteran. Cry me a river, smarty-pants. This is part of a probie's job.
25)-If you're ever unsure of what to do or how something goes, don't ever fake it. Your crew is depending on you with their lives, so when in doubt, ask first. Given the choice between bugging your officer with a question, or having you make a mistake, your officer would gladly answer your question.
26)-Your driver owns the rig you are assigned to. If you mess with, alter, adjust, or break anything on it without telling your driver, prepare to deal with his/her wrath. Imagine going out to your car in the morning and finding it wrecked or otherwise out of commission. Well, this is worse. Your driver is staking his/her reputation and your safety on the knowledge that the rig is as exactly as he/she left it.
27)-Even if your crew seems to be really tight, and everyone acts buddy-buddy and jokes around with each other-don't get too casual with your crew; and don't argue, talk back to, or question your officer. This may seem obvious to you-but I've seen it happen. All of these tips are based on real experiences or observations.
28)-In my life, when things get challenging at work, my motto is, "look on the bright side; you could be in Navy Seal training." The point being, be thankful of your position at all times. Probationary firefighters have it relatively easy in Appleton. Some larger departments run recruit schools just like Army boot camps. Madison doesn't allow probies in the TV lounge for 18 months. Milwaukee starts chopping at first light, every morning for the duration of recruit school. West Allis firefighters refuse to even speak to probies at all for 18 months. So smile.
29)- Avoid having a chip on your shoulder, or something to prove.
30)-Some firefighters are funny about accepting help. If someone cooks dinner for the crew and there is a sink full of dishes, there's no need to ask whether there's anything you can help with. Jump in! Want to try a fun experiment? Try sitting in the TV lounge while a senior firefighter cleans the pots and pans from the meal he just cooked for the crew and you.
31)-About sarcasm and jokes and pranks around the firehouse-you can tough it out. It is kind of an unspoken method the see how you deal with stress. You think this is bad, try the stress of a fire ground at three in the morning.
32)-About pranks and practical jokes-use your best judgment about the necessity and severity of your prank, stick to your own recruit classmates for the majority of your probation, and never, ever mess with someone's emergency equipment.
33)-Remember, after hearing all of this, as well as advice from other firefighters, remember one thing-everyone on the whole department is senior to you right now, and they've got a lot of things to say about what you are doing, but they want you to succeed. They want your probation to go smoothly. So don't get overwhelmed by criticism or other feedback.
34)-Remember to turn your handheld radio down or off before your officer transmits to avoid Jimi Hendrix-like feedback. It’s an easy way to bug your officer. You will forget this one, trust me.
35)-Even though you are the lowly firefighter, don't get lulled into the sense that you should do nothing but run to the rig when the alarm comes in. Though you may not be a driver for some time, pay attention to and remember the address when the dispatch comes in-for that one time when the driver says "What was that address?"-it'll be worth it.
36)-When the day finally arrives that you've been waiting for-finishing probation-you will be tempted to suddenly act like a veteran towards more new hires and other firefighters. This spells trouble-hopefully you have formed good habits during probation, don't let go of a good thing now.
37)-Be prepared for a senior firefighter to get a hold of this and say, "You're taking advice from Austin Tree hugger Powers?? That guy is a few sandwiches short of a picnic!" These are just some of the lessons we've all learned our first year. You may choose to ignore all of this and learn from your own experience. Just know that I do not aim to preach, but simply to share knowledge that may make your probation easier, and in turn, will set the scene for a good career.
-And finally, be thankful and proud. You've got the best job in the whole darn world. Hold onto that thought alone and you'll succeed.