This episode is not about training safety, but the application of your training on the incident scene.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Tactical Fire Problem - House fire
This week a fire on floor 2 of an older wood frame residence.
1.) How long will it take you to get a line up to the fire room?
2.) Based upon the possible layout of this home what would that room most likely be?
3.) Where should the second line go?
4.) Could the left side of this house be a separate apartment or in law apartment?
5.) What tactical factors must be considered due to the age and construction of the building?
Stay safe and stay thinking!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
1.) How long will it take you to get a line up to the fire room?
2.) Based upon the possible layout of this home what would that room most likely be?
3.) Where should the second line go?
4.) Could the left side of this house be a separate apartment or in law apartment?
5.) What tactical factors must be considered due to the age and construction of the building?
Stay safe and stay thinking!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
Making Decisions
It appears to me that not only in the fire service but in society in general there is an awful lot of decision making that is being put off by indecision. That is no decisions and subsequently no responsibility is being accepted.
We speak about planning and strategic planning and many other management techniques all of which are very valid. The problem that I am witnessing as evidenced by emails received, is that nobody is making any decisions!
We are going to meetings....we are developing plans, but nobody has an lower intentinal fortitude to act on the plans or forge ahead in any direction. Have a meeting, hire a consultant, develop a plan and maybe I will be retired and not havine to deal with it by the time it comes to fruition.
Decisions must be made!
Set a course of action before you plan, don't plan on a course of action.
When you go on vacation, you decide where you want to go, then you plan how to get there.
I am seeing more and more leaders saying, lets develop a plan first then we will choose an option on what to do based upon the plan.
Make decisions, be flexible, not spineless.
Plans will change and must be modified as time goes by but do not be afraid to be flexible although that is extremely dangerous as it requires you to make even more decisions....yikes!
If you make decisions accept the responsibility for your actions.
Enough has been said about this in society in general but let me ask this simple question. Do you accept responsibility for your own actions and errors. Start with yourself the others might get the hint. Nobody is accepting responsibility for anything it is all about deflecting blame onto someone or something else.
Individual firefighters must be responsible for their own safety.
Individual firefighters must be held liable to follow orders.
Lieutenants and supervisors must be responsible and disciplined and accept responsibility that their subordinates are trained and will follow orders.
Chiefs must be responsible for ensuring adequate training and equipment are provided to their personnel.
City managers must provide the departments the resources necessary to fullfill the tasks they ask of their employees.
At each and every one of the levels I just stated, decisions must be made, and there is responsibility to be accepted, not deflected.
Make decisions, accept responsibility for your actions.
This joke floating around the internet drives the point home.
Firefighter's hobbies are playing basketball.
Lieutenants hobbies are bowling.
Captain's hobbies are playing softball.
Battalion Chiefs and deputies play baseball.
Chiefs go golfing.
Therefore, the higher in the organization you go the smaller your balls get!
(I will apologize now for those that feel insulted!)
Lighten up!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
We speak about planning and strategic planning and many other management techniques all of which are very valid. The problem that I am witnessing as evidenced by emails received, is that nobody is making any decisions!
We are going to meetings....we are developing plans, but nobody has an lower intentinal fortitude to act on the plans or forge ahead in any direction. Have a meeting, hire a consultant, develop a plan and maybe I will be retired and not havine to deal with it by the time it comes to fruition.
Decisions must be made!
Set a course of action before you plan, don't plan on a course of action.
When you go on vacation, you decide where you want to go, then you plan how to get there.
I am seeing more and more leaders saying, lets develop a plan first then we will choose an option on what to do based upon the plan.
Make decisions, be flexible, not spineless.
Plans will change and must be modified as time goes by but do not be afraid to be flexible although that is extremely dangerous as it requires you to make even more decisions....yikes!
If you make decisions accept the responsibility for your actions.
Enough has been said about this in society in general but let me ask this simple question. Do you accept responsibility for your own actions and errors. Start with yourself the others might get the hint. Nobody is accepting responsibility for anything it is all about deflecting blame onto someone or something else.
Individual firefighters must be responsible for their own safety.
Individual firefighters must be held liable to follow orders.
Lieutenants and supervisors must be responsible and disciplined and accept responsibility that their subordinates are trained and will follow orders.
Chiefs must be responsible for ensuring adequate training and equipment are provided to their personnel.
City managers must provide the departments the resources necessary to fullfill the tasks they ask of their employees.
At each and every one of the levels I just stated, decisions must be made, and there is responsibility to be accepted, not deflected.
Make decisions, accept responsibility for your actions.
This joke floating around the internet drives the point home.
Firefighter's hobbies are playing basketball.
Lieutenants hobbies are bowling.
Captain's hobbies are playing softball.
Battalion Chiefs and deputies play baseball.
Chiefs go golfing.
Therefore, the higher in the organization you go the smaller your balls get!
(I will apologize now for those that feel insulted!)
Lighten up!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Firefighter Training Podcast - Communications
This week a discussion about communication. We discuss analog and digital, frequency and spectrum, communication flow, and some priority of communications.
We Also revisit the CAN report.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
We Also revisit the CAN report.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
60 Second Safety - Mental Focus
This week on 60 Second Safety we discuss mental fitness and focus.
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE HERE.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Tactical Fire Problem - Car Fire Under a carport.
Is it just a car fire single engine company response as it was dispatched or is it something more? Take a look and you decide.
1.) What is your normal response for a reported car fire? When do you upgrade?
2.) What is your strategy here and what do you do with the first attack line?
3.) What challenges will be encountered if the entire carport becomes involved?
4.) is it likely that a structure such as the one shown might be located up a long driveway or a gated residence?
5.) When you are reviewing your response district look at these carport, canopies, and overhangs and imagine a fire underneath. These could be cars, vans, or delivery trucks.
Thanks, stay safe and stay thinking!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
1.) What is your normal response for a reported car fire? When do you upgrade?
2.) What is your strategy here and what do you do with the first attack line?
3.) What challenges will be encountered if the entire carport becomes involved?
4.) is it likely that a structure such as the one shown might be located up a long driveway or a gated residence?
5.) When you are reviewing your response district look at these carport, canopies, and overhangs and imagine a fire underneath. These could be cars, vans, or delivery trucks.
Thanks, stay safe and stay thinking!
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
Leadership.....Some Assembly Required
I often speak about, and I am often asked about what makes a good leader. One of the programs I offer speaks about this very issue, and I will share some highlights of that program here with you.
I truly believe that we become the sum total of all of the leaders and teachers who have influenced our lives in either a good or a bad way. We might have said "Gee, I want to be like that, or said I hope I never turn out like that!" I think that we all know that we take on the charachteristics of those who have influenced us, but it is how we assemble these traits and truly use them in our everyday decision making process.
In order to begin this thought process of thinking like a leader, I ask each one of you to write down five leaders that have affected you either positive or negatively.
The next step always raises a few eyebrows, but here it is....Write a note or an e-mail to the persons listed thanking them for what they have done. If the person has past on, then write a note to a son or daughter that remains and tell them what legacy their love one has left.
Pretty powerful stuff , Huh? I am certain that only a small percentage of you will actually do this but it is an important dramatic step in your life and it will give you very positive feelings to start your leadership journey.
Of the leaders that you listed, do you see some common traits in all of them. They all have common strengths, but their individual weakness all vary. I want you to now take a look at the above named leaders and identify their one weak point or trait. Sometimes when we view role models we don't see their weaknesses.
Another facet of what a leader has to do involves conflict resolution.
Some basic tips that relate to conflict resolution are:
Separate the people from the problem.
Focus on interests not positions.
Generate a variety of options before deciding.
Seek and use objective standards for your decision making.
Leadership is a multi-faceted concept. Although leadership skills can be taught they are best learned through experience.
If you aspire to become a good leader, pick up traits from the good leaders you know and try to apply them in your everyday dealings with others. When dealing with conflicts use the steps above to get to the real problem facing you, not just the symptom.
Pete Lamb
Copyright 2013
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